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This WoRM set was written and compiled for our church's SS program by The Saint Andrews-Covenant Scribes: Lisa Bohbrink, Sue McCaffray, Gail Richardson, and Croskeys Royall. Please DO NOT sell this for profit, but freely distribute it, freely share it, and adapt it to further God's Kingdom! This is a 5 week rotation aimed at children from 1st through 5th grades.
-Croskeys- croskeys@sacpc.org www.sacpc.org Overview of workshops in this lesson set: This is the Jacob story from his stealing the birthright to his reconcilation with Esau. Included are: tricking Isaac and Esau, Jacob's ladder, wrestling God on the riverbank, and meeting Esau again. (We decided to skirt around how Jacob ended up with 2 wives though, not knowing how that might go over with parents and children) ------------------------------ Opening Assembly each week 9:45 - Welcome to children & Announcements 9:47 - Song Suggestions: We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder, Here I Am Lord (although this works much more with the Samuel story it still can tie in with Jacob's call), Spirit of the Living God Fall Afresh On Me (This can tie in with Jacob's call as well as our own call) 9:53 - Summary of Jacob Story: Genesis 25:19-32:32 Sample Story [feel free to shorten or tell from 1st person point of view]: The story of Jacob is among the first told in the Bible; Here it is in the book of Genesis (show children book) It's the story of two brothers who were fighting with each other even before they were born! It led to much trouble and unhappiness - but then, fighting always does. There was once a couple named Isaac and Rebekah, as they were getting up in their years God told them that they would soon be having twins. But before they were even born, Rebekah could feel them kicking and fighting inside her. "Why is this happening?", she called out. And God answered her, "The two children inside you will become the fathers of two nations. Just like the two are fighting with each other now, the two nations will struggle with each other. One will be stronger than the other. and the older will serve the younger." Soon it came time for the children to be born. The first baby born was a boy. He was all red and covered with hair, and so Isaac and Rebekah named him Esau, which sounded like their word for "red". The second baby was also a boy, and he came grabbing onto Esau's heel. So they named him Jacob, which sounded like their word for "heel". The boys grew up. Esau became a strong and skillful hunter who loved the outdoors. Jacob was a quiet man, who preferred to stay home. Isaac like Esau because he liked to eat the wild game Esau brought home from hunting. But Rebekah liked Jacob because he learned to cook and to do other things to help her around the home. One day Esau went out for another one of his hunting trips. He must have been gone for a few days, and the hunting must not have been very good, because when he came back, he was starving for something good to eat. It just so happened that when Esau came home, Jacob had just made a great big pot of hot, steaming, stew. The mouth-watering smell filled the air. "Give me some of that red stuff - I am starving!", Esau demanded. Jacob was a schemer, and so he said, "Sure! I'll give you some stew - IF you will give me your Birthright." The Birthright was a very important thing. It went to Esau because he was born first. When Isaac died, Esau's Birthright would make him the head of the household, and he would get twice as much of Isaac's wealth as Jacob would. But here is where Esau made his mistake. He was hungry NOW. He didn't care about tomorrow. All that Birthright stuff wouldn't happen for a long time. But Jacob was wiser. He knew one day tomorrow would come. If he had the Birthright, one day he would become the head of the household. "Give me your Birthright, and I will give you some stew", Jacob said again, as he slurped on a steaming spoonful himself. "All right! All right!" Esau said, "You can have my Birthright. What good will it be to me if I starve to death"! Not that he would have starved to death. He was just hungry. "Do you promise", Jacob said? "I promise!" Esau snapped. "All right then," Jacob said, and he gave Esau what he wanted. And so Esau gave away his Birthright for a bowl of soup and few pieces of bread. That wasn't too smart. After some time their father Isaac was getting very old. He was bent over. The hair he had left on his head had turned white. And he could no longer see. He knew he would die soon. And so he called his son Esau. "Here I am", Esau answered. "My son, go hunting and cook the meat you have caught. Make one of your delicious meals, the kind I like so much, and bring it to me. And then I will bless you." As soon as Esau left, Rebekah took Jacob by the arm and said to him, "Your father has sent Esau away to hunt. When Esau gets back, he is going to fix your father's favorite dinner, and your father is going to give him his blessing. "Quick! Do what I say! Go out into the fields and bring me two young goats, and I will make your father's favorite dinner from them. Bring it to him, and your father will think you are Esau, and he will bless you instead." But Jacob said, "Esau is all hairy, and I am not! If my father feels me, he will know I am trying to trick him, and he will curse me instead of blessing me! "Let the curse be on me", Jacob's mother said, "Just do what I say." And so Jacob did. When Jacob had brought the two goats, Rebekah prepared a delicious meal. Then she took some of Esau's clothes and had Jacob put them on. She took the skins from the goats and put them on Jacob's arms and the back of his neck so that he would be hairy like his brother. Wearing the disguise his mother had made, Jacob took the steaming hot meal in to his father. "Who is there?" his father asked. "It is your first born son Esau", Jacob said. "I have brought your favorite dinner, just like you asked." "How did you do it so quickly?" his father asked. "Your God was with me, and he gave me success," Jacob answered. "Eat, and then you can give me your blessing." "You don't sound like Esau", Isaac said. "You sound like your brother Jacob. Come here. Let me touch you." Isaac felt the fur on Jacob's neck and arms. And then he said, "The voice is Jacob's, but the arms are Esau's." He was about to give his blessing when he asked again, "Are you really my son Esau?" "Yes, I am," Jacob lied. And so Isaac ate the meal he thought Esau had brought him. When he was finished he said, "Come here, my son, and kiss me, and then I will give you my blessing." And so Isaac gave Jacob his blessing. But he thought it was Esau. Jacob had barely left when his brother Esau came in from his hunting. Esau fell to his knees when he found out what Jacob had done. "Is there nothing left for me?" he cried out. Then his father said to him, "You will not have the richness of the earth, The dew from heaven won't be given to you. You will have to live by taking, and you will serve your brother. But one day you will break free." From that day on Esau hated his brother Jacob and he threatened to kill him. Esau's words got back to Rebekah, and so she sent her son Jacob to run for his life. "I can't lose both my sons in one day," she said. What a mess we make when we lie and cheat. Jacob did lie, and he cheated his brother. But, still, God didn't leave him. God knows our weakness, and he is forgiving. He accomplishes his good and wonderful plans through us, even when we mess things up. Jacob left his home and went off to many adventures. He dreamt about a ladder with angels that went up and down to heaven, he was tricked into marrying not one but two women, he was tricked into being a shepherd for 20 years, he got into a real wrestling match with God, and lastly, after many years, he finally met back up again with Esau to tell him how sorry he was for stealing the birthright. 10:00 - dismissed to workshops In subsequent weeks the group could repeat verses like Genesis 32:28 and Genesis 28:15 instead of reviewing the whole story, or we could truncate the story or concentrate on one of the other parts like the ladder, wrestling with God, etc. ------------------- Art Workshop: Scripture: Genesis: 25: 19-35 Objectives: · Students will understand the interwoven feelings of Jacob and Esau · Students will learn that Esau and Jacob reconciled their differences Overview: · Teacher will review the part for the story that deals with the reconciliation · Students will weave baskets to understand how the lives of Jacob and Esau were interwoven · "Ins & Outs" of weaving baskets reminds us of their "ins & outs" and perhaps our own. Supplies: Raffia Baskets (can be ordered from S&S Worldwide- 1-800-243-9232) Procedure: 1. Welcome the kids! Make sure that each child has a nametag on. Shepard should keep the roll/or older kids can check the roll. 2. Start the lesson with a brief prayer. 3. Recount the story. (Have each child sit on a carpet square. 4. Begin the art project: Activity: Teacher should have children sit in u-shape on carpet squares before moving to tables. Explain the following and them ask them to find a stool: [THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM CORNERSTONES PUBLISHING, 3054 Crestwood Lane Glenview, IL 60025. You are encouraged to buy the whole curriculum from them (there is a link to it off of the rotation.org main page). They have done an excellent job putting together great ideas!] quote: Have supplies ready on tables. Go ahead and start the project and use the time while the children work to talk about how the weaving together of reeds is like the lives of Jacob and Esau, woven togther. For ready-to-go examples of processing questions to ask the children at this point BUY THE CORNERSTONES PUBLISHING CURRICULUM (it really is worth it! Closing Prayer Bible Verse Genesis 32:28 "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with humans and have prevailed." 1st & 3rd grades: teacher will show the verse in the Bible and then read it out loud. 4th-5th grades: teacher will ask students to find the verse ask for a volunteer to read it to the class. --------------------------------- Puppetry Workshop Scripture: Genesis 27 Objective: · Students will be able to define sibling rivalry · Students will understand siblings disagree, but resolve their conflicts. Overview: ------For Grades 1 and 2-------: - Teacher will tell in their own words the story of Jacob and Esau with emphasis on the brothers conflict - Teacher will read The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight - Teacher will read selected passages from the book for the students to act out with puppets Supplies: Procedures: Teacher will have students sit on carpet squares in a u-shaped on the floor. Teacher will retell the Jacob/Esau story- emphasis on fighting. Afterwards she will ask questions: Have you ever disagreed/ fight with your brother or sister? How did you resolve the conflict? Teacher will remind the students that anger is a God-given emotion. We need to ask God to help us deal with our emotions. 1. Encourage the students to use their words to express their feelings/not fists. 2. When we've wronged our siblings ask for forgiveness learn to say I forgive you. After the brief discussion the teacher will read The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight Ask for volunteers for the puppet parts, then the teacher will read the passages as the puppet show is performed. If time permits then have different students perform the parts. Teacher will show the verse in the Bible and then read it out loud. Closing Prayers -------Overview For Grades 3 - 5------: - Teacher will retell the story of Jacob and Esau with emphasis on the brothers conflict - Teacher will use the Puppet skit partially based on the book Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? by Jerry Spinelli. Little Brown, 2000. ISBN 0316806870 Supplies: Procedures: Teacher will have students sit on carpet squares in a u-shaped on the floor. Teacher will retell the Jacob/Esau story- emphasis on fighting. Afterwards she will ask questions: Have you ever disagreed/fight with your brother or sister? How did you resolve the conflict? Teacher will remind the students that anger is a God-given emotion. We need to ask God to help us deal with our emotions. Encourage the students to use their words to express their feelings/not fists. When we've wronged our siblings ask for forgiveness and we need to learn to say I forgive you. Puppet Skit (Split the children up into smaller groups to tackle the puppet skit) Puppet Script Characters: sister Megin, brother Greg, mother, and father; narrator Scene 1 Narrator: Welcome to the Tofer house, where we have a family that loves each other, but with children who could use a little help getting along… [Enter Megin enters and reaches out to toothbrush prop to brush her teeth…then she stops and peers at it, making a shriek of horror] Megin: What is that??? GROSS! Daddy…dad! Greg did it again! He’s messing with me again! [Enter Dad] Dad: What’s up with all that yelling? You sound like you’re having a fit! Megin: LOOK! [hold out toothbrush] Dad: Where? Megin: AAGGH! The toothbrush, dad, the toothbrush! Dad: Are you trying to tell me you have bad breath? Megin: No No! Look! Dad: Ah – yes. What is that? Megin: It’s a hair! A brown, scummy hair! Greg did this to me! He’s got brown hair you know! Dad: Uh…you’re saying that Greg put that hair in your toothbrush? Megin: Yessir! There you have it! He is guilty as charged! Are you going to punish him? Dad: Oh, I don’t know…It could have just fallen off his head onto your toothbrush, you know. It could be an accident! Megin: Dad, I always put my toothbrush away. This is NO accident. I can feel it. He’s always doing this kind of thing to me. Dad: Ok, ok. I’ll speak to him tonight. Megin: Will you punish him? He deserves it you know! Dad: I’ll decide that tonight. [What happened that evening with the father and Greg? Have the class draft a scene together and then have one of your class groups perform it] Scene 2 Narrator: A few days passed, and then Megin decided the time was ripe for getting back at her brother…. [Megin enters scene. Puppet is holding a paper cup. She looks like she is sneaking around…] Megin: Well, well, well isn’t it fortunate I found this cockroach down in the basement? I wonder how my dear brother would like it is his room? [Megin turns the cup over and laughs heartily. Then she exits…A few minutes later Greg enters the room] Greg: [whistling or humming a tune]…Well, I guess I better clean things up in here. It’s getting a little messy [starts to look like he is cleaning up]…….Hey wait…what’s that??? ARGGGHH! A roach!!! [Greg starts to run back at forth in a panic] I hate roaches! This is terrible! ARRRGH! Mom! [Mother enters scene] Mother: Greg! Stop your yelling! Why is it that you and your sister like to yell like coyotes when you’re in the house? Greg: There’s a roach in here! Look! Look! Megin did this! She put the bug in here, I know it! Mother: Now Greg, roaches are a fact of life. You don’t know for sure that she put the roach in here. Greg: I can feel it in my bones, mom. Megin is behind this! I can just hear her laughing about it now. Mom: Ok…your father spoke it you a few days ago about you and your sister getting along. Do I need to get both of you in here to hash this out? Megin! Come on in here and bring your father too. We’re all going to have a chat about how to treat each other…. [What next with the family meeting? At this point the whole class needs to draft a scene and one of the class groups needs to perform it. Make sure that there is some positive resolution to the storyline.] Be sure to ask open-ended process questions as well such as: - Do you think the parents did the right thing? - Has something like this ever happened to you? - What would Jesus say to the children about their behavior? - How are Esau and Jacob like the children in this story? Scripture: Genesis 32:28 “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have strangled with God and with humans and have prevailed. 4th-5th grades: teacher will ask students to find the verse and ask for a volunteer to read it to the class. Closing Prayer ---------------------------- Video Workshop Objective: By the end of the lesson the children will have observed three different film views of the life of Jacob and will have learned that God chooses each one of us, imperfect as we are, to bring about the kingdom of God on earth. Theme for class: Jacob was an imperfect person who was used by God for His purposes; we are imperfect and can also be used as tools for God; God called Jacob into service and can call us too! Materials: [All videos can be found on Amazon.com]: Jacob (on VHS); In The Beginning on DVD; The Story of Jacob and Joseph (on VHS); VCR player; DVD player; video projector Order of lesson (please note differences between younger and older children's instructions) 10:00 - Welcome children to class and pass out popcorn; briefly review the Jacob story if necessary 10:05 - Set up first scene from The Story of Jacob and Joseph: Scene will be Esau hunting and then giving his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Show scene. 10:10 - Questions for older children: The birthright was very important to the first born son in Hebrew families, why did Esau give his up? Do you think Esau thought ahead very much when giving away his birthright? Do you think Jacob was looking ahead when he bargained for the birthright? Do you think God helped Jacob get the birthright? Questions for younger children: What does it feel like to be very hungry? Have you ever been so hungry that you would give everything you own for a cup of stew? Do you think Jacob was fair in how he got his brother’s birthright? Do you think the brothers get along? How did God help Jacob in this scene? 10:15 - 2nd clip will have scenes from In the Beginning: Scenes will include Jacob/Rebekah tricking old Isaac into giving the birthright and Esau finding out Questions for older children: Why do you think Isaac liked Esau more than Jacob? Why do you think Rebekah liked Jacob more than Esau? Do you think Jacob played fair in getting the birthright? Questions for younger children: How did Jacob trick his father? Do you think Esau was mad that Jacob got the birthright? 10:25 - Preface 3rd clip from Jacob with scene setup: Jacob has a dream about a ladder going up to Heaven (this scene is right after Jacob leaves his childhood family); 2nd scene - Jacob wrestles God on the riverbank (this scene is near end; right before he reunited with Esau) 10:33 - Questions for older children: Do you think God was speaking to Jacob in these two scenes? How? Do you think God used Jacob for good? How? How does God use us for his purposes? Questions for younger children: God spoke to Jacob in a dream about a ladder - What did he say? Do you think it would be hard to wrestle God like Jacob did? Why? Do you think God used Jacob to do God things? How does God use us for good things? Close with prayer! PLEASE NOTE: The TNT version of Jacob (starting Matthew Modine as Jacob) that is in this lesson set has great representations of Jacob's ladder and Jacob wrestling God. However, please be warned that it also contains a few PG-13 bedroom scenes with Jacob and his wives (one of our classes found this out by accident when the movie was fast forwarded to the wrong spot). The moral of the story: use discretion in what clips you pull from Jacob. ------------------------------- Games Objective: Children will learn various facts on Jacob's young life through games and a quiz show type format Materials: Bibles; quiz bowl type buzzers (we are using 3 of them); a Wheel of Fortune (we have an upright one made out of wood that we change to suit our purposes. This time around we will have point value spaces on each of the wheel's slots; markers, easel with easel paper or blackboard (to keep points on) Lesson: As children enter the room, have them stand in a circle. When all have arrived, hold hands and open the class with a brief prayer asking God to use the lesson to show us more about himself. While everyone is still standing in the circle ask this question: Do you think God wants people to know him? Today we are going to learn about a special way that God has shown people what he is like. Then ask them to turn their circle into a horizontal line across the room. Have them count off by two's or three's (it would be ideal to have no more than 4 or 5 on a team, but we can have no more than 3 teams). Group each team around one of the buzzers. Tell them that we are going to do some “brainstorming.” Brainstorming is when we try to come up with a bunch of ideas; some of the ideas won't turn out to be too good, and some will turn out to be great, but first we have to come up with some! Here is how we will do it: the teacher will ask a thinking question (which does not necessarily have just one right answer). Each team will talk about this question among itself for a few minutes, and when the team has an idea, the first person in the line (this person is the temporary captain) will hit the buzzer. When the teacher calls on your team, the first person can say the idea. Then the next person in line becomes the captain, for the next question. Rotate captains on each time so that each team member has a chance to ring the buzzer. If you run out of ideas before everyone has a turn, tell the team to remember whose turn it is next, and that person will be the first captain for the next game. When everyone understands the rules, start to ask your brainstorming questions. Write the students' answers down on a chart or blackboard. Brainstorming questions: (5 minutes for this activity) What are some ways that God shows us what he wants us to know about himself? How does God teach us? Let the children work on this for awhile, encouraging them to think in different categories if they get stuck; call on the team that buzzes first each time, making sure that each team gets to provide some answers. Make sure that each team rotates its captain each time it gives an answer. You may not be able to give every child a turn on this round, but have them remember whose turn is next on each team and who has not had a turn. The shepherd can help out with this. Possible answers include: The Bible; the Ten Commandments; the Apostles' Creed; the Church; Sunday School; hymns; prayers; people who are kind and show us what God’s love it like… Here is the idea we are looking for in today's lesson (it is likely that none of the children will think of this); after 5 minutes of brainstorming, give children this idea to add to their list: One of the ways that God revealed himself to people was through his long interaction with his chosen people of Israel. God chose a special people, and he kept communicating with these people for many generations, showing them that he would always be faithful to them, even when they made mistakes. God used the people of Israel to show the world what God is like. These people were not perfect, but they did love God, and time and again, even if they made mistakes, they did come back to God. Telling the story (10 minutes) Have the children sit in a circle and tell them the story of Jacob printed above. If it is not the first week of the rotation, you can start by asking what they remember about the story from previous weeks This version ties various parts of the story together, so tell it all the way through, even if the children remember a lot from earlier lessons. Thinking about the story (5 minutes) Have the children stand up. Designate one comer of the room to be the dark comer; designate the opposite corner to be the light comer; designate a corner in between these two to be the partly dark and partly light corner. Tell the students that you will remind them of a certain part of the story we just heard. After you say each sentence the students should decide whether they think the action the character took was good, bad, or partly good and partly bad. If they think it was good, they should go to the light corner and stand there. If they think it was bad, they should go to the dark corner. If they think it was partly good and partly bad, they should go to that corner. When the students have picked their corners, ask one child in each corner to explain why he/she chose that place. Then ask the children all to return to the center and read the next statement. 1. Isaac liked Esau better than he liked Jacob. 2. Rebekah and Jacob tricked Isaac. 3. Esau wanted to kill Jacob. 4. Jacob obeyed his father and went away from Canaan. 5. Jacob obeyed the Lord and returned to Canaan. 6. Jacob gave Esau many gifts. 7. Esau forgave Jacob. 9. God did what he had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and gave the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Reviewing the Story (7 minutes) You can use a version of 'Wheel of fortune’ to review the story. Here is how to play. Explain all of these rules to the students before beginning, especially what will happen if you say, "That is not correct." Have the children get back into the teams they had at the beginning of the lesson. Have the next person in the line be the captain. Explain that the children will take turns being captain for each question. The shepherd can help keep the teams rotating smoothly. You will ask the question. As soon as a team thinks it knows the answer, the captain will buzz. You will call on the team that buzzes first, AND BE SURE TO RESET THE BUZZER RIGHT AWAY. Before the captain gives the answer, he/she will spin the wheel to determine how many points the answer will be worth. Then the captain gives the answer. If correct, record the appropriate number of points on the score chart. If not correct say, 'That is not correct." As soon as you say that, the other two teams have a chance to buzz (the team that answered incorrectly may not participate in this round). Choose the one who buzzes first, and follow the first procedure. If no one answers the question correctly this time, tell the students the correct answer and go on to the next question. Questions (use only as many of these as it takes to get to 10:30). Which brother had thick hair covering his body? What was Jacob's mother's name? How long did Jacob stay away from home? How many sons did Jacob have? What had Rebekah been told about her sons before they were born? What was the gift that Jacob gave to Esau? What did Isaac tell Jacob to do after Jacob tricked Isaac? Who was standing at the top of the ladder in Jacob's dream? What did Jacob use for a pillow in the desert? What was one of Jacob's wife’s names? What was the other wife's name? What did God promise Jacob In his dream? What was the name of the land that God gave to Jacob and his descendents? Closing (3 minutes) Stop the wheel of fortune game by 10:30 and add up the points. Praise all the students for their good work and good memories. Bring the children together into a standing circle. Conclude the lesson by making this point: God wants people to know him. One of the ways that God has shown himself to people is through his relationship with the children of Israel. God promised Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob that he would give them many descendents and a special land to dwell in God kept his promises to the children of Israel, and in this way God showed all of his people, even us, that God is faithful to us no matter what. God used Jacob and his family to work out God’s plan for the people of Israel, even though Jacob was not a perfect person. In just the same way, God can use you and me to do his work in the world, even though we are not always good. Jacob was not perfect, but he did obey God, and Jacob believed in God’s promises. Close with a prayer asking God’s blessing on the children in the coming week. For use in the Temple: The Story of Jacob: Long ago God made promises to a special family of people. Out of this family there came a whole nation of people, the nation of Israel. The children of Israel were God's chosen people. Jacob was part of that family, and the Bible tells his story in the very first book, the book of Genesis. Jacob's grandparents were Abraham and Sarah; Jacob's parents were Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob had a twin brother named Esau. Even though they were twins, they didn't look alike. Esau had red hair, and even his arms and legs were covered with thick hair. Jacob had smooth skin with hardly any hair on it. In those days, the first born son usually became the head of the family when the father died; the first born son also inherited all his father’s property. Esau was the older brother, even though he was just a few minutes older than Jacob. So everyone thought that Esau would inherit Isaac's property and become the head of the family when Isaac died. Also, Isaac liked Esau best, because Esau was a very good hunter and Isaac liked to eat the meat that Esau caught. Rebekah was Jacob and Esau's mother, and she had been told by God before the twins were born that her two sons would be separated when they grew up, and that the older one would be the servant of the younger one. So when Isaac grew very old, Rebekah and Jacob came up with a plan to trick Isaac into giving his blessing and the property to Jacob instead of to Esau. And that's what they did. After that happened, Esau was furious with Jacob and wanted to kill him. Jacob had to go away to save his life. Jacob's father told him to go back to his mother's town and find there a woman to marry. So Jacob left his home in the land of Canaan, and he and Esau did not see each other for over 20 years. All that time Jacob thought that Esau would want to kill him one day. When Jacob was walking through the desert toward the town his father had sent him to, he came to a place where he thought he would sleep for the night. He found a stone to use for a pillow and he started to dream. In the dream he saw a ladder stretching from the ground up to heaven and angels of God were going up and down that ladder. At the top of the ladder, in Jacob's dream, was God himself God said this: "I am the Lord God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and your children. Your children shall be as the dust of the earth and you will spread abroad to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and your children, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Behold, I am with you, and I will guard you everywhere you go and I will not leave you until I have done everything I have promised." Jacob found a wife in the town where he went. In fact, he found two wives! In this time men could have more than one wife. But this often caused trouble. And it caused some trouble for Jacob. He married two sisters, Leah and Rachel. Leah and Rachel's father made Jacob work for him for a long, long time in exchange for his two daughters. Jacob became wealthy through all of his work; and he became the father of twelve sons. After 20 years the Lord told Jacob to go back to Canaan, the land he came from, which was the land that God had promised to give to Jacob's descendents. So Jacob and his whole big family made the long journey through the desert, back to Canaan. As he was getting close, Jacob began to be afraid of what would happen when he saw Esau again. He thought Esau might still want to kill him. So he sent ahead hundreds of sheep and goats and cows and donkeys and camels, as a present for Esau. Then Jacob saw Esau coming. Esau had 400 men with him. Jacob thought maybe this was an army. But when Esau got close to Jacob, Esau only said, 'Why have you sent all these flocks of animals?" Jacob said they were a gift. And Esau said that Jacob should keep them because Esau had enough. But Jacob said, 'No, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, for I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Take, I pray you, the gift that was brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough’ Jacob was so happy that Esau had forgiven him. So Esau kept the gifts. And the two made up with each other after all that time, but they did not live near each other, and in fact they never saw each other again except when their father died. Jacob settled down in Canaan, the land that God had given to the children of Israel, and built an altar to God there. ------------------------------------ Drama Teacher Resources Scripture: Birth of Jacob & Esau through stolen birthright Genesis 25: 19-34 Jacob gets Isaac’s blessing Genesis 27: 1-41 Objectives: explore the consequences of lying and cheating Perils of desiring immediate “needs” Parental favoritism God uses normal people Supplies: Assorted costumes use beards to make Jacob “hairy”, cane & shades for old Isaac, pillow for pregnancy etc. Props: rubber chicken or ham (for cooked game), pots, bowls for food. Bibles, pencils and paper for game, copies of the skit script. Hints on casting actors: Pay attention during the warm up to identify skills and ability to focus. The most enthusiastic volunteer is probably not the best choice. The non-screamers are often easier to control. Look for opportunities to elevate the shy or cautious. LESSON Welcome and prayer Ask God’s help to understand ourselves better and to see how, like Jacob and his family, we aren’t perfect and need God’s love and guidance. Play True or False: Have children use their acting skills to convince us they are telling the truth about a personal statement that may or may not be accurate. Direct the class to think of two facts about themselves and one false claim. They may find it helpful write their “facts” on a card to help them remember. Each person will have a turn reciting their “facts” and the rest of the class will attempt to identify the falsehood. You may want the younger children to think up fewer items. Realistic, possible statements about who you are or what you have done work best. For example: I do not like peanut butter I have been to Disney World five times I do not own a video game Use the game to loosen everyone up, observe possible actors, and to introduce lying about who you are as a topic. DISCUSS….How did you feel lying about who you are or what you’ve done? Was it easy/hard? Do you think everyone in the Bible is always good? The skit we will do today finds Jacob pretending to be some one that he is not. READ TOGETHER SCRIPTURE GEN 25: 19-34 The first part of our skit we will act out this scripture. Ask students to listen for: God’s prediction for the twins, parental favoritism, physical descriptions of the boys, the danger of immediate gratification, cheating, greed. SKIT (SEE SCRIPT) Prepare for the skit. Give the character descriptions and a general overview of the scenes. Assign roles. Those not acting can be the costumers, stage managers, and props handlers. With a big class you may want to select two students for each role. One reads the part and the other acts it out. For pre-readers, feed lines or read the skit (in character voices) and let them concentrate on movement and emotion. DISCUSSION: Include how memory verse relates to the story today. Gen 32: 28 “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” What was the consequence of Jacob and Rebekah’s trickery, cheating? Were Esau’s immediate wants somewhat responsible for his losing his birthright? Consider that part of Rebekah’s involvement in the trickery indicated that she didn’t fully trust God. God had told her Jacob would come out on top, but she seems to think God needs her help! Are all the people God choses to do His work perfect? Who was the only perfect human? CLOSE WITH PRAYER SHEPHERD TIME (Script follows) WE ARE NOT ALIKE! CAST COMMENTATOR: wise cracking, kind of like a sports broadcaster GOD: doesn’t appear, speaks from off stage REBEKAH: an older Mom, overworked and under appreciated ISAAC: head of the household, a successful shepherd, son of Abraham, an old man JACOB: second born twin, a Mama’s boy, and schemer ESAU: first born twin, Dad’s favorite, hunter, very hairy, likes to eat LABAN: Rebekah’s brother COMMENTATOR This is the story of Abraham’s son Isaac and his family. (Isaac enters) When Isaac was middle aged he finally got married to the lovely and talented Rebekah (enter Rebekah with Laban). Her big brother was Laban. He lived a couple hundred miles north, so they didn’t visit often (exit Laban,waving. R & I pretend to keep house) Isaac and Becca were living the happily ever after stuff. You know tending sheep and goats, worshiping God, keeping the tents clean, a little hunting, farming and weaving….normal stuff. Nice perfect family no worries right?…….. ISAAC (praying, begging) Lord, please help Rebekah she wants a baby to care for, please, PLEASE bless us with a child COMMENTATOR God was good to Isaac and Rebekah REBEKAH (Whiney & very pregnant) Thank you Lord for my baby, but all this kicking.oh…oh….OUCH!!…. Why is this happening to ME! GOD That’s not one baby. It is two different people wrestling in your womb. Your babies will start two separate countries. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger. REBEKAH YEAH RIGHT. (Talking to herself) I don’t get it. The birthright of the first-born child means they ALWAYS take over as head of the house when the dad dies AND get most of the money, how can a younger child win? There is NO way the older will serve the younger…this God is really something if he can pull that off! (she laughs and exits) COMMENTATOR Soon old Rebekah gave birth to the twins….not identical twins..oh no, not AT ALL…from the minute they were born they didn’t look or act alike (Esau enters, acting tough) Esau was the oldest, he’s the big bad hunter type, a real tough guy. He was hairy…it was really kinda gross, red faced and muscular. Esau would disappear for days at a time wandering about the countryside hunting. Daddy Jacob sure did like the barbeques they would have after Esau went hunting…yum, yum. (Jacob puts arm around Esau his favorite, they exit) (Jacob enters, stirring a pot or bowl) Jacob was about as different from Esau as night is to day, as sweet is to sour, as, as, as, hot is to cold, as tall is to short, as checkers are to football. Oh okay, you get the picture. If Esau is hairy Jacob is smooth as a baby. Jacob was a quiet fellow. He didn’t like to hunt, he’d rather help Rebekah around the house….I’ll bet she liked THAT! REBEKAH (gives Jacob a big hug) Oh my sweet baby, thank you so much for cooking dinner, I am so tired, can you do the laundry too? You are my precious one, ta, ta I’m off to the market. (exit) ESAU Man Jacob! What an awful hunting trip, I couldn’t catch anything! I must have looked like YOU in the woods! HA, HA. I’m starving, give me something to eat, you sissy! That stew you’re cooking even smells good. JACOB Yea right , you loud mouth! Who do you think you are ordering me around! You waltz in here, pick on me and then expect me to feed you. I’m not giving you anything! (he stops, gets quiet, then whispers to the audience) Watch this, he’s so slow, I can trick him, no sweat. (to Esau) Okay mister, if you’re so hungry, give me your birthright, and I’ll give you this yummy lentil stew and fresh baked bread. ESAU What good is my inheritance from Dad, years from now, if I die of starvation today! Hurry I’m getting weak, my blood sugar is low, look my hands are shaking, I think I’m going to pass out! Quick, it’s a deal, have my silly birthright. JACOB (winking to the audience) Really? Cross your heart and hope to die? ESAU YES, I promise, hurry, I’m famished! JACOB O key do key….chow down (hands Esau the food) COMMENTATOR So Esau didn’t think too much of his birthright. Years passed, (enter old Isaac wearing dark glasses) Isaac got old and blind ISAAC Esau come here son! ESAU Here I am Dad! What do you need? (Rebekah is hiding nearby..listening) ISAAC I am such an old man, there is no tellin’ when I might die. I want some of that good wild game barbeque you do for me. Go get your bow and arrows and catch me a tasty feast so I can give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die. You know that my words of blessing will come true, so don’t miss it. HURRY! (Isaac & Esau exit) REBEKAH JACOB COME QUICK! JACOB What Ma?, where’s the fire? Chill out. REBEKAH Hush, this is important! I accidentally overheard your Dad telling his precious Esau to bring him some game and he’d get Dad’s blessing. JACOB Yeah, so. What’s the big deal? REBEKAH I want YOU to get Isaac’s blessing, you’re special and sweet, and besides God told me that you, my baby, would be lord over Esau. We’ve got to make this happen, so do what I say! Go get two of the goats, we’ll make our own barbeque just the way Dad likes it. Then YOU take it to your Dad to eat and he’ll give you his blessing before he dies! JACOB I don’t know Ma. We are not alike! Esau is so hairy; Dad will know it is me if he touches me! It won’t work! He’ll catch me trying to trick him! Instead of a blessing he’ll fuss at me and curse me! No, I don’t think so. I’m chicken. REBEKAH Just do as I say, if He curses you let it land on me…I’ll take the blame. Go get those goats mister, MARCH!! COMMENTATOR So while the goats were on the grill, Rebekah made Jacob an Esau costume. She used the goat skin to make Jacob hairy..yuk.., and dressed him in Esau’s finest clothes. When the goats were done Jacob disguised as Esau approached Isaac with the tasty meal. JACOB Hey Dad. ISAAC Yes, my son. Who is it? JACOB It’s me Esau, your first-born son, got you some great wild barbeque, yummy. Sit up and pig out so that I may get your blessing ISAAC Wow Esau, you really are some great hunter! How did you catch the game so quickly! JACOB Um well, um I uh well…the Lord your God gave me quick success! Yeah, that’s it! ISAAC Really? You don’t say. Since I can’t see you, come closer. I need to touch you…I’m not sure you are really Esau. (touching Jacob) Hmmm, this is weird you sound like Jacob, but these are Esau’s hairy hands. Are you sure you’re Esau? JACOB Yeah it’s me all right! ISAAC Okay then, I believe you. Let’s eat, so that I can give you my blessing. (Isaac eats, but is still not totally sure it is Esau) Come here, my son, and kiss me. (Jacob comes over for a kiss) Well you even smell like Esau. I shall bless you. May God give you richness, may nations serve you and people bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. (Jacob leaves) COMMENTATOR Almost as soon as Jacob got Isaac’s blessing, Esau returned from the hunt and began preparing his Dad’s barbeque. ESAU Hey Dad, I had a great hunt, check out this tasty game I grilled up for you! It tastes just like chicken! ISAAC (jumping) WHAT…who’s there? Who are you? ESAU Knucklehead, it’s me Esau, who else would make you barbeque? ISAAC (angry & shaking) Who was it then that brought me game just a minute ago? I blessed him and indeed HE WILL BE BLESSED NOT YOU! ESAU NO, THAT CAN’T BE, IT ISN’T FAIR! BLESS ME TOO, YOU HAVE TO BLESS ME TOO! ISAAC I can’t believe this, that little sneak! Your brother has stolen your blessing. ESAU Not again! That cheater! First he tricked me out of my birthright, and now my blessing. Come on Dad surely you saved some sort of blessing for me, give me something! (very upset & crying) DO YOU HAVE ONLY ONE BLESSING, MY FATHER? Bless me too, my father! ISAAC I cannot. I have blessed him with power over you and abundant riches….what is there left for you? You will serve your brother. ESAU I will never forgive Jacob. Pretty soon our father will die and I will kill Jacob". Skit will end here Exchange Volunteer has added overview of workshops, improved readability of this lesson and added source information for books mentioned. This message has been edited. Last edited by: CreativeCarol, |
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