Divine Encounter
Read This Week: Genesis 28
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which 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. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. – Genesis 28:10-13 NIV
Kairos is a Greek word that means “the right, critical, or opportune moment.” It is one of two words the ancient Greeks had for time, the other being Chronos. Whereas the latter refers to chronological or sequential time, Kairos signifies a specific, proper, or opportune time for action or a divine encounter. In this sense, while Chronos is quantitative, Kairos has a qualitative, permanent nature. In this section of Genesis 28, we find Jacob on a physical and spiritual journey, and he has a dream and moment that will shape the rest of his life. Many people refer to this passage as Jacob’s ladder or an illustration of the significant divine connection between God and his covenant people, specifically Jacob’s family. Jacob’s ladder is his kairos moment, where something unexpected and extraordinary happens.
Having left Beersheba at this point, Jacob is at a crucial juncture in his walk, and God chooses this moment to reveal Himself to him in a profound way. His departure from Beersheba to Harran comes after some challenging circumstances in his family, specifically with his brother, Esau. But it also takes place after his father, Isaac, blesses him and asks God to make him fruitful and increase his numbers until he becomes a community of people (v.3). As he sets out, this blessing and the choices he makes set the stage for the kairos moment and divine encounter at Bethel and becomes kind of a metaphor for Jacob’s life.
When Jacob gets to Harran, the Bible says that he reached a certain place, stopped for the night, and fell asleep (v.11). He then had a dream, and in this dream, he witnessed a divine revelation. He saw a stairway or ladder resting on the earth, with its top reaching heaven and the angels of God going up and down on it. The image of a ladder connecting heaven and earth is as beautiful as it is incredible. The angels ascending and descending symbolize the communication or connection between God and the earth and His continued willingness to have a relationship with His people. God’s presence is tangible, and the dream carries a promise when the Lord tells him that He is the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and that He will give Jacob and his descendants the land on which he was lying (v.13).
This revelation of the covenant land will be the inheritance for Jacob’s descendants and points to God’s commitment to the promise with Abraham and Isaac. Upon waking, Jacob recognizes the place’s sacredness and acknowledges the Lord’s presence. His reaction reflects a profound spiritual awakening. By consecrating the stone he used as a pillow, Jacob is committed to setting this encounter apart as holy. This transformation in perspective and reverence marks a turning point in Jacob’s relationship with God. He responds to the divine pronouncement with a vow. He sets conditions, seeking God’s protection, provision, and guidance. This vow reveals Jacob’s growing awareness of God’s role in his life and his desire for a reciprocal relationship.
We have similar kairos moments and divine encounters. The God of the universe, by His good pleasure, through His son Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit, chooses to reveal Himself to us. He speaks to us through His word and other ways that make us aware of His presence and orient us again to His power and provision. Like Jacob, our divine encounters also point us back to God’s truth and promises that are real, relevant, and effective for our lives. These kairos moments also inspire our hearts to deepen our relationship with God through Christ and come near to Him. Genesis 28 is a narrative of divine encounter, transformation, and commitment that should have us joyfully anticipating the special moments with God in our lives.
Genesis Chapter 28 Verse 12
And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
~Jacob’s Ladder~
God Is Saying To Me:
In the beginning, I gave Jacob a vision in a dream of the promise of Jesus being the only way to Heaven from Earth through Him by the representation of angels descending from above and back by the way of a ladder. The ladder represents Jesus and the only way to Me is through Him. Angels go before you and behind you protecting you through Jesus’ blood represented by the ladder. I hope you understand the significance of this dream.
What This Means To Me:
The only way to the Father is through total belief in Jesus Christ that he intercedes for us between our time on earth and our destination in the future, which is Heaven. Make each rung of the ladder count from bottom to top! We are surrounded by the divine protection shed by jesus’s blood. Thank you God that you gave Jacob the vision of the divine intervention to come in the future. ❤️
Genesis 28:15 Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
I see Jacob having a Devine appointment in a dream.
There is so many treasures in this chapter What God drew my attention to was Jacob all alone, had to leave his family because his brother wanted to kill him. he must of been feeling sad and his heart broken and more I’m sure.
Then he has this Devine appointment in a dream from Father God and He gives him hope for the future, now his is on a journey with God.
We too can have Devine appointments with Father God. He could be speaking to you right now!
No matter what you’re going through God is with you!
We can still have a heart that is hurt but that’s when we have to be listening to Father when to do something or to wait on Him for the right timing so when it’s time it can work out for good!
God is saying to me and you
There will always be trials, situations going on,
Always remember that I am with you to help you to get you where I want you to be.
Always remember that when you do it with Me it turns out good because I love you!
Thank you Father God
What this means to me is father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is with me. For my part I need to be always listening when to do something and when not to when to say something and when not to know that father God has plans but it does take, me listening and reading my Bible and trusting in Jesus for my life and for the plans that he has for me and I get to have dreams and Divine Appointments too!
Thank you, father God, Jesus, and your Holy Spirit, that is always with us, leading us and guiding us
Have you ever found yourself off the path you know you should be on, especially in your walk with God? Amidst the distractions and the worldly ways, have you wondered how to realign with the Lord’s guidance?
The answer lies in the beautiful simplicity of returning to God with all your heart. It’s about reigniting the spirit of worship, reconnecting with that divine conversation, and realigning your life according to His word. It might seem too straightforward, but often, the most profound truths are simple. Dive back into your relationship with God, and He will illuminate the way, assisting you in tidying your life and embarking on the right path.
In this journey, I’ve realized that God’s communication is not just a solitary voice but also resonates through the community. Christianity is not a lone endeavor; it’s about living in harmony with God and with others. It’s a dynamic interplay of giving and receiving, acting on faith, and being more than just a passive listener.
Discovering that God is the ultimate collaborator has been a revelation. He eagerly desires to partner in our life’s ventures, offering blessings and joy. This partnership is not just beneficial; it’s an exhilarating adventure with Him, filled with His endless grace and love.
So remember:
1. When you stray, the key is to promptly return to God’s embrace.
2. Seek His presence in both quiet personal moments and in the company of fellow believers.
3. Embrace worship and partnership with God, for He is the most profound ally in your life’s journey.
This Week in the Life: Genesis 28
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Genesis 28
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
God wanted me to focus on Genesis 28: 16-17 and He said to me on this:
“Imagine the peace felt knowing that I am anywhere, and now amplify that peace knowing that I am everywhere; surrounding you, within you, and everywhere you’ll go. From the darkest nights to the coldest days I am here My son. This will never change.”
Knowing what we know now is fantastic. We know God doesn’t just reside in a certain place, but is all around us, within us, and among us. We can rejoice knowing that we are NEVER alone. Love you, God.
This is what I got from God in Genesis 28. Jacob was the one to carry on My promise to Abraham. Jacob was promised a land, a nation, and a blessing. Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau all acted in a unspiritual manner, in the previous chapter regarding the birthright situation. I was able to bring good out of it. This was My will all along. Esau obeyed Isaac, and took a wife who was non-Canaanite. With a dream in the wilderness, Jacob saw there was access to heaven. He knew I was closer to him than he thought ever before, and that there was real access and interaction between heaven and earth. Jesus is the access to heaven. Jesus is the ladder. Jesus is the way to heaven. I had appeared to Abraham and Isaac, and now I appeared to Jacob in a personal way. To Jacob, this was a life changing experience. Isaac had told Jacob the covenant was his, and now I confirmed it. This should show you I won’t let go until My work is complete in you. I am with you! I will be with you in your journey of life. I am with you everywhere. The way Jacob prayed when he said “If God will be with me” showed he had to see Me do it , before he would believe. You should believe before you see Me do things in life for you. Trust Me. I am the Lord your God. I will supply all your needs, I am with you, and I will not leave you until I have completed My work in you. I want you to say to Me and believe that you are completely Mine!
What that said to me is God wants all of me and not just part of me. He is with me, no matter what I am going through and wherever I go. I need to trust Him and His will for me. I need to believe even if I don’t see. I am a work in progress. I need to have faith in Him always. Jesus is the way to heaven and I need to continue to bring others to Him.