Look at this “word puzzle.” What does it say? Discuss that it says two words depending on how you look at it – GOOD and EVIL.
18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
Esau and Jacob were Isaac’s twins. Esau was the older twin, by seconds. He was red-skinned, tall, and hairy. He was due to be blessed with the firstborn son’s share of his father’s estate. Jacob, instead, liked to be inside. He had soft and smooth skin.
The brothers were very different. There was always a rivalry between them.
One day, Esau came in from working and was SO HUNGRY. Think of a time when you were so hungry your brain couldn’t think of anything but eating. Being that hungry sometimes makes it hard to make good choices. That’s how Esau probably felt, and his belly helped him make a poor choice.
Jacob had made a stew, and Esau wanted it!
Jacob, being tricky, said he would give it to him if Esau would give up his birthright. Esau agreed and ate his stew.
When the time came for Isaac to bless Esau, Jacob, with the help of his mother, Rebekah, pretended to be Esau by wearing Esau’s clothes and putting goat skins on his hands so that his smooth skin would feel more like Esau’s.
It worked. He tricked Isaac and took Esau’s blessing. The line of Jesus would continue through his family instead of Esau’s. Does this seem right or fair?
How might the good/evil word puzzle fit with this idea and the Bible story?
God takes evil and brings SO MUCH GOOD from it. Only He can do that. Jacob tricked, manipulated, lied, and stole what wasn’t technically his. Do you think Jacob should have gotten to be in JESUS family? Doesn’t seem fair, BUT God redeemed him and all his yucky sin and used Jacob in a mighty way! He was a sinner who needed a Savior just like you and me! Jesus is coming!
