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 and the Lesson 13 Leaflet from the Student Pack. The front cover shows how the artist sees Jacob and Esau meeting.  Also paper and colored pencils or crayons will be needed.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for our families. Remind us that You have included us in Your family through Baptism. As we learn today of how Jacob saw You and struggled with You, send Your Spirit that we, to may see how Your Son struggled for us on the cross and know that You are present with us in Your Word and Sacraments. In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

God Speaks

Broken families and failed friendships are a result of sin. Jesus' suffering and death restores our broken relationship with God and can heal our broken human relationships as well. We can be reconciled with each other. Sin separates us from God and from those we love. In Christ, nothing can separate us from the love of God. We are reconciled with God; He forgives us for Jesus' sake.

Read Romans 8:38-39 under Bible Words on page 4 of the leaflet.

The Fifth Commandment: You shall not murder

Martin Luther’s explanation: We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical way.

Read Matthew 5:22 and 1 John 3:15

Even our angry, hurtful thoughts make us guilty of breaking this commandment.

This lesson is about Jacob. Jacob was in Haran because he had to flee from his brother, Esau. Jacob had gotten the birthright from Esau by tricking him. Esau was angry enough to kill Jacob. The relationship between Jacob and Esau was broken. Jacob went to his uncle Laban's home. There, Laban tricked and deceived Jacob, and the relationship between them was broken. But, Jacob also married Leah and Rachel, and God blessed him with a large family, in spite of Laban's tricks and deceit. This lesson shows how God enabled these relationships to be restored.

This lesson is based on Genesis 31:3 and Genesis chapter 32 and 33. You can read those first or just read the following summary.

• After twenty years with Laban, the Lord told Jacob to go back to Canaan. (Genesis 31:3)
• Although Jacob had worked hard for twenty years, Laban had been unfair and had changed Jacob's wages ten times. God had blessed Jacob in spite of this.
• Without telling Laban, Jacob left as soon as possible with his four wives, children, and many cows, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys. Rachel stole her father's household gods.
• Laban was angry when he found out the family had run away. (Genesis 31:22-35)
• Laban hadn't been able to say goodbye; his household gods had been stolen.
• He took his kinsmen to follow them; God told Laban in a dream to be careful when dealing with Jacob.
• Laban caught up with and confronted Jacob, saying he had the power to harm Jacob, but God had told him not to. Laban at least wanted his gods back
• Jacob told Laban to search for his gods. Jacob, not knowing that Rachel had stolen them and was hiding them by sitting on them, told Laban that whoever had stolen them would die.
• Jacob became angry with Laban. (Genesis 31:36-55)
• They made a covenant: Jacob set up a stone as a pillar and the family made a heap of stones as a sign of a peaceful relationship. Jacob offered a sacrifice to God, and Laban went home.
• Jacob continued on to meet his brother, Esau. (Genesis 32:1-23)
• Jacob saw angels and knew God was still with him.
• Jacob sent word to Esau that he was coming.
• Esau brought four hundred men to meet him, and Jacob was afraid.
• Jacob divided his people into two groups.
• Jacob prayed a faithful prayer. (Genesis 32:9-12)
• He chose animals to send ahead as gifts: 220 goats, 30 camels plus their young, 50 cattle, 30 donkeys.
• Jacob's servants traveled ahead, with one group of animals at a time.
• Jacob sent his family and possessions across the river, and he stayed alone one more night.
• Jacob wrestled with God. (Genesis 32:24-32)
• A man wrestled with Jacob all night, touching Jacob's hip and dislocating it. Jacob hung on.

• Jacob refused to release the man until Jacob received a blessing. The man revealed Himself to be the Lord and changed Jacob’s name to Israel, thus showing how Jacob had grown in faith. The name Jacob means "heel-grabber' someone who takes advantage of others; the name Israel means "struggled with God and won"
• Jacob met Esau. (Genesis 33:1-20)
• Jacob saw Esau and went to meet him, bowing seven times.
• Esau ran to meet Jacob. They embraced and cried with joy.
• Jacob and Esau parted again, this time on loving terms.
• Esau returned to his home in Edom, and Jacob moved to Canaan.
• Jacob bought property, set up his tent, and built an altar there.

We Live

How did God enable the broken relationships in Jacob's family to be restored? God prevented Laban from harming Jacob. Laban and Jacob made a covenant or agreement to not harm each other. God enabled Esau to forgive Jacob. Jesus' forgiveness restores broken relationships.

No matter what our situation, God is with us, just as God was with Jacob. Jacob wrestled with God, both physically and spiritually, in this lesson and throughout his lifetime. Even though God had promised Jacob the birthright, Jacob still tricked Isaac, his father, into giving it to him rather than Esau, his twin brother. Jacob had to move away from his family, afraid for his life. But God affirmed His promise to send the Savior through Jacob's family. This Savior would reconcile all of us to God, paying the full price for our sins.

How did the Savior pay the price? Jesus, the Savior of the world, died on the cross.

Jacob struggled for his birthright with man and God. On the cross, Jesus struggled for our heavenly birthright, winning over sin and death. We are His redeemed and restored children.

On page 2 of the leaflet, follow the directions to find out the gifts Jacob gave to Esau.

Answer: Goats, sheep, camels, cattle, and donkeys

The phrase: forgiveness of sins

On page 3 write a Journal entry that you think Jacob might have written in his journal.

Also on page 3 use the number key to figure out the Bible verse.

The solution: Esau ran to meet [Jacob] and embraced him.

Review the items on page 4 of the leaflet.

Closing

 

 Read the words of the hymn "If God Himself Be for Me".

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we thank You that You keep Your promise to always be with us. Remind us as we go our separate ways that we are Your children through faith in Jesus Christ, Your dear Son and our Savior. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.