Bible Story: Jacob Wrestles with GodReference: Genesis 27, 32 Abraham’s son Isaac had a family of his own. His wife Rebekah had twin sons named Jacob and Esau. When the boys grew up, it was time for Isaac to bless his sons. Jacob pretended to be Esau and tricked Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing. Esau was so angry at Jacob that Jacob had to leave home and go live with Rebekah’s brother Laban in Haran. He started a new life, got married, and had children.  Jacob and Esau were Isaac’s sons. Jacob tricked Isaac and got Esau’s blessing. Esau was angry! Jacob had to go far away and start a new life. (Angry face) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org After many years, Jacob decided to return to Canaan. He packed up his family and all his animals and set off. A servant went ahead to bring a friendly message to Esau who lived in Edom. But Esau didn’t want to talk. He was coming with 400 men! Oh no! Jacob was scared. He thought Esau was coming to kill him. That night, when everyone else was sleeping, Jacob crossed the RIver Jabbok to pray. Suddenly, a man grabbed him. The two men wrested all night long.  One night many years later, Jacob wrestled with God. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel because he fought like a prince and won. (Show your fists.) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org As the sun came up, the man said to Jacob, “Let me go!” But Jacob replied, “I won’t let go until you bless me.” The man said, “Your new name will be Israel because you have fought like a prince with God and with men and have won.” The man touched Jacob’s hip, so Jacob walked with a limp. Jacob knew he had wrestled with God. When Esau met Jacob the next day, He did not try to hurt him. He hugged him.  Jacob offered gifts to Esau to show he was sorry. When Esau met Jacob, they hugged and became friends again. (Hug.) Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org Our Bible story reminds me of the prayer verse, Hebrews 4:16, which says, “Let us...feel free to come before God’s throne....[We] can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it." (ICB). Jacob went to God when he needed help, and God came to him and gave him the forgiveness and blessing he needed to face his mistakes. We all make mistakes, like Jacob. Don’t be afraid to ask God for forgiveness and help to make things right. His throne is always open to us. Dear Father God, I want to remember to come to You when I make mistakes. I need your forgiveness and help to make things right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen Nature Window: CamouflageGod has given all living things special abilities to survive in their environments called adaptations. Jacob pretending to be Esau, so he could trick his father, reminds me of an adaptation called camouflage. Camouflage is when animals change their color or just look like something in their surroundings. It makes it harder for another animal to see them. Below are some examples of camouflage. Many toads, frogs, and lizards can either change their skin color or are colored naturally to blend into their surroundings. A toad that lives in the woods might look more brown, so it blends into the fallen leaves on the ground. A frog that lives in the trees might look more grey to blend into the tree bark. A lizard that lives in the desert might look like sand.  See how this green lizard blends into the grass! That's camouflage. Photo #1561068 by Ali A. courtesy of FreeImages.com There are some bugs that are interesting, too! A stick bug literally looks like a walking twig! Moths and butterflies sometimes have big circle patterns in their wings to look like the eyes of a big animal.  The giant dot on the butterfly's wing looks like a big animal's eye! That's camouflage. Photo #1361156 by Peter Gaimer, courtesy of FreeImages.com Even though Jacob tried to be someone he wasn’t, God saw him clearly and knew of his sin. We can’t hide our mistakes from God. Just tell Him what you did, and He will give you help to make things right. Memory Mastery: Second Coming Song Jesus is coming back soon! Image courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org. Up in the sky high, high, high, Jesus is coming again. (REPEAT) CHORUS We will see Him. We will hear Him. Yes, the whole world will know. We will see Him. We will hear Him, when Jesus comes back for me and you!...when Jesus comes back for me and you! When the trumpet sounds, the Lord will shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise! (REPEAT) Mission Trip: Bibles for ChildrenThis quarter the world church is helping our brothers and sisters in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean division provide Portuguese Bibles for children in Mozambique, Sao Tome, and Principe. Please send your coins all quarter long to go to the world church mission project.
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