Teaching

In our Bible story, Esau chose to sell Jacob his birthright. Do you remember why? He was hungry after hunting all day. He didn’t value his birthright.

A birthright meant headship of the family and a double share of the inheritance. Let’s read the story in the Bible.

Read Genesis 25:29–34:

One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!″ (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.″) “All right,″ Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.″ “Look, I’m dying of starvation!″ said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?″  But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.″ So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Esau thought the birthright was of little value compared to his hunger; in fact he despised it. How sad it is to value the temporary physical pleasures of this world more than God’s spiritual blessings and rights we have as children of God, that will endure forever! Our SuperTruth tells us that we are not to be careless or take for granted the things of God. Let’s say it aloud together: “I will do my best to keep all of God’s blessings.″

Ask children to name specific items that are very important to them. Display the “item of value″ you have brought, then hold up the beverage.

Would you trade that item for this drink? No.

What if you just played a game of soccer, you had just run a very long distance, or you had been in the hot sun all day? No.

Esau gave up his important birthright because he was hungry. Temporary satisfaction caused him to give up something of great value for something that just gave him a moment or two of satisfaction. Let’s think about what that means.

If you brought a lollipop and a photo of a $100 bill, display them for the class. If you gave a 2-year-old baby the choice between a lollipop to eat right away or a hundred-dollar bill to spend later, which one do you think the baby would choose? The lollipop.

You know how good that lollipop would taste right now; but because you are older, you understand how much that $100 bill could buy later—so which one would you choose? The $100 bill.

As we read God’s Word and grow in Christ, we begin to understand more and more what it means to be a child of God and that His promises and blessings are priceless to us! That is how we can make wise choices so we can keep all of our blessings in Christ.

Esau was careless and foolish to give up his birthright for a bowl of stew. We must not be careless and throw away our birthright for foolish things the world has to offer. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the Bible.

Read Philippians 3:8:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

When we know Christ as Lord; when we are united with Him, we have all God’s blessings through Him! Jesus made a wonderful promise about this.

Read John 15:7:

But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

When we remain in Jesus, our prayers will be answered when we ask according to His Word. Just as Jacob wrestled with God until he received his blessing, we can receive what we need through Christ in prayer.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Let’s discuss the Discipleship Challenge we started last lesson.

Hand out the Gizmo Face Patterns to any children who didn’t receive them last time and tell them to cut them out and fold them at home.

We have been challenged to pray about forgiving others and asking forgiveness from others who God brings to our remembrance. Does anyone have an experience you would like to share with us? Allow volunteers to share.

Continue to pray and act on what God shows you in prayer, and I’ll ask you about it next time.