Passage to study: Genesis 28:1-22
To read with the class: Genesis 28:10-22
Texts to memorize: Titus 2:11 and/or Genesis 28:15.
SCENE No. 1. PLACE: Uninhabited countryside.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson:
Jacob travels towards Haran alone, having left his father’s home. His loneliness is
due to having used deceit to take away from his brother his father’s
patriarchal blessing. Before ever Jacob was born, God had promised that “the
elder shall serve the younger” Ge.25:23. For this reason, he should have
trusted God and waited for Him to give the elder son’s portion at the appropriate
time.
>> Cns. Lack of faith in God will bring about a great deal of unnecessary suffering
in anyone’s life. Since Jacob’s brother had threatened to kill him, his mother
advised him to leave the house for “a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn
away”. His mother who had given him wrong advice in the first place, and
promised to send for him when Esau should forget his anger. Nevertheless, she was never
able to do so.
>> Cmt. Problems should be faced and dealt with directly as we can never really run
away from them. His mother could have guided him to recognize and confess his wrong
before leaving home.
>> Sug. Try to engage the students in contributing experiences of their own about :
1) getting bad advice; and 2) the consequences of not facing problems.
>> Cns. The failure to face the problem of sin before a holy God will seal the fate
of millions who will be cast into the lake of fire. The “few days”
mentioned by Rebecca would become more than 20 years and Jacob would never see his mother
again. As a result of this family problem, Jacob now travels over deserted and dangerous
paths, without a known or secure future.
>> Apl. On account of sin, many travel through this life far from God trying to
escape a situation. They are in danger of dying in their sins. Having gone some 65
kms., Jacob thinks that no one knows where he is or anything about him.
>> Cns. This is a good time to teach the children that no one can escape from the
sight of God. The teacher could begin by asking the students where they could go to
find a place where no one can see them. Jacob has put all his efforts into getting the
inheritance and the blessing, and now, at this point in his life, they are of no use to
him.
>> Cns. The person who gets ahead of God directive will, instead of waiting for Him
to carry out it out in His own time, will find he ends up dissatisfied and unhappy.
>> Apl. If the class is one of adolescents, the teacher can speak against sexual
relations before marriage. Trying to precipitate what God had planned for him,
Jacob deprived himself of years in his own home and in the promised land.
SCENE: No. 2 PLACE: A field at night.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson: Tired and sad, Jacob falls asleep using a stone for a pillow.
>> Cns. When a person has a bad conscience and is running away from a difficult
situation, life becomes difficult and at times, unbearable. Jacob is totally without
comforts but God is going to give him a “pillow” of promises. Jacob probably
believes that God has abandoned him, but he finds that the very opposite to be the case.
>> Cns. God0s confirmation of the divine blessing his father passed on to him was
not to approve of the use of deceit but an evidence of the grace of God taking into
account the content of the birthright. Jacob dreams and sees a ladder, set up upon earth
with the top reaching to heaven, giving access to the very presence of God. Jacob learns
that even though his home is far away, heaven is near.
>> Apl. This can be applied to those students who must leave home for study
purposes, work, or some other reason, but can count on God’s presence. “And
behold, the Lord stood above it” and speaks to him, promising to bless him in His
grace. He will be given all that he needs, despite deserving nothing, nor even being
able to claim it as his right. God tells him “behold, I am with thee”, promising
His presence and protection wherever he goes. He also promises to bring him again to
this land. The ladder is the symbol of a connection existing between earth and heaven. The
presence of angels shows that it is a way approved by God.
>> Cns. Ge.28:13 “and behold, the Lord stood above it”.
>> Apl. For us, the Lord Jesus Christ is the way to heaven approved by God. He is
the “ladder” through which we can reach heaven. Juan 14:6.
>> Apl. Just as the length of the ladder was sufficient to unite earth and heaven,
the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient to give us an entrance there because by His
birth into this world, He came down from heaven to earth. When He died, rose again
and ascended (went up) again into heaven. He opened up the way into Heaven for those that
trust in Him.
SCENE No. 3 PLACE: Country.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson:
When he awakens, Jacob realizes that he has not escaped from God’s presence,
but that He is in this place also. Surprised and thankful for pardon and for God’s
promises, he wants to make Him an offering.
He does not have much with him, but he has oil which he pours out in God’s presence,
promising also to give a tenth part of all that God gives him in the future.
>> Cns. Those who have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ also have the
privilege of giving to God.
>> Sug. Emphasize to the students the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave
Himself for us, and make clear that the love of God is the complete opposite to
selfishness. “God so loved ...that He GAVE ...”
>> When we give a portion of that which we have receive, we recognize that since it
all comes from God, all that we have belongs to Him. Jacob gives the name
“Bet-el” to this place. The word means “House of God”,
since it was here he came to know God. The place would from then on have special
importance for him.
>> Cmt. For each believer the place where he/she came to know Christ as Savior is a
special place.
SCENE No. 4. Review and Application.
DEVELOPMENT: A visual aid of a ladder reaching heavenward and a cross placed
over it helps to unite the thought being communicate. Also figures of children in their
usual activities, to remind them that God sees them wherever they are, and cares for each
one.
>> Apl. Just as the ladder united heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus Christ is the way
to heaven. He is the one Mediator between God and man, the only way to God. Since
God is everywhere, He is able to care for us at all times.
>> If you can obtain some figures of people, for example 1) when we are sick , 2)
when sad or suffering the loss of a loved one, 3) when we don’t know what to do
about something, 4) etc., stress that God is aware of every circumstance. The angels of
God care for us Heb.1:14. Therefore a child need not be afraid of the dark, or of
the unknown future.
CLOSING NOTES:
Despite this encounter with God, Jacob continues to live up to his name of
“supplanter”, continuing practises he began in earlier years of using deception
to gain his ends. He, in turn, is deceived by his uncle, Laban, and relations there
deteriorate. On his return trip to Canaan, he once again has a meeting with angels
at the brook Jabbok. From that time on, his walk is changed forever. He must walk
with a limp, always reminding him of that occasion. He also gains a new name. God
fulfils His promise to bless him and, despite having two wives and plenty of family
problems, a large number of children are born to him. At the end of his life comes the
event that gives him a place among the “heros of faith” in Hebrews 11. By
faith he blesses both the sons of Joseph and “worshipped, leaning upon the top of his
staff”. |
