Jacob’s Ladder (woodcut from Luther Bibles of 1534 and 1545)

Rev. Williams and Dr. Levison dig into this week's passage from Genesis 28:10-19.

Jacob dreams of a ladder stretching from earth to heaven. Through the dream, we hear God repeat the promise of how his descendants will multiply and be a blessing to all peoples.

"...And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring." (v. 14b)

As Dr. Levison notes, "The sign of a great nation is not whether it [thinks itself] great, but whether the earth is blessed by that nation." Rev. Williams adds that often it takes the perspective of others to reveal what is true.

Resources:

• The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter
• "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder" (African-American spiritual)