Hi! Does anyone have any lessons, suggestions or ideas for Jacob? We will be
focusing on Jacob & Blessings this month. I have age 5-12.

Exchange Volunteer modified title of post for clarity. Use REPLY to add your ideas on any aspect of the Jacob and Esau story.

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We just finished Jacob a few months ago in Cincinnati, OH. Here's the run-down of the different workshops: Art: We created Jacob's family tree when we focused on God's promise to finish what he started in Abraham. We also let the kids sponge-paint their own family trees. Cooking: We made soft-pretzels in the shape of ladders to remind them of the part of Jacob's dream. Science: We did an experiment to determine if they could change their eye-color by drinking colored water to bring home the fact that God, not Jacob created the speckled sheep. Drama: We retold the story of Jacob and Esau's meeting after their father's death. Everyone in the story had "voices/ sound-effects" that the audience had to make. (Even the camels made spitting noices!) We had already done Abraham and Isaac before this, so our 5th Sunday in the rotation was a Radio Theater drama which included all of these guys sort of reviewing their lives and God's promises.

Other ideas moved here to consolidate info...

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Posted by Neil MacQueen on January 31, 2001
Lesson focus

I love the Jacob stories. So full of human-ness. The encounter between Jacob and Esau years later after they had split is FULL of teaching potential for us all, but especially for kids: "How do you say you're sorry?" "How do you become friends again?"

It's the Prodigal Son story --two brothers, one father. God loves both sons and both have a lot of growing up to do.

As for predestination... The Bible frequently interprets and corrects itself. In the midst of the Jacob and Esau story we see an explanation of where two groups of people came from, one blessed, one not so blessed (Esau). But the larger body of scripture shows God to be the God of all the nations.

God doesn't single out some to be excluded, he singles out ONE to wrestle with him and become a nation of priests to the others.

Jacob's new name "Israel" literally means "he who wrestles with God" (remember Jacob wrestling with the angel by the Jabbok river?) Only if you ignore the New Testament can you conclude from the Jacob and Esau story that God predestines Esau to be an outcast. What God does is "elect" a nation to be a light to the nations.

The Apostle Paul believes the Jesus came to the Jews to teach them to reach out to the Gentiles --the Esaus of the world, and be inclusive, not exclusive.

So the story of Jacob and Esau goes...Jacob must make peace with Esau. How do you do that? What did they say to each other?

How are kids lights to the various "nations" around them? Lots to talk about here!
<>< Neil

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Posted by <Doris Johnson> on May 19, 2001

I know a way of making an expanding newspaper ladder. Use 4 to 6 full sheets of newspaper and starting at the narrow end of a single sheet, roll up a tube about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter; about six inches from the end, insert the next sheet so that it is 'caught'. Repeat with additional sheets(four sheets may be as many as you want to cut through). Tape the outside of the roll to secure it about 3 inches from each end. Use a sharp knife or little saw to cut half-way through the roll six inches from each end and then connect the two with a long cut along the middle of the tube (i.e. a long shallow bite out of the side of the tube). One person holds an end of the tube in each hand so that the ends are parallel and pointing away from the holder. A second person reaches inside each tube end with forefinger and draws the expanding ladder out! (This is a variation of expanding tree/palm/torch from newspaper roll sliced at one end.)Sometimes I make a larger one which I have pre-cut so that children don't have to wait for the cutting process to see what happens, and then help them make a smaller one which they can cut with scissors themselves. Doris J.

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Posted by JanS on August 05, 2001

I am looking to rent or possibly purchase a Jacob's Ladder "carnival activity" for a fall rotation. Does anyone know of a good source for finding such an item? (I am in St. Paul, MN)
Thanks
Jan Snell

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Posted by Neil MacQueen on August 24, 2001

What a great idea. Fun too and they'd never forget the lesson.

At first, I thought it would be hard, but as I think about it I bet you could make one with two ropes and a set of large dowel rods with holes drilled in each end.

Tie one end to tree or stand (indoors). Anchor other end with long steel spike (tie rod from hardware store).

For deep spongy "landing pad" you could probably borrow one from a gymnastics place or track team (school)---the kind they use for pole vaulting or beginning tumblers. OR...go to a waterbed store and ask for a castoff mattress you can patch and fill.
or.... I'm thinking....

Neil M.

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Posted by JanS on August 24, 2001

Thanks for the ideas Neil! I will pursue the build your own idea. We found one to rent but it would be $125 per day, and with a 5 Sunday rotation, that seemed a bit extreme!
Jan

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Posted by kempermus on January 24, 2002

An idea we're using next month for our Jacob & Esau rotation. There is a toy called The Jacob's Ladder sold by Francis Family Toys, 316 Ojo De La Vaca, Ssanta Fe, NM 87505 (505) 466-8818. I used it in the fall and it went over very well (we hadn't begun WoRM yet). Square blocks are connected by ribbon and the toy appears to cascade. There is also a great trick (disappearing dollar) included in the directions that come with the toy. The dollar appears then disappears. Like God, it might SEEM that He is not there, but we know he is always there! http://www.woodcraftarts.com/jacob.htm tells a little history of the toy.

I saw somewhere on this site that one church had their children make pretzels in the shapes of ladders for the Jacob & Esau rotation. Does anyone have instructions for this activity? If not, I'm looking for more ideas for our "surprise" room, which is usually cooking, science, etc. We're already doing the folk toy. I tried to recall from childhood the Jacob's Ladder string figure, found instructions and gave up after many tries. I thought about putting different "items" from the story in paper bags & letting the kids feel & guess (beans, fur, rock, toy ladder, any others?). Thanks in advance!
Kim B.

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Posted by Neil MacQueen on August 24, 2001
Video suggestion

TNT (TBS) has been running over the last several years new mini-series of Bible stories. They have one titled JACOB. Check Amazon.com ...they should have it.

The Joseph and Abraham videos from the TBS series are excellent!
Neil M.

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Posted by Lisa M. on December 16, 2002
Create a video

We are videotaping siblings in our church (kids and adults) and talking about sibling rivalry, fighting and forgiveness. Included is the pastor talking about the Jacob and Esau story and someone who has a serious rift with a sister. We interviewed siblings together and asked questions like what was the meanest thing you ever did to your sister/brother? What makes your sister/brother mad at you?

It takes some editing but the kids are excited as are the adults. If you have someone who has video camera/computer set up to do the editing, you'll have even better results.
Lisa

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Posted by Neil MacQueen on June 11, 2002
Cooking Idea

One of my favorite "special meals" is where the kids have to feed each other. They can't talk either. Calls for serious cooperation.
Raises the issue of "if we helped each other, rather than competed for basic needs, --would all the basic needs get met?" How could Jacob have handled his situation differently --is one good "personalizing" question. But we can't forget these episode were written to describe the character of a people, not just a person, and the character of God.

Esau is founder of the "outside" tribes, those beyond Israel. It's interesting the the Bible preserves this not so sweet smelling myth/history of the origins of the Hebrew people --coming from one who "over reaches" (Jacob's name in Hebrew). The Israelites were always ones for introspection and self-criticism. Jacob's son Joseph is another example of God using an impossible or imperfect situation to achieve his plan. Having to feed each other is imperfect too, but what is the outcome? It's more than food, it's an awareness of each other. Hope this gives you some fodder to work with.
Neil MacQueen

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Wendy In Roch on June 11, 2002
Lentil Soup

Favoritism: The mother loved Jacob more and the Father loved Esau more.

The whole concept of the story is important also because we find that they return to each other.

When I've used this lesson with students, I have bought some lentil soup from the store. Then we give each of them s bit in a dixie cup, telling them the can eat it if they want but the don't have to. We then discuss that this is what Jacob was willing to give up this blessing. I talked to them about the things that were special to them and if they'd be willing to give up a favorite item for this soup.

The kids loved it and a lot of them at least tried the lentil soup.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CreativeCarol,

Moved Reply:

I would like some ideas for what to do in the kitchen and science area other than acutally cooking the soup. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks!

Moved Reply:

We're thinking about ideas other than soup too for this rotation in October. Although I like the idea I read about having a storyteller be Rebecca and offer the kids soup and bread to eat while she tells about her boys.

But ideas we're tossing around including something to symbolize the break up and restoration ... maybe ...

Crumble salty pretzels, pour melted chocolate chips or butterscotch chips over them, let set which "bonds" them together into something sweet.

Or ... fruit smoothies ... when you put all those ingredients together (ice, yogurt, juice, chopped up fruit) looking like a mess sitting in the blender, how can it come out to something good?

Any other ideas for Tammy and me?

Moved Reply:

Thinking of the theme of breaking up and restoring--could you make "stained glass" cookies. You take a basic sugar cookie recipe and form into shapes (by hand or with cookie cutter). Make a hole in the middle. You "break up" Jolly Rancher cookies and pour the crushed bits into the hole in the middle. When it bakes, the candies melt and form a stained glass effect. I've never made them, but I would think you would need to line the cookie sheets with tin foil so that the candy doesn't stick to your cookie sheets.