SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 5,JANUARY 31, TOPIC - JACOB, THE SUPPLANTER

Memory Verse: 1 Peter 3:8 Be ye all mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous (KJV)

TEXT GENESIS 25 V 19 -32, GENESIS 27 V 14 - 40

Central Truth

The Christian home should be a refuge of peace and unity.

The Lesson Outline

1. Brother born as rivals

A. Isaac’s Prayers Answered

B. Twin Brothers born

2. Jacob buys Esau’s birthright

A. Parental Partiality

B. Esau’s despises His Birthright

3. Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing

A. Jacob’s Deception

B. Esau’s Despair

Teaching Goals

1. Impart and Reinforce Knowledge: inform and remind students of the Biblical account of the rivalry between the twin brothers Esau and Jacob and its harmful results.

2. Influence Attitudes: Encourage students to be confident that God will work out His for them as they trust and obey Him.

3. Influence Behaviour: Instruct students to wait on God for His avoid getting ahead of God by trying to force His will, as Jacob did.

Introducing the Lesson

Write this phrase on the marker board: ’’Sibling Rivalry’’ Then discusses this question: ’’How does sibling rivalry normally impact families?’’ Note that sibling rivalry is commonplace in families, and it usually does not destroy family relationships. However, the first instance of sibling rivalry between Cain and Abel- ended in murder.

This lesson surveys the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob which had painful consequence for the twin brothers and their parents, and nearly ended in murder. Ask your students to state briefly their thoughts about sibling rivalry its effects on my relationships.

Commentary and Application

1. Brothers born as rivals

A. Isaac’s prayers answered

Isaac was 37 years of age when his mother Sarah died. Three years later he married Rebekah. As the years passed and Rebekah did not bear children, Isaac pleaded with the Lord in prayer, asking God for her to conceive. In answer to Isaac pleaded with the Lord in prayer, asking God for her to conceive. In answer to Isaac’s prayers, twenty years after he and Rebekah were married, she gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob.

During her pregnancy with the twins, Rebekah sensed that they “struggled together with her”. This was unlike the normal movement of a child in the womb. So she asked the Lord as to why.

The Lord replied that two nations, distinctively different from one another, would come from her twin sons. In addition, contrary to custom, the older son would be subordinate to the younger. The two nations of this prophecy would be Israel and Edom. Although he was the younger son, Jacob would inherit God’s blessing and continue the line of promise.

Questions for Application

Why do you think it took twenty years of prayer before Rebekah conceived? What can this teach us about trusting in God’s promises?

God had promised that Abraham’s covenant would continue through Isaac. Why was it important, then, that Isaac pray for Rebekah to Conceive?

B. Twin brothers born

When the twins Esau and Jacob were born, God’s plan moved forward another generation. Esau was born first, covered with reddish hair growing over his whole body. This “animal-like” appearance foreshadowed his manner of living that favoured the outdoors.

As Jacob emerged from the womb, he took hold of Esau’s heel. However, Jacob had the more usual appearance of an infant, foreshadowing that his manner of life would be quite different from that of Esau. The firstborn twin was named Esau-meaning “hairy”, because of his appearance. The twin born second was named Jacob-meaning “heel catcher” or “sup-planter” –because he took hold of his older brother’s heel while they were being born. This name Jacob, then, also foreshadowed events that would occur later in his life.

Questions for Application

What conclusions can we make and not make about Esau based on the fact God chose Jacob over him to carry on the line of Abraham?

Response to the word

The fact that God heard and answered the prayers of both Isaac and Rebekah testifies of their faith in and devotion of God, and of his faithfulness of them. Reliance on God by faith and prayer are means by which we move along the path to the fulfilment of God’s will for our lives.

Yet if we fail to move toward God by faith and prayer, we miss out on the blessings and promises given to those who follow him. What does it mean to you to move toward God in faith, and how does one make this move?

2. Jacob buys Esau’s birthright

A. Parental partiality

Isaac knew his father Abraham had sons by women other than Sarah, but God had chosen him, the only son born to Abraham and Sarah, to carry the spiritual heritage of Abraham. Isaac also knew that God had chosen his younger son, Jacob, to bear the spiritual heritage of Abraham and Isaac. Thus Isaac also would be aware of his obligation to his sons to teach them God’s will, and to guide them into loving and serving God according to his plan for each of them. As events unfold, is becomes apparent that he did not deal with the reality that the long-standing custom of blessing the firstborn would both be followed in this case. While Isaac was a good, Godly man, he fell short in his parental responsibilities.

It was extremely unwise of Isaac and Rebekah to choose a favourite son, and the fact that they chose different favourites caused immeasurable problems. Isaac loved Esau, and was partial to him because he was an outdoorsman and hunter who provided wild game that Isaac enjoyed. Rebekah preferred Jacob, likely because he stayed near the tents and tended the flocks. This exercise of favouritism on the part of the parents undoubtedly accentuated the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob that rose from their natural differences.

Questions for Application

What could Isaac and Rebekah have done differently to encourage and cultivate brotherly love between Esau and Jacob? How can parents do this for their children today?

Why is it wise for Christian parents to teach their children that they can love and serve Christ, whatever the career, occupation, profession, or vocation they chose to follow in life?

B. Esau despises his birthright

The twin brothers Esau and Jacob grew up to be very different as the circumstances of their birth suggested. Esau was a hunter, while Jacob was a herdsman, like Isaac and Abraham.

After a hunting trip, an exhausted and hungry Esau found Jacob boiling lentils into a red stew, a staple of herdsmen.

Esau asked Jacob for some stew. (His desire for this stew led to his alternate name, Edom, which means “Red”). Jacob should have freely given food to his brother. But he saw an opportunity to bargain for Esau’s birthright. “Birthright” refers of the right and privileges of inheritance that belonged to the firstborn son.

Jacob offered food in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau responded that he was going to die. Some believe Esau spoke of feeling as if he were starving. Others point out that the life of a hunter was one of danger, so Esau decided that fulfilling his immediate desire for food was most important, rather than being concerned with a future inheritance (this kind of perspective is seen in the Bible. Regardless, Esau despised his birthright. He treated his inheritance with contempt, selling something of great value in exchange for a momentary desire.

Questions for Application

In what sense might you say that Esau acted wrongly? In what sense might you say Jacob acted wrongly?

Hebrews 12:16 identifies Esau as a “profane” (KJV) or “godless” (NIV) person for selling his birthright to Jacob. What can we learn from this about being good stewards of our spiritual heritage?

Response to the word

You may have heard the saying “everybody has a price.” In other words, for the right price a person will sacrifice anything, including integrity, honesty, and virtue. Too often in this world, that saying proves to be true. However, it must not be true in our spiritual lives. There are many momentary desires that tempt us, such as possessions, pleasures, or the approval of others. We are wise to examine ourselves each day to ensure that we do not sell out spiritual values for temporal things.

3. Jacob steals Esau’s blessing

A. Jacob’s deception

As Isaac approached death, the time came for him to confer the blessing of Abraham on his oldest son, Esau. This practice of a father pronouncing an oral blessing on a son was no mere formality. The blessing was not a wish, a hope, or even a prayer. I9t had legal force. And because this was the family chosen by God to bring about his covenant, Isaac’s words would be spoken prophetically, with God-given authority. God’s blessing of Abraham was destined to come to fulfilment in Jesus. Therefore, the blessing in each generation was conferred on the son of God’s choice: form Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah on through David and, finally, to Jesus Christ.

When time for the blessing came, Rebekah saw that Isaac intended to bless Esau, the oldest. But instead of depending on God to secure the blessing for Jacob (the son of God’s choice), she devised a deceptive scheme of her own to obtain the blessing for Jacob.

Jacob’s deception of his father, abetted by his mother, involved a number of lies. Jacob lied by calling herself Esau, then compounded his dishonesty by saying the Lord had given him success in obtaining the meat so quickly.

Having finished his meal, Isaac invited his son to come near. When Isaac smelled Esau’s clothes and felt the hairy goatskins Jacob wore to cover his smooth skin, Isaac had no doubt that his oldest son stood before him. Missing God’s choice of blessed who he thought was Esau. This blessing consisted of all God had conferred on Abraham and Isaac: prosperity, dominion, protection, and the promise to bless all the nations and families of the earth. Jacob’s deception was sinful, but nonetheless he was chosen by God to receive the blessing of Abraham.

Questions for Application

Why might Christians take matters into their own hands when faced with a dilemma in life? Why is this unwise?

What would have been the right course of action for Rebekah and Jacob, with regard to Isaac’s blessing?

B. Esau’s despair

A short time later, Esau brought a meal of meal to Isaac, who quickly asked, “Who are you?” revealing his alter surprise at what was unfolding.

As Isaac realised that he had in fact blessed Jacob, he trembled violently, demonstrating the emotion of that moment. Rom Isaac’s previous actions, we might conclude that he had not taken seriously the prophecy that foretold the pre-eminence of Jacob. Now, Isaac’s conclusion regarding Jacob was, “I blessed him- and indeed the will be

blessed”

Realising that Jacob had received the blessing, Esau cried out to his father for a blessing, too. But this could not be done. Because of Esau’s

apathy toward the blessing, he disqualified himself from becoming the head of the lineage of Abraham.

As Esau despaired over losing both the blessing and the birthright, Isaac pronounced a different blessing on him. This one was inspired by God and prophetic as well. Esau would live on dry and barren land (which describes the land of Edom well). He would live in continuous

conflict. And his offspring would serve that of Jacob. However, eventually he would break off the yoke of his brother’s dominion over him. This happened many years later, possibly when Jacob returned from Mesopotamia and came to meet Esau seeking peace and reconciliation, calling himself Esau’s servant.

Questions for Application

What is some consequences God’s people face today when they fail to place high regard on his promises?

What connection is there between honouring God and his promises, and experiencing good relationships with family and fellow Christians?

Response to the word

One consistent theme of the Bible is that the consequences of sin are ultimately severe and long lasting, and can even impact future generations. When we are tempted to allow sin into our lives, we must consider how hurtful and far-reaching the consequences of that sin may be. By dishonest means, Jacob obtained a blessing that held the promise of spiritual riches, physical well-being, and material prosperity. But his dishonesty earned him the hatred of his brother, Esau, brought sorrow to his parents, and injured his family for many years to come. The rupture between Esau and Jacob brought hostility and wars

between their descendants for centuries, until; at last, no descendants of Esau remained alive.

Call to discipleship

It is often said that “strong Christian families make strong churches.” The Bible instructs Christian parents to nurture their children in the ways of the Lord, by setting for them a good example of Christian discipleship, and by teaching them to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

A central they found in the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is that God has a good plan for our lives, and it is for God’s glory and for our best well-being, that we conform our lives to his plan. When Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob conformed to God’s will, they were blessed by God. When they deviated from God’s will, they brought trouble on themselves. We are wise to practise the discipline of conformity to God’s plan in our lives and in our families, so our homes will be a refuge of peace and unity.

Ministry in action

How are you influencing those around you, whether in your family, in your church, or your circle of friends? When others se the grace and peace of Christ manifested through you life, they can be encouraged to live for Christ. Close in prayer that students will be witnesses of Jesus Christ to all those around them.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 5,JANUARY 31, TOPIC - JACOB, THE SUPPLANTER