“He saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12
Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, but they neither looked nor acted alike. Esau was born first and was a strong, athletic boy; he enjoyed hunting more than anything else in the world. Jacob was quiet and gentle. He often thought of God and his promises and knew he wanted God’s blessing more than anything else.
One day when Esau came home from hunting, he was extremely hungry. Jacob was cooking a thick vegetable and meat stew called pottage which looked and smelled delicious. Esau begged Jacob to give him some.
Jacob had always realized the great value of the promise God had made to Abraham and then to Isaac. He felt it was more important than the earthly riches which were also part of a first-born son’s inheritance. He asked Esau to give him his birthright promise in exchange for the pottage. Esau cared little for God’s promises at the time; he was only interested in something to eat so he agreed to the exchange.
Later Jacob deceived Isaac, who was now blind, into believing he was Esau so his father would give him the blessing. When Esau found out, he wanted to kill Jacob, for now the birthright seemed more valuable than when he sold it.
Jacob fled from Esau’s anger. That night he found a quiet place and, using a stone for a pillow, wrapped himself in his warm cloak and went to sleep. God encouraged Jacob by giving him a dream.
In the dream he saw a flight of steps rising from earth to heaven. It was crowded with angels coming and going. The God of glory stood above it and God assured him that he had secured his father Isaac’s blessing and God now recognized Jacob as the legal heir to the great Abrahamic promise.
The dream was a picture of the fulfillment of this promise made to Abraham (Genesis 28:14 and Acts 3:25). It will bring about, once again, peace and fellowship between heaven and earth, between God and man.
Jacob’s dream assured him God was hearing his prayers.