Lesson 13 – Esau Forgives Jacob

Through Jacob was sinful and deceived his brother, God preserved his life and reconciled him with his brother, Esau. Through His Son, God preserves our lives. Jesus overcame sin and death on the cross to win our forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This lesson will use the Bible. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

Write a list of ten things you feel thankful for.

You may remember Kid President. Today, Kid President shares some things for which he feels thankful. Watch the video, "Kid President's 25 Reasons To Be Thankful!".

Did Kid President list anything you'd like to add to your list?  How does it help us to list things we feel thankful for? Listing our blessings makes us pause and consider God's goodness to us. It puts our emphasis on what God has done for us and the blessings we enjoy instead of negatively focusing on wanting bigger, better, or more.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for all the gifts You give that nurture and preserve our bodies, minds, and souls. Thank You especially for sending Jesus as our Savior. Open our hearts to Your Word. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

This lesson is about the life of Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, younger twin of Esau. You may remember that the twins became estranged when their mother plotted to get the firstborn blessing for her favorite, Jacob.

Jacob ran away because Esau planned to kill him. So Rebekah sent Jacob to her brother Laban, over seven hundred miles away in Haran. There, Jacob fell in love with Laban's daughter Rachel. He worked seven years to marry her, but Laban tricked him and gave him his older daughter Leah instead.

Jacob worked another seven years to marry Rachel. Leah, Rachel, and their two servants became tangled in a jealous rivalry that resulted in the birth of twelve sons and at least one daughter.

After Jacob worked fourteen years for his wives, Laban begged him to stay and negotiated wages. God blessed Jacob, and through him, Laban became very wealthy, even though he constantly tried to cheat Jacob.

After six more years, Laban's sons accused Jacob of stealing, and he realized Laban no longer favored him. The Lord sent Jacob a message.

Read Genesis 31:3.

What did the Lord promise Jacob? The Lord promised to be with him, just as He earlier promised in Jacob's dream when he left home (Genesis 28:15).

What do you think Jacob worried about when God told him to go home? Jacob probably worried about how Laban would take the news (31:20) and his fear of Esau (32:1-8). Jacob also probably worried about how to travel that distance safely with his wives, children, and flocks. Jacob decided to sneak away with his family, but Laban pursued him. Laban made a covenant with Jacob, kissed his daughters and grandchildren, and went home. This is where our lesson starts.

Follow the directions on the Student Page at the end of this lesson.

Part 1 – Read Genesis 32

What did the angels' presence tell Jacob? God was with him as promised (31:3). Angels guided and protected Jacob and his family.

How did Jacob decide to approach Esau? He sent messengers to tell Esau he was returning with animals and servants. He did not mention his family.

What did Esau say in response? What did Jacob think and do about this? Esau sent back word that he would come meet him with four hundred men. Jacob took this as a threat. He felt very afraid and upset. Jacob divided his family into two camps so if one was attacked, the other would escape.

Find a main message in each verse of Jacob's prayer to the Lord. Verse 9: You told me to go home. Verse 10: l am not worthy of Your love, faithfulness, and great blessings (confession). Verse 11: Help me. I feel afraid for me and my family.  I need Your help. Verse 12: Remember Your promises to me.

What present did Jacob decide to give his brother Esau? Two hundred female goats and ewes, twenty male goats, twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, ten male donkeys.

What strategy did Jacob use to offer the present? He separated the animals into individual groups and sent them ahead. When Esau met them, Jacob told his servants to say to Esau that the animals now belong to him, as a present.

Draw the parade of presents Jacob sent to Esau. Add family members in back, as described in Genesis 33:1-3. Notice that Jacob led the family group.

Martin Luther described this section of Scripture as among the most obscure passages of the Old Testament. Bible scholars identify Jacob's opponent as God Himself or God's Son, a theophany or appearance of God.

Jacob prayerfully wrestled with God both spiritually and physically. Jacob did not let go, even after God injured his hip. By faith, Jacob clung to God and asked for His blessing.

With what new name did God bless Jacob? Israel

Jacob means "deceiver' a fitting name for one who stole his brother's birthright and blessing. The new name means "one who wrestles with God and wins."

How did the new name show Jacob's trust in God? Rather than depending on his own cleverness or deceptions, Jacob trusted God and His promises. He learned to lean on God and His promises.

Part 2 – Read Genesis 33

Jacob walked in front of his family to meet Esau. He organized the family in back of him, with Rachel and Joseph farthest from possible danger.

What did Jacob's actions show to Esau? Jacob bowed seven times, demonstrating respect, humility, submission, and a contrite heart. Jacob called himself his brother's servant (v. 5). He called his brother "lord" (v. 8). 

After a hostile history, how did Esau greet Jacob? He ran to him, embraced him, hugged him, and kissed him. They both cried. Anger disappeared.

What do their actions show about their relationship? They shared forgiveness and acceptance of each other.

How did God heal this relationship? Certainly, Jacob worked to reunite with Esau, but God worked to bring reconciliation. He gave Esau willingness to forgive and welcome his brother. Broken relationships result from sin.

Sin separates us from God and one another. The Holy Spirit works through God's Word to give us new hearts and minds.

Why did Jacob say he sent the animals to meet Esau? To find favor with Esau.

How did Esau respond to the gift? He protested at first, but agreed when Jacob joyfully persisted in giving these things to his brother.

What change of heart does Jacob show in verse 11? Jacob acknowledged that the blessings he tried to steal from Esau years before really came from God. Now reconciled to Esau, he wants to share some of these blessings with Esau.

Why did Jacob want Esau to go on rather than follow him? The children and nursing flocks needed more time to travel. Jacob encouraged Esau to go ahead and let him follow.  Esau offered to leave some of the men, probably as protection.

Why did Jacob refuse? Jacob said he had no need. He trusted that God protected him and was with him.

What is significant about the altar Jacob built and the name he gave it? Jacob wanted to serve God and live according to his new name, Israel. He called the altar El-Elohe-srael, which means "God, the God of Israel"

 Write a series of social media posts that tell about the reconciliation between Jacob and Esau and about other chapter 33 details.

We Live

It is hard to apologize when we do something wrong.

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Why do you think it is important that we begin worship with Confession and Absolution? We confess our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, as well as things we did and things we failed to do. We confess to remind our proud, foolish selves that we were born in sin, we sin every day, and we need a Savior.

The pastor, as a called and ordained servant of God, offers absolution, or forgiveness, to all who confess and believe in Jesus. These are wonderful and blessed assurances of God's love for us in Christ.

 Read the question and answer from Luther's Small Catechism on the Student Page.

What sins do we need to confess? Confession to God, according to the Small Catechism, should be for all sins, even those we don't recognize or recall. If we confess to another individual, we should confess sins we know.

There are three ways to confess:

We can confess privately to a pastor. One benefit is getting to hear the spoken words of absolution personally.

We can confess to God alone. The Lord's Prayer is such a confession. We can also speak to God about any worrisome sins or problems.

Christians are called to confess their sins to one another. All are guilty of sinning against others.  We should go to anyone we have sinned against and confess their sins. A genuine confession is much more than mumbling "Sorry" under your breath.

Closing

As a closing, read the words of 1 John 1:8-9:

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!"