Climbing Jacob's Ladder

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Longing for More - St. Johns Harbour
We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder
Soldiers of the Cross.

Every rung goes higher higher
Every rung goes higher higher
Every rung goes higher higher
Soldiers of the Cross

Sinner do you love my Jesus
Sinner do you love my Jesus
Sinner do you love my Jesus
Soldiers of the Cross

(Add verses as they occur to you.)

We used to sing this chorus although with no idea what Jacob’s Ladder actually referred to, where this ditty came from or what loving Jesus could possibly have to do with ladder climbing. In short—I read now—it’s a slave spiritual likely far more significant for its “singability,” its “lilt” than for its message, which was probably related to hardship and the hope for a better life in Christ, symbolized by climbing out of this earthly abyss toward heaven. “Image appropriation,” I’d say.

A nice choral performance of it is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcW3U9ljdP0

So I’m looking forward to this morning at Eigenheim Mennonite where Ken will focus on Jacob’s dreams in Genesis, hopefully beyond the simplistic interpretation that you’re bound to have bizarre nightmares if, while in a panic about the intentions of your perverse brother, Esau, you sleep outside with a rock for a pillow!


And then there’s Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven . . ..

And then there’s the wrestling all night with a god/man who throws out your hip . . ..

Genesis 28: 10-22; Genesis 32: 22-31

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