Jacob's Story - Seeds of Truth Ministries

BIG IDEA: God keeps His promises.

This free Bible lesson, Jacob’s Story, will teach preschool and elementary students about the story of Jacob’s deception toward his brother Esau and his father Isaac. God had already blessed Jacob as one of the fathers of the Israelites, so Jacob didn’t need to trick his brother and father. He only needed to trust in God’s plan for his life.

FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 25:19-34, 27-33

All of the printable activities and digital slides needed for the lesson, as well as a full printable lesson plan for both elementary and preschool are available.

Below is the outline of the free elementary Bible lesson.

PREP & SUPPLIES

3-4 blindfolds
stuffed animal
wrapped candy bar
freshly washed towel with the smell of detergent still present
flowers
box with lid
prize spinner with point values added
printed “TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL” coloring page for each student
crayons/markers/colored pencils

LESSON HOOK ACTIVITY

(SLIDE) We are going to play a game called “Guess the Object”.

You will need 3-4 kid volunteers, the same amount of blindfolds, and the following items (or similar) in a closed box so they are not visible:

stuffed animal
wrapped candy bar
freshly washed towel with the smell of detergent still present
flowers

Call the 3-4 kid volunteers to the front of the room and place a blindfold on each of them.

Using only your sense of touch and smell you are going to guess what each object is.

Hand the objects to each student one at a time and then have them guess what the object is by whispering in your ear.

In today’s true story from The Bible we are going to learn about a time when a man was tricked into believing something that wasn’t true because he did not have good eyesight and he had to depend on his sense of touch and smell.

BIBLE LESSON

(SLIDE) Over the past two weeks we have learned about a promise that God made to Abraham and his family. Can someone give us a summary about the lessons that we have learned about Abraham and his son Isaac? (allow responses but be sure to read the summary below)

[Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of many nations, which means he would have a large family of important descendants, including Jesus. God made a covenant promise with Abraham, and when Abraham and his wife Sarah were very old God gave them a baby boy whose name was Isaac. Abraham trusted God and was prepared to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to show his love to God. An angel appeared to Abraham to stop him from sacrificing Isaac, and God provided a ram to take the place of Isaac on the altar. Isaac is a “type”, or symbol, of Jesus. Abraham’s family is blessed by God, which means that all the people in Abraham’s family have special favor with God. Because Jesus is part of Abraham’s family, all people who believe in Jesus receive the same promise that God gave to Abraham of special blessing through Jesus. When a person believes in Jesus and puts their trust in Him, they will receive salvation and new life in Him.]

God made a promise to Abraham that his family would be blessed. What do we know about God’s promises? (allow responses)

When God makes a promise, we can trust Him because He always keeps His promises.

Where can we read and learn about the promises that God has made to us? (The Bible)

(SLIDE) Our Big Idea as we have been learning about Abraham’s family is that GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. This is also our Big Idea for this week, because we are going to continue learning about Abraham’s family.

Last week we learned about Abraham’s son who was named Isaac.

(SLIDE) Today we are going to learn about Isaac’s son, Jacob.

The Bible tells us in the Book of Genesis that Abraham’s son Isaac married a woman named Rebekah who became pregnant with twin boys. The babies moved around inside of her womb (where the babies are during a pregnancy) a lot. The Bible actually says that the babies “struggled with each other inside her”.

Rebekah was very uncomfortable by this and it worried her, so she prayed to God and asked Him why this was happening to her.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 25:23:

(SLIDE) Genesis 25:23 NIrV

[The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one.”]

(SLIDE) The Bible tells us that the first baby that was born, which would be the oldest one, was very hairy and was named Esau. The second baby boy, which would be the youngest one, was holding onto the heel of his brother as he was born and was named Jacob. (Genesis 25:25-26)

As the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter who enjoyed the outdoors. Jacob liked to stay indoors and spent a lot of time at home with his mother.

(SLIDE) Does anyone know what a “birthright” is? (allow responses)

A birthright is something that you get from your family automatically just by being born in a certain place or to certain parents.

It’s like an inheritance, or something that is yours because it is already in your family when you come into the family as a baby.

What are some things that a child can “inherit” from his or her parents after they pass away? (money, land, homes, possessions)

In The Old Testament times, birthrights were a little bit different than they are now.

(SLIDE) In those times, the first born son would be the one who got the better inheritance after the father passed away.

The first born son would get a double inheritance of all of the father’s possessions. This means Esau would get two times as much money, land, and animals as Jacob would get.

(SLIDE) If Jacob and Esau’s father Isaac, had 1,000 animals in his flock when he died, Esau would get 750 animals and Jacob would get 250 animals instead of each of the sons getting 500 animals.

The older son would also become the head of the household and have more authority and responsibility than the younger son.

Since Esau was born first, he was the oldest son and would have the right to all of these things after his father passed away.

Of course, Jacob didn’t like this so one day Jacob was making some stew (soup) when Esau came in from working and was very hungry. Esau asked Jacob for some of the food he was cooking.

The Bible tells us how Jacob responded to his brother’s request for food:

(SLIDE) Genesis 25:31 NIrV

[“First sell me the rights that belong to you as the oldest son in the family.”]

What was Jacob asking Esau to do? (allow responses)

Jacob was asking Esau to give up his birthright and the bigger part of their father’s inheritance for a bowl of soup!

Do you think Esau sold Jacob the birthright for a bowl of soup? (allow responses)

The Bible tells us what happened:

(SLIDE) Genesis 25:32-33 NIrV

[“Look, I’m dying of hunger,” Esau said. “What good are those rights to me?” But Jacob said, “First promise to sell me your rights.” So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.]

Esau didn’t even care about the birthright that belonged to him as the oldest son. So, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup.

It wasn’t enough for Jacob to have the birthright and the bigger part of his father’s inheritance. He also wanted the special blessing from his father.

A blessing is something really good, like a special gift or special favor.

In The Old Testament times, a father’s blessing was a very special honor that was given to the sons before the father passed away.

(SLIDE) Since Esau was the oldest son, Isaac was prepared to give him the better blessing.

(SLIDE) Does anyone know what the word “deceive” means? (allow responses)

(SLIDE) When someone deceives it means that they trick someone into believing something that is not true.

The Bible tells us that Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, came up with a plan to trick her husband Isaac into believing that Jacob was Esau, so that Isaac would give Jacob the blessing meant for Esau. (Genesis 27:5-17)

Isaac’s eyesight was not good anymore, so he had to use his other senses to be able to tell who he was talking to. What other senses would Isaac have been able to use to know if he was talking to Esau or Jacob? (touch, hearing, smell)

Isaac told Esau to go out and hunt, prepare a meal for him, and bring it to him. Then Isaac would give Esau the blessing.

(SLIDE) But, Rebekah made a plan to prepare a meal for Isaac and allow Jacob to bring it to him in a disguise so that Jacob would get the blessing.

Who remembers what Esau had all over his body? (hair)

(SLIDE) Esau was very hairy from the time that he was born, so Jacob knew that if his father touched him he would know Jacob was trying to trick him.

The strange part about this is that Jacob didn’t need to trick his father to receive the blessing at all.

God had already told Rebekah when she was pregnant with Esau and Jacob:

(SLIDE) Genesis 25:23 NIrV

[The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one.”]

Jacob had already been blessed by God before he was born!

God had already promised Rebekah that her younger son would receive the special blessing from God. Abraham was Jacob’s grandfather.

(SLIDE) God blessed Jacob in the same way that He blessed Abraham and Isaac. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Jacob was already blessed by God and didn’t have any reason to trick his father and his brother.

(SLIDE) But Isaac thought that the blessing should go to Esau.

Was it part of God’s plan for Esau to be the father of God’s chosen people? (no)

So, God made a way for His plan to work out according to His promise that He made to Abraham.

What do we know about God’s promises? (God always keeps His promises. BIG IDEA)

(SLIDE) Later in Jacob’s life, God changed his name to “Israel”, which means “God’s Fighter”.

(SLIDE) Jacob became the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel through his sons. (Genesis 29:31-30:24)

LEADER NOTE REGARDING THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL LIST: Pictured are the original 12 sons of Jacob. In some lists you will see that Levi is not included because the men of his tribe were the priests and they did not receive land as an inheritance. When Levi is not included, Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh take the place of both Levi and Joseph to equal 12 tribes.

(SLIDE) The Bible says that Rebekah covered Jacob’s hands and neck with skins of goats so that he would feel hairy like Esau.

Then, she gave Jacob some of Esau’s clothes to wear so he would smell like Esau.

Then, she gave Jacob the food that she had prepared for Isaac. (Genesis 27:14-17)

Jacob took the meal to his father, and when his father felt the hair on Jacob’s hands and smelled the clothes he was wearing he thought he was talking to Esau. (Genesis 27:21-24, 27)

Because he thought he was talking to Esau, Isaac gave Jacob the blessing that was meant for Esau.

Isaac said to Jacob:

(SLIDE) Genesis 27: 28-29 NIrV

[“May God give you dew from heaven. May he give you the richness of the earth. May he give you plenty of grain and fresh wine. May nations serve you. May they bow down to you. Rule over your brothers. May the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed. And may those who bless you be blessed.”]

Soon after Isaac gave Jacob the blessing that was meant for Esau, Esau came in to see his father and receive the blessing. When he found out that his father had already given the blessing to Jacob he was very angry.

Remember what Jacob was doing to his brother’s heel as he was born. He was holding onto Esau’s heel as they were both born.

(SLIDE) Genesis 25:26 NIrV

[…Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau’s heel. So he was named Jacob…]

(SLIDE) Jacob’s name means “deceiver”, or “heel catcher”.

Jacob received the blessing that was meant for Esau by deceiving Isaac, which means that he tricked his father into believing something that wasn’t true.

A “heel-catcher” is a name for someone who tries to trip other people up to get ahead, usually by being sneaky.

So, not only did Jacob actually hold onto his brother’s heel when they were born. But, Jacob was also a deceiver and was sneaky to get ahead of his brother.

(SLIDE) Many years after the death of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a special man was born into the tribe of Judah. Does anyone know who that special man is? (allow responses)

Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah. Jesus was born into this chosen family as God had promised.

In Genesis 12:3 God told Abraham:

(SLIDE) Genesis 12:3 NIrV

[“…All nations on earth will be blessed because of you.”]

(SLIDE) Jesus is the reason that ALL NATIONS ON EARTH will be blessed.

(SLIDE) Romans 4:13 says:

[Abraham and his family received a promise. God promised that Abraham would receive the world. It would not come to him because he obeyed the law. It would come because of his faith, which made him right with God.]

This verse is talking about Jesus!

(SLIDE) Jesus is the promised blessing to all who believe in Him.

All people who believe in Jesus receive the same promise that God gave to Abraham of

special blessing through Jesus.

Dear God,

Thank You for the true stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the special promise that You gave to them. We thank You that Jesus was a part of that promise, and because of Jesus we can have a relationship with You after we choose to accept Him. Please help us to understand what we read in The Bible and ask questions when we don’t understand.

We love you and we pray all of these things in Jesus’ sweet name, Amen.

LARGE GROUP ACTIVITY

You will need a prepared prize wheel with point values added for this game. Any point values will work.

We are going to play “Spin Review” to reflect on the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Each team will get the opportunity to answer a question. Team members should work together to decide on the correct answer.

If a correct answer is given, the team will spin the wheel to see how many points their team earns.

If an incorrect answer is given, the next team will have a chance to answer correctly and spin the wheel.

LEADER NOTE: You can choose to play this game with two teams or many small teams. Winning teams can earn a small prize if you choose to do so.

Review Questions:

What was brought into the world through Adam and Eve? (sin)
Why did God tell Abram to count the stars? (God said that the number of descendants that Abram would have would be like the number of stars.)
What does the name ABRAM mean? (exalted father)
What did God promise to Abraham about where his family would live? (God would give Abraham’s family a new land, the Promised Land, to live in.)
What is a blessing? (something really good, like a special gift or special favor)
What promise did God make to Abraham about his family? (God promised to make Abraham’s family large.; God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants, including Jesus.)
What is another word for “covenant”? (promise)
What does the name ABRAHAM mean? (father of many nations)
What does “many nations” mean? (many people in his family)
What do we know about God’s promises? (God always keeps His promises. We can read about His promises in The Bible.)
What did Sarah do when she heard that she was going to have a baby in her old age? (She laughed to herself.)
Who were the 3 visitors who told Abraham that Sarah was going to have a baby in her old age? (God and 2 angels)
What was the name of Abraham and Sarah’s son? (Isaac)
What separates us from God? (sin)
Who offers us a new life so we can have a relationship with God? (Jesus)
How was Jesus part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus was born into Abraham’s family and gives the special blessing of salvation.)
How are we a part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus offers salvation to anyone who believes in Him; People who believe in Jesus are part of Abraham’s family)
What does the name “Jacob” mean? (“heel catcher” or “deceiver”)
What did Rebekah and Jacob do to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the special blessing? (they put goat skins/hair on Jacob to make him hairy; Jacob wore Esau’s clothes so he would smell like him)
What did God change Jacob’s name to later in his life? (Israel)
How many tribes of Israel are there? (12)
How was Jacob related to Abraham? (Abraham was Jacob’s grandfather.)
Why did Jacob not have to trick his father and brother? (Jacob was already blessed by God.)
What special man was born into the tribe of Judah? (Jesus)
Who lived a sinless life on earth? (Jesus)
Who died on the cross to take the punishment for all sin? (Jesus)
Who rose back to life on the third day? (Jesus)
Who gives us new life and salvation from our sins? (Jesus)

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY

Jacob became the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel through his sons.

(Genesis 29:31-30:24)

Today, you can color a picture of the twelve tribes of Israel to help you remember their names.

Provide a “TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL” coloring page for each student to color while you lead the discussion and lesson review.

BREAK INTO SMALL GROUPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY.

Discussion Prompts for Leaders:

What promise did God make to Abraham and his family? (that his family would be blessed)
How was Jesus part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus was born into Abraham’s family and gives the special blessing of salvation.)
How are we a part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus offers salvation to anyone who believes in Him; People who believe in Jesus are part of Abraham’s family)
What does the name “Jacob” mean? (“heel catcher” or “deceiver”)
How did Jacob live up to his name? (He literally held on to Esau’s heel as they were being born; He deceived/tricked Isaac and Esau into giving him the blessing)
What did Rebekah and Jacob do to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the special blessing? (they put goat skins/hair on Jacob to make him hairy; Jacob wore Esau’s clothes so he would smell like him)
What did God change Jacob’s name to later in his life? (Israel)
How was Jacob related to Abraham? (Abraham was Jacob’s grandfather.)
What do we know about God’s promises? (God always keeps His promises.)
Why did Jacob not have to trick his father and brother? (Jacob was already blessed by God.)
What special man was born into the tribe of Judah? (Jesus)
Does anyone have any questions about today’s lesson?
Use any extra time to discuss the lesson and/or the memory verse.

CLOSING REFLECTION

We learned that Abraham’s son Isaac was the father to twin boys, Jacob and Esau. Esau was the first born son and was the rightful heir to the birthright and better blessing from their father. God had made a promise to their mother Rebekah that Jacob would receive the special blessing. Even though Jacob was already blessed by God, he tricked his father and brother into receiving the blessing that was already his. Jacob became the father of many sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah many years later.

Reflection Questions:

What promise did God make to Abraham and his family? (that his family would be blessed)
How was Jesus part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus was born into Abraham’s family and gives the special blessing of salvation.)
How are we a part of the promise God made to Abraham? (Jesus offers salvation to anyone who believes in Him; People who believe in Jesus are part of Abraham’s family)
Does anyone have any questions about today’s lesson?

Find other free Bible lessons for kids: