Bible tale: Jacob and Esau

Jacob and Esau
from Genesis 25-27
re-told by Debbie Dunn

• Story Highlights:
  * Isaac & Rebekah had 2 fraternal sons who looked and acted nothing alike.
  * In exchange for a meal, Esau gave away his birthright inheritance to Jacob.
  * Jacob cheated Esau out of their father's special deathbed blessing.

Narrator #1: God waited 20 years before blessing Isaac's wife, Rebekah, with not just one baby - but twins. However, the two babies were nothing alike.

Narrator #2: One day, Rebekah prayed, "Lord, it feels like my babies are fighting inside of me. Why is this happening to me?"

Father God: The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other, and your older son will serve your younger son.

Narrator #1: The baby who came out first was red and covered with thick hair, similar to a fur coat. They named him Esau [Ee-saw]. He was his father's favorite - perhaps because he became a skilled hunter and a good cook.

Narrator #2: His mother's favorite was Jacob. He came out, holding Esau's heel. He wasn’t hairy. He was quiet, polite, and preferred being indoors. He also was the long-ago grandpa of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Narrator #1: Jacob was clever. He managed to cheat Esau out of both his birthright inheritance and their father's special deathbed blessing reserved for the oldest son. How did that happen?

Narrator #2: Let's imagine you are Esau's close friend. Listen to his two sad stories about sneaky Jacob. Esau might have said:

Narrator #1: Hey, Pal! Have you ever been so hungry that you made some bad decisions as a result? That's what I did. I came home one day feeling like I was starving for something to eat.

Narrator #2: Then, I saw the delicious-smelling lentil stew Jacob was making. I said, "Hey, Jacob, I am so hungry that I think I might die! Would you please share that food with me?"

Narrator #1: Jacob only agreed to give me some if I promised to give him my birthright inheritance, which would give him a double portion and make Jacob my leader.

Narrator #2: I was too hungry to think straight, so I said, "Okay, I swear. My birthright is yours." As I ate the stew and bread he gave me, I mistakenly thought it was worth it.

Esau must have not just been hungry, he was hangry. Therefore, he made an impulsively bad decision.

Narrator #1: I lived to regret that decision. From that point forward, my parents and others criticized me for showing disrespect for my rights as the firstborn. If only I would think more before making bad choices!

Narrator #2: After I turned 40, Jacob did something even worse to me! That cheater stole my special blessing from our dying father!

Narrator #1: My father, who was old and nearly blind, asked me to go out hunting to make him his favorite dish. He promised that after he ate it, he would give me a special blessing reserved for the oldest son. I agreed!

Narrator #2: A few hours later, I returned from hunting and cooked up Father's favorite dish. I entered the room just as Jacob was leaving.

Narrator #1: I was so focused on giving my beloved father his favorite meal before he passed away that I failed to notice something. Jacob was wearing one of my outfits and had goat skin covering his hands, arms, and neck. That way, I guess, he would smell and feel like me.

Narrator #2: Little did I know that my mother had cooked up two young goats from our flocks and prepared them using MY special recipe. She helped Jacob convince our father that he was me.

Narrator #1: So that cheater Jacob received the special blessing instead of me. What was the blessing my father gave Jacob?

Narrator #2: My regretful father revealed, "I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine. What is left for me to give you, my son?"

Narrator #1: I broke down in tears and begged for at least one blessing from my father. So he said, "You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck."

Narrator #2: From that time on, I hated Jacob for stealing my blessing. I even hatched a plan to kill Jacob after our father had died.

Narrator #1: But I was going to be cheated out of that, as well. You see, my mother got my father to agree to send Jacob to visit her brother, Laban [lay-bn], in Haran [heh-ruhn] until I cooled down.

Narrator #2: None of us could have ever guessed that Jacob would be gone for almost 20 years or that he would become the father of twelve sons and one daughter.

Narrator #1: At the end of those 20 years, would I decide to forgive him? I guess we all will just have to wait and see.

Narrator #2: END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of the role-play about Jacob & Esau – fraternal twin sons of Isaac & Rebekah

Do you want more stories about Isaac & Rebekah – the parents of Jacob & Esau? If so, visit the chapter called ISAAC & REBEKAH from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about ISAAC & REBEKAH – the parents of Jacob & Esau.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• 4 other important Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, & Nathan
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn

Bible tale: Isaac and Rebekah

Isaac and Rebekah
from Genesis 23 to 24
re-told by Debbie Dunn

• Story Highlights:
  * Abraham sent his servant to find Isaac a wife from among his brother’s relatives.
  * Abraham’s servant prayed & found Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham's brother, to be Isaac’s wife
  * Rebekah agreed to travel the long distance to Canaan to become Isaac's wife.

Narrator #1: Sarah died at age 127. A few years later, before Abraham died, he realized it was time to find a wife for his son, Isaac, who was about 40.

Narrator #2: Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite [kay-nuh-nite] woman. So, he made his loyal servant promise to travel the 450 miles to his former home in Mesopotamia to find a wife for him among his brother's relatives.

Narrator #1: The servant promised. He loaded up ten camels with expensive gifts. He and the camel drivers started on their way.

Narrator #2: The servant headed to the town where Abraham's brother had settled. He made his camels kneel beside a well just outside the town where the women came each evening to draw water.

Narrator #1: While the servant waited, he devised a step-by-step plan to find Abraham's relative as he prayed, "Oh Lord, God of my master, Abraham. Please give me and my plan success today as I seek to obey his wishes."

Narrator #2: He also prayed, "I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ …"

Narrator #1: "If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will also give water to your camels,’ let her be the one you selected as Isaac’s wife."

Narrator #2: Before he even finished his prayer, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder.

Narrator #1: She was the granddaughter of Abraham's brother. She was beautiful, old enough to be married, and still a virgin. In those days, it was common for young ladies to marry when they were about fourteen.

Narrator #2: Rebekah went down to the spring and filled her jug. The servant ran over to her and said, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."

Narrator #1: Just like the servant planned, Rebekah not only gave him a drink of water but also drew enough water to satisfy the thirst of the ten camels.

Narrator #2: The servant gave her a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists. Then, hoping he had found the right girl, he asked, "Whose daughter are you?"

Narrator #1: Sure enough, the servant discovered she was indeed the girl Abraham had wished for his son to marry. She invited him to her home.

Narrator #2: The man bowed low and worshipped the Lord. He prayed, "Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, for leading me straight to my master's relatives."

Narrator #1: Rebekah ran home to tell her family everything that had happened. After seeing the jewelry she was gifted, her brother, Laban [lay-bn], ran out to meet the man at the spring.

Narrator #2: Laban [lay-bn] said, "Come! I have a room ready for you and a place for the camels."

Narrator #1: The servant, the camels, and the camel drivers came to Rebekah's home. After they gave the camels food, water, and bedding, the servant insisted on telling them about his mission, plan, and prayer before he ate dinner.

Narrator #2: Rebekah’s family patiently listened as he related the whole story about who sent him, why he had come, and his special prayer. He concluded by saying, "So tell me. Will you or won't you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I'll know what to do next."

Narrator #1: Rebekah's brother and father replied, "Obviously, the Lord has brought you here, so there is nothing we can say."

Narrator #2: They then said, "Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed."

Narrator #1: When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed to the ground and worshiped the Lord. Then, he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah.

Narrator #2: He also gave expensive presents to her family before they all went to sleep that night.

Narrator #1: But early the next morning, Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master." After all, they had to travel 450 miles to reach Rebekah's new home.

Narrator #2: Her family wished to delay her journey by ten days, but Rebekah immediately agreed to leave.

Narrator #1: As Rebekah, her childhood nurse, and servant girls climbed up on the camels’ backs, her family sent her off with a blessing. They then began their long journey.

Narrator #2: Meanwhile, Isaac was out walking and meditating in the fields. He looked up and saw the camels coming.

Narrator #1: When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly got off her camel. She asked the servant, "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?"

Narrator #2: The servant said, "It is my master." Rebekah covered her face with her veil. Then, the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

Narrator #1: Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife.

Narrator #2: He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

Narrator #1: END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of the role-play about Isaac and Rebekah

Do you want more stories about Abraham and Sarah – the parents of Isaac? If so, visit the chapter called ABRAHAM AND SARAH from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about ABRAHAM AND SARAH – the parents of ISAAC.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• 4 other important Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, & Nathan
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn

Bible tale: Ishmael & Isaac

Ishmael & Isaac
from Genesis 21 to 22
re-told by Debbie Dunn

• Story Highlights:
  * When Sarah witnessed Ishmael bullying Isaac, she insisted Abraham must send Ishmael and Hagar away.
  * In the desert, an Angel of the Lord provided water & God’s promise to dying Hagar and Ishmael.
  * God provided a ram to take Isaac’s place since Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac at the altar.




PART 1

Narrator #1: At a party for three-year-old Isaac, Sarah caught his 17-year-old half-brother, Ishmael, mocking and bullying him.

Narrator #2: Sarah demanded, "Abraham, send that boy and his mother away!"

Narrator #1: Abraham wanted to say no, but God assured him that Ishmael would eventually father a great nation.

Narrator #2: So, early the next morning, Abraham gave Hagar and her son some food and a skin of water. They wandered off to the desert.

Narrator #1: Hagar placed her son under a bush when they ran out of food and water. She moved away so she did not have to watch him die.

Narrator #2: As both cried, an angel of God called to her from Heaven.

ANGEL OF THE LORD: What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.

Narrator #1: Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well of water. She filled the skin and gave Ishmael a drink.

Narrator #2: God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a great archer. Before he died at age 137, he had 12 sons and one daughter.

PART 2

Narrator #1: A few years later, God tested Abraham's faith and loyalty by giving him a startling order.

Father God: Take your only son, Isaac. Go to a mountain I will show you, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering.

Narrator #2: Abraham and Isaac traveled for three days. Reaching the mountain, Abraham cut enough wood for the burnt offering.

Narrator #1: Like Jesus had to climb a hill as he carried His wooden cross, Abraham loaded the wood onto Isaac's back, and they climbed.

Narrator #2: The Roman soldiers brought a hammer and nails. Abraham took the torch of fire and the knife.

Narrator #1: As they climbed, Isaac called, "Father? "

Narrator #2: Abraham choked out the words, "Yes, my son?"

Narrator #1: Isaac said, "The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Narrator #2: Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."

Narrator #1: Two thousand years before the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood on it, bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.

Narrator #2: So, what was going through the mind of Abraham? The answer is revealed in Hebrews 11, verse 19.

Narrator #1: Hebrews 11:19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. (NLT)

Narrator #2: In other words, Abraham had faith that Isaac would still have thousands of descendants.

Narrator #1: As for Isaac, he was probably terrified and confused about what was happening.

Narrator #2: Two thousand years later, Jesus, the Son of God, was also going to be sacrificed. Unlike Isaac, Christ Jesus was willing to suffer so that we could go to Heaven instead of the other place.

Narrator #1: John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him - [Christ Jesus], will not perish but have eternal life. (NLT)

Narrator #2: Jesus said, in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (NLT)

Narrator #1: The only way to go to Heaven is to believe in and follow Jesus, the one who was willing to be tortured and killed for our sake.

Narrator #2: Seven hundred years before Jesus, Prophet Isaiah revealed this about God's only Son.

Narrator #1: Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. As a sheep is silent before the shearers, He does not open his mouth. (NLT)

Narrator #2: As Abraham raised his knife to slay Isaac, an angel from Heaven called out:

ANGEL OF THE LORD: Abraham! Abraham!

Narrator #1: Abraham froze in place and hopefully replied, "Here I am."

ANGEL OF THE LORD: Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your only son.

Narrator #2: Abraham saw a Ram, a male sheep, caught by its horns in a thicket. He sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. He even called that place "The Lord will Provide."

ANGEL OF THE LORD: Abraham, because you obeyed me and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

Narrator #1: Jesus demonstrated His love for all of us that even though we are undeserving, He died to pay the price for our sins.

Narrator #2: We are forgiven by trusting God that our sins are covered by Jesus’ blood and by believing that God raised Him from the dead.

Narrator #1: This faith in God is like the faith Abraham demonstrated in being willing to offer his son as a sacrifice.

Narrator #2: Faithful Abraham and his son, Isaac, gratefully returned home to reunite with Sarah.

Narrator #1: One of their descendants was Mary, the mother of Jesus.

END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of the role-play about Ishmael & Isaac

Do you want more stories about Abraham and Sarah? If so, visit the chapter called ABRAHAM AND SARAH from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about ABRAHAM AND SARAH.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• 4 other important Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, & Nathan
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn