Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Ladder of the Lord

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Almost a hundred bloggers contribute surprising posts to ABC Wednesday every week.
Our letter today is L.

The L word that came to my mind is LADDER.
This fantastically long ladder is in the Jenolan Caves of Australia.

But the ladder I love most is Jacob's ladder.
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Genesis 28 tells the story, so full of promise:

Jacob left Beersheva and went toward Haran. He came to the place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
And behold, the Lord stood above it [or "beside him"] and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants; and your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves.
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you."
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it." טז וַיִּיקַץ יַעֲקֹב, מִשְּׁנָתוֹ, וַיֹּאמֶר, אָכֵן יֵשׁ יְהוָה בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה; וְאָנֹכִי, לֹא יָדָעְתִּי.
And he was afraid, and said, "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." וַיִּירָא, וַיֹּאמַר, מַה-נּוֹרָא, הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה: אֵין זֶה, כִּי אִם-בֵּית אֱלֹהִים, וְזֶה, שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם
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35 comments:

  1. Two posts today...
    Il know Genesis book, because, I have a bible...

    Nice paints...
    See You later.

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  2. That picture from the cave was impressive!

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  3. There is a very steep path over the Pennine Moors at Hayfield in England - that is also called Jacob's Ladder

    Personally I'm not too keen on ladders after the fourth step up ..... !!

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  4. Beautiful. It reminds me of a song we used to sing.
    "We are climbing Jacob's Ladder"
    there were several verses and now there are all kinds of different versions

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  5. I've always loved that story! And as a child I knew exactly what the Jacob's Ladder looked like...
    I should like to see the ladder in Australia in that cave! When are you going to Oz?

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  6. Impressive ladder inside the cave!
    Beautiful painting : didyou realize it ?
    miss Yves

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  7. THe story of Jacob's ladder is one of my favorites.

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  8. i love the ladder picture - a weaving, an embroidery, textile art?

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  9. Miss Yves, Kiwi, Webradio-- yes, I forgot to mention, it is a wall-hanging or textile art (Is that what you call it, Maria?)
    I *WISH* I could make such things, but no. It was at the guest house reception of Moshav Yad HaShmona.

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  10. Webradio, what French Bible translation do you have? Do you know the one by the late and great Andre Chouraqui?

    Rune and Wil, the Jenolan Caves are just incredible! As I remember, the first explorers ot the cave put in that huge ladder.

    Petrus, that's funny, both your statements! So stay on the earth. :)

    Ellen, cool. A folk music festival called Jacob's Ladder takes place in the Galilee every year.

    Wil, you knew?! So what does it look like really??
    I fly on Christmas morning.

    JC, I agree. Such an image and what a promise of blessings.

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  11. The story is incredible.. that photo from the cave is really impressive.
    OH... how I learn so much from coming to your blog... you are incredible.
    ~Michele~
    Mountain Retreat

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  12. Lovely photos and an apt reminder of Genesis. Love bothe the Aussie ladder and Jacob's.

    Ray

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  13. Michele!! WELCOME BACK to the land of the living after your accident! I'm so happy you're getting better.
    Me? Oh no, YOU are the incredible one!

    Hi Ray, yes, ladders are good things!

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  14. Chanoine Crampon...

    Translate by Bonserven and Tricot... 1966 !

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  15. The Australian Ladder is is food for the eyes - Jacob's ladder for the soul! :)
    Cheers, Klaus

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  16. Dina, I LOVE the photo of the ladder in Austrailia, really interesting, did you climb it?
    s

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  17. Our middle son is named Jacob and I used to sing him that song when he was a baby! Fun post!

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  18. How strange, I was only looking at prices for accomodation and tours at Jenolan Caves yesterday, haven't been there since I was at school.

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  19. The top photo is amazing, Dina! Like something from a dream. Stunning. Thanks for the story, too. It made me think of the song: "We are climbing Jacob's ladder."

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  20. very beautiful choice. the first one is fantastic

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  21. Nice photography inside the cave. I would have thought it would be difficult to get good quality photos out of there but you managed to get them.

    I would never climb that ladder unless it was a life and death situation that required me to climb it.

    I could imagine a dream about being in Hell with a ladder like that with demons all over the ladder on the way up. LOL

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  22. Wow! I've never seen a ladder so long before! =)

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  23. You never cease to amze me how youcombine the letter with your religion. Ecxellent use of llgiht and again so interesting.

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  24. That tall ladder makes me feel dizzy, just looking at it!
    The story of Jacob's ladder is very evocative.

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  25. I would like to do both ladders if it's OK with you?????

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  26. A great "L" post! love the ladders.....

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  27. Can anyone climb that ladder in the caves? It looks awfully long...I'm not sure I could make it but I bet it'd be awesome! :D

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  28. Thanks for retelling that passage. It gives me comfort that I might be one of those dust motes.

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  29. Great photo of the Jenolan caves of Australia. Perhaps one day, we can go back to see it. Thank you for your Genesis story. I'm learning from you all the time. We wish you much peace and happiness and reflection at Yom Kippur.

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  30. Loved both ladders!

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  31. Beautiful post, Dina.

    "Louis's" vertigo and acrophobia kicked in when looking at that L O N G ladder!

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  32. Thinking of you over the holiday, Dina.

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  33. Oh,lovely photo Dina,well done!
    my blog is updated with 7 photos!!

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  34. That's a ladder full of promises.

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  35. I cannot read the story of Jacob's ladder in Genesis without thinking of John 1:51 where Jesus says to Nathanael,"I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (That is the NIV translation.) I love both passages.

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