God Changed Jacob:    

The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach our family that God changed Jacob’s life and gave him a new name, Israel. Jesus came so that we might have a changed life, forgiven of sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people the way to be adopted into God’s family. When we trust in Jesus, we also receive a new name—children of God.

Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.

MEMORY VERSE: 

“I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.”

Psalm 135:5-6

STEP 1. GATHER!

Use this time to begin Family Worship Night and have fun!

Sprinkle a generous amount of salt on a saucer, then sprinkle a layer of pepper over the salt. Explain that the salt represents the way God originally created people without sin and reflecting His image to the world. The pepper represents the sin that we are born in. Next, rub a plastic spoon multiple times over a microfiber cloth to build up a static charge on the spoon. Pass the spoon over the pepper and watch it “jump” off the salt.

Like Jacob, we are all born in sin. There is nothing we can do to please God or earn His forgiveness, but God has shown His love by sending Jesus through Jacob’s family to rescue us from sin. Jesus’ work on the cross removes our sin and provides forgiveness when we believe in Him.

STEP 2. WORSHIP!

• Sing and have fun while worshiping then pray. Take a moment here to thank God for your family and your time together!! 

STEP 3. BIBLE!

Watch the Bible story video or read all or parts of Genesis 32:1—33:20

from the Bible:

Preschool:

Elementary:

STEP 4. DISCUSSION! 

Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story. 

• Have you ever been afraid because you felt like a duck was watching you? If so, you suffer from Anatidaephobia, which is the scientific name for that fear. And did you know that Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of really, really long words? It’s just cruel to give that fear such a long name.
• The truth is that we all have fears—some that might seem silly like these, and some that are very, very real. What are some fears you have? 
• This week, we learned that Jacob’s biggest fear was meeting his brother Esau again after hiding from him for twenty years. After all of Jacob’s lies and tricks, and Esau’s threats to kill him, Jacob’s fears were not silly at all. 
• As he prepared to meet Esau, Jacob prayed to God for protection. That night, a mysterious man wrestled with Jacob for hours. Although the man was stronger than Jacob, Jacob prevailed. Finally, at daybreak, the man wounded Jacob’s side and then God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel. God changed Jacob’s name, but do you know what else he changed?
• He changed his heart. From that moment on, Jacob would look more to God for help than rely on himself. The limp that Jacob had for the rest of his life was a gracious reminder of his need to do this.
• When Jacob cried out to God, God was there to help. Like God was there for Jacob, He is here for us. We do not have to fear the punishment of sin because Jesus has died in our place and paid that punishment. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives us and gives us a new identity. From that moment on, we live as chosen, forgiven, and loved children of God. 
• God changed Jacob’s life and gave him a new name, Israel. Jesus came so that we might have a changed life, forgiven of sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people the way to be adopted into God’s family. When we trust in Jesus, we also receive a new name—children of God.
  

• God, thank You for loving us even though we do not deserve it. You sent Jesus to die in our place so that we could be forgiven and accepted into Your family. Help us to trust in Jesus so that we can live with the new identity that You want us to have.