COME AS A CHILD LESSON 76 JACOB ENCOUNTERS A WOMAN BY A WELL IN A FIELD

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

After an amazing time of worship at Bethel, Jacob continues his journey toward the house of Rebekah’s brother.   He was still in hiding from Esau, and he was still in pursuit of a suitable wife.

Eventually Jacob comes to the land of The Eastern People.  This does not mean the people of the east in general, but is referring to  the eastern limits of the migrations of Abraham’s family.  It is most likely the area close to the Euphrates River in northern Syria and Southeastern Turkey, which was near the location of Haran during the time of Jacob’s life.

While traveling down the open country road Jacob sights a well where three flocks of sheep are grazing, and waiting to be watered.  Their shepherds were with them and they stood talking to each other around the well.

Wells in this dry land were very valuable and often hard to maintain.  Anyone raising livestock needed access to well water.  This was dry desert land and the winds often blew the shifting sands inside open wells which stopped them up and ruined their use.  Also the sun shining down so hot often evaporated small supplies of uncovered water.    It was good to keep a well covered, and this one was protected. 

 Jacob noticed that the top of the well was covered with a very large heavy stone.  The stone was large enough that it usually took three people to move it away and replace it over the covering of the well again after the flocks were watered.  The size of the stone and the requirement for so many to move it probably kept people who were unwanted from having easy access to the well, and it also kept people passing by from using up the water supply without asking permission.  Animals could not fall inside and get trapped in the well either.  There were many reasons for this protective covering.

    

All of the shepherds were standing around with their flocks, just waiting.  Jacob wondered why they would be wasting this good grazing time while the sun was still high in the sky.  Why didn’t they just remove the stone and water their flocks?  He was soon to discover the reason.

He greeted the men and asked them where they were from.  They told him they were from Haran.  So Jacob asked them if they knew Laban, Nahor’s grandson.  They replied that they did.

“Is he well?” Jacob asked.

“Yes, he is well, as a matter of fact here comes his daughter Rachel now with his sheep.”

They all had been waiting on Rachel to arrive.  This told Jacob that the well probably belonged to Laban and he was allowing them to use the water after his own livestock were watered.

 

The beautiful daughter of Laban was a shepherdess.  This was not an unusual occupation for a young lady in these parts.  The sheep were always tended either by the bondservant or the youngest child in the family.  Rachel was Laban’s youngest daughter.   The other shepherds had been waiting on her to bring Laban’s sheep so that they could drink first and then they all would be invited to share the bounty of Laban’s well.

When Jacob saw Rachel he quickly rushed to her side, pulled the huge stone that usually took three people to move off the opening of the well all by himself, and proceeded to water her sheep. 

Rachel must have been greatly surprised and impressed with his actions.  Jacob became overwhelmed with joy on finding out that God had led him straight to Laban’s household.  He was so happy to have found Rachel here!

When Jacob first gazed into Rachel’s eyes, he fell instantly in love. 

He explained to Rachel that he was a relative, and she quickly ran to tell her brother Laban who rushed out to meet Jacob and welcome him into the family household.  Laban exclaimed over and over that he was glad to see someone of his own flesh and blood, and he invited Jacob to stay at his home for as long as he liked.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE - THE REFLECTION OF CHRIST IN NEHEMIAH

Written by:  Sheila Gail Landgraf

 There is hardly a story in the Old Testament that does not shadow the story of Jesus Christ.  We can see Christ in the stories of all of the ancient people of God; Moses, Abraham, Joshua, Joseph, David, and believe it or not - Nehemiah; that little minor prophet that people mistakenly find so boring.

     My Mother always told me; "if you think someone is boring it is because you do not know them very well."  So one day I got to know Nehemiah.  How surprised I was to find The Face of Christ revealed through his obscure personality.   It really hit me one day as I was reading the following scripture passage:

Nehemiah 2:  11-18
11-So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 
12-Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me;  I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, nor was there any animal with me except the one on which I rode. 
13-And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and The Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 
14-Then I went on to The Fountain Gate and to The King's Pool, but there was not room for the animal that was under me to pass. 
15-So I went up in the night by the valley and viewed the wall;then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 
16-And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the Priests, The Nobles,The Officials, or The Others Who Did the Work.
17- Then I said to them:  "You see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire.  Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."
18-And I told them of the Hand of My God which had been good upon me and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me.  So they said, "Let us rise up and build."  
Then they sat their hands to do this good work.




     Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king of Persia.  He got word that the walls of the city containing the temple where his ancestors had worshipped at Jerusalem were destroyed and in need of restoration.  He spoke to the king and obtained permission to leave the king for a while in order to supervise and oversee the repairs to the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah agreed to return to the king once the work was finished.

     Jesus Christ - The Greatest Cupbearer of All - had knowledge that the lives of the people of God had been destroyed by the enemy (satan), and He grieved to know that the people of God were in need of a great restoration.  He spoke to God The Father (The King of Heaven), and obtained permission for The Incarnation.  Changing from God to God in Man, (in comparison to Nehemiah changing from Royal Cupbearer to a common day-laborer), He left the Kingdom of Heaven for awhile to come to earth to oversee the restoration of a nation.  He promised God The Father, The King of Heaven, that he would return to The Kingdom once His work on earth was done.

     Referencing the scriptures we see in the sequence of events that after a long and tiring journey Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and felt compelled to stay in Jerusalem for three days and three nights before beginning the restoration of the walls.  Again, we glimpse a shadow of Christ spending three days and three nights in the grave before arising to restore the walls of salvation for the people of God. 
    
     Nehemiah is quoted many times saying "I will arise and build."  Jesus Christ rose from the grave and began the work of building The Kingdom of God.  His one desire was to arise and build a nation of people with hearts for God. 

     As the story progresses verse 12 speaks of Nehemiah setting out at night with a few good men at his side.  He notes "I had not told anyone what God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem."  This brings to mind the parallel of Jesus Christ setting out in the black night of a sin filled world with a few disciples at His side.  Jesus is quoted in The Gospel of John, Chapter 14, speaking to His disciples:  "And now I have told you before it comes, that when it comes to pass you may believe."  The few men surveying the walls of Jerusalem at night with Nehemiah were the first to see and understand his plan for restoration.  As these men walked through the ruins with him, Nehemiah prayed to God about the walls and sought God's help and guidance in this restoration.  The men at Nehemiah's side saw the "before" picture of the walls, a picture of wreck, ruin and devastation.  How patiently Nehemiah showed the "before" picture to these "few good men" knowing that when they saw the "after" picture of the restoration of the walls they would remember this day and give glory to God because they would come to believe in the God of Nehemiah during the whole process.  In walking with him, they saw how Nehemiah openly trusted in God and consulted with Him even before the first day of work for the plan of restoration. 

     The disciples, living at the feet of Jesus, were the first to see His plan of restoration.  As they walked through life with Jesus they heard Him pray to God for help and guidance in the restoration of the world.  The disciples living and working with Jesus saw the "before" picture of mankind; a picture of brokenness, wreck, ruin, decay and devastation, so similar to Nehemiah's first glimpse of the walls of Jerusalem.

     Jesus wanted the disciples to see and understand how broken mankind had become.  He spoke of this while He was with them, so that in the day of His resurrection they would remember all that He had taught them and give glory to God and believe on The Name of Jesus. 

     Moving on through the scripture passage, Nehemiah records something that seems insignificant at first.     He says in verse 12 "there were no animals with me, except the one I was riding on."   Considering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ makes this sentence much clearer to us.  All of a sudden this passage becomes very significant.  Of course there were no animals.  No animal sacrifice would have been sufficient.  Only the sacrifice of a perfect One, Jesus Christ, could restore us to God and recreate the kingdom that God had first created and planned for us from the foundation of the world.  There were no animals sufficient for the sacrifice that Jesus provided.  He came bringing His own precious life, and He rode into the city on the back of a donkey.  In this triumphant entry he rode the animal that signified peace, but the animal only bore him into the city, it could not replace Him as the sacrifice.  He rides into His own City as The King of Peace, but only a few faithful men recognized Him as Who He was, much like Nehemiah riding at night with his few good men. 

     Nehemiah comes on his horse to the Valley Gate.  Verse 13 states; "by night Nehemiah went out by the Valley Gate."  Many years into the future, beyond the days of Nehemiah, Jesus too goes through a valley gate.  He goes through The Valley Of The Shadow of Death, as mentioned in Psalm 23.  Nehemiah's horse is symbolic of war, much different from the donkey of peace.  Jesus was riding a donkey, He could not ride the horse of war through the Valley Gate.  He did not fight against the death that He knew awaited Him.  He laid down His life willingly without a fight.  So, we hear that "the horse could not pass through."  It was not the time for the horse of war.  Jesus walked to the cross and to a gruesome death.

     The passage in Nehemiah's story mentions the Jackal Well, and the Dung Gate, and in almost the same breath; Nehemiah is pictured "examining the walls" of Jerusalem.   One can't help but to see Jesus in this act.  We see Him on the cross, examining our sins, taking them upon Himself, letting them become a weight laid upon Him that brings about His death and suffering.  The Dung Gate represents the dirt and filth of our sins that were laid upon Him. 

     Nehemiah looks around in the place where he is standing and observes the walls that are broken and the gates that are destroyed by fire.  Jesus on the cross looked around at the ugliness of mankind while He hung there for hours with all of us mocking and laughing and taking no pity on His suffering.  He sees the brokenness of our lives.  He sees the weak places in our walls.  He sees where we have fallen down and been divided.  It is so ugly that no one else could have bared to look upon it.   He gazes down from the cross with His eyes full of love.  He does what He must do while He is here in this moment of history.  He comes to us just as we are and looks straight into our ugliness and examines our hearts.  He does not see the ugliness.  He does not see the brokenness.  His eyes are special and full of mercy.  He sees like Nehemiah examining the walls, only what God originally  intended to be.  He sees us as God first designed us.    God gives Nehemiah a glimpse of how the walls will look when they are fulfilling their true purpose and design.  God gives him hope of the future of the walls of his beloved city returning to their original state of glory and majesty.

     When we can get a glimpse of hope from God, anything is possible. 

     In verse 14 Nehemiah begins to move toward the Fountain Gate and The King's Pool.  Here is a new turn of events.  Jesus came to a time of turning too.  In His ascension, He rose up to Heaven and sent us The One He had promised, The Holy Spirit.

     The Fountain Gate of Nehemiah's time represented the refreshment of The Holy Spirit.  The water was known for its freshness, its clear, pure qualities.  Now Jesus has shown us the living waters of the fountain of heaven, where we can drink freely and be restored to life everlasting, just like the restoration of the walls around Jerusalem in the story of Nehemiah.

     Here, Nehemiah mentions that animal he was riding again;  "there was not enough room for any mount to get through."  At the Fountain Gate there is peace, the Peace of The Lord, and there is no need for the horse of war.  It is here that the horse of war must be left outside, because it cannot squeeze through into the heavenly places where war has been defeated.  Here at the Fountain Gate, many come seeking the waters.  It is a crowded place.  People are pushing and crowding to get nearer and nearer to Jesus and to the living Water that He brings.  Jesus waits patiently by the Fountain, waiting for each one who comes.  He will meet you there, if you just push on through the crowd and find him.

     Finally, Nehemiah turns back toward where he started.  After a very careful look at every detail of the walls, he turns and reenters the valley through the same Valley Gate.  Jesus Christ, having ascended into heaven is sitting at the right hand of The Father now.  He is there looking down at the walls of our lives.  He is examining us, talking with us, pointing out the things that He wishes us to see and do to those walls that surround His Church, His Bride.

     We must speak with him now, this moment, while He is sitting in the place of Peace, because the day is coming when He will leave the place in the Heavens again and He will reenter this earth.  He will walk again through the dark valley and through the earth full of forgiven sinners.  When He begins to reenter that Valley gate again, there will be times on earth of trials and tribulations like there has never been before, or ever will be again.

     In verse 16 Nehemiah says "The officials did not know where I had gone, or what I was doing, because as yet, I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work."  Jesus didn't speak to the Pharisees and the religious rulers of His day.  He spoke only to his little band of followers, those earthy men who trusted in Him.  Even today, as He speaks from Heaven, He doesn't always speak to the rulers and famous religious leaders, but often He speaks to the poor, humble, gentle, loving people of God who are following His lead and listening to His voice in their lowly lives. 

     When Jesus Christ returns to earth, just as when Nehemiah turned around from following the destruction of the walls, one of the first things Jesus's eyes may see, will be the same picture that Nehemiah saw in those days - Jerusalem lying in ruins.  That Holy City that He loved.  Jerusalem's gates may still be burned with fire.  But Our Lord will turn to His people and say (just as Nehemiah said to his men)  "Come - let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

     And "So they began the good work," in the days of Nehemiah - in the days of Christ, in the days of our lives.  What a beautiful picture of the face of Nehemiah, the face of Christ, the hope of restoration of a Kingdom and a Nation.

     All this is beautiful to think of, and wonderful to look forward to, but how can we apply this story in a practical way to our own lives right now?

     Nehemiah put much prayer and thought into this work of God.  He only listened to what the Lord had to say, so he only did things the way the Lord wanted them done.  He told the people to start right where they were living.  They each were instructed to build the walls along the portion of the city that they lived the closest to.

     What an inspiration for the church today.  We just have to start with our own place in the wall.  We live out a witness in our own homes and our own families, and our own neighborhoods.  We stand for God in our work places, and our social activities in the community.  We simply have to start in the place that God put us, and we can begin to grow out from our own home base.

     In Nehemiah's day, the beginning of the building started first in a spot that was deemed the most important place in the wall.  It was the wall around the Sheep Gate.  This gate represents Jesus, our Good Shepherd.  This is the gate mentioned in John 5:2,  the gate beside the pool of Bethesda.  It is the gate beside the pool with five porches, which could easily stand for five types of ministry.  This is the gate where the sheep were washed and brought into the temple for sacrifice.  Here we are washed of our sins, just like the sheep in Nehemiah's day.  The priest who offered up the scarifies were required to live in this area.  They had to live next to The Sheep Gate.

     At the time of Nehemiah the High Priest's name was Eliashib.  "El" means "God."  "Yashib" means "to go back."  Reading backwards as the Hebrews do - we can hear a message even in the name of the high priest who worked at this gate.  The message says "go back to God" - or REPENT.

So it is recorded by Nehemiah that the wall around the Sheep Gate was built by one whose names meant "repent."  This gate is the perfect Old Testament picture of the New Testament sacrifice of The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  This gate shows us the cross. 

     We are lead to think immediately of the prophet Isaiah's great words about Jesus, "as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth."  (Isa. 53:7).   At the Sheep Gate of our lives there is a principle of death at work.  It is the death of the natural self.  It is the way we come to our own cross.  We are called to obey Christ, to follow Him and to walk with Him.  That means that some of our desires, some of our natural longings must be put to death.  That is the principle of the cross.  This is a gate that must be kept in repair if we want to grow into a strong Christian.

     A gate is an opening.  The cross symbolized by this Sheep Gate, is an opening to God.  A beginning.

     On each side of the Sheep gate the walls lead to two towers, one tower in each direction.  The first tower is named "Meah."  "Meah" means "Hundred."  The second tower is called The Tower of Hananeel - which means - "God is gracious and merciful."  "Hanan" means "gracious and merciful."  "El" means "God."  Reading backwards we have "God is gracious and merciful."

     Reading the gate and the wall by the meaning of the names of the places in the wall we come to see an Old Testament message with a New Testament meaning:  "The walls of Salvation built by one named "repentance" stands between two tall towers that say "God is gracious and merciful to hundreds."

     In  the Old Testament, in the story of Nehemiah, there is a gate of sacrifice in the middle of a wall of salvation called The Sheep gate that opens the way to God for mankind.  This beautiful picture that God has painted for those with eyes to see, just like a thousand other Old Testament pictures of Christ, brings us hope.  It is a reason to hold on to our belief in God and to cling to our faith in all circumstances, even when we appear to be as broken as Nehemiah's walls.

     The people of Nehemiah's day were in transition.  They probably thought the great days of God with their nation had passed, and that all of God's great deeds had been done.  They had lost any sense of mission, any sense of calling, any sense of challenge.  As a result, they almost missed their chance to see God act powerfully among them.  They almost missed the chance to experience His reclaiming them as His beloved people all over again.  Isn't that much as our world is today?  Where are the Nehemiahs today?

     Thank God for Nehemiah pointing the way to Christ, and thank God if you can find a modern Nehemiah hiding in the culture we live in today.  In an amazing period of just 52 days - under constant threat of attack - the walls of Jerusalem were raised.

     It seems to be the way of our people today to constantly groan.   They groan and morn, and sit and wait for things to change.  Not the case with Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was willing to DO something.  He makes the journey to Jerusalem himself, after convincing the king that he should be allowed to go.  He brings with him leadership.  The walls were torn down and needed rebuilding.  There were no gates of protection.  The people themselves needed to be rebuilt.  The walls became the metaphor for the broken people.  Nehemiah was not just mending a wall - he was mending a nation.

     With Nehemiah's Godly leadership, the people of God once again became great, because they were willing to work together to accomplish a common goal.  Everyone pitched in to do the work.  Everyone but those who opposed the work that God had lead Nehemiah to do, that is.  There were those who did everything they could to stop the rebuilding of the walls and gates of the city.  These Godly people handled much adversity and opposition to obtain the restoration of their city.

     
Because of Nehemiah's Godly leadership and the people's spirit of unity, a broken, disorganized, discouraged bunch of individuals who were alienated from God and from one another transitioned into a strong, well-organized committed and proud community.  They were rededicated to God, recommitted to each other, and respected by their enemies.

God's people don't change much through time.  They still face similar dilemmas and they still ask the same hard questions.  They consistently have their periods of doubt and faith.  But true men and women of God keep looking toward a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God.  Like the few good men in the days of Nehemiah, they look to the future with the hope of a restored Kingdom, where God is in the midst, and they shall not be moved.



    
           

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 75 JACOB'S DREAM

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Even after all that happened, we read in the scriptures that Isaac called Jacob to him and blessed him.  So, Jacob got the birthright, Esau’s blessing 
and a blessing of his own.  Jacob became the most blessed man on earth.

These were the words of the blessing spoken specifically over Jacob:

"May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.  May He give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham."

After Isaac blessed Jacob; he instructed him NOT to marry a Canaanite woman.  Isaac sent Jacob away just as Rebekah had requested, to find a wife in Paddan Aram, at the house of Rebekah’s father; Bethuel. Rebekah’s brother Laban had several daughters from which Jacob could chose a wife. 

When Esau heard that Jacob had been blessed and sent away and commanded not to marry a Canaanite woman, but to marry a woman from his mother’s household, he realized how displeased he had made his parents by marrying Canaanite women.  To remedy this, Esau went to Ishmael and asked permission to marry his daughter Mahalath, in addition to the two wives he already had. 

In the meantime, while Esau was marrying again, Jacob was on the way to Harran to find his first wife. 

He reached a certain place in his journey where he stopped for the night.  He found a stone and used it as a pillow for his head and he laid down to 
sleep.

Jacob then dreamed a dream where he saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to heaven and angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  Above the ladder stood the LORD who said “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land upon 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 people on earth will be blessed through you and 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.”

Surely God had spoken to Jacob in this place the same as He had spoken to Abraham before him in this same place.  Abraham had built an altar and worshiped God on this very spot, but probably Jacob had no knowledge of this.  The promises of God were confirmed by God to both men in this same spot.

When Jacob woke up from this dream he thought “Surely the LORD was in this place, and I was not even aware of it!”  He was frightened with a fear of awe just thinking about this, and he said “How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate to heaven.”

So he took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar.  He poured oil on top of it and called the place “Bethel.”  Before Jacob renamed it, this place was part of the city called Luz.

There are many old legends that are told of the city called Luz.  The fables are many and they describe an old almond tree with a hollow trunk that leads to a cave that takes you to the city that is surrounded by walls that cannot be penetrated.  Only those who know the way may enter.  People standing on high mountains far away can look down and see the city, but they cannot know how to enter it.  Only those who have learned the secret of the almond tree may go inside the cave that leads to the ancient city of Luz.  It is said that inside the city there is no sin and people have immortal life for as long as they live there.  Of course, these are made up stories, only used to teach wisdom to young children in ancient times.  

Jacob's dream, however, was real and true!  It is noted by some that Jacob gave truth to the place by naming it Bethel where the pagan inhabitants of Luz only knew fables fed by stories that were untrue.  Bethel was the name given to the place, but for many years after Jacob's dream the city itself was still called Luz.  Both names in the Hebrew language have meanings that relate to sanctuary, Bethel meaning "House of God."  Luz meaning "refuge" or "sanctuary" and the renaming seems to connote that the experiences of Jacob would build a house in a place of refuge and that God's people would find sanctuary from this place.

Jacob then made a vow to God stating that if God would be with him and would watch over him on his journey and give him food to eat and clothes to wear so that he could return safely to his father’s household, that the LORD would be his God and this stone that he set up as a pillar would be the cornerstone for God’s house.  Jacob vowed to give a tenth of all that God gave him back to God. 

We have heard of people bringing their offerings of first fruits to God all through the old testament stories so far, so giving back to God has always been emphasized, since the days in The Garden of Eden; but this time, at Bethel, is the first time we officially hear of anyone calling the amount to give back to God a “tenth.”   In the harvest days it had been called an "omer."   It would seem evident that God’s people tithing a tenth of all they are blessed with to God originated at Bethel with Jacob after the night of this special dream. 

Noting the conditions of God's promises to Jacob we can assume that his vow to tithe one tenth of his blessings from God related to God bringing about the ownership of the land he had promised.  Jacob did not obtain these blessings, hence the vow of the tithe was passed on to his descendants who did possess the land.  The vow of Jacob was given in relation to God fulfilling His promises first.  That promise of the land was what Jacob was referring to when he promised to give one tenth back to God.  God remembered this vow of Jacob and implemented it into the law given later when the Israelites inherited the promise land.  

So you might say that Jacob was the first to vow a tithe much like the system that is used in churches today.  However, Jacob's tithe was not promised for anything except the prosperity of the promised land.  He did not forget or overlook his vow to God, he simply did not get to see the gift of the promised land in his lifetime.  God's promise and Jacob's vow were specifically stated to include Jacob's descendants.

 Many churches today look back to Genesis 28 and read the last verse and relate it as a reason for giving the tithe of ten percent.  Jacob saw in his vision that God was establishing a "house" on earth and Jacob was pledging to help however he could in making that "house" come about as well as the means to provide the maintenance for it.  Most people don't get that part of the story.  They do not realize that Jacob was the first man to see a vision for a temple and to see a need for a priesthood to care for it and to desire to provide for that priesthood and the maintenance of God's House on earth.  Jacob wasn't bargaining with God in asking for provisions for his journey.  He was simply stating that if God would allow him to have what he needed to return to the land of his father that he would honor the wishes of God in every way that he could.  Jacob's eyes were opened to the greatness of God and the way that God had been looking after the descendants of Abraham for years and years now.  Jacob could see now that every blessing he had clearly came from God and every blessing that he would ever obtain in the future would also come from God.  Jacob had a new reverence for the power and might of God.

This story is also the first time we hear of any man wanting to establish a “house” for God.  Because Jacob had seen the ladder in the dream that led up to the throne of God, he began to call the place The House of God.  Jacob knew that God actually lived in this place, because he had seen it in his vision.  Why would anyone build a house for God anywhere else?  This spot was the place where Jacob had seen God.  

This story of Jacob’s ladder has been pondered by men for years and years.  The Jewish theologians have used the symbolism of the ladder to represent achieving different levels of spiritual enlightenment.  If you read those stories, please be careful of paganism.  They reek with it.  Men cannot achieve spiritual levels, only God can grant that. Men do not evolve into little gods, but God dwelling in a man makes him a better man.   It is not up to mere men, it is up to God and He does this how and when He pleases, not by our human and unholy accomplishments.  

As you can tell from the comments above, I disagree with this theory. I disagree because I know the only true enlightenment is that which comes from Christ, The Messiah.  It makes for pretty word pictures though and provokes thought.  Be careful what you think.  The mind of God is way beyond our finding out!

A million stories have risen from this one incident of Jacob's dream.  It is one of the most significant dreams ever known to men.  There are many explanations and theories as to exactly what this vision represented.  

To start with I think the dream clearly confirms to Jacob that God is still God and that the same God of Abraham is looking after Him, just as previously promised.  It clearly states that God meant it when he made the covenant with Abraham and He is keeping it through Jacob and his descendants.  

Others had told Jacob about God's covenant with Abraham, but now GOD was telling him, which must have truly helped Jacob’s faith to come alive.  Jacob had reasons to doubt his own purpose.  He was well aware of his sins of deception and lies.  For a short time he must have thought his power was coming from his own craftiness.  Then he realized how terribly wrong he had been.  He must have been ashamed and embarrassed.    He might have thought God would never see or hear him again after all that had transpired.  Apparently, Isaac, his earthly father, had forgiven him.  Jacob must have wondered if his heavenly Father would forgive him too.  Jacob's dream is a picture of God's mercy, grace and love for mankind.  Jacob in all of his sins, running away in fear represents all men living outside of God's will.  God comes to them in their imperfections and saves them from their selves.    

I have also come to believe that God was showing Jacob in this dream the way that Heaven and Earth would eventually be reconnected.  God would certainly use Jacob in this plan!  The Way, as we have all come to know is Jesus Christ, and He is represented by this ladder in the dream.  Christ is a bridge of grace and mercy that connects heaven and earth.   It is through the line of Jacob that Christ would come to be incarnated and dwell with men. 

Christ is the only One who has ever been able to bridge the gap between heaven and earth.  Jesus made Jacob’s ladder a reality for all of us.  Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth, our way to God’s dwelling.  We can climb the ladder (or the stairwell as it is more correctly translated), but without it we are hopeless in finding our way to heaven.  Jesus is the way, He is the stairway to heaven.

It is interesting to read the words of Adam Clarke, an early 19^th Century Methodist, who wrote on the subject:   He said,  “That by the angels of God ascending and descending, it is to be understood that a perpetual intercourse should now be opened between heaven and earth, through the medium of Christ, who was God manifested in the flesh.  Our blessed Lord is represented in his mediatorial capacity as the Ambassador of God to men; and the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, is a metaphor taken from the custom of dispatching couriers or messengers from the prince to his ambassador in a foreign court, and from the ambassador back to the prince.”   

Well said Mr. Clark!  Jesus Christ is The Prince of Peace.  The angels are His heavenly ambassadors, and all believers are his earthly ambassadors.  The angels come and go with reports of the earth.  We lift our prayers and petitions up to heaven through Jesus.   Jesus alone gives us entry into heaven.  He is the door, the light and the way.  

Jacob's dream testified to all of us that God's grace and patience with mankind was clearly still in tact.  Despite Jacob's shortcomings, God was still faithfully at work building His people and His Kingdom.  God hears and does not forget Jacob's vow.  Jacob hears and does not forget God's promises.  Step by step the Kingdom is being built.  Stone upon stone the building is put together.   The pillar and foundation stone to the Temple of God was found by Jacob and anointed at Bethel.  The fabels of the land were dissolving and the truth of God was coming to the promised land day by day, minute by minute, generation by generation.  God never changes.  He always keeps His promises.

FOOD ART AND FAMILY TRADITIONS: HOW TO HAVE A GLUTEN FREE SUMMER

Well, here we are towards the end of August.  This summer has passed like the blink of an eye! 

So many people are trying to squeeze all the worth out of those last days of summer by planning end-of-summer gatherings with family and friends. 

 Sometimes all you need for fellowship is to relax over a cup of coffee or share a good meal.  If you can’t rent a house at the beach this year, just take some time off work and have guests into your home for a few days.  Talk, look at photos, play music, watch movies, take a walk around the neighborhood, visit the local pub, take in the local attractions together.

I love doing this. This year though, I’ve had to educate myself a bit more, because I’m finding so many of my friends have developed reactions to certain types of foods, particularly gluten. 

Gluten is a natural protein that is found in wheat, barley, rye and oats.  You find gluten products in flour, rye bread, bulgar and graham crackers.  I’ve had to teach myself how to cook meals that won’t bother a person who must eat gluten-free, after all, I want them to feel right at home at my house, and if they must eat gluten-free food, I want to make that available, but with as little fuss as possible. 

When these people visit, I’ve tried to find gluten free food and recipes that everyone in the house can eat and enjoy with them.   If you don’t mention to everyone that you are eating gluten-free, they just think you’ve come up with some imaginative new recipes. 

It also helps to know which products on the market you can buy that do not contain gluten.  I like to make breakfast at my house during the week days a serve-yourself occasion.  I’ll typically put a tray out on the kitchen table full of cereal, grits, oat meal, etc., in the easy-to-fix packets and  a bowl of fresh fruits (bananas, apples, oranges,grapes, grapefruit, etc.) and an assortment of fresh home-made bread/muffins/bagels with a pretty dish of butter, jam, honey and jelly.  I’ll include a stack of bowls and saucers on the table with some pretty paper napkins and some silverware.   There is usually skim milk and fresh orange juice in the refrigerator, and I’ll  brew a pot of coffee when I get out of bed, or the person who rises before me will see the coffee supplies on the counter by the coffee pot.  This way everyone can come to the table at their own waking-up time, and help themselves to whatever makes them happy.  The day starts with very little work or stress, but everyone is usually filled and satisfied.  On the weekends we might break this routine and cook eggs and biscuits, or waffles or pancakes, or a breakfast casserole.

I pondered how this routine would work with a gluten-free diet.  I found that Chex cereal, as well as some Rice Krispy cereals have many gluten-free products.  Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex, Cinnamon Chex, Apple Cinnamon Chex, Rice Chex and Corn Chex are all gluten free.   Wheat Chex and Multi-grain Chex are NOT gluten free.  The Chex cereal selection gives me a good glutten-free start on my usual breakfast tray.  I’m going to put some fresh blueberries, bananas and strawberries in my fruit bowl.  All of these would be tasty in the cereal with skim milk.

If you browse the website at gluttenfreely.com, you can find a lot of suitable products that are gluten free.  For instance, Bisquick can be bought gluten-free, just check the box label when you shop. Chebe makes a gluten-free cinnamon roll mix.  A company called UDI’s makes several gluten-free breads and breakfast bread selections, such as raisin bread and cinnamon bread as well as a multi-grained bread.  They also make bagels.  Don’t go overboard here though, these mixes are much higher priced when they come pre-cooked and pre-packaged.  I’ve started stocking up my pantry with them just a few at a time when I have a little extra to spend on groceries.  With all of these good healthy choices, my breakfast tray can stay stocked through the week without a bit of extra work.

I like for lunch to be light and easy, sandwiches, soups, pastas, salads, etc.  Here are a few lunch recipes I found for a good gluten free lunch:  Cebe makes a gluten-free pizza mix and so does Bisquick.  Even better, UDI’s has a pre-packaged gluten free pizza crust.  Just follow the instructions for baking the crust, top with your favorite toppings, and add some cheese.  Pizza is great for lunch!

Here is a good chicken salad recipe that can either be served up in lettuce cups or served like I make it;  molded into a chicken salad cheesecake:

Asian Chicken Salad Pie (or) with Lettuce Cups

• 2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
• 4 medium green onions, diagonally sliced (1/4 cup)
• 1 can (8 oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup gluten free spicy peanut sauce (from 7-oz bottle)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 24 small (about 3 inch) Bib lettuce leaves (about 1 1/2 heads), breaking larger leaves into smaller size
• 1/2 cup chopped gluten free roasted salted peanuts
• Sometimes I put my chicken salad recipes into a cheesecake spring-form pan, and use the crushed nuts around the sides when it is turned out on a cake stand.  Makes for a pretty presentation.

Preparation:

1. In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except lettuce and peanuts.
2. Spoon about 2 tablespoons chicken mixture onto each lettuce leaf. Sprinkle with peanuts.

Makes a nice, lite lunch that doesn’t leave you feeling too stuffed in the middle of the day.  Great with a little hot tea and lemon.

Another lite and easy lunch recipe is Grilled Chicken Tacos:

Grilled Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
• 1/3 cup chunky-style salsa
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 8 soft corn tortillas (6 inch), warmed
• 1/4 cup gluten-free shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (1 oz)
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free reduced-fat sour cream

Preparation:

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In shallow dish, mix oil, lime juice, chili powder and salt. Add chicken breasts, turning to coat.
2. Place chicken on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium heat about 12 minutes, turning once, or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Remove from heat; slice crosswise into strips.
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat beans, salsa and cilantro over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated. Divide chicken evenly onto half of each tortilla; top with beans, cheese and sour cream. Fold tortilla in half over filling

These are very tasty!

If you would prefer to have a fruit salad, here is a good selection:

Honey-Lime Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup frozen (thawed) limeade concentrate
• 2 teaspoons poppy seed, if desired
• 4 cups cut-up fresh fruit
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Preparation Instructions:

1. Mix honey, limeade concentrate and poppy seed in medium bowl.
2. Carefully toss fruit with honey mixture. Sprinkle with almonds.

The first time I saw this salad served I thought it was so pretty!  The Chef took watermelon triangles and stacked them in a circle (wide edge toward the center) forming a star shape, around a plate leaving a  hole in the center in which he added heaps of the fruit salad and topped with some mint sprigs.  It made a very pretty presentation and tasted delightful.

Here’s a salad recipe to add to the lunch collection:

Papaya-Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger root or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 5 cups bite-size pieces fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup julienne strips jicama
• 1/2 cup sliced radish
• 1 medium papaya or mango, peeled, seeded and cut up
• 2 tablespoons sunflower nuts

Preparation:

1. In tightly covered container, shake all dressing ingredients.
2. In large bowl, toss dressing and remaining ingredients except nuts. Sprinkle with nuts.

Here is one more great lunch recipe and you will now have five days worth of gluten-free lunch recipes:

Chili Blanca

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 3 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
• 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 can (15 to 16 oz) great northern beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) cannelloni beans, drained, rinsed
• 2 cans (4.5 oz each) chopped green chilies
• 2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
• 3/4 cup gluten-free shredded reduced-fat Monterrey Jack cheese (3 oz)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation Instructions:

1. In 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions and garlic in oil 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are softened.
2. Stir in cumin, salt, red pepper and chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is lightly browned.
3. Stir in beans, chilies and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Add cheese; stir until melted. Stir in cilantro.

Now you know everyone will need a nice snack before dinner time, so here are five good ideas for snacks that are gluten free and easy to make:

You can freeze this next one ahead of time:

Creamy Peach-Berry Dessert

Ingredients:

• 2 cartons (6 oz) Yoplait® Light or Original Harvest Peach® yogurt
• 1 package (8 oz) gluten free fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 of a container (8 oz) frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
• 1 cup chopped pitted and peeled fresh peaches or thawed and drained Cascadian Farm® frozen peach slices
• 1 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries, raspberries, and/or strawberries, thawed and drained if frozen
• Fresh mint leaves (optional)
• Fresh berries (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt and cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping, peaches, and the 1 cup berries.
2. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart square baking dish; spread evenly. Cover and freeze about 8 hours or until firm.
3. To serve, let stand at room temperature about 45 minutes to thaw slightly. Cut into squares. If desired, garnish with mint leaves and additional berries.

Raspberry Lemonade Ice Pops

Ingredients:

• 1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Light Fat Free raspberry lemonade yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• 6 paper cups (5-oz size)
• 2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Light Fat Free very vanilla yogurt
• 6 flat wooden sticks with round ends

Preparation:

1. In blender, place raspberry lemonade yogurt and frozen raspberries. Cover; blend on medium speed until smooth.
2. Divide raspberry mixture evenly among paper cups. Top with vanilla yogurt. Place cups in freezer about 20 minutes or until partially frozen. Insert 1 stick in each cup. Freeze 1 1/2 to 2 hours longer or until completely frozen.
3. To eat, peel off paper cups.

Marble Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box (15 oz) Betty Crocker® Gluten Free yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 1 box (15 oz) Betty Crocker® Gluten Free devil's food cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup water
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla
• 3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, beat yellow cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Set aside.
3. In another large bowl, beat devil's food cake ingredients on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
4. Spoon yellow and devil's food batters alternately into pans, dividing evenly. Cut through batters with table knife in zigzag pattern for marbled design.
5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely, top sides up, about 1 hour.
6. In medium bowl, beat powdered sugar and 1/3 cup butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed until blended. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla and the chocolate. Gradually beat in just enough milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable.
7. On serving plate, place 1 cake, rounded side down (trim rounded side if necessary so cake rests flat). Spread with 1/4 cup frosting. Top with second cake, rounded side up. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting.

Easy Monster Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 box Betty Crocker® Gluten Free chocolate chip cookie mix
• 3/4 cup candy-coated milk chocolate candies
• 1/2 cup Rice Chex® cereal

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir butter, peanut butter and egg until blended. Stir in cookie mix until soft dough forms. Stir in candies and cereal, breaking cereal apart as dough is stirred.
2. Onto ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart.
3. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool at least 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely before storing in airtight container.

Blackberry Kuchen

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup Bisquick® Gluten Free mix
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 1 1/4 cups Bisquick® Gluten Free mix
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cold butter
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Sweetened whipped cream, if desired

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease 8- or 9-inch square pan with shortening. For Filling, in large bowl, stir together granulated sugar and flour. Gently stir in blackberries, coating completely in sugar mixture; set aside.
2. For Topping, in medium bowl stir together brown sugar, baking mix and cinnamon. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture looks like fine crumbs; set aside.
3. For Cake, in separate large bowl, stir together baking mix, granulated sugar and flour. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in all remaining cake ingredients except sweetened whipped cream; spread in pan. Top with Filling (do not press into batter). Sprinkle with Topping.
4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until top is brown. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with sweetened whipped cream.

Don’t you love these recipes so far?

I have to give credit where credit is due, all of these came from the Gluten Freely Web Page – it is just brimming with great information on gluten free meals.  The photos here are what I did with their ideas.

Okay, let’s think about dinner.  Here are five great recipes that are totally gluten free and very tasty too:

If You have Chicken on hand, this one is great:

Chicken Chilaquiles Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 10 corn tortillas (6 to 8 inches in diameter), cut into 1/2-inch strips
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey
• 1 1/3 cups salsa verde or green sauce
• 2 cups shredded Chihuahua or mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in 10-inch skillet until hot. Cook tortilla strips in oil 30 to 60 seconds or until light golden brown; drain.
2. Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 2-quart casserole.
3. Layer half of the tortilla strips in casserole; top with chicken, half of the salsa verde (about 2/3 cup) and 1 cup of the cheese. Press layers gently down into casserole. Repeat with remaining tortilla strips, sauce and cheese.
4. Bake about 30 minutes

Got Pork Chops?  Try this one:

Smothered Pork Chops
Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 6 bone-in pork loin chops, 3/4-inch thick (about 2 lb)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 can (18.5 oz) Progresso® Vegetable Classics French onion soup
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Preparation:

1. Make rice as directed on package.
2. Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook garlic and pork chops in oil 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until pork chops are brown. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. In small bowl, mix soup and cornstarch. Pour over pork chops; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until pork is no longer pink and meat thermometer inserted in center reads 160°F.

Here is a good way to get your fish in, and I like to serve it with a baked sweet potato….

Planked Salmon with Peach Mango Salsa:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 medium mango, cut lengthwise in half, pitted and chopped (1 cup)
• 2 cups chopped peeled peaches
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped bell pepper
• 1 untreated cedar plank, 16x6x2 inches
• 1 large salmon fillet (about 2 lb)
• 1/4 cup packed gluten free brown sugar

Preparation:

1. In medium bowl, mix lime juice, honey and salt; toss with remaining salsa ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, soak cedar plank in water at least 1 hour.
2. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Place salmon, skin side down, on cedar plank. Make diagonal cuts in salmon every 2 inches, without cutting through the skin. Rub brown sugar over salmon.
3. Place cedar plank with salmon on grill. When cedar plank begins to smoke, cover grill. Cover and grill salmon over medium heat 30 to 35 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with fork. Remove salmon from plank, using large spatula. Serve with salsa.

Craving a cheeseburger?  Why not try this gluten-free Cheeseburger Pie?

Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
• 1/2 cup Bisquick® Gluten Free mix
• 1 cup milk
• 3 eggs

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salt and pepper. Spread in pie plate; sprinkle with cheese.
2. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk and eggs until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy the last days of summer, and remember your friends who need to eat gluten-free, it is actually healthy for all of us!