This lesson is compatible with the "Jacob" Flash-A-Cards from Abeka Books.
Scripture References: Genesis 32: 1-30
Jacob was relieved he didn’t have to worry about Laban, his father-in-law, chasing him down anymore. Laban had found Jacob when he left with everything he owned and all of his family. God had been good to Jacob, though. He told Laban to be careful what he said to Jacob. He warned Laban not to hurt him. Laban and Jacob then made a promise to each other not to hurt each other. So, Jacob breathed a sigh of relief the day he and Laban parted ways for the last time. But the peace he felt didn’t last long. He began to think about the other person he fought with so long ago. His own twin brother Esau. He remembered tricking his father for the blessing of the oldest son, Esau. He remembered hearing the cry of his brother in his father’s tent when he learned he wouldn’t have the blessing of the oldest son. He remembered all of the times they struggled and didn’t get along. There were too many to count! After all, they even fought each other in their mother’s tummy before they were even born! So, all Jacob could do that day was think about what would happen when Esau saw him again. That’s all he could think about the next day, too. I imagine he missed seeing a lot of the scenery on his trip back home because he was thinking about all the ways Esau might hurt him, or even kill him! So, Jacob decided to come up with a plan. First, he called a few servants and said “go ahead of us and go straight to my brother Esau. Tell him I said “I have lived with Laban for all of these years, and I now have cattle, donkeys, sheep, and many servants. I am coming home and am telling you of my return to see if I am welcome.” Then he sent the servants on their way. He must have been biting his fingernails as he and his large group traveled closer to home. It took them longer to travel as a big group, so the servants had plenty of time to make it to Esau before the group arrived. In fact, the servants made it to Esau, and then traveled back to Jacob! When they saw their master, Jacob, they said “We told Esau everything you said, and now he is coming to meet you. And he has 400 men with him.”
When Jacob heard that, he went into a panic! “FOUR HUNDERD?!” He thought. “Esau is bringing an army to kill me and all of my family!!!”
Jacob made another plan. He said to his servants “We are going to split up into two groups. Half the animals and servants in one group, and the other half in another group. That way, if Esau comes and attacks the group in front, the group behind can run away and escape.” (Wouldn’t you hope to be in the second group?!)
Then Jacob prayed. I think he should have prayed first, but I am glad he at finally did pray to God. He said “God of my grandfather Abraham, and of my father Isaac, you said you would be with me and bring me back to my home. I am not worthy of all of the mercy you have shown me. I left home with just my walking stick, and now I am returning with two large groups. Please save me from my brother, because I am afraid, he will attack me and my wives and children. You said before that you would make my family as large as the number of sands in the sea, that can’t even be numbered.” It is great that Jacob recognized how good God is! None of us deserve anything good from God, because none of us are good. But God is SO GOOD to us, because He provided a Savior to pay for our sins and save us! And apart from this goodness, He gives us so many blessings besides! He is GOOD!
That evening he gathered 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep, 30 female camels with their babies, 40 female cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 baby donkeys, and sent them on ahead of the groups as gifts for his brother. He said to the herdsmen “Go before us in groups, leaving space between each group of animals. When you see my brother and he asks you who the animals belong to say “They are your servant Jacob’s. He sent them as a present to you, my lord. And he is coming along behind us.” This way, he thought he would soften his brother up towards him. “Maybe Esau will accept me and not be angry anymore after he receives my gifts.”
Have you noticed anything wrong, yet?
Jacob prayed for God to protect him, but he was trying to do God’s work again! Instead of trusting God, he was trying to solve his own problems. I think it is natural for us to want to solve the problems in our lives, because we like to be in control of things…but God wants us to trust HIM.
It was getting darker by now, and Jacob and his family still had to cross a large, dangerous river. In some places, it had very steep walls of earth on each side, like a small canyon. He sent his family over and stayed on the other side to make sure they all made it safe. But now he was all alone on the wrong side, and it was too dark to cross! So, Jacob decided to stay there until the morning, while his family was camped out on the other side of the river.
It was definitely dark now.
All of a sudden, a man showed up and grabbed Jacob and began to fight him! Jacob began to wrestle with him as best he could. He was all alone, with no servants to help him. His sons were also on the other side of the river, and some of them were strong young men who could have helped their old father. But there was no help anywhere around. Even if he screamed for help, it would be too dangerous for anyone to try to cross the river.
It was dark, and I imagine Jacob didn’t have much light to see with, other than a campfire. “Who are you?!” he shouted.
Who do you think it was?
Come back next week to find out!
Let’s pray and ask God to help us to trust Him. God is worthy of our trust, in good times and in bad times. He can help us in any difficult situation. Instead of trying to fix things ourselves, let’s trust God!