Jacob and Esau

n Lesson 3, we learned thatAbraham sent his servant to find

a wife for Isaac. During the ser-vant’s travels, he met a lady namedRebekah. They traveled home tomeet Isaac.

Isaac was out in a field oneevening. He looked up and sawcamels coming. He knew it was hisfather’s servant. He also saw that abeautiful woman was with the ser-vant.

At the same time, Rebekah sawa man in the distance. She askedthe servant who it was and he toldher that it was his master, Isaac.

The servant told Isaac all thathad happened. Isaac knew that thiswas his future wife. They got mar-ried and loved each other for therest of their lives.

Abraham lived a full life. Hewas 175 years old when he died.

Isaac’s Family

Isaac and Rebekah did not havechildren for 20 years. Isaac turned

to God and asked for a child. Godanswered his prayer. Rebekah wassoon pregnant.

Rebekah noticed that there was alot of movement in her belly. Sheasked God why. God explained thatwithin Rebekah’s belly was not onechild but two! Isaac and Rebekahwere going to have twins! God saidthat two peoples (nations) wouldcome from her children. He told herthat the one born first would servethe one born second.

Rebekah gave birth to a reddish,hairy son. They named him Esau.After that, Jacob was born. Isaacand Rebekah were so happy withtheir new family!

Esau became a hunter. Hewalked through the land and huntedanimals. Jacob, the younger brother,became a shepherd. He liked to takecare of animals and grow plants forfood. He stayed near his home andlooked after his animals and crops.

However, Esau and Jacob’s par-ents made a mistake. They each had afavorite child. Isaac liked Esau more

I

1 CHILDREN’S BIBLE LESSONIllustrations by Paula Rondeau

Jacob and Esau

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because he hunted animals andbrought them home to be eaten.Rebekah was closer to Jacob. Parentsshould not play favorites. This causeschildren to compete with each other.

Esau was the firstborn and he hadthe “birthright.” This meant that hewould receive more than his siblingswhen his parents died. He wouldreceive more animals, land and

money than Jacob. This also meantthat he would receive the promisesmade to Isaac’s father, Abraham.

Remember God’s promise toAbraham. God promised that his

family would become great. His chil-dren would have lots of children.This would happen for many years.At some point, his family would beas many as the stars in the sky!

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One day, after hunting, Esaucame home and was very hungry. Atthe same time, Jacob was making astew. Esau saw the stew and asked

Jacob for some. Jacob knew thatEsau was very hungry, so he said,“Sell me your birthright and I willgive you the stew.”

Esau was sohungry, he feltthat he was goingto die. He agreedto sell hisbirthright.

Isaac Gives aBlessing

Isaac grew veryold and becamealmost blind. Heknew that hewould soon dieand that he shouldbless his olderson, Esau. Thiswas the birthrightblessing. Isaaccalled to Esau andsaid, “I will blessyou, but first gohunt a deer and Iwill have a meal.”Esau left to huntthe deer.

Rebekah heardwhat was about to

happen. She did not wantthis to happen. Because sheloved Jacob more, shewanted Jacob to receive theblessing. She called Jacobto her and told him to gettwo of his goats from hisflock. Rebekah prepared ameal for Isaac. Rebekahtold Jacob to bring the mealto his father so that hewould receive the blessinginstead of Esau.

But Jacob said, “I amsmooth-skinned and Esau isvery hairy. If my father feelsme, he will know that it isnot his son Esau.” Rebekahcame up with a plan.

After the meal was pre-pared, Rebekah put Esau’sclothes on Jacob. She alsoput the skins of goats onJacobs’s hands and neck. IfIsaac would feel his son, hewould now feel hairy.

Rebekah should not havedone what she did. She knewthat God promised that theolder son (Esau) would serve theyounger (Jacob). She should havetrusted God. But, she took mattersinto her own hands.

Jacob brought the meal to hisfather. Because Isaac was nearlyblind, he said, “Who are you, myson?”

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Jacob lied and said that he wasEsau, Isaac’s firstborn son. He alsosaid that the meal was prepared asrequested. Isaac was surprised thathis son had hunted and prepared themeal so quickly. Jacob respondedand lied again, saying that God hadprovided the deer for him. Isaacwas not sure that he was Esau, so hetold his son to come to him so hecould feel him. Isaac felt the skinsand it felt like his son Esau.

Isaac ate the meal that Jacob hadbrought. Then Isaac gave the birthrightblessing to Jacob.

Isaac blessed Jacob, saying that“God will give your family plentyof farmlands and fresh water. Hewill make you rich. The nationsshall bow down and serve yourpeople.”

Esau Returns

Jacob left his father. Soon after, Esaucame home from his hunt. He pre-pared the meal and brought it to hisfather. Isaac asked, “Who are you?”Esau said that he was his firstbornson, Esau. Isaac was shocked. Whohad just come to him?

They realized what had hap-pened and Esau became very angry.

He asked for a blessing from Isaac.But it was too late; Jacob had takenthe birthright blessing. Esau asked,“Is there any blessing left for me?”Isaac felt sorry for his favorite son.Isaac said that Esau’s people wouldnot have rich soil or plenty ofwater. They would make war withpeople and they would serveJacob’s people.

Esau did not like his blessing.He hated his brother for what hehad done. He wanted to kill Jacobafter their father died.

Rebekah heard of Esau’s angerand told Jacob. She instructedJacob to flee from Esau. She toldhim to go to Laban, his uncle. Shesaid that when Esau was no longerangry, he could return home.

Jacob Has a Dream

Jacob left his parents and brother.During his journey, Jacob found aplace to stay the night. Not havinga pillow, he rested his head on arock. He fell asleep and had astrange dream.

Jacob dreamed that he saw agreat ladder or staircase. It startedat the ground and went up intoheaven. He saw angels of God

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going up the stairway and othersgoing down.

Then, standing above it, Godtalked to Jacob and said, “I am theLord God of Abraham your grand-father, and the God of your father,Isaac. I will give you the landwhere you now sleep. Your peoplewill become a great nation. Thenumber of people will be likecounting the dust of the earth. Youshall spread in all directions.Through your people, all of the

nations of the world will beblessed.” God also promised thatHe would be with Jacob.

Jacob awoke from his dream andwas afraid! Jacob thought that theplace where he slept was the gateof heaven. He marked the placewith the stone he used as a pillow.He also promised that God wouldbe his God and that he would titheto him. To tithe means to give Godone-tenth of everything we earn.Jacob knew that all that he would

receive wouldbe a gift fromGod and thatGod com-mands us togive one-tenthto Him. Westill tithe toGod today.Ask your par-ents to explainwhat a tithe is.

In the nextLesson, wewill continuewith Jacob’slife. There aremany moreexciting eventsto study.

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You should not make this soupon your own. Ask your mom ifshe will help you make this.

This is a very old MiddleEastern recipe.

This soup is very hearty andgives energy on a cold day.

Remember, no food canreplace the importance ofGod’s truth and blessings.

Esau did not value theimportance of what God said.Ingredients:1 lb bag of red lentils (washed and rinsed)2 1/2 quarts of water or broth

3 tablespoons of olive oil6 garlic cloves (chopped or crushed)1 very large onion (chopped)1 1/2 teaspoons cumin1 tablespoon coriander

Note:The lentils will turn yellow when they cook, but that isalright—they are supposed to do this.Step 1: Put the lentils in a 5-quart pot.Cover with water or broth. Bring to a boil, then turndown and simmer for one hour until thick.Step 2: In a skillet, sauté the remaining ingredentsuntil slightly browned.Step 3: Add the contents of the skillet to the pot oflentils.Step4: Add sea salt and pepper until it tastes right.

Serving suggestions:When you serve this soup, lay lemon wedges on asaucer next to the bowl for the people to squeeze afew drops of lemon juice on each spoonful.

How to make Lentil Soup like Jacob:

Red Lentil Soup

BIBLE MEMORY:

Published by The Restored Church of God.Printed in the USA; All Rights ReservedCopyright © 2005

071114 / CBL24

Genesis 25:23

Jacob and EsauFill in the blank to each sentence.Then, put the answer in the spaces to the right. After writing the answeron the right read the letters in the boxes from top to bottom and fill in the blank at the bottom of the page.They will spell what Rebekah should have done. If you cannot spell a word, use the word bank.

1. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of ____.

2. A ____________ is given to the first childof a family.

3. Esau was a __________.

4. Rebekah put goat _________ on Jacob’sneck and arms.

5. Jacob promised to give a _________ ofwhat he earned.

6. Isaac gave the birthright ___________ to Jacob.

7. Isaac wanted Esau to hunt a _______ and pre-pare a meal.

8. ______ talked to Jacob in his dream.

9. ________ was the second born son.

10. Jacob had a __________.

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Word Bankdeer hunter God dream Jacob skins stew birthright tithe blessing

Rebekah Should have __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .