p. 8 | Jacob’s Ladder and Promise by Wm. Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1908

Jacob’s Ladder and Promise

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT

THE manner of communication between our world and the place where God dwells was illustrated to Jacob when, as a wayfaring man, he slept on the bare ground with a stone under his head for a pillow. In the dream he saw a ladder with its base on the ground where he slept, while its upper step reached up to heaven. On the ladder were angels continually bearing messages between heaven and earth. A sad, lonely sinner was sleeping at the terrestrial end of this heavenly stairway, and the Lord at the top of the ladder was telling the angel messengers to guard the troubled sinner while he slumbered. It is judged from the reading of the story that Jacob had not tithed his property at his father’s house before starting on his journey, and, too, that he retired to sleep without prayer. But the Lord wanted him to learn that he was observed in all his conduct by eyes that do not slumber.

When he awoke, the impression made

by the dream affected his mind in a peculiar way. Some things in the lesson astonished him: he had not previously known that God kept such close watch over all men in all their ways and in all parts of the earth. In the flush of his surprise he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” He had supposed that he was alone, sleeping apart from God, but the dream made him see that God had followed him on his way, and that when he lay down to rest, his bed, though supposed to be in a far-away spot, was at the very gate of heaven. Learning that God was keeping perpetual watch over him and his conduct, he there decided to yield all his interests to the control of the One who so cared for him.

Then he thought of the property that would be placed under his management if he should ever get back to his father’s house in peace; and in substance he said, “I will give a tithe of it all to the Lord just as soon as I can do so.” The birthright, which through his father’s will was transferring the financial interest of the family property from Esau to Jacob, was placing great responsibilities upon him, which would necessarily have to receive attention when he should again reach home.

Esau, Jacob’s brother, had been the supposed heir of Isaac’s estate; but not being conscientiously inclined toward the religion professed by his ancestors, he had probably neglected to pay a tithe into the Lord’s cause. Under the conditions which then existed at his father’s house, Jacob felt that no tithe would be paid until he could return to the house in peace, and attend to this business without passing through such a scene as he had witnessed on leaving home; therefore he said to the Lord: “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God. . . . And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” God’s dealings with Jacob in giving him this dream relating to providential care, and other evidences of his love, made the man feel that it would be a dangerous thing for him longer to neglect his duty to God and his cause in any way; and so under these influences he solemnly pledged before God that he would honestly tithe the property which was coming into his hands.

God is unchangeable in matters relating to his cause and his people; therefore he is still watching over all for their safety and for the good of his cause. If the Lord’s cause needed the tithe of all property that his people obtained in the days of Jacob, it most certainly needs it now. Surely the work that is now to be done in the world in giving the third angel’s message to every people, is as important as anything that has been done in the past. Then let all who handle property now know of a certainty that God is keeping an account with them that must be examined and balanced during the hour of judgment. Undoubtedly every business transaction is carefully noted in heaven. It was this thought that called forth the sacred tithing pledge from Jacob. As the angelic communication between heaven and earth was shown to him, he felt that he was called upon by the Lord to be faithful in tithing all that God should place in his hands. Should not all who read this article, and are thus again led to ponder over Jacob’s dream and sacred tithing vow, do as Jacob did when he first saw and felt the significance of this dream? Will you do it now?

Chicago, Ill.