Rotation.org Writing Team

JACOB AND ESAU

GAMES WORKSHOP

PART ONE

PASSAGE

Story:

Beginning:
Genesis 25:20-26 - Birth of Esau and Jacob
Genesis 25:27-34 - Selling of Birthright

Trickery:
Genesis 27:1-40 - Jacob receives Esau’s Blessing
Genesis 29:15-30 - Jacob, Laban, Rachel

Key/Memory Verse:

Genesis 28:16 - "Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place -- and I did not know it!'"

PURPOSE

To realize that it isn’t funny or nice when someone plays a trick on you.

See Bible Background for Objectives

The student will feel what it is like to be tricked
The student will see that sometimes we are the one who gets tricked.

Materials List

Bibles or “Word & Song Bible" by Stephen Elkins [ISBN: 0-8054-1689-7; It can be ordered with CDs or cassettes]
“Calvin ball Rules” http://www.solitaryway.com/calvin/cb_rules.htm
Whiteboard/Chalkboard/Newsprint/Tag board
Chalk or markers
Bases, if you are going to have the students move from place to place
Masks, if you choose
Notecards or paper
Computer/Printer or pens

Advance Preparation Requirements

Read through the Bible Background.

Read the Bible stories.

Note that the game can be played outdoors, indoors or on a whiteboard or chalkboard.

Prepare note cards with questions you write on them or use the questions provide in the lesson.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction (5-10 minutes)

Ask the students if they know the date of April Fools' Day. [April 1]

Why do you think they call it April Fools' Day? [You try fooling someone.]

Do you know another name for “fool?" [Trickster]

What tricks have you or someone else you know done on April Fools' Day?

Dig - Main Content

Tell the students to listen careful as we will be playing a game and afterwards they will have to know and answer the questions that are from the story.

Option 1

Read the Bible Passages.

Beginning:
Genesis 25:20-26 - Birth of Esau and Jacob
Genesis 25:27-34 - Selling of Birthright
Genesis 25:23 - Two nations

Trickery
Genesis 27:1-40 - Jacob receives Esau’s Blessing
Genesis 29:15-30 - Jacob, Laban, Rachel

Option 2 (Recommend for younger ages)

Read the Story of Esau and Jacob from “The Word & Song Bible” by Stephen Elkins

Introduce the comic of Calvin & Hobbes and the idea of “Calvin ball”

Why is this comic supposed to be funny? [Calvin keeps making up new rules for the games.]

Tell the students they are now going to play a game of baseball. Tell the students where the bases are located if they are used. Pillows could be used if you are inside and trees or real bases if outside. Divide the class into Esau and Jacob teams.

Tell them Jacob’s team gets to make up the rules of the game like in “Calvin ball” and they can change the rules at anytime during the game, but Esau’s team is up to bat first. Jacob’s team can be as silly as they want with how the game is played as long as no one will get hurt or embarrassed. Teacher/Shepherd has a right to stop only anything that will hurt/harm or embarrass another student. We are attempting to have the student know how it feels when they are tricked and the rules keep changing.

The teacher or shepherd will ask questions of the students on Esau’s team using the following questions. Note that the verses given are for the next time we meet. Ignore them during this part of the story. After awhile, let Esau’s team make up the rules to the game while Jacob’s team is up to bat. Leave some time for discussion at the before ending class.

Birthright - Genesis 25:19-34

Who did Isaac marry? [v20 - Rebekah]
What did Isaac ask God to give Rebekah? [v21 -A child]
What did the Lord tell Rebekah about her pregnancy? [v23 - Her sons would be two rival nations; The older would serve the younger]
Why did they name the first born twin Esau? [v25 - He was born with reddish/brown hair]
Why the second twin was named Jacob? [v26 - He had grabbed onto the heel of Esau, his
brother.]
Who was Isaac’s favorite son? [v28 - Esau]
Who was Rebekah’s favorite son? [v28 - Jacob]
What did Esau give up in order to get some stew? [v33 - His birthright]

The Blessing - Genesis 27:1-35, 41-43

When Isaac was expected to die "almost any day, why did he call for Esau? [v2 - Esau was the firstborn and should receive the blessing from Isaac.]
Who was listening in on Isaac and Esau talk? [v5 - Rebekah]
Why did Rebekah send Jacob out to the flocks to get two young goats (kids)? [v8 - So Jacob could trick Isaac and receive Esau’s blessing.]
Why didn’t Jacob think he could fool Isaac? [v11 - Esau was hairy, Jacob had smooth skin.]
How did Rebekah help Jacob fool Isaac? [v15, 16 - She had Jacob put on Esau’s best clothes; She made gloves from the young goats for Jacob to wear so he’d be hairy; She prepare a meal for Jacob to take to Isaac.]
What finally convinced Isaac that Jacob was Esau? [v26 - The smell of Esau’s clothes]
What happens after Jacob receives the blessing and leaves? [v30 - Esau returns and comes to Jacob with the meal he prepared.]
Why couldn’t Isaac give Esau the blessing? [v33 - The blessing on Jacob could not be taken away.]
What was Esau’s feeling for Jacob? [v41 - He hated him.]
What did Esau say he would do to Jacob when Isaac was gone or died? [v 41 - He would kill Jacob.]
When someone heard about Esau’s plan, who did they tell? [v42 - Rebekah]
Where did Rebekah tell Jacob to go? [v43 - To his Uncle Laban in Haran]

Laban tricks Jacob -- Genesis 29:15-30

Will need to read this out of the Bible. Either have the students take turns or read it to them or if time does not permit this is a good part to omit.

What did Jacob say he wanted for working seven years for Laban? [v 18 - His youngest daughter, Rachel]
Who did Laban take to Jacob after seven years? [v23 - His oldest daughter Leah]
How did Jacob feel when he found out he had been tricked? [v 25 - Angry]
Why did Laban say he had to trick Jacob? [v 26 - It was practice/the norm to marry off the older daughter before the younger daughter.]
What did Jacob have to do to get Rachel as his wife also? [v27 - Work another seven years for Laban]
Who did Jacob love more? [v30 - Rachel]
Why did God let Leah have children and not Rachel? [v31 - Jacob was favoring Rachel/was ignoring Leah]
How many boys did Leah have? [v32-35 - Four]
What are the names of Leah’s boys? [v32-35 - Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah]
What does Reuben mean? [v32 - God has noticed my troubles]
What does Simeon mean? [v33 - God heard]
What does Levi mean? [v34 - Attachment]
What does Judah mean? [v35 - Praise]

Reflect - Closure

How did it feel when they other team was making up all the rules?

How did it feel when you got to make up the rules?

Was this a fair way to play a game?

Was what Jacob did to Esau the right thing for Jacob to do? Why? [This answer could go either way -- "No," because he was stealing what was Esau’s or "Yes," because God told his mom that his older brother would serve him.]

If Genesis 29:15-30 is included:

Who was tricked in this story? [Jacob ]
How do you think Jacob felt?
Was Laban fair to Jacob?

Is there a way we could make this game fair for both teams?

Go around the room and ask the students what rule they would make that would be fair to both teams. Use these rules, if they are truly fair, the next time you meet as a group.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we know people don’t always play by the rules you have given us. Help us to remember it doesn’t feel good when we are tricked or we trick someone else. Help us to play by your rules and do what is right. Amen

* * *

PART TWO

PASSAGE

Story:

Reconciling/Forgiving
Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob Wrestles with God
Genesis 33:1-20 - Jacob and Esau Make Peace

Key/Memory Verse

Genesis 28:16 - "Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place -- and I did not know it!'"

PURPOSE

See Bible background.

Objectives

See Bible background

Addition Lesson Objective

The students will know that when they play fairly, everyone will have fun.

Materials List

Bibles
The Children’s Illustrated Bible stories retold by Selina Hastings (Jacob's Wedding 2nd part) and Jacob's Return, pages 53-55) [ISBN 1-56458-4721]

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Ask the student if they remember what it was like the last time we meet together.

Ask them if the remember the game we played.

Ask them what were the rules of the game? [There were no rules.]

Was it a fair game? [No]

Was it fun when the other team got to make up all the rules you had to follow? [No]

How could we have made the game fair? [Using the rules we made at the end of class.]

Show the students their rules again. Ask them if the rules seem fair to everyone. Why or Why not?

Rules of the Game [Feel free to modify or change to fit with the rules the students made the last time they met.]

To get to First base the student will be given a bible passage in which the answer is in the passage.
To get to Second base the student can only get help from his/her team.
To get to Third base the student must answer the question with no help.
The student chooses how he or she wants to answer the question prior to the question being read.
If the student cannot answer the question then the outfield gets an opportunity to answer the question
If the student from the outfield can answer the question in thirty seconds, it is an out on the other team.
If the student in the outfield cannot answer the question than it is a strike.
We will allow two outs or six strikes per game.
When a strike or an out is recorded for the batting team, then the next person is up to answer the next question.
When the batting team has six strikes or two outs or has ten runs that come in, then the outfield is up to bat.

Tell the students that we will play the game again using their rules and some other rules. First we want to look at the story of Esau and Jacob again, but it will be a different part of there stories.

Option 1

Open up the Bibles and read the following passages:

Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob Wrestles with God
Genesis 33:1-20 - Jacob and Esau Make Peace

Option 2: (better for younger students)

Read "Jacob's Wedding (second part) and Jacob's Return (Pages 53-55) in The Children’s Illustrated Bible stories retold by Selina Hastings.

Questions:

Genesis 32:1-7a

When Jacob & his household started off on their journey who came to meet them? [v1 - An Angel of God/God]
What did Jacob say when he saw the Angel/God? [v2 - God Lives here]
Why did Jacob send messengers to Esau? [v5 - To let Esau know he was coming; To ask Esau to be friendly; to make peace]
What news did the messenger return with? [v6 - Esau was coming to meet Jacob with an army of 400 men]

Genesis 32:22-33
.
What did Jacob do with God/Angel/Man? [v24 - Wrestle]
What part of Jacob’s body was knocked out of joint? [v25 - Hip]
Why won’t Jacob let go of God? [v26 - He wanted God’s blessing]
What was Jacob’s name changed to? [v28 - Israel]
What did Jacob say about God? [v30 - He met God “face to face"]

Genesis 33:1-7

How did Jacob arrange his family? [v2 - In columns -- concubines, Leah, Rachel]
What did Esau do when he saw Jacob? [v4 -Embraced (Hugged) & Kissed him]
Where did Jacob say he would meet Esau? [v17 - Seir]
Where did Jacob and his household go? [v17 - Succoth]
What did Jacob build/set up in Succoth? [v17 - House; Shelter for his flocks & herd]
Where is Shechem? [v18 - In Canaan]
What is called El-Elohe-Israel? [v20 - An altar Jacob built]

Note to Teacher: If/When you run out of questions use the questions from the Part One to help the students recall the rest of the story.

Reflect - Closure

If you look back on the last time we met and played this game and this time, when was the game more fun?

When was it easier to know what you needed to do in order to score or move around the bases? [This time -- Part Two]

Why did you think we have rules that we need to obey? [Makes things fair, people know what they are suppose to do.]

If you could change one thing in your life to make it fairer, what would it be? Why?

How do you think Jacob and Esau felt when the met each other? [Good/Happy]

Close with prayer:

Dear God, Thank you for being present with us. Helps us to do what is right even if we wrestle with following others not doing the right thing. Help us make the right decisions each day. Amen

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptation for younger students

Make the questions multiple choice, for example: Who was Isaac's favorite? a. Jacob; b. Esau; c. Joseph; d. Jesus; [B]

Adaptation for older students

Have them write out the questions from the story for the younger students to use in the game.

CONTRIBUTOR: Wendy Sempf