Jacob: The Later Years | Wrestling with God | Esau Reunion | Bible Curriculum
Save time and shop with confidence. Watch the lesson preview video here!
This interactive Bible lesson takes your students in grades 4-8, through Genesis 32-33 as they explore Jacob’s transformation, his reconciliation with Esau, and his face-to-face encounter with God. This engaging 4-hour Bible lesson includes hands-on activities such as color-coding scripture, sheep counting on Uncle Laban’s farm, arm wrestling, and a strategic card game where students discover where Jacob placed his family members as he prepared to reunite with his estranged brother, Esau. Students will discover the powerful message of forgiveness and finding acceptance in Jesus—the true Face of God.
Lesson Highlights & Activities:
✳️Introduction - Students recall moments of difficult forgiveness in their own lives after which they are reminded of the ongoing conflict between twin brothers Jacob and Esau as background to understand the profound reconciliation and forgiveness granted between these two brothers. ♥️
✳️Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business – Having fled from his brother’s murderous anger twenty years earlier, Jacob worked for his Uncle Laban tirelessly and is ready to return home and face his brother. However, Laban is hesitant to let him go. Through an interactive worksheet “Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business”, students label and cross out ❌️sheep, uncovering God's blessings upon Jacob and the deception of Uncle Laban.
✳️Color Coding: Jacob Prepares for Esau – Students color-code Genesis 32:3-12, reflecting Jacob's prayer to God in anticipation of meeting Esau. This activity highlights Jacob's desire for peace and his fear of not being accepted. The key phrase “I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me” is highlighted and noted as this is a key theme in Jacob’s later years. ✏️
✳️Jacob Wrestles God “Face to Face” – Engage students in an arm-wrestling match to spark a discussion on Jacob’s struggle with God, how he demanded a blessing, received a hip injury and ultimately received the name Israel. ⭐️
✳️Jacob “Faces” His Fears: Strategic Card Game – Students cut out included game board pieces representing the twelve key people in this narrative from Genesis 33 which are then placed and arranged as if it were a game board. This allows students to analyze why Jacob positioned them as he did, offering insights into future family conflicts including Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy. ♟️
✳️What Did I Learn About Jesus Today? – "Jesus the Face of God" verse cards assists you in guiding your students through six key New Testament verses as your students discover that as we look upon the face of Jesus and find acceptance, the Holy Spirit works in our lives and transforms our characters into the likeness of Jesus for the world to notice and recognize and gives us hope of one day seeing His face in Heaven!
Included in this 39-page lesson:
▪️Twenty-two page lesson plan with clear instructions
▪️Jacob’s Sheep Farming ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Color Coding: Jacob Faces a Reunion with Esau ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Jostles Jehovah by the Jabbok ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Faces His Fears Game Board Pieces
▪️Facial Recognition Worksheet
▪️Face to Face Acceptance ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jesus the Face of God Verse Cards
▪️Stepping Stone: "Face of God"
⏰️Flexible Scheduling: This 3-4 hour lesson can be spread over multiple days with clearly labeled stopping points.
✝️ Perfect for Sunday school, homeschool Bible study, or Christian classrooms!
Save time and shop with confidence. Watch the lesson preview video here!
This interactive Bible lesson takes your students in grades 4-8, through Genesis 32-33 as they explore Jacob’s transformation, his reconciliation with Esau, and his face-to-face encounter with God. This engaging 4-hour Bible lesson includes hands-on activities such as color-coding scripture, sheep counting on Uncle Laban’s farm, arm wrestling, and a strategic card game where students discover where Jacob placed his family members as he prepared to reunite with his estranged brother, Esau. Students will discover the powerful message of forgiveness and finding acceptance in Jesus—the true Face of God.
Lesson Highlights & Activities:
✳️Introduction - Students recall moments of difficult forgiveness in their own lives after which they are reminded of the ongoing conflict between twin brothers Jacob and Esau as background to understand the profound reconciliation and forgiveness granted between these two brothers. ♥️
✳️Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business – Having fled from his brother’s murderous anger twenty years earlier, Jacob worked for his Uncle Laban tirelessly and is ready to return home and face his brother. However, Laban is hesitant to let him go. Through an interactive worksheet “Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business”, students label and cross out ❌️sheep, uncovering God's blessings upon Jacob and the deception of Uncle Laban.
✳️Color Coding: Jacob Prepares for Esau – Students color-code Genesis 32:3-12, reflecting Jacob's prayer to God in anticipation of meeting Esau. This activity highlights Jacob's desire for peace and his fear of not being accepted. The key phrase “I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me” is highlighted and noted as this is a key theme in Jacob’s later years. ✏️
✳️Jacob Wrestles God “Face to Face” – Engage students in an arm-wrestling match to spark a discussion on Jacob’s struggle with God, how he demanded a blessing, received a hip injury and ultimately received the name Israel. ⭐️
✳️Jacob “Faces” His Fears: Strategic Card Game – Students cut out included game board pieces representing the twelve key people in this narrative from Genesis 33 which are then placed and arranged as if it were a game board. This allows students to analyze why Jacob positioned them as he did, offering insights into future family conflicts including Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy. ♟️
✳️What Did I Learn About Jesus Today? – "Jesus the Face of God" verse cards assists you in guiding your students through six key New Testament verses as your students discover that as we look upon the face of Jesus and find acceptance, the Holy Spirit works in our lives and transforms our characters into the likeness of Jesus for the world to notice and recognize and gives us hope of one day seeing His face in Heaven!
Included in this 39-page lesson:
▪️Twenty-two page lesson plan with clear instructions
▪️Jacob’s Sheep Farming ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Color Coding: Jacob Faces a Reunion with Esau ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Jostles Jehovah by the Jabbok ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Faces His Fears Game Board Pieces
▪️Facial Recognition Worksheet
▪️Face to Face Acceptance ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jesus the Face of God Verse Cards
▪️Stepping Stone: "Face of God"
⏰️Flexible Scheduling: This 3-4 hour lesson can be spread over multiple days with clearly labeled stopping points.
✝️ Perfect for Sunday school, homeschool Bible study, or Christian classrooms!
Save time and shop with confidence. Watch the lesson preview video here!
This interactive Bible lesson takes your students in grades 4-8, through Genesis 32-33 as they explore Jacob’s transformation, his reconciliation with Esau, and his face-to-face encounter with God. This engaging 4-hour Bible lesson includes hands-on activities such as color-coding scripture, sheep counting on Uncle Laban’s farm, arm wrestling, and a strategic card game where students discover where Jacob placed his family members as he prepared to reunite with his estranged brother, Esau. Students will discover the powerful message of forgiveness and finding acceptance in Jesus—the true Face of God.
Lesson Highlights & Activities:
✳️Introduction - Students recall moments of difficult forgiveness in their own lives after which they are reminded of the ongoing conflict between twin brothers Jacob and Esau as background to understand the profound reconciliation and forgiveness granted between these two brothers. ♥️
✳️Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business – Having fled from his brother’s murderous anger twenty years earlier, Jacob worked for his Uncle Laban tirelessly and is ready to return home and face his brother. However, Laban is hesitant to let him go. Through an interactive worksheet “Jacob’s Sheep Farming Business”, students label and cross out ❌️sheep, uncovering God's blessings upon Jacob and the deception of Uncle Laban.
✳️Color Coding: Jacob Prepares for Esau – Students color-code Genesis 32:3-12, reflecting Jacob's prayer to God in anticipation of meeting Esau. This activity highlights Jacob's desire for peace and his fear of not being accepted. The key phrase “I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me” is highlighted and noted as this is a key theme in Jacob’s later years. ✏️
✳️Jacob Wrestles God “Face to Face” – Engage students in an arm-wrestling match to spark a discussion on Jacob’s struggle with God, how he demanded a blessing, received a hip injury and ultimately received the name Israel. ⭐️
✳️Jacob “Faces” His Fears: Strategic Card Game – Students cut out included game board pieces representing the twelve key people in this narrative from Genesis 33 which are then placed and arranged as if it were a game board. This allows students to analyze why Jacob positioned them as he did, offering insights into future family conflicts including Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy. ♟️
✳️What Did I Learn About Jesus Today? – "Jesus the Face of God" verse cards assists you in guiding your students through six key New Testament verses as your students discover that as we look upon the face of Jesus and find acceptance, the Holy Spirit works in our lives and transforms our characters into the likeness of Jesus for the world to notice and recognize and gives us hope of one day seeing His face in Heaven!
Included in this 39-page lesson:
▪️Twenty-two page lesson plan with clear instructions
▪️Jacob’s Sheep Farming ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Color Coding: Jacob Faces a Reunion with Esau ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Jostles Jehovah by the Jabbok ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jacob Faces His Fears Game Board Pieces
▪️Facial Recognition Worksheet
▪️Face to Face Acceptance ~ Worksheet and Answer Key
▪️Jesus the Face of God Verse Cards
▪️Stepping Stone: "Face of God"
⏰️Flexible Scheduling: This 3-4 hour lesson can be spread over multiple days with clearly labeled stopping points.
✝️ Perfect for Sunday school, homeschool Bible study, or Christian classrooms!
❓️FAQS❓️
What Christian perspective is used for these Bible lessons?
I am an evangelical Christian who writes Bible curriculum for older students, and I take this tremendous responsibility seriously. Each lesson has a clear focus on what God says in His Word and the lessons are presented age appropriately, thoughtfully and biblically.
What translation of the Bible is used? 99% of the time I use the ESV although on rare occasion I might use another translation such as the NIV.
How can this Bible lesson be used
Each lesson unit in our Walking Alongside Jesus series is divided into five sections, each section takes between 30 minutes to an hour. This allows homeschool and Christian school teachers to use it daily in the classroom (thereby completing an entire unit in a week) OR in a Sunday School classroom or youth group once a week (thereby completing an entire unit in a month). These lessons are flexible enough to be used in the following settings:
Children's Sunday School class
Youth Group
Private Christian school Bible class
Chapel for Christian schools
Children's Church
Homeschool Bible class
Family Bible time
Copyright ©️ Experience the Bible Creatively. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
