Call to Repentance: Esau and Jacob Reconciled – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Reconciliation is the restoring of a broken relationship after an estrangement. In the Old Testament, people made atonement to God through sacrifices, offerings, prayers and repentance. In the New Testament, Christ made reconciliation between God and man. The story of Esau and Jacob shows two brothers who were reconciled after twenty years apart.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define reconciliation;
• explain how people were reconciled with God in the Old and New Testaments;
• explain how Jacob came to receive Esau’s blessing;
• describe how Isaac and Rebekah treated their two sons;
• describe how Jacob tried to reconcile with Esau.

Topics covered

• Reconciliation
• The story of Jacob
• Jacob received Esau’s blessing
• Jacob’s attempt at reconciliation

What is reconciliation?

Reconciliation is the way of reconciling broken relationships.

Reconciliation with God in the Old Testament

To return to a friendly relationship after an estrangement, the Jews of old offered sacrifices to bring about reconciliation with God. The Israelites sang to God. In the Old Testament, atonement was made to God using sacrifices, offerings, prayers and repentance. On the day of atonement, the high priest performed a ceremonial rite to cleanse the people from their sins.

Reconciliation with God in the New Testament

The New Testament used the word “reconciliation” instead of “atonement”. Paul and other Christians preached that Christ made reconciliation between God and man: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor 5:19).

Man needs reconciliation with God. The story or parable of the prodigal son shows repentance on the part of the lost son, and reconciliation and forgiveness on the part of the father. The son represents man (the sinner), and his father represents God, the forgiver and reconciler.

What is the story of Esau and Jacob?

Esau and Jacob were the two sons of Isaac and Rebekah. They were born twins, but Esau was the elder one. Esau was a hunter while Jacob was a shepherd.

Each of the parents loved one of the sons. Esau was much loved by his father, while Rebekah showed greater love for Jacob. As a result of this divided love, the children suspected each other. Each wanted to prove his superiority over the other and how much better loved he was.

How did Esau lose his birthright?

An opportunity came and Jacob wanted to show Esau that he was superior and more intelligent. Esau came back one day from hunting, very tired and hungry. He met Jacob preparing delicious food and begged him for some pottage.

Jacob agreed on the condition that Esau must sell his birthright to him. Esau agreed to part with his birthright for a plate of pottage.

How did Jacob receive Esau’s blessing?

When Isaac was old, his eyes were dim and he could not see properly. One day Isaac called Esau and told him to prepare a delicious meal so that he would eat and bless him before he died. Esau went to the bush to hunt for animals.

After Esau had left, Rebekah, who had heard what Isaac told Esau, quickly called Jacob and instructed him on what to do. Jacob was afraid and did not want to deceive their father, but Rebekah encouraged him.

Rebekah took one of the goats from Jacob, killed it, removed the skin and prepared the meal on his behalf. She disguised Jacob with the animal’s skin and made him wear Esau’s clothes. When Jacob brought the food to his father, Isaac touched his body and said that the voice was Jacob’s voice, while the body was that of Esau. Eventually, Isaac ate the meal and blessed Jacob.

Immediately after Jacob left, Esau came in and went to his father for the blessing. He wept bitterly when he discovered that his brother had cheated him, and he promised to kill his brother. Rebekah therefore sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran.

How did Jacob try to reconcile with Esau?

After twenty years in Haran, Jacob decided to go to Esau and reconcile with him. He sent messengers to Esau in the land of Mount Seir, the country of Edom, telling him about his arrival. The messengers returned with the news that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred soldiers. Jacob divided the people who went with him into different groups.

On the way, Jacob wrestled with an angel, and his name was changed from Jacob to Israel. He called the name of the place “Peniel”, which means “I have seen the Lord face to face and my life is preserved”.

Eventually, he met his brother Esau and bowed to the ground seven times before him. He called him lord and gave him presents of flocks of cattle, sheep, oxen and others. Esau was happy. He embraced Jacob and fell on his neck, and they were reconciled.

Evaluation

1. Define reconciliation.
2. Write out the requirements needed for reconciliation.
3. Explain the circumstances that led Jacob to receive Esau’s blessing.
4. Describe Rebekah’s attitude to her two sons and how it affected them later in life.

Assignment

Reading assignment

• Christian Religious Knowledge for JSS Book 1 by I.O. Adeyemo
• RSV Bible reading: Gen 25:17-34; 27:1-46

Weekend assignment

1. ____ were the parents of Esau and Jacob. (a) Isaac and Rebekah (b) Abraham and Sarah (c) Joseph and Mary
2. Esau sold his birthright for ____. (a) pottage (b) bread (c) water
3. Rebekah loved ____. (a) Jacob (b) Esau (c) both of them
4. Isaac loved ____. (a) Esau (b) Jacob (c) both of them
5. ____ disguised Jacob with the animal’s skin to receive Esau’s blessing. (a) Hannah (b) Ruth (c) Rebekah

Theory

1. Explain the circumstances leading to Jacob receiving Esau’s blessing.
2. Describe the attitude of Rebekah to her two sons and how it affected them later in life.