When We Last Left Jacob and Esau, Jacob Had Run Away in Fear After He Stole Esau's Blessing
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Happy Sunday, Friends! When we last left Jacob and Esau, Jacob had run away in fear after he stole Esau's blessing. Did they ever see each other again? Did Esau ever forgive Jacob? SO MANY QUESTIONS! Something very important happens to Jacob on his way back to his homeland. You may think from the email subject that Jacob is going to wrestle with Esau. But Jacob is going to wrestle with God. Read that again. Jacob is going to WRESTLE WITH GOD. Let's find out what happens. A refresher - Esau and Jacob were Isaac and Rebekah's ultra competitive twin brothers. Jacob (through tricks and extra help from his mom) was able to secure the family birthright and blessing from his older brother Esau. He ran away in fear of Esau's revenge. Before our Story - Jacob has been away for many years. He's now married with a big family and wants to return home, but is afraid Esau still wants revenge. Jacob sent Esau many gifts to try to make Esau happy. One night on his journey, Jacob stayed behind for the night alone while his family went ahead. He prayed to God to keep his family safe. And now the Main Event....Let's get ready to ruuuuummmmmble..... That night a stranger came to Jacob and started wrestling with him! Jacob didn't know who it was but he kept fighting back as hard as he could. They wrestled all night long! Who was this mystery wrestler? Finally the sun came up and the mystery wrestler pulled out his final move - he touched Jacob's hip and dislocated it! Ouch! Jacob still wouldn't stop fighting and asked the mystery man to Bless him. The mystery man lets go and gives him a new name, Israel. Jacob then understands that he has been wrestling with God! Attached is the bible story for you to read. The actual bible verses are Genesis 32: 22-31. Fun Facts and Names: JACOB means: Heel catcher, supplanter (to take the place of someone else by scheming or strategy). Jacob was holding onto Esau's heel when he was born! Jacob took Esau's spot with the birthright and the blessing ISRAEL means: one who struggles with God. But how does it all end with Jacob and Esau? They meet in the field. It's tense. They are surrounded by Esau's 400 men and Jacob's family. Esau makes the first move. He....gives Jacob a hug and a kiss! Jacob tries to give Esau many gifts for stealing from him years before. The brothers have reunited. We don't have a Whirl kids video this week but we do have a short video about Jacob's wrestling match with God. It's from YouTube, parents, so please watch out for the commercials. We also have a coloring page and an activity sheet for you, plus a family page that you can talk about with your parents. Finally, Friends, remember that sometimes we wrestle with God, too. Not in a literal way like Jacob did, but when we doubt or get angry or want things our own way instead of God’s way. We can struggle inside our hearts and heads. That's OK! But we need to remember that God is always with us, even during our struggles, and to help us through. I hope all of you know how much you are loved and missed! We can't wait to be all together at church again soon. Take Care, Gabrielle Heimerling Director, Youth and Family Services All Kids, Jacob Wrestles Activity Page. Spark: Activate Faith © 2019 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for localuse only. for bereproduced May ©2019Sparkhouse. Allrightsreserved. Faith Spark:Activate Page. Activity Wrestles All Kids,Jacob Messed-up Messages Jacob learned a lesson when he wrestled with God. The message is scrambled on this page. Can you figure it out? Match the shapes around the letters to put the message back together. Grades 1-2, Jacob Wrestles Activity Page. Spark™ Sunday School © 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only. All Kids, Jacob Wrestles Activity Page Solution. Spark: Activate Faith © 2019 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for localuse only. for be reproduced May © 2019Sparkhouse. Allrightsreserved. Faith Solution.Spark: Activate Page Activity Wrestles All Kids,Jacob Messed-up Messages Solution Jacob learned a lesson when he wrestled with God. The message is scrambled on this page. Can you figure it out? Match the shapes around the letters to put the message back together. Grades 1-2, Jacob Wrestles Activity Solution Page. Spark™ Sunday School © 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only. Jacob Wrestles Jacob hurried the rest of the way home. Jacob Wrestles Colorin Page B. Spark™ Sunday School © 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only. READ IT TALK ABOUT IT LIVE IT For families to do together This week’s Bible story is Family Conversations Take turns pairing up for arm wrestling. Stronger family members should take care Jacob What’s it like to wrestle with someone stron- to allow younger members to struggle for a Wrestles 1 ger than you? from Genesis 32:22–31. while. What would Jacob have gained in learning Jacob wrestles a divine being, is 2 the stranger’s name? injured, blessed, and renamed. For younger kids Ask each other what you remember about: Offer to rub the hands and shoulders of a What are some ways you have wrestled with • Jacob 3 parent. God? • Israel • Prevail • Bless What would you rename each other? What • Peniel 4 meaning would you assign the names? For older kids Find out what happens when a hip is put out- An etiological tale is a tale that explains the of-socket. Can it be cured? How? origins of someplace or something. Read the whole story together Eye Spark in the Bible! Look for God in the faces you encounter this week. Spark Story Bible pages 46-47 Spark NRSV Bible page 37 Ear Spark Listen for names you’ve never heard before or Family Prayer don’t hear very often. Lord God, you engage us whether we invite you or not. Thank you for being willing to wrestle with us. Please help us open our- selves to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. All Kids, Jacob Wrestles Family Page. Spark: Activate Faith © 2019 Sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use provided every copy carries this notice..