2013 Preview & 2007: Vision of Jacob's Ladder Sunday School Lesson

2013 Preview of the Sunday School Lesson for October 27, 2013:

Vision Dreams ... Devotional Reading: John 4:1-15; Background Scripture: Genesis/Bereshith: 27:19-29; 28:1-4,10-22; 32:22-30; 35:9-15 & Sunday School Lesson Text: Genesis/Bereshith 28:1a,10-22

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Genesis/Bereshith 24: Abraham sendeth his servant to get a wife for his son Issac: he obtaineth Rebekah; Issac meeteth her.

Genesis/Bereshith 25:9 Issac and Ishmael bury Abraham in the cave of Mach-pe-lah

Genesis/Bereshith 25: The sons of Abraham by Keturah: his age and death. The generations of Ishmael. The birth of Esau and Jacob. Esau selleth his birthright.

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I have not checked the links as of 2013, that I have shared in this article. But at the time they were accurate and Christian links.



10-14-07 Sunday School Lesson

Background Scripture: Genesis 27:41-28:22, Lesson Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

10-21-07 Sunday School Lesson --- Story of Love - Jacob & Rachel (Background Scripture: Genesis 29:1-35) Lesson Scripture: Genesis 29:20-35.

Before I go unto the lesson I know that you know what Issac & Ishmael (Abraham's sons) did together.

Genesis 25:9 -- Abraham's sons "Issac" & "Ishmael" buried Abraham in the cave of Machpelah.

Esau(Edom) had three (3) wives ... Genesis 36:1-3.

To be honest I do not know how to tell anyone how to deal with dreams ... I would say it would have to line up with the Word of God-Bible.

Can you pay close attention to a dream-vision? Maybe yes or no. Joel 2:28 & Acts 2:17.

Something that was on my mind -- now I am not saying that it relates to the sunday school lesson but it was on my mind ---

http://whatofthewatchman.org/pr02.htm -- 8/01 -- A Prophetic Call to Sound the Shofar (Abrabram's Son -- Issac's Descendant)

http://www.praiseteamegypt.com --- Praise Team in Egypt -- Christian Arabs --- Abraham's Son -- Ishmael Descendant) ( http://www.praiseteamegypt.com/index.pl/family -- 3 or 4 years if not longer)the end........ now I will go back to the sunday school lesson.

Genesis 28:10-22

Key Verse -- And, behold, "I" am with thee, & will "keep" thee in all places whither thou goest, & will "bring" thee again into this land: for "I" will not leave thee "until" I have done that which I have spoken to thee of (Genesis 28:15)

Mediums & Methods of Revelations -- Dreams & Their Interpretations -- Jacob's Dreams

"I" -- Genesis 13:14 -- The Hebrews God's Chosen People -- Canaan Promised

"keep" -- Genesis 48:16 -- Angels, God's angels, The Angel of the LORD, OR, of God -- Identified with God

"bring" -- Genesis 35:6 -- Sacred Places -- Altars & Holy Places -- Patriarchal (In Biblical Times -- Father, Ruler, Founder of a Family or tribe) Altars

"I" -- I Kings 8:57 -- Duties to God -- Pleading in Prayer -- By Good Works to Come

"until" -- Numbers 23:19 -- Works of God -- The Purposes of God -- God's Purposes, Eternal & Immutable (unchangedable)

How long is Eternal? Forever ... unlimited TIME ...

Genesis 28:10-22

Verse 10 -- And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, & went toward Haran.

Civil & Social Life -- Travelling -- Sleeping Out of Doors

Beer-sheba -- Jacob comforted there (Genesis 46:1) Haran -- mountainous. Jacob flees there (Genesis 28:10)

Leave/flee/run. Think twice before you trick someone. Jacob had to leave/flee/run away from home for he was afraid of what Esau would do to him since he tricked their father into giving him the birthright/blessing. Mother's love their children and will do all they can to protect them/provide for them.. she learned that Esau had plans to harm her favorite son, so she had him to flee/run. Jacob had to flee/run to save his life.

Issac told Jacob to find him a wife in Haran. Haran -- was the same place where Rebekah came from.

Question -- Food for Thought --- Have you ever wondered why sometime that there will be available females to marry in the same place that a male is in and he will go and get a wife from away from his home and or local area?

Verse 11 -- And he lighted upon a certain place ... & tarried there ... all night ... & he took the stones of that place ... & put them for his pillows ... & lay down in that place to sleep.

Civil & Social Life -- Travelling -- Sleeping Out of Doors

"certain place" ........ stones was his pillow that Jacob laid his head on outside

Verses 12, 13, 14, 15 --- Mediums & Methods of Revelations -- Dreams & Their Interpretations -- Jacob's Dream

And he dreamed ... and behold a ladder set up on the earth ... & the top of it reached to heaven ... & behold the angels of God ascending (came down/coming down) ... & decending on it.

And ... behold ... the LORD stood above it ... & said ... I am the LORD God of Abraham thy Father ... and the God of Issac ... the land whereon thou liest ... to thee will I give it ... & to thy seed.

And thy seed (children, children's children, etc.) shall be as the dust of the eart ... & thou shalt spread abroad ... to the east ... & to the north ... & to the south ... & in thy seed shall ... all ... the families of the earth ... be blessed.

And, behold I am with thee ... & will keep thee in all places whither thou goest ... & will bring thee again into this land ... for I will not leave thee ... until ... I have done ... that which I have ... spoken to thee of.

God's angels, messengers of God, good angels, move at God's command

Can you imagine how Jacob felt? Looking up at the top of a stairway/ladder & see the LORD standing fromn heaven to earth? God spoke to Jacob and told him who HE was .. God made it plain.

Abraham & Issac was promised the land that he was lying on ... had slept on. His family line would be too great to count -- compared to dust on earth.

God spoke & said that they would return to their land -- home.

Food for Thought --This is a personal question. Have you ever had to flee/leave/run away from home? Jesus said a prophet is without honor in his own country.

Jesus Christ --- seed of David, seed of Jacob (Galatians 3:16 -- Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ/Yeshua)

Verses 16,17,18 -- Sacred Places -- Altars & Holy Places -- Memorial Pillars of Stone -- To Mark the Place of a Vision

And Jacob awaked ... out of his sleep ... & he said ... Surely the LORD ... is in this place ... & I knew it not.

And he was afraid ... and said ... How dreadful is this place? ... this is none other than the House of God ... & this is the gate of heaven.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning ... & took the stone ... that he had put for his pillows ... & set it up for a pillar ... & poured ... oil ... upon the top of it.

After Jacob woke up he knew he had been in God's presence. He found out that the LORD was where he was -- In this place

Wisdom -- Proverbs 9:10 --- The fear of the LORD, is the beginning of Wisdom.

Jacob recognized where he was -- it was the house of the LORD.

Jacob dedicated the place he slept at ... for holy purposes ... holy ground. Jacob poured "oil" on the ground as to anoint it.

holy anointing oil -- Exodus 30:31 -- Sacred Rites & Forms -- Inauguration of the Hebrew Sacrifical System -- The Holy Anointing Oil

Joel 2:28 -- The Pentecostal Beginning, Promised

Acts 2:17 -- The Pentecostal Beginning, Realized

Acts 2:17 -- It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: & your sons & your daughters shall prophesy, & your young men shall see visions, & your old men shall dream dreams:

Genesis 28:10-22

Verse 19 -- he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of the city was called Luz at first.

Other Nations -- The Canaanites -- Gentile Names of Places in Canaan

Bethel -- house of God (Genesis 28:19 -- Jacob's vision there; II Kings 2:2, 3 -- prophet's dwell there)

Luz -- almond tree, ancient name of Bethel

As you noticed there was no worship house/church/temple where Jacob slept -- where Jacob dreamed for he was outside on the ground.

Verses 20, 21, 22 -- Sacred Rites & Forms -- VOWS -- Instances of Vows by Jacob

And Jacob vowed a vow ... saying, If God will be with me ... & keep me ... in the way that I go ... & will give me bread to eat ... & raiment to put on,

So that I come again ... to my father's house in peace ... there shall the LORD be my God.

And the stone ... which I have set for a pillar ... shall be God's house ... & of all that thou shalt give me ... I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

VOW -- promise. Be careful what you promise the LORD, this is serious business.

Question -- Food for Thought --- What did Jacob promise the LORD?

Jacob did not ask the LORD for riches, fame, nor fortune ... he asked God for bread (food to eat) & raiment (clothing to wear). Jacob promised to give God a tithe (10th - 10 percent) back to the LORD.

Jacob was telling the LORD if you keep your arm/hand of protection on me then you will be my God. (Daniel in the Lion's Den knew that God could deliver him -- God would have still been God if HE did not deliver Daniel as well)

Scripture reference taken from:

KJV, Topical Reference Bible, Bible Crusade Publishers, Mt. Juliet, TN

KJV, Precious Promise Bible

Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning ... Book Review

Book Review . Anxiety . Depression ., Down Syndrome . Journey . Dreams . Talents . New York . Mental Health . Christian Life . Women Issues . Virginia . Maya Angelou . non profit . international missions . Manhattan . Greek isles . relaxation . Heavenly treasures . corporate ladder . pray

Rebekah Lyons is a brave woman to share her personal story and I hope that it will inspire and help others.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." ... George Eliot

Depression and anxiety have many faces. More than 57.7 million American adults suffer from some form of mental illness, including 18.1 million who have been diagnosed with depression.

Even more shocking is the number of women suffering from depression. From anxiety attacks, as in Rebekah case, to mood disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and so on women are under siege. And the majority of women who are wrestling with depression fit nicely in the twenty-five to forty-four-year-old age bracket.

Rebekah is no medical doctor, and she has no degree in psychology,but she loves to listen to the stories of women.

Thanksgiving had barely faded into autumn's wake when Rebekah received the news of her aunt Martha's death. The doctor had handed her a diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer just five months prior, but none of the family thought the disease would steal her life so quickly.

Her thoughts flipped to the person noticeably absent for the funeral the weekend: her dad.

She was aware of the state of his mental health when she was fifteen. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital hospital for a week.

He lost his job teaching for the county. Administrators didn't consider him fit to be responsible for a classroom.

Perhaps one of the worst effects of such an illness is the lack of respect the individual gets from those closest to them. The survivor never seems to receive the benefits of the doubt. Always looked at as a mental case.

She found herself thinking of her father.

Would she end up in the same bed, her mind unable to sustain her body? She worried that his present might be her future.

Her father and her firstborn son, which has Down Syndrome were connecting in a way they were unable to. Beyond logic and reason. A brokenness that is whole. Beautiful.

A man who'd lived a life of suffering, of struggle, of mental anguish never turned his back on God. He had been faithful. His grandchildren delighted in his presence.

As you know, New York is bleak in wintertime.

Rebekah was invited to lunch with a few women in her Church who were looking to start conversations among their parish Churches concerning what "living fully" looked like for the women in the city. She'd been asked to provide insight and talking points, but she was wrestling with God.

She was beginning to put pen to paper about her journey over the past two years - the story of her own struggle with depression and anxiety.




She thought of Jesus. And what had to have been a horrific night in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He was Crucified, when He prayed on His face for hours.

We all wonder how long we must wait and when the rescue will come. And God says in the waiting, "Turn your face to Me, focus on Me.

So we wait.

"If the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction." ... Maya Angelou

These technological creations, while interesting for everyone else, have the opposite effect on us. Instead of confirming our worth, they only add to the pressure to perform and strive. Have you made every recipe on your Pinterest board? Rebekah admits she haven't. How many of us have homes that look like the images we pin?

Rebekah loves knowing what her friends are up to, near and far. Technology helps her feel more connected to them. But unless she reach out and actually talk to them, the closeness is limited to a newsfeed.

Her husband, Gabe is a helpful barometer to keep her accountable. He knows when the real Rebekah, and the virtual ones grow disconnected. And he raises a red flag when her iPhone gets more attention than he does.

For a few of us, our parents saw a gift in us and nurtured it to full bloom. Sadly for many, like Rebekah our uniqueness was squelched by peer pressure, feelings of inadequacy, or disapproval from a parent.

As for her gift of writing, that one snuck up on her. Though she could be found often with a book in her hand during her youth. As she wrote fervent questions of prayers, she felt His presence near.

Some days she's on edge for no reason, unsure if she should trust her surroundings or even her friends.

Upon graduation, she landed the perfect job at Blair Communications, a respected PR firm in Virginia. The idealism lasted for nine months, until she felt pulled toward a nonprofit focused on international missions.

What is God's unique plan for the headstrong leader and wise counselor with a fierce ambition for love for writing?

She loved her children and her husband and, in many ways, the life she had created. After months of misery, she had begun the journey toward meaning by unearthing her unique gifts. And like Manhattan's spring tulips, she was now bursting with life.

"Every now and then go away and have a little relaxation. To remain constantly at work will diminish your judgment. Go some distance away, because work will be in perspective and a lack of harmony is more readily seen." ... Leonardo Da Vinci

Like children anticipating Christmas morning, Gabe and Rebekah were anxious to steal away. His parents had offered to let the grandkids run free on their five wooded acres in Virginia's heartland so they could spend uninterrupted time together.

Scrounging together airline miles, hotel points, and a bit of money they had tucked away for such an occasion, they booked a trip to Greek isle of Santorini.

At night, they dined in front of Mediterranean sunsets.

Gabe and her had one assignment: to reconnect. They had grown distant during her freefall months in New York. Her anxiety attacks had understandably placed him on edge. They aimed to steal away and reignite the spark they once had.

They didn't know they would go with little sleep for a decade-facing financial uncertainly and loss, burying their dear friend, birthing a son who would change the way they saw the world. And God would make them new through all of it. A lesson they continue to learn.

When packing for the trip, she made sure to cram in as many many books as her luggage could hold.

She remembered a story from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus teaches His disciples some cornerstone principles about treasure. He explains that storing up earthly treasures is a worthless endeavor. Houses, money, livestock - they all rust or are eaten by moths. Jesus describes a different kind of treasure. Heavenly treasures.

She have felt the fading in her own life. Battling a lifelong struggle with anxiety and despair.

How might life be different for women like her if they believed a treasure awaits them?

She have found community with people who are living out the calling God has breathed into their hearts. Not a story of climbing a successful corporate ladder for personal gains, but one that carries a humble heaviness for burdens that break their hearts.

That evening she packed with fury in anticipation of returning home. But now she was discovering something greater. Treasure. Meaning.

"The wise man in the storms prays to God, not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear," ... Ralph Waldo Emerson

They returned home to find New York had shed its summer skin, with fall nearly in full swing.

Life was going so well.

Soon sleep beckoned, thought less restful than she had hoped for. She tossed and tossed between dreams, resisting each one like an uninvited guest.

Panic whispered.

She shook Gabe awake, begging him between gaps to help her get to the elevator. Their children stayed asleep as the alarm clock glowed 3:20 a.m.

They were painfully aware that the attacks she had avoided the past nine months were back.

She had begun experiencing an onslaught of attacks daily, each distinctly different from what she had fought the year before. These episodes took place in wide-open spaces as she gasped for air on the playground bench while her kids played in the distance.

She began to believe she would never change a thought that brought sadness and new depths of desperation.

Just as life was looking up the floor was dropping out from beneath her.

3:02 a.m. another panic attack.

Her husband prayed, "God take this panic attack away. You are not a God who invokes fear, but faith. Give us faith. Help Rebekah to breathe, to calm, to release."

She cried out, "RESCUE ME!"

The physical bondage that she had been battling for more than a year-gone in an instant. She had never come out of a panic attack like that before.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Jesus yoke is easy and the burden He gives is light."

For many, prescription medication has been a lifesaver in moments of severe struggle, and some need it to even out imbalance in the brain.

God had met her in her darkest hour.

Write down the turning points in your life.

Write down your talents.

Write down your greatest burden.

If you aren't married or if your husband isn't willing to offer his support, the journey may be more difficult (particularly for single moms). Look for a trusted friend - a person who believes in you - who encourages you along the way.

Note those in your life who will help you on this journey.

I'm convinced God wants to use you to bring someone else's gift to life.

I received a copy of this book for review from Tyndale House Publishers. I review books for Authors, Ministries, Businesses, Publicists & Publishing Companies.


Rebekah Lyons is a mother of three, wife, dog walker of two living in New York. As a self-confessed mess, she wears her heart on her sleeve, a benefit to friends and readers alike. She serves alongside her husband, Gabe, as cofounder of Q Ideas, an organization that helps winsomely engage culture.