From Pillow to Pillar
The transformational power of grace
In Genesis chapter 28, Isaac blesses Jacob, who was the legitimate heir of the promise according to Gods prophecy, but this did not undo Jacob’s deception. And so even tho he was blessed he was stressed and perplexed.
Esau hated Jacob because he stole his blessing and premeditated to kill him. Gen 27:41, Jacobs mother who was an accomplice in the great deception suggested that Jacob flees to Laban her brother to protect his life.
Jacob went out from his fathers home a fugitive, deeply troubled in his heart as he set out on his lonely longsome journey. He feared that he had lost forever the blessing that God had purposed to give him, and Satan was at hand to press temptations upon him.
And evening approached, he found a certain place and took of the stones of that placed and used them as pillows. Who uses a stone for a pillow? Today we use pillows to support the body at rest for comfort. The history of the pillow dates back to around 7,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. These pillows made of stone weren’t comfortable, comfort wasn’t really their purpose. The function of the stone pillow was to prevent insects from crawling into mouths, noses, and ears. So no the pillow wasn’t comfortable. And so was the guilt and the fear and the anxiety. He was lying on a pillow of discomfort, a pillow of doubt, a pillow of fear and uncertainty.
Jacob felt like he was an outcast and knew that all this trouble was because of the wrong choice he made. He had lost all confidence in himself and feared the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had cast him off.
But God did not forsake Jacob. His mercy was still extended to His erring, distrustful servant. The Lord compassionately revealed just what Jacob needed- A saviour. As he slept he saw a ladder, bright and shining, whose base rested upon the earth while the top reached to heaven. Upon this ladder, the angels of God were ascending and descending. Above it was the Lord of glory. And from the throne of heaven, God renews the covenant that Jacob will not have but will be a blessing and that through him all families of the earth will be blessed. God reassures Jacob in the most comforting words ever spoken.
“And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
In this vision the plan of Salvation was revealed to Jacob, Jesus, when he was speaking to Nathaniel in John1:51, said: “…, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” The apostle Peter reminds us that there is only one name given under heaven by which we must be saved. When we have fallen, when we have sinned, there is only one ladder than connects us back to heaven and that ladder is Jesus.
When Jacob woke up he was not the same, he slept a fugitive but woke up forgiven. His eyes were opened and he knew that Surely the Lord was in that place. The bible says
“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.19 And he called the name of that place Bethel”
From pillow to pillar, this story reminds us and reassures us once again of the transformation power of grace.
What type of pillow are you sleeping on? Doubt, guilt, fear, confusion, would you let Jesus take care of that for you. Jacobs character was indeed questionable Like testified, the voice was of Jacob but the hands were of Esau. Is your character questionable? Is your profession not matching your action. Allow Jesus to fix that for you. Because all that you need is a saviour.