Jacob’s Journeys

n our last Lesson, we learnedabout Isaac and Jacob. Jacob

received a blessing from his father,Isaac. Soon after, he left his parentsand brother. During the trip, Jacobhad a dream. God promised thatJacob’s children would become agreat nation. In this lesson, we willlearn how this nation began.

Jacob was traveling to the homeof his uncle Laban. Laban wasRebekah’s brother. When Jacobarrived, he saw a group of peoplenear a well. He asked them if theyknew Laban. As they answered“yes,” Laban’s daughter, Rachel,arrived at the well.

Rachel was taking care of herfather’s sheep. Jacob introducedhimself. They were happy to meeteach other. Rachel ran to tell herfather about their visitor. Laban wasalso very happy to see his nephew.

Jacob decided to stay with Labanand work for him. He worked veryhard. After one month, Labanthought he should pay Jacob for his

labor. He asked Jacob what hewanted.

By that time, Jacob knew Rachelvery well. He loved her and wantedto marry her. He asked Laban if hecould marry her. Instead of money,Jacob wanted to marry Rachel forthe work he did. Jacob loved Rachelso much that he agreed to workseven years for Laban.

The seven years passed veryquickly. The day soon arrived forthe wedding. Jacob was very excit-ed and happy because he hadworked very hard for this day. Thewedding began and they were wed.

But Jacob was soon surprised.When he lifted the bride’s veil, hesaw that it was not Rachel! He actu-ally had married Leah, Rachel’solder sister! He was very angry andasked Laban why this had hap-pened. Laban told Jacob that it wascustom that the older daughter bemarried first.

Jacob still loved Rachel andwanted to marry her. So Laban

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1 CHILDREN’S BIBLE LESSONIllustrations by Paula Rondeau

Jacob’s Journeys

agreed to give Rachel to be Jacob’ssecond wife. First, Jacob had toagree to be nice to Leah and workanother seven years. This meansthat he worked 14 years tomarry Rachel. He loved hervery much. Even thoughJacob had to work for 7more years, Laban agreedthat Jacob and Rachelcould marry right away.Jacob then had twowives. A long timeago, sometimes menhad more than onewife. But now, hus-bands only haveone wife.

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Jacob’s Family Grows

Jacob continued to work for hisuncle. In fact, he worked for 20years without being paid anything.During that time, Jacob had 11 sons.But only one son came from hisfavorite wife, Rachel. His name wasJoseph. Jacob also had one daugh-ter, Dinah.

Jacob wanted to go back to where

he grew up. Remember, this was theland of Canaan. But Jacob was ahard worker, and Laban did not wanthim to go. Jacob’s hard work helpedLaban become rich. The cattle andother flocks grew a lot under Jacob’stending. This was because God waswith Jacob and blessed him.

Jacob insisted that he be paid forthe work he had done. Laban agreedthat Jacob could take all the flockthat was speckled or spotted. But

Laban was tricky. He hid most ofthose animals so Jacob had to waitlonger until more speckled and spot-ted ones were born.

As time passed, Jacob’s spottedherds grew greatly. But Laban’sherds did not grow as much. Again,God had blessed Jacob.

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Jacob knew that Labandid not want him to leave.Jacob decided to take hisfamily and all of his herdsback to his home country.So, they left.

A couple of days later,Laban learned that Jacoband his family had left. Heand his men chased Jacobwith his fastest camels.

When he caught up toJacob, Laban was veryangry with him. He wassurprised that Jacob hadleft. Laban told Jacob hewould have had a party forhis departure. He alsoaccused Jacob of stealingsome of his idols.

Jacob was shocked! Hewas very careful to onlytake what was his. He didnot know that his wife,Rachel, had taken theseidols. These idols were false andforeign gods. Jacob did not wantanything to do with them.

After a long discussion, Labanand Jacob made an agreement. Theybuilt a pillar, and Laban agreed notto hurt Jacob and Jacob agreed notto hurt Laban. Saying good-bye to

his daughters and grandchildren,Laban and his men left for home.

The Trip Home

On his trip back home, Jacob knewthat he would meet his brother,Esau. Jacob had left Canaan when

Esau was very angry with him.Jacob feared that Esau would stilltry to kill him.

Jacob decided to divide his herdsand his family into two groups. IfEsau was still mad, then onehalf of Jacob’s family andbelongings could survive.

Jacob was worried. Heprayed to God to save himand his family. He knew thatGod could answer hisprayers. When we are intough situations, we shouldask God to help us. If you doso, He will answer you andhelp you.

Jacob sent many goats,sheep and cattle to his brother.He hoped that these giftswould lessen Esau’s anger.This was also to show Esauthat Jacob wanted peace andto be close brothers again.

Before meeting Esau, Jacobcamped with his family for thenight. During the night, whenJacob was alone, a strangercame and wrestled with him.They wrestled all night!

This was hard for Jacob. Infact, the Being he waswrestling was not human. We

learn later in the Bible that He wasthe Being who later became JesusChrist. The stranger told Jacob to letgo, but Jacob refused. He would notlet go until he received a blessing.

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God blessed him.God also changedJacob’s name toIsrael. Israel means“he who overcomes”or “proves to be achampion.”

God was pleasedwith Jacob’s courageand willpower.

Brothers Meet

The next morning,Esau and his familyand herds came toJacob and his family.Jacob was still wor-ried. To his surprise,Esau was very happyto see his brotheragain.

The two brothersran to each other andhugged. They were sohappy that they evencried! It had beenmany years since they last saw eachother. Esau was pleased to seeJacob’s family—11 sons and 1daughter.

Esau did not want to accept thegifts that Jacob had given him. Jacob

explained that God had greatlyblessed him. Jacob insisted that Esauaccept the gifts. They both agreed.

Then Jacob and Esau partedways. They were both very happythat they had a relationship again.

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Next, God instructed Jacob to goto Bethel.

Again, God appeared to Jacoband blessed him. God also saidagain that He would change Jacob’sname to Israel. He told Israel to befruitful and multiply. He said that a

nation and a company of nationswill come from Israel’s children.God also told Israel that kingswould come from his descendants.God promised to give Israel the landthat he promised Abraham andIsaac.

Israel, his family, and all hisherds continued on their journey.Rachel was pregnant with anotherchild. She had avery hard laborand becamevery sick.Nearing death,her nurse toldher that she wasgoing to have aboy. Soon after,Rachel died.Israel named hisnew sonBenjamin.

Israel nowhad 12 sons. Wewill learn inlater lessons thateach of theseson’s childrenwill become atribe. They arecalled the 12tribes of Israel.These tribes stillexist as nationstoday.

This was thestory and life ofthe man named

Israel. In the next Lesson, we willlearn about the beginning of a nationcalled Israel.

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WORD SEARCHFind all the children of Israel.

Word Bank

JudahZebulunIssachar

DanGadAsher

NaphtaliJosephBenjamin

ReubenSimeonLeviDinah

BIBLE MEMORY:

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

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The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Israel’s SonsRemember that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. He had 12 sons, andtheir families would later be called the 12 tribes of Israel. Write out Israel’s12 sons below. If you need help, ask your parents to find their names in theBible for you.

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