Week 6 · Old Testament · about 3 minutes · 198 words
🪜 Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob runs away, sleeps on a stone, and dreams that heaven is nearer than he thought.
Jacob had tricked his brother and had to leave home. The road was lonely. When the sun went down, he had no guest room, so he lay on the ground with a stone for a pillow. Stones are hard pillows. Jacob was tired enough to sleep anyway.
In a dream he saw a stairway reaching from the earth all the way to heaven. Angels were going up and down on it. Above it stood the Lord. God did not say, “I will find you when you become a better man.” He said, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back.”
Jacob woke up startled. “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He set the stone upright as a reminder and called the place Bethel, the house of God. The runaway had discovered that God had gone with him.
You might feel far from home, or far from being the kid you want to be. God is not only in church buildings. He can meet you on an ordinary night and promise, “I am with you.” Your bed can be a Bethel too.
“Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.””
Genesis 28:15 · Genesis 28
Say it
Practice Genesis 28:15
Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.
Behold,Iamwithyou,andwillkeepyou,yougo,andwillbringyouagainintothisland.ForIwillnotleaveyou,IhavedonewhichIhavespokenoftoyou.”
Talk about it
- Why was Jacob sleeping outside?
- What promise did God make in the dream?
- Where do you sometimes forget that God is already there?
Prayer
Lord, even if I feel far away, you are in this place. Watch over me wherever I go, and bring me rest tonight. Amen.
Parent tip
Skip the family trickery details for younger listeners and stay with the dream and the promise.
Week 6 · the whole night
🪜 Jacob’s Ladder
Story, coloring page, word search, and the verse to trace.