Hiking in Canada in the Snow and Rain, 1989.

In the late 1980s, I went hiking sometimes with Ross, who would later become my brother-in-law, and Lyndon, another friend. One time we decided to leave the trails and go straight over a mountain to a remote lake we’d heard about. Somewhere way up on the cliffs, I started complaining and asking my friends why they chose the route we were on. Finally, Lyndon turned to me and said, “Look, we’re lost too. Would you please quit whining?” I can still clearly remember the place and feeling. It was a life lesson. I returned to enjoying the hike. We slept on a small ledge way on a huge cliff. Later, coming down the other side, I fell and slid down a chute on my back, out of control, toward a sheer drop. Just before the drop, my pack caught on a snag sticking out of an old log and jerked me sharply to a stop. The stones around me continued over the edge to crash far below. God rescues us many times, and sometimes we are aware of it.

Sometimes, on overnight hikes, I tried using a stone for a pillow. Flat rocks about 2 inches thick kind of worked, but I soon returned to using my jacket or a pair of jeans. I never found a rock that was a good pillow. So what is the deal with the following Bible story?

Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ And he came to a certain 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. ¹² And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder^[b] 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! ¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. . . . Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Gen. 28:10-17).

The ESV version, quoted above, has a footnote beside the word “ladder” in verse 12. The Hebrew word may also be translated as “stairway.”

Communion with God

Back a few stories in Genesis, people had conspired to build a stairway to heaven on their own terms (Gen. 11). They used their modern technology, the brick. Archeologists discovered the oldest pyramids had stairways to their top.

 ^“Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens'” (Gen. 11:4a).

In Genesis, heaven is where God lives. When people try to define good and evil on their terms and build their way to be like God, it is not good. God interrupts their plans.

Three Habitats

The creation story sets the pattern, and in the rest of the Scriptures, you will find three habitats. The heavens are God’s space, the land is where humans live, and the chaos waters are where no one flourishes. In Genesis and the rest of the Bible, people often encountered God on a mountaintop. Eden is described as a mountain garden in Ezekiel 28:12-14—the Tree of Life in the center of the Garden (Gen. 2:9).

God’s Revelation to Jacob

Jacob was like the snake in the Bible story. First, he comes out grasping his brother’s heel. Is that an odd detail to include in a story? Do you remember any other Bible stories about heels? (Gen 3:15). Then Jacob deceives his brother to gain God’s blessing. Then he conspires with his mother to deceive his blind father. Who is the deceiver in the previous stories? Finally, Jacob is exiled from the promised land. 

Earlier in the biblical story, God asked Abraham if he would go to “a far country” to start over and to start a salvation plan for the nations (Gen. 12). It is when Jacob is leaving the promised land because of his deception and striving, that he lays everything down, stops struggling. He takes one God-made stone, as compared to the man-made bricks, puts his head on it, and goes to sleep. Most of his body is still on the ground.

Lesson 1: When we stop struggling but continue actively pursuing God’s plan for our lives, God reveals that He wants heaven and earth to overlap. On His terms. He will build the stairway.

Lesson 2: There are two ways to go through life.

A) We can either think people are the problem. We strive, overpower, deceive, and define good and evil on our terms. Option A does not lead to peace, well-being, or favor with God.

B) We have a deep conviction that God is ultimately in control. We choose whether or not we want to participate with Him. We stop striving but continue to actively watch for God’s provision and leading, always ready to relax and enjoy, or to move out into unknown territory with God. Option B leads to peace, well-being, and favor with God.

Lesson 3: The Old Testament is a long story about how God wants to set up residency on earth in the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies. Then Jesus came, and God “tabernacled” among us. Later the heavy curtain was ripped, allowing free access to God’s presence, and Jesus was given all authority in heaven AND on earth.

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:49-51).

A BIG QUESTION: Why did God take so long to come to earth? For example, why didn’t Jesus get born to Eve, maybe in the place of Abel? Why did God choose such an extended plan?

Your thoughts?

Of course, God’s ways are far beyond our ways. Creation is infinitely more complex and wonderful than we understand. On the other hand, how do we make sense of chaos, pain, and suffering? I believe struggles are critical to developing leaders for the age to come. God is watching for those who will embrace the chaos and questions, confidently walking forward along the narrow path between overpowering others and being overwhelmed by others. God’s people spend daily time with Him to learn to walk that narrow path of joy and peace despite circumstances. They watch eagerly for God’s provision and direction and follow God into the promised land. When we embrace our struggles, instead of trying to escape them or blaming others for not rescuing us, God will use the thorny people and circumstances to change us into His image. Our trials become our friends as they propel us to God. The Good News of the Kingdom is that the Christian life is far superior to any other life, even in this present age. Heaven and earth now overlap, and we can access that realm, the Kingdom of God, through Jesus. Your thoughts?

I think one of the challenges is that we humans easily settle into leader and follower roles.

A) The transition from someone who started as a follower to

B) Becoming a peer who

C) Makes some decisions differently than you and who

D) Will sometimes fail because they didn’t follow your counsel is

E) Fraught with awkwardness, and

F) The way forward is through.

The church leaders in Gurupá wanted to show us the fruit of their Discovery Group evangelism. Discovery Group evangelism differs from traditional evangelism in that participants are invited to actively participate in the learning. Participants invite their friends, share highlights and difficulties of their week, and learn to read and apply Bible stories to their daily lives. Over time Discovery Groups sometimes join together to form congregations. The group in the photos below is in a marginalized neighborhood called Areião (ARR ray oww) now meets weekly as a new congregation, but they have no building yet. Many people in the photo are from the larger Central church who came for the special celebration.

This is the courageous young single lady leading the church plant in Areiao.

River Groups

Some youth travel by boat to a remote creek to facilitate Discovery Groups at several locations. Most remote people here love getting visits from city people, which makes it relatively easy to start Discovery Groups. It is also a challenge to learn how to keep sustainably growing; to encourage the receivers to become givers and propagators.

Later, they all went swimming in the Amazon. Bella is fluent in Portuguese, so we didn’t need to go with them. On the other hand, sending your daughter to a remote location is emotionally more difficult than going there yourself. I imagine all missionary parents can relate.

A church from across town used our facilities on Easter Weekend for a leadership retreat.

Here is a short clip from the leadership retreat. 

Jambo blossoms will turn into a red fruit that tastes like strawberries and apples, with a twist.

I am still in touch with many of these friends.

I think God, in His blessings, redeems our memories.

I have the best memories of my seven years in the Yukon.

I could tell long stories about each photo.

“Big Charlie” was the chief of a band the last time I talked to his son, a couple of years ago. He ran the generators that provided electricity for Destruction Bay when I lived there.

Destruction Bay had a one-room schoolhouse with 12 students in grades 1-8. We also had a gas station, hotel, one RCMP, two park rangers, a post office lady, and a road maintenance crew of five. I started at the gas station and moved to the highway maintenance crew over time.

My truck is the blue one. We’re going prospecting.

My friend, Al, was still gold mining the last time I talked with him. While I lived in Destruction Bay, I helped him stake placer claims. We are prospecting here, but when Al found color, he soon moved his Cat and sluice boxes in.

This is Bella’s first trip home in seven years! Bella is our youngest daughter and married Tim Nielsen in June 2022. And everyone is delighted to meet Tim.

Many of Bella’s friends from church are still faithful.

Bella organized a painting for her friend’s children.

Tim, Ariela, Douglas, Anna, and Bella

Then their numbers decreased, 
and they were humbled by oppression,
he who pours contempt on nobles
    made them wander in a trackless waste.
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.
The upright see and rejoice,
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.