A couple days ago I started my new lesson for next week's upcoming discussion in BSF that's based on Chapter 28 in Genesis. This part of the patriarchal story recounts Jacob leaving Canaan for Haran, after receiving an earnest blessing from his father Isaac. Esau, his twin brother, is still really angry and bitter about Jacob scheming to receive the firstborn blessing by tricking their father. Ahh yes, human history hasn't changed much over the millennia, since this tale is reminiscent of our modern telenovellas, or a Jerry Springer episode. As always, God's prophetic words to Rebekah, wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob, in Genesis 25:23 would come to pass despite any of their machinations to subvert God's will. As last week's BSF notes so eloquently reminded me... "The Lord is sovereign. God has all power and authority to fully accomplish His perfect will. God decrees and determines what will come to pass despite human opposition or failures. God's eternal purposes cannot be shaken." I am humbled and in awe of God's love for us, that He knows our heart's secrets and sinful human failings, yet still loves His creations in His own perfect will and timing.
This week our riveting Old Testament account continues, when Jacob is en route to his uncle Laban's home in Haran to find a wife. He has a dream one night in verse 12 about a "... a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." In the dream God spoke to Jacob from above this ladder, reiterating His covenant with Abraham through Isaac to Jacob.
This immediately reminded me of several visits we made to the city of Bath, in Somerset, England, and the Jacob's Ladder I saw there. Our main purpose was to tour the remains of the Roman baths, constructed and in use by circa 75 AD. However, we were delighted to see the adjacent Bath Abbey. Although a convent and monastery is recorded in history books to have been present on this site since the year since 675 AD, the current house of worship's original footprint was built in 1499. After Henry XIV's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1540s, it fell into disrepair and wasn't restored until 1611. Then it was expanded and further embellished beginning in the 1830s, lasting for almost 100 years.
The reason I'm blathering on with all of this Bath Abbey info, in addition to the fact that I'm a big history nerd, is the connection with Jacob's Ladder in Genesis Chapter 28 on the Abbey's exterior. I searched back through my not-so-great pics from trips I recalled to Bath in 2011 and 2013 to find some shots I took of the church, searching specifically for Jacob's ladder with the ascending and descending angels. Lo and behold, I found them.
In the two pictures above, you can see the ladders that run straight up either side on this exterior portion of the Abbey. I have a thing for doors, as evidenced by many of my travel pics when we were living abroad, and so I included one of the ornately carved doors located betwixt these two ladders. As someone who adores learning about the past, I can't help but imagine the hands who touched the doors as they passed in and out of the Abbey to worship. How many sunrises and sunsets have weathered these same doors to the aged patina we now see, witnessing the lives of those who learned about God's plan for His people within its walls. And how many more will they possibly see until Jesus returns in all His glory to gather up His church of believers. Beautifully carved wooden doors and stone ladders will come and go, but the word of God will stand forever and ever. Amen!
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