Photo of Jacob's ladder, by Wenceslas Hollar (1607-1677), from wikipedia.com
Every year in our Bible classes we do an overview of the scriptures using the Chronological Bible Story Cloth, which is 42 separate pictures of Biblical accounts throughout the Old and New Testaments woven together as one tapestry. This is a quick way to survey the whole Bible and see where the individual books fit into the metanarrative of the entire Bible as a singular story.
Each student is required to create a creative presentation of their chosen Biblical account and present it to the class. Every year there are excellent presentations that I choose to guest post and show off. Last year I posted a creative writing piece on Jacob wrestling with God, Jacob Deceiver, by Anna Rose O’Kelley. This year I have posted a poem, Fallen Angels, by Faneva Durandisse. Today I am posting The Staircase to Heaven, another creative writing piece, by Jayden Pettit.
The Staircase to Heaven
Guest post by Jayden Pettit
Jacob’s Ladder: Genesis 28:10-22
I, Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah have left Beersheba and am continuing on my journey to Haran. After walking many hours with a sore back and dirty, blistered feet to show for it, I have decided to bring my steady traveling to a halt. The thought of rest and a good meal spurs my movement as I quickly untangle the few things I possess at the moment and speedily lift my belongings off of my donkey’s back. I arrange them in such a way as to keep them safe from the elements and close to me as I sleep. I quickly start a fire with some of the dry brushwood that I have collected around the great fig tree under which I am resting.
The figs looked delicious but after eagerly biting into one I realized they were not quite ready for a human mouth to enjoy. I sit down and eat the meal of dried meat and thin tasty bread that I have brought from my father’s camp. I joyfully eat the last of my meal and dispose of the ashes that have provided warmth and comfort. At last I stretch and yawn with contentment and lay down to rest. After lying here several minutes, I agreed with myself that something is missing.
I sat up and rubbed my aching neck. I needed something to lay my head on so I can ease my neck from its painful cramping. I look around and spy a decent sized rock that’s flat enough not to cause any unnecessary discomfort. Finally comfortable, I close my quivering eyelids and drift into a pleasant sleep.
I was up in an instant, shielding my eyes from the sudden glare that filled the night sky. Panicking, I cover my face with my arms and fall to my knees. The glare subsides but I wait a few moments before cautiously peeking out from between my fingers. What I saw took my breath away. Standing in front of me was an Angel.
A beautiful face with a brilliant complexion that was almost impossible to look at. My eyes followed it as it nimbly shimmied up a ladder with colors so vibrant that nothing on earth can compare to its splendor. The beautiful ladder seemed to rest on the ground and following it up with my eyes until my head is resting on my shoulders, I perceived it to lead all the way up to the Heavens. At the top (of which I’m guessing is the top), I see the glory of God in all of His spender. Still on my knees, I bow my head to the ground, unable to speak out of fearful reverence to the Holy God.
I hear a deep and powerful voice that seems to vibrate within me. It says, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All the peoples of earth will be blessed through you and by your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
I awoke on my back, my head on the rock, of which I had used as a pillow. I sat up and rubbed my eyes trying to take in all the Lord had spoken to me. I got up and stretched, starring curiously at the flat rock. I picked it up and put it on its side against the tree as a pillar. I then poured oil on top of it and named it Bethel, saying if God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’ house, then the Lord will be my God.
And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house and of all that God gives to me, I will give God a tenth. I pack up my belongings and start on my journey again knowing the Lord will be with me wherever I go. With Him on my side, it is impossible to fail. The pillar that I set up will forever be a reminder that God is with me and will forever be with my descendants.
I sat up and rubbed my aching neck. I needed something to lay my head on so I can ease my neck from its painful cramping. I look around and spy a decent sized rock that’s flat enough not to cause any unnecessary discomfort. Finally comfortable, I close my quivering eyelids and drift into a pleasant sleep.
I was up in an instant, shielding my eyes from the sudden glare that filled the night sky. Panicking, I cover my face with my arms and fall to my knees. The glare subsides but I wait a few moments before cautiously peeking out from between my fingers. What I saw took my breath away. Standing in front of me was an Angel.
A beautiful face with a brilliant complexion that was almost impossible to look at. My eyes followed it as it nimbly shimmied up a ladder with colors so vibrant that nothing on earth can compare to its splendor. The beautiful ladder seemed to rest on the ground and following it up with my eyes until my head is resting on my shoulders, I perceived it to lead all the way up to the Heavens. At the top (of which I’m guessing is the top), I see the glory of God in all of His spender. Still on my knees, I bow my head to the ground, unable to speak out of fearful reverence to the Holy God.
I hear a deep and powerful voice that seems to vibrate within me. It says, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All the peoples of earth will be blessed through you and by your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
I awoke on my back, my head on the rock, of which I had used as a pillow. I sat up and rubbed my eyes trying to take in all the Lord had spoken to me. I got up and stretched, starring curiously at the flat rock. I picked it up and put it on its side against the tree as a pillar. I then poured oil on top of it and named it Bethel, saying if God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’ house, then the Lord will be my God.
And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house and of all that God gives to me, I will give God a tenth. I pack up my belongings and start on my journey again knowing the Lord will be with me wherever I go. With Him on my side, it is impossible to fail. The pillar that I set up will forever be a reminder that God is with me and will forever be with my descendants.
That's terrific, Jayden -- the next Milton, for sure :) (M. Boyer)
ReplyDelete