40- Jacob Meets Esau

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. (40)

References:
Genesis 32:1-11.

Notes for Servants
-Although the Lord promised Jacob to keep him safe, yet he was afraid of his brother. His fear
made him divide those who were with him according to the degree of his love to them. He put the
concubines and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph at the
rear. Jacob went ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached
his brother, to soothe his wrath. How weak is the nature of man.
-But the Lord filled Esau's heart with love. He ran towards Jacob his brother, threw his arms
around him, and kissed him. They were both crying. He who controls himself in time of anger is
better than the owner of a fortified city. There is time for anger but we must not sin. We have to
think a little and pray for the Lord's help so that the Lord may fill our hearts with peace and in this
case we can comfort others.

Objectives
General: Our love for our brothers.
Specific:
The children will be able to
A. learn that soft and nice speaking is a very important Christian virtue.
B. ask others to forgive them when they do wrong to them.

Bible Verse
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

(Proverbs 15:1)

Teaching Aids
The picture of the lesson.

Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Concentrate on the dialogue between Jacob and Esau.

(5) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the
lesson.

Story Time
Jacob came back after he had run away from his brother Esau. He had been away for a long time.
He had married, had children, sheep and cows in great numbers. When they were about to cross the river
that lay between Haran and the land of Canaan, Jacob sent messengers on ahead to tell his brother Esau
of his return. When they came back, the messengers told Jacob they had met Esau, and that he was
coming towards his brother with 400 men.
Jacob was afraid when he heard this, for he knew that Esau had wanted to kill him in revenge for
their father's blessing which Jacob had falsely taken from him so many years before. "Oh God of my
fathers," Jacob prayed now, "you commanded me to return here and promised to protect me and reward
me. Protect us now, and save all my family from my brother's revenge."
Jacob decided to offer Esau a present of goats and sheep, camels and cows and donkeys-some
600 animals in all. He sent them ahead of the party in a long line and told their herdsmen to tell Esau that
Jacob had sent them.
Later that evening he sent his family ahead while he himself rested by the river. At midnight, he
started wading across. When he reached the middle, a dark shape stopped him and wrestled with him,
threatening to force him below the water.
"Who are you?"Jacob gasped, but no sound came and Jacob was forced to stand and struggle until
dawn. As the daylight came, the thing begged Jacob to release it. Jacob knew then that it was an angel
of darkness, and he would not let it go until it had blessed him. Finally it said, "You shall be blessed, Jacob,
and your name shall be Israel, for you have struggled with God and man."
That morning Esau and his men came near. Jacob made everybody halt while he walked slowly
forward to meet his brother, bowing to him as he went. But Esau did not wait forJacob to reach him. He
ran forward, and the two brothers fell into each other's arms, and wept with joy. Esau accepted Jacob's
gift and welcomed him back to the land ofCanaan. And from that day onwards they became firm friends.

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.