Jacob’s Ladder

The aroma was a hint of sage, nutmeg, and mothball.  It wasn’t a horrible smell, nor was it one that I needed to inhale deeply.  One whiff curtailed my desire for more olfactory stimulation.  I replaced the lid to the quart size jar and handed it back to the guide with a wrinkled nose.  He chuckled.  “Don’t like it, uh?”

I shook my head.

He smiled and nodded.  “Snakes no like either.”  He put the jar down under a ledge on top of a swirling pattern of sand where the most recent flowing water had eddied.

“Does it really work?” I questioned.

“You seen any rattlesnakes?” He grunted.

His logic stymied me.  Of course, we hadn’t seen any so in his mind the mixture of herbs offered up a very good snake repellent.  I was skeptical, but there was no practical way to prove him wrong.  And seriously, way down deep, I was hoping it really worked.  I had no desire to see another rattlesnake in the tight confines of a slot canyon.  The last time I had run into one in a slot canyon, it had proven to be a daunting encounter.  Neither one of us was happy about the sudden meeting and neither one of us could go anywhere.  Not a good thing.

Amidst the swirling patterns of rock and colorful reflections of light, we descended deeper into the canyon.  It wasn’t a technical canyon by any means, but it was ripe with beauty.  All of the technical requirements had been nullified by well fashioned stairs and ladders, allowing most everyone access to the hidden beauty cut deeply into the Navajo sandstone.

As I descended a set of stairs, I was still thinking about the snake repellent, and then suddenly that game called “Snakes and Ladders” popped into my head.  When I turned around and took this picture, all kinds of thoughts were darting through my head.  The beautiful glow above the stairway had me mesmerized and sent a fleeting thought of heaven through my mind.  Then I thought more about snakes which quickly sent me tiptoeing through the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man.  The image of the stairway launched me to Jacob’s dream and that eventually led me to write this article about Jacob’s Ladder and the fast-approaching Resurrection Sunday.  “Wow, Tad, that’s a lot of big jumps,” you say.  “Your train is going to derail!”  you cry.  “Are you feeling okay?”, you ask.  Yeah, I’m good.  Just hang with me, and I’ll try to put it all together.  Let’s begin with “Snakes and Ladders”.

Firstly, “Snakes and Ladders” is a classic board dice game that originated in India.  It initially didn’t carry that title, but when it migrated to England in the late 1800’s, it gained popularity and was sold under that name.  Much later, another version sailed over to the United States called “Chutes and Ladders”.  Throughout the years, the symbolism, philosophical aspects, and religious connotations of the game have nearly disappeared, but under the title of “Snakes and Ladders”, the game still offered a morality lesson.  Snakes were vices.  Ladders were virtues.  With a basic premise that good deeds took a player up, and bad deeds took a player down, the game had ladders of thrift, penitence, and industry and snakes of indulgence, disobedience, and indolence.  Earlier versions had ladders of generosity, faith, and humility and snakes of lust, anger, and theft.  To win was a combination of luck and a successful navigation of ladders and careful avoidance of snakes.  In the original Indian version, the main lesson taught in the game was that the attainment of salvation could be earned by performing good deeds.  Interesting, indeed!

Secondly, in the Garden of Eden and the resulting Fall of Man, the connection between God and Man was lost.  Sin created a disconnect in the relationship that needed desperately to be restored.  Unfortunately, Man was and is not able to restore it.  It is only through Gods’ provisions that we can reconnect with Him.  The Tower of Babel lends itself as a classic symbolic story of Man trying to reach heaven under his own terms, arrogance, and abilities.  It doesn’t work, and God doesn't accept it.  Make note that God scattered Man and his efforts across the face of the earth for trying to build the tower.

Thirdly, in Genesis Chapter 28, the story of Jacob’s ladder or stairway to heaven is outlined.  Briefly, in that Chapter, Jacob laid his head upon a rock and fell asleep.  While asleep, he dreamt that there was a ladder that reached from the earth up to heaven.  Upon that ladder or stairway, he saw the angels of God going up and down and, at the top, stood the Lord.  Within those passages of Scripture, God reaffirms to Jacob, a promise made to his grandfather, Abraham.  Then Jacob awakens and with fear exclaims, “What an awesome place this is!  It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!” Genesis‬ ‭28:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the story of Jacob’s Ladder, the ladder foreshadows and is highly symbolic.  In Jacob’s dream, God has already established a ladder or connection to earth.  That connection reestablishes the relationship between God and Man.  Notice that the connection is not built by Man.  It is NOT a set of virtues, good deeds, or good works that lead to salvation like in “Snakes and Ladders”.  On the contrary, salvation cannot be earned.  The connection is a provision supplied by God.  The ladder is a bridge.  The ladder is the key to all of the Gospel.  That ladder is a representation of Jesus Christ.  Christ is the connection between God and Man and He, alone, is the gateway to heaven.  For it is only upon the Ladder of Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lastly, Resurrection Sunday is nearly upon us.  As Christians, it should be one of the most celebrated days of the year.  It is a very special time.  In fact, it should be thought about, if not celebrated, every day of the year.  The fact that Christ conquered the grave and was resurrected from the dead is the reason we have hope of an eternal home in heaven.  Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.  

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

Romans‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In conclusion, the final rung of the ladder and the gateway to heaven was completed when that tomb stone was rolled away and the angel proclaimed, “Don’t be afraid!  I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He isn’t here!  He is risen from the dead.”