Jacob's Ladder

This morning’s church sermon was about Jacob’s Ladder. Like many stories in Scripture, the more I sat with it, the deeper the meaning became.

In Genesis 28, Jacob finds himself alone in the wilderness, sleeping with a rock for a pillow. That night, he has a dream: a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels moving up and down. At the top stands the Lord, who speaks promises over Jacob’s life. God reminds him of his future, his legacy, and most importantly, that he is not alone.

This ladder wasn’t just a dream. It represented connection. A bridge between heaven and earth. A symbol of divine access and hope. But what stayed with me most today wasn’t just the image of the ladder between heaven and earth. It was the idea that someone always goes first.

A few days ago, I was walking up a flight of stairs with a friend who works in the emergency medical field. They kept reminding me, "Hold onto the rail." At the time, I didn’t fully understand why they were so adamant about it. Later, they explained that in their line of work, they’ve seen many people fall. It’s second nature for them to grab the rail. It's a safety measure they’ve been trained to never skip.

That conversation stayed in the back of my mind. But when I looked back on that moment, something shifted. I realized that I was actually leading. I was walking ahead, hand on the rail, setting the pace. And at some point, I reached out my other hand to offer support. I was guiding them on the stairs.

That’s when it all came together. That’s Jacob’s Ladder. Not just a dream Jacob had. Not just a holy moment. But a living example of what it means to walk through something first, to hold steady, and to help someone else rise.

Sometimes God gives us a ladder to climb. Sometimes we’re the ones holding the rail, learning how to walk again. And sometimes, we’re the ones who go first so we can help someone else behind us.

Healing is not just for our own sake. Wisdom is meant to be shared. And safety, whether spiritual or emotional, is something we can offer each other. We go ahead. We steady ourselves. And when we’re strong enough, we reach back.

That’s the heart of Jacob’s Ladder. It connects heaven to earth. But it also connects you to me, and me to the next person coming up behind.

Today I’m grateful for the ladders in my life. For the rails I’ve held. For the people who reached back for me. And for the privilege of offering my hand to someone else.