Day 1 – THE STORY
Jacob and Esau were Abraham’s grandsons. They were twins but they did not look like each other. Esau was the oldest, which meant that he would get everything his dad owned when his dad died (that’s called an inheritance). Jacob wanted the inheritance and tricked his father into giving it to him. This made Esau extremely mad so the two twin brothers lived apart for many years. Jacob finally realized what he had done was wrong, so he traveled to his brother to ask for forgiveness. When Jacob got to the land his brother lived in, he sent a messenger to tell Esau he was coming. The messenger came back and told Jacob that Esau was coming with 400 men.
Read Genesis 32:10-11
What was Jacob scared that Esau would do?
Who did Jacob turn to when he was afraid?
Who do you turn to when you are afraid?
How can you turn to God?
Day 2 – THE WITNESSES
It took a lot of courage and obedience for Jacob to travel to say “I’m sorry” to his brother. Today, you will investigate how Esau responded.
Read Genesis 33:1-4
What did Esau do when he saw his brother?
What Jacob did to Esau was wrong and changed Esau’s life. Did that keep Esau from forgiving his brother?
How can you be a forgiving person like Esau?
Day 3 – THE SOURCE
Why did Esau forgive his brother? The world tells us to get revenge, but Esau didn’t.
Read Ephesians 4:32 and 1 John 1:9
Who forgave you? What did God forgive you for? How can you forgive others?
Give it a try!
The words “I’m sorry” are sometimes the hardest words to say. Do you need to say those words to a teacher, parent, coach or friend today? Don’t say it until you mean it. Saying the words “I’m sorry” when you don’t mean it can make things worse. Pray that God would give you courage and go for it.
Day 4 – THE MOTIVE
Read Ephesians 4:32
Memorize this verse today. If you did what this verse asked of you, how should you treat people who do mean things to you?
Day 5 – CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Think of some ways you can be kind or do something nice for someone who has done something mean to you. This could be a friend or maybe even a brother or sister.
Write out your ideas and then go and do one or all of them.
