Part 5 of 5 - Jacob’s Adventures in Love & Trickery

Genesis 32-35

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story highlights:

* Rachel died after giving Jacob 2nd son Benjamin.

* Jacob had 4 wives (Leah + servant & Rachel + servant) - 12 sons & 1 daughter

* Jacob & Esau reconciled their differences & parted in peace after 20 years

Bible role-play begins:

Narrator #1: Hi from Leah! Here is my final story. My, oh, my! Talk about an adrenaline rush!

Narrator #2: Now that our father Laban returned home without attacking us, we had to worry about Jacob's brother Esau, who might still want to murder Jacob in revenge.

Narrator #1: Why? Because 20 years before, Jacob cheated his twin brother, Esau, out of his birthright and firstborn inheritance rights.

Narrator #2: Jacob traveled 450 miles to stay with his Uncle Laban to escape Esau and to marry one of his daughters.

Narrator #1: As you know, he ended up marrying me, Leah, my younger sister, Rachel, and our two handmaidens: Bilhah and Zilpah.

Narrator #2: Between all of us, he has eleven sons and one daughter. Rachel hopes to give him one more.

Narrator #1: One night, after Jacob met a few angels of God, he decided to send Esau a message.

Narrator #2: The messengers traveled to Esau's home in the land of Seir, in the country of Edom.

Narrator #1: The message stated, "Your servant Jacob says that he has been staying with our Uncle Laban all these years. He is returning home and hopes to find favor in your eyes."

Narrator #2: Instead, his messengers reported that Esau was coming to meet us with 400 men. YIKES!

Narrator #1: Scared, Jacob divided us up into two groups. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape."

Narrator #2: Jacob prayed to God for help and protection from Esau.

Narrator #1: "God, 20 years ago, I crossed the Jordan River holding only a staff. I am returning home with two camps filled with women, children, and all the belongings you blessed me with."

Narrator #2: "Please remember your promise that our descendants would match the countless number of grains of sand of the sea."

Narrator #1: Jacob decided to give Esau a generous gift of five herds of animals: Goats, Sheep, Camels, Cattle, and Donkeys.

Narrator #2: Jacob instructed each group to tell Esau that these animals were a gift from Jacob and that Jacob was coming behind them.

Narrator #1: Then, Jacob took his wives, children, and possessions, and left them on one side of a stream. Jacob went to the other side of the stream to have a night of prayer.

Narrator #2: The next morning, Jacob came limping back to join us. When we asked him why he was limping, he explained that he spent the night wrestling with an angel that looked like a man.

Narrator #1: They wrestled so hard that it dislocated Jacob's hip socket. Even so, Jacob refused to let the angel go until he received a blessing.

Narrator #2: When Jacob told the angel his name, the angel of God said these words.

Angel of God: Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.

Narrator #1: Jacob told us that he called this place Peniel [PEH-nee-el]. Why? "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet He spared my life."

Narrator #2: When Esau and his men were almost upon us, Jacob divided us into three groups.

Narrator #1: The first group to greet Esau would be the two handmaidens with their two sons each.

Narrator #2: My six sons, one daughter, and I would be the next group to greet Esau.

Narrator #1: Jacob placed Rachel and Joseph in the back.

Narrator #2: Jacob then went on ahead of all of us and bowed himself down to the ground 7 times as Esau and his 400 men approached.

Narrator #1: But instead of being angry and attacking us, Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him.

Narrator #2: Esau threw his arms around Jacob's neck, kissed him, and they both wept.

Narrator #1: Esau then noticed our three groups of women and children. He asked, "Who are these with you?"

Narrator #2: Jacob replied, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."

Narrator #1: Our three groups, in turn, bowed down to Esau.

Narrator #2: Esau then asked, "What's the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?"

Narrator #1: Jacob said, "To find favor in your eyes, my lord." [FYI - Instead of saying 'sir,' they would say 'my lord.']

Narrator #2: Esau did not want to accept his gift, but Jacob insisted. He finally agreed.

Narrator #1: Esau wanted to bring us all to his home in Edom, but Jacob said that we had to travel more slowly as we were a group that included women, small children, and young animals.

Narrator #2: So, they parted in peace. We then continued on our way, which would eventually lead us to the land of Jacob's parents and relatives.

Narrator #1: A few years after meeting Esau, Rachel gave Jacob one more son. Sadly, she died in childbirth. They called Jacob's 12th son Benjamin.