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, the Bible Exploration Guide and the Lesson 13 Leaflet from the Student Pack. The front cover shows how the artist sees Jacob and Esau meeting. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

 This lesson is about forgiving and receiving forgiveness. Watch the video, “The power of forgiveness".

After the video, which do you think is easier for the people involved, offering forgiveness or receiving forgiveness? Which is easier for you, offering or receiving forgiveness? Do you think it's easier or more difficult for Christians to give and receive forgiveness? Forgiveness should be easier for Christians because God forgives us in Christ Jesus, but sin interferes and causes problems for us, just as it did for people in the Bible.

As we grow in grace and knowledge of Christ through His Word and Sacraments, forgiving and accepting forgiveness becomes easier. After all, in the Lord's Prayer, we ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us.

Prayer: Jesus, Your perfect life, death, and resurrection make forgiveness possible. Help us know Your forgiveness and show our gratitude for Your grace by forgiving others. In Your name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

God blessed Jacob and gave him great success in Paddan-Aram. Jacob's father-in-law, Laban, benefitted from Jacob's success and became very rich.

After Jacob worked twenty years in the family business, he realized Laban did not favor him as before. And then God spoke to him.

Read Genesis 31:3.

Later in this chapter, God appeared to Jacob in a dream. Thinking about what you know about Jacob's life, what concerns do you think he had about returning home? Jacob may have worried about how his brother, Esau, would receive him; if his parents were still alive; if the family would welcome him; and other similar concerns.

So, what do you think Jacob did? Jacob obeyed the Lord. He put his wives and sons on camels; took all his livestock, property, and workers; and started home (Genesis 31:17--18).

Read Genesis 32:1.

Whom did Jacob see on the road? Angels of God. When Jacob left home, he saw the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder. In this dream, the Lord promised to be with Jacob, to bless him and his offspring, and to bring him home to that land.

This time, the angels didn't speak. What message did their actions give? They protected Jacob and his family; they showed God's presence and care; they reassured him.

Read the directions from page 2 of the leaflet.

Read Genesis 32, perform the activity and answer the questions.

List Paddan-aram as the start of Jacob's itinerary. Next, add the place where Jacob saw God's angels (v. 1)  Mahanaim

Continue, listing events in order.

Where did Jacob send messengers (vw. 3-5)? To his brother Esau in Seir (Edom)

What did he tell them to say? Your servant Jacob lived with Laban until now. I am returning with herds and servants. May I find favor in your sight.

What news did the messengers bring Jacob? Esau was coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men.

How did Jacob react? He was greatly afraid and distressed.

What action did he take (vv. 7-8)? He divided his people and herds into two camps so if Esau attacked one, the other could escape.

What did Jacob do next (v. 9-12)? He prayed to the Lord.

What did he confess?  He was unworthy of God's steadfast love and faithfulness.

What did he ask? He asked God to protect him from Esau because he feared him.

What directions and promises of God did he recall? The Lord had told Jacob to go home (v. 9). The Lord had said he would be good to Jacob and make his offspring as many as the sand of the sea.

After an overnight stay, what did Jacob do next (vw. 13-21)? Jacob chose a present of goats, sheep, camels and calves, cows and bulls, and donkeys for Esau. He thought the presents might appease Esau and make him accept him.

What did Jacob do with his wives and children (vw. 22-23)? He took them across Jabbok Creek while he went back on the other side alone.

What happened when Jacob was alone (vw. 24-32)? A man wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn't defeat Jacob, he touched his hip socket and put it out of joint. Jacob wouldn't let him go until he blessed him.

Whom did Jacob wrestle all night (vv. 28, 30)? God in human form.

What new name did the "man" give Jacob (v. 28)? Israel, which means "He strives with God" or "God strives".

Read Genesis 32, perform the activity and answer the questions.

Although we do not know the exact location, Jacob saw Esau approaching in the distance. Use this as the start of your itinerary. Continue, listing events and places in order.

Having learned from messengers that Esau was coming with four hundred men, what do you think Jacob expected to happen? He feared Esau would attack and kill or injure his family

How did Jacob arrange his family? Why? He put the servants Bilhah and Zilpah first with their children, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph. Jacob walked in front of all of them as protection.

What happened when the brothers finally met (v. 4)? Jacob bowed to the ground seven times to show respect to Esau. Esau ran to meet him and embraced and kissed him. They both wept.

Whom did Jacob introduce to Esau (vv. 5-7)? His wives and children.

Why did Esau refuse Jacob's gifts (vv. 8-9)? He said he had enough.

Why did Jacob insist Esau take the gifts (vv. 10-11)? Jacob asked Esau to take them to show he favored him, and as thanks for accepting him.

Esau wanted to travel with Jacob, but Jacob refused. What concern did Jacob share (vv. 12-14)? The children, nursing flocks, and herds needed to move slowly. If driven hard for a day, they would die.

Jacob also refused Esau's offer to have his men escort the family (v. 15). Whom did Jacob trust to provide a safe journey? The Lord, whose angels protected them.

Add the rest of the places Esau and Jacob traveled (vv. 16-20). Esau returned home to Seir. Jacob went to Succoth and built homes for his family and animals there. Then he went to Shechem in Canaan and lived there in a tent on a parcel of land he bought.

 Genesis 32 Itinerary

• Start in Paddan-aram.
• See God's angels in Mahanaim.
• Sent messengers to Esau.
• Messengers returned with news that Esau was coming with four hundred men.
• Jacob divided the people and herds into two camps.
• Jacob prayed to the Lord.
• In the morning, Jacob sent a present of flocks and herds for Esau ahead in several groups.
• Jacob took his family across Jabbok Creek; then returned to the other side.
• Alone, Jacob wrestled until dawn with a man (God), who changed his name to Israel and put his hip out of its socket.

  Genesis 33 Itinerary

• Jacob saw Esau coming, so he separated his wives and children into groups and led them.
• Jacob bowed to the ground seven times to show respect to Esau.
• Esau ran to meet him. They embraced and wept.
• Jacob introduced his family to Esau.
• Esau refused to accept the animal gifts, but Jacob insisted and he finally agreed.
• They did not travel together.
• Esau returned to Seir.
• Jacob went to Succoth and built a home there.
• He went to Shechem in Canaan and lived there in a tent on a parcel of land he bought.

What did Jacob finally learn about the Lord? (See Genesis 33:15.) Jacob learned to trust the Lord, who loved and provided for him. God gave Jacob many blessings and protected him. God promised to bless the world through Jacob's Offspring, the Messiah. God kept this promise when He brought His Son into the world. Jesus never sinned, but died on the cross to pay for our sin. In His death and resurrection, Jesus redeemed us and gives us forgiveness of sin.

We Live

In the story of Jacob and Esau, do you think it was more difficult to forgive or receive forgiveness? Keep in mind  how quickly and freely God forgives us for Jesus' sake because of His great love for us.

How easy was it for Jesus to earn our forgiveness? Jesus suffered and died to pay for our sins and forgive them. This was not easy at all!

How easy is it for us to receive forgiveness? Receiving forgiveness from God, by comparison, is easy, because we receive it through grace. However, we often have a difficult time receiving forgiveness from others. Often, we can't believe it or we think we are unforgivable.

Read the Bible verses on page 4 of the leaflet under Forgiving and Receiving Forgiveness. Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:32.

How easy should it be for us to forgive? We should forgive as God has forgiven us. When we think we cannot do this, we can ask God to change our attitudes and thoughts, and He will! With the Holy Spirit at work in us, we can and will forgive others.

Read “Esau Forgives Jacob" on pages 30-31 of the Bible Exploration Guide.

On page 4 of the leaflet, read the First Article of the Apostles' Creed and its entire meaning from Luther's Small Catechism.

Closing

As a closing prayer, listen to the video "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow".