Sleep On Holy Ground

As part of our weekly Bible Study, my family and I have been making our way back through Genesis. We’ve been exploring the unique way the Holy Spirit seeks to melt away our ignorance and stubborn hearts with the sole purpose of establishing intimate fellowship with His people. Our study explored how God first called Abraham to separate from his father’s household and endure hardships and trials with the aim of capturing his unreserved trust. We learned of Abraham’s test of faith and sacrifice that he might enter sublime fellowship with Almighty God. In this context, our study progressed to the life of Jacob, the deceiver. Jacob was a man bent on his own destruction but one who would contend both with lawless men and a holy God and overcome. Divinely rechristened with the name of Israel, God persevered with him in order to draw Jacob completely to Himself. By sublime grace Jacob overcame and this encapsulates the life of one who wrestled with God.  

Having stolen his twin brother’s birthright and deceiving his father to gain the paternal blessing, Jacob was forced to flee his childhood home. For the first time, he was on his own, away from his mother’s protective arms. Though already a full-grown adult and unlike his brother, he had never experienced the independence and responsibility of his own decisions. All alone, he ventured toward an uncertain future made of his own deception and frailty. In such moments as these, God often reveals Himself and grants a vision of the tether by which we may reach Him. Exhausted by his own striving, Jacob unwittingly falls asleep in a holy place. Laying his head on a nearby stone this ignorant nomad begins to dream, and at that moment God begins to open his mind.

And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!

Genesis 28:11-12 (ESV)

Most of us know the story of Jacob’s ladder. We recall how Jacob used a rock as a pillow and dreamed of a stairway that reached to the very gates of heaven. God speaks to an undeserving Jacob and gives him a promise of protection and guidance. In his dream, he witnessed angels walking up and down interceding to the Father. This ladder represents Christ who connects us to heaven as our passage of fellowship with God Himself. Yet, for so many of us, this passageway remains only a sleeping mirage.

There are some who can accurately describe in detail the steps required for salvation and sound doctrine for the Christian life; individuals who can expound on each rung of the biblical ladder with remarkable insight. They talk of the blessings and rare moments of hearing the Holy Spirit speak to them with promises and wisdom. However, the fruit of their life reveals they are still very much asleep (Luke 6:43–45). Imagine if, waking from his vision, Jacob decided to stay in his newly found bed. After all, while sleeping on a smooth stone pillow, he had just seen the doorway to heaven and certainly recognized he’d discovered a holy place indeed. He could have chosen to analyze every aspect of his dream, explore its hidden meanings and even flatter himself having just had a direct conversation with God. Such is often the fate of many a Christian. We stop at the visions, symbolism, wisdom and promises yet never move on to the discipline and hard work required for holiness.

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Genesis 32: 24-28 (ESV)

It took fourteen years, countless, thankless hours of extremely hard labor, and numerous disciplinary setbacks for Jacob to learn the lessons of his vision. He had to go through the suffering and turmoil required to transform a manipulative Jacob to a broken Israel. Even after all this had been accomplished, Jacob remained unsatisfied with only the bounty of God’s favor. He knew he needed a direct relationship with his heavenly Father. The vision was complete when he wrestled with the holy Incarnate, demanding true communion, and would not give up until he had prevailed. This was exactly what God desired from the very beginning, a Jacob who would fight for His favor instead of cheating his way to heaven.

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:13-16 (ESV)

My friends, let us not content ourselves with visions of heavenly things or relish in biblical promises but instead strive to climb the ladder of repentance. May it be said of us that we do not remain satisfied with deep biblical concepts but seek to enter the narrow gate stripped of who we are (John 6:26-35). Let’s rise from our slumber, take hold of the cross our Lord has so lovingly given, and settle for nothing less than knowing He who showed us the gateway to heaven. Until we do, God will remain only a dream to all who sleep on holy ground. The days are indeed evil and it’s time to wake up. May our Lord Jesus answer the prayers of all who hunger for His fellowship.