Esau and Jacob

Story of Abraham's son Isaac. Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah. They had twin sons, Esau and Jacob.

Esau

Firstborn
Hairy skin, red
Loved hunting and the outdoors
Loved by Isaac
Descendants became the nation of Edom

Jacob

Second born
Smooth skin
Loved cooking, stayed at home
Loved by Rebekah
Chosen by God to be Jesus' ancestor
Descendants became the nation of Israel

Birthright Exchange

Jacob cooked a stew; Esau, hungry and tired from the field, agreed to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Esau's response (Genesis 25:32): "Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?"
This transferred Isaac's blessings, promises, and possessions to Jacob.

Jacob's Deception

Isaac, old and nearly blind, intended to bless Esau.
Rebekah overheard and instructed Jacob to deceive Isaac.
Rebekah's plan (Genesis 27:15-16): Jacob was to wear Esau's clothes, cover his hands and neck with goatskin to simulate Esau's hairiness.
Jacob followed the plan and received Isaac's blessing, becoming the next chief.

Esau's Anger

Esau returned and Isaac realized the deception but couldn't revoke the blessing.
Esau became very angry and planned to kill Jacob.
Rebekah sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran to protect him from Esau's anger.

Jacob in Haran

Jacob stayed with his Uncle Laban and worked for him.
Jacob agreed to work for seven years to marry Rachel.
After seven years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah (Rachel's elder sister) instead.
Laban's response (Genesis 29:26): "It's not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older."
Jacob agreed to work another seven years to marry Rachel.
Jacob deceived Esau; Laban deceived Jacob. The lesson: Lying never pays.

Jacob's Family

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.
Leah bore children for Jacob, but Rachel was barren.
God healed Rachel, and she bore Joseph.
Jacob had a large family: 11 sons and one daughter.

Jacob's Return to Canaan

After many years, Jacob decided to return to his father, Isaac, in Canaan.
Jacob gathered his family and possessions for the journey.
God spoke to Jacob again (Genesis 32:28): "No longer shall your name be Jacob; you shall be called Israel, a prince of God."

Reconciliation with Esau

Jacob heard that Esau was coming to meet him and worried about potential violence.
Esau was glad to see Jacob, surprising him. The brothers reconciled, hugged, and cried.

Final Journey and Descendants

Jacob continued to Canaan.
Rachel died during childbirth, giving birth to Benjamin, Jacob's 12th son.
Jacob finally reached Canaan.
Israel had 12 sons whose descendants became the 12 tribes of Israel (Israelites).

Israel's Sons

Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons and one daughter (Dinah) through Leah and Rachel and their maids.
Sons of Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun.
Daughter of Leah: Dinah
Sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
Sons of Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali.
Sons of Leah's maid: Gad and Asher.

Joseph's Dreams

Jacob owned large flocks and herds and had twelve sons. He loved Joseph more than the others, giving him a special coat. This coat was of many colors, with long sleeves, indicating ruler ship.
Jacob's favoritism caused Joseph's brothers to envy and hate him.

Reasons for Jacob's Favoritism

Joseph was born in Jacob's old age (91 years old).
He was the firstborn son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel.
He was open-hearted to his father; he loved good and hated evil.
He was a good shepherd.

Reasons for Brothers' Hatred

Father loved him much more than the others.
He always boasted about his dreams.
He always acted as superior.
He always brought their bad report to his father.

Joseph's Dreams Annoy His Brothers

Joseph's brothers called him "The dreamer".
His dreams showed that Joseph would one day be greater than they, increasing their hatred.

First Dream

Eleven sheaves of corn bowed down to his.

Second Dream

The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him.
The sun represented the father, the moon represented the mother and the stars represented his brothers.

Boastful or Humble?

Examples of acting humbly and boastfully are shown, emphasizing the importance of humility over boastfulness. James 4:6 mentions that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Joseph Goes to Egypt

Joseph's brothers looked after their father's flocks far away. Jacob sent Joseph to check on them.
The brothers plotted to harm Joseph.

Plans for Joseph

First Plan

Kill him.
Reuben convinced the brothers not to kill Joseph.

Second Plan

Put him in the well.

Third Plan

Judah suggested selling Joseph to merchants for 20 silver.
Brothers dipped Joseph's coat in goat's blood.
*Jacob thought wild animals had eaten Joseph.

Joseph in Prison

Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
God gave Joseph success in everything, and Potiphar made him head of his servants.
Potiphar chose him to oversee his household, land, and everything he owned.

Temptation

Potiphar's wife desired Joseph, who refused her advances.
Joseph gave three reasons for not sinning:
1. He did not want to betray Potiphar's trust.
2. He had no right to take what did not belong to him.
3. He would not sin against God (Genesis 39:9b).
Joseph's refusal angered Potiphar's wife, who falsely accused him, resulting in his imprisonment.

Dreams in Prison

God was with Joseph in prison, and the chief jailer put him in charge.
Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker.

Butler's Dream

"I saw a vine with three branches; I took the grapes and squeezed the juice into the king's cup."
Interpretation: Three branches are three days; the king will restore him as butler."

Baker's Dream

"I saw three baskets on my head, and the birds came down and ate the cakes."
Interpretation: Three baskets are three days; the king will hang him, and birds will eat his flesh."
Three days later, Pharaoh freed the butler and hanged the baker, as Joseph had predicted. The butler forgot about Joseph for two more years.

The Pharaoh's Dream

Joseph remained in prison for two more years before the butler remembered him based on Pharaoh's troubling dreams.

Pharaoh's Dreams

Pharaoh had two strange dreams that none of his wise men could interpret, leading the butler to remember Joseph.

First Dream

Seven fat cows came out of the Nile River and were eaten by seven skinny cows.

Second Dream

Seven strong, fat ears of corn were eaten by seven thin ears of corn.

Joseph's Interpretation of the Dreams

Joseph told Pharaoh that God would reveal the meaning of the dreams, displaying humility.
The seven good cows and fat ears of corn represented seven years of abundance.
The seven skinny cows and thin ears of corn represented seven years of famine.

Joseph's Silver Cup

Joseph tested his brothers by: (1) accusing them of being spies, (2) accusing them of stealing his silver cup, and (3) giving them a chance to give up Benjamin to servive.
The next time they brought Benjamin.
Benjamin received five times as much as others during the feast.
The silver cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
Judah offered to be a slave in Benjamin's place.
Joseph revealed his identity and forgave them.

In Judah, we see not only a changed man but also a picture of his most famous descendant -Jesus. He was willing to sacrifice himself for all mankind.

God In Control

God is in control of our lives. God will turn something bad into your good.

Spies are Sent to Canaan

After the children of Israel wondered around in the wilderness, they came to the land of Canaan.
God told Moses to send 12 men (one spy of each tribe) to see what the land was like and find the best way to win the country
They returned 40 days later with different kinds of fruits.
What the spies reported to the people:

The Land:

It truly flows with milk and honey.

The People

That lived in the land were powerful.

The Cities

There cities were well-fortified with with great walls built around them.

Suggestion of the spies:

Joshua and Caleb

Let's take the land at once

Reasons:

The land is rich and well worth fighting for
With the Lord we can take the land.

Ten Spies

Let's choose a leaders and return to Egypt

REASONS

The people (Canaanites) are very strong (Giants)
There cities are well fortified.

The People were angry at Joshua and Caleb and tried to kill them.

The People for there unbelief were all sentenced over 20 years to death in the wilderness.

Only Joshua and Caleb would enter the gates of Canaan.