The Lodestar

Jacob did not think he would have to flee for life if he disguised himself as his elder brother to deceive his father. But to save his life from his angry brother, he had to flee home.

For his safety, he decided to sleep in the open field instead of checking into an inn or the house of a generous host. He was careful to keep his track untraceable until he reached the safety of his destination.

Jacob might have felt defeated, guilty, and ashamed of himself. The way forward is long and tedious, and returning home is dangerous; Jacob was between the Devil and the deep sea.

But that night, he had a dream. In ancient times, there was no clear distinction between dreams and visions. Whether he had a dream or vision, it was not a projection of his mind. Jacob would have never imagined meeting the holy Lord or his angels on the way.

But the Lord overflows with mercy for the fugitive. Though Jacob had done something unpardonable to his father and brother, the Lord is compassionate and willing to forgive him. So, the Lord appeared to him to assure divine company on his journey, his plan to bring Jacob back home one day and give the land to his descendants.

The rest of Jacob's story confirms that God's plan rolled out perfectly as promised. Meanwhile, the Lord worked in the heart of his brother Esau so that when they met years later, he shed all revenge, and they embraced each other (Gen 33:4-11).

The ladder that the angels climbed up and down between earth and heaven, with the Lord standing on top of it, assures us that the Lord never gives up on the sinner. He is the "Hound of Heaven"* who chases us with love.

That vision, as Jacob slept with a rock under his head for a pillow, energized him for the rest of the journey. The Lord guaranteed he would meet the fugitive Jacob on the first night of his flight.

The Lord's ladder is right there when we feel ashamed and guilty.

*The poem "The Hound of Heaven" is written by English poet Francis Thompson (1859–1907). This poem narrates a dog chasing a hare, looking for a hiding place in vain. It depicts how God, in his grace, follows the soul fleeing from Him, seeking to hide.