Free Bible lesson for kids · Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Jacob and Esau Meet Again
After twenty years away, Jacob came home and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times, but Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. God had answered Jacob’s prayer (Genesis 32:11), and the two brothers made peace.
- Bible passage
- Genesis 33:1–11
- Big idea
- God can heal broken families when we forgive.
- Memory verse
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and with him four hundred men (Genesis 33:1). He put Rachel and Joseph at the back (Genesis 33:2). Then he went ahead of them all and bowed to the ground seven times as he came near his brother (Genesis 33:3). But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept (Genesis 33:4).
Esau asked who the women and children were, and Jacob said, “The children which God hath graciously given thy servant” (Genesis 33:5). Then the whole family came near and bowed (Genesis 33:6–7). Jacob said the animals he had sent ahead were a gift for Esau, but Esau said, “I have enough, my brother” (Genesis 33:8–9). Jacob said that seeing Esau’s welcoming face was like seeing the face of God, and he urged Esau until he took the gift (Genesis 33:10–11).
Read it in the Bible: Genesis 33:1–11 (KJV)
1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
Questions to ask
Who was coming with Esau?
Four hundred men (Genesis 33:1).
What did Jacob do as he came near his brother?
He bowed himself to the ground seven times (Genesis 33:3).
What did Esau do?
He ran to meet Jacob, embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept (Genesis 33:4).
What this story teaches
- God can turn an angry brother into a loving one (Genesis 33:4).
- A humble heart helps us make peace with others (Genesis 33:3).
- Children are gifts that God graciously gives (Genesis 33:5).
- Every good thing we have comes from God’s kindness (Genesis 33:11).
- God wants us to be kind and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus Makes Peace for Us
Esau ran to welcome the brother who had wronged him. Through Jesus’ death, God makes us His friends again, though we were His enemies.
Romans 5:10
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us forgive and make peace with someone. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God can heal broken families when we forgive.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Ephesians 4:32 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Gift Train
You need: Toy animals or paper animals, two leaders as Jacob and Esau
- Kids stand in a long line between Jacob and Esau.
- Jacob sends gifts down the line, drove by drove: pass the animals one group at a time.
- When the gifts arrive, Esau runs to meet Jacob with a big hug, and everyone cheers.
Jacob was afraid, but Esau ran to meet him and they made peace. God answered Jacob’s prayer.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes
Peace Notes
You need: Paper, envelopes
- Read Genesis 33:1–4.
- Think of someone you need to make peace with.
- Write them a note (to send if it’s wise, or to pray over if not), and pray for courage.
Twenty years of hurt ended in a hug. God can heal broken relationships.
Pray
Ask God to help us forgive and make peace with someone.