Teaching

In our Signposts video today, we saw how some of the important events in the lives of Jacob and Esau relate to the life of Jesus and our blessings as children of God. Let’s take a deeper look and discuss these events together.

1. Have a child read Certificate #1: God’s Promise Confirmed.
   
   When Rebekah was pregnant with twins, she felt the two children struggle with each other inside her. Rebekah asked God why this was happening. God told her that she would be the mother of two nations, and that they would be rivals. One nation would be stronger than the other and the older son—Esau—would serve the younger son—Jacob. God’s promise to Rebekah confirmed the blessing He gave to Abraham—that through him, all the nations on Earth would be blessed.
   
   Jacob was the father of twelve sons. The twelve sons became the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. One of Jacob’s sons was named Judah. Centuries later, one of the descendants of the tribe of Judah was Jesus! The promise to bless all the nations was fulfilled in Him! Our SuperTruth from Lesson 1 speaks of this: “I am a child of God and I share in all of His blessings.”

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

Another son of Jacob was named Levi. All of the priests and those who served in the temple came from the tribe of Levi. Jesus is our High Priest but He came from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.

Read Hebrews 7:13–14:

For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

Jesus’ eternal priesthood did not come from man, it came from God. Jesus is our High Priest who makes it possible for us to approach God with boldness and receive help in time of need!

2. Have a different child read Certificate #2: The Birthright.
   
   In Bible times, the older son usually would become the head of the family and inherit a double portion, or twice as much, as the other sons. This was made official by the birthright. Jacob took advantage of Esau when he was weak and hungry. He persuaded Esau to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew. Esau did not prize his birthright the way he should have, and he thoughtlessly sold it for something of little value. Later, Jacob’s mother Rebekah came up with a plan, and together they tricked Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau! Jacob was cunning and deceitful—but God cannot be deceived or tricked!

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

Read Galatians 6:7–9

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Esau thought his need for a meal was more important than His spiritual blessings, and sold his birthright for the stew. We must never take for granted our blessings and rights as a child of God in Christ! Are there ways that we may be tempted to trade or give away our blessings today? 

3. Have a different child read Certificate #3: Jacob becomes Israel.

Jacob could trick people to get what he wanted. But was he willing to persevere and give all he had in order to receive a blessing from God? Before Jacob reunited with Esau, he wrestled all night with God! How could anyone wrestle with an all-powerful God? God set aside His omnipotence, which means “all power,” to take the form of a man when He wrestled with Jacob. Jacob refused to give up the fight until God blessed him with a new name—point to card on wall, Israel, which means “He struggles with God.” In Hebrew, Jacob meant “Heel grabber,” “Deceiver,” or “Trickster.” His new name, Israel, reflected the change that had taken place inside him. It showed his new character. Jacob was willing to fight for his blessing instead of using deception and trickery.

Do you remember a time later in the Bible when God would set aside His power to take the form of a man?

Yes, Jesus set aside His power to live among us and submit Himself to God’s will and die on the cross.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

Names in Bible times were often given based on the events at the time of the child’s birth. Do you remember how Isaac was given his name? 

Yes, Isaac means, “Laughter.” Isaac’s mother, Sarah, laughed when she heard that she was to have a child in her old age.

Names also reflect a person’s purpose or calling. The Angel told Mary that her Son was to be named Jesus, which means “He saves.” Jesus’ name reveals His divine purpose, to save us from our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for every time we sin and disobey God. Do you know the meaning of your name?

Do you have an idea of your purpose or calling in God?

4. Have a different child read Certificate #4:Joint Heir.

Isaac, the father of Jacob and Esau, only had one blessing to give. Esau missed out and wept! God our Father in Heaven has one Son, Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus, the Bible says we each become a joint-heir in Christ—which means that we receive every blessing from heaven through Jesus!

Read Romans 8:29:

For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Isn’t that wonderful? Jesus is the firstborn, and He freely shares all of His blessings with us because we are His family! Let’s be sure to appreciate our place in Christ by trusting in His work on the cross and living our lives according to His Word.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOR GRADES 4–6:

Read Romans 8:16–17a:

For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

Isn’t that exciting? Sometimes we may not feel like we are God’s children. We may think we have missed out on His blessing. But this verse tells us that God’s Holy Spirit lives inside all of His children and assures us that we inherit His blessings and glory! But that Bible verse doesn’t end there.

Read Romans 8:17b–18:

But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.

What do you think it means that we must share His suffering, too?

Jesus endured trials, temptation and persecution on Earth. We, as His followers, are not exempt from this. But, we can be assured that God’s eternal blessings far outweigh the temporary trials here on Earth.

The Discipleship Challenge for this lesson is located in the Prayer section.