This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Genesis 27:1-40, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Isaac who was very old and couldn’t see very well. He had two sons named Esau and Jacob. Esau was older and Jacob was younger.
One day, Isaac asked Esau to go out and hunt for some tasty food and bring it back to him, so he could eat it and bless Esau before he died. But Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, overheard what Isaac said and wanted Jacob to receive the blessing instead.
So, Rebekah called Jacob and said, “Your father has asked your brother Esau to bring him some food and then he will bless him. But we can trick him into giving you the blessing. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats so I can cook them into a tasty meal for your father.”
Jacob was worried and said to Rebekah, “But Esau is hairy and I am smooth. What if my father feels me and discovers that I am not Esau? Then he will curse me instead of blessing me.”
Rebekah replied, “Let the curse be on me. Just do as I say and bring the goats to me.”
Jacob brought the goats to Rebekah, and she cooked them into a delicious meal. She then put Esau’s best clothes on Jacob and put goat skins on his hands and neck to make him feel hairy like Esau.
Jacob went to Isaac pretending to be Esau and offered him the meal. Isaac was surprised that Esau had returned so quickly, but Jacob lied and said that God had given him success. Isaac wanted to feel him to make sure he was really Esau, but the goat skins tricked Isaac into believing that Jacob was Esau. So Isaac gave Jacob the blessing, thinking he was Esau.
Isaac said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
Later, Esau came back from hunting and brought a delicious meal to his father. But Isaac had already given the blessing to Jacob. He said, “I have already made Jacob lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have sustained him with grain and wine. What can I do for you, my son?”
Esau was very upset and cried because he wanted the blessing too. Esau pleaded with Isaac, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” And Esau wept.
Isaac then said to Esau, “Behold, your dwelling shall be away from the fatness of the earth and away from the dew of heaven on high. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
Biblical Lessons
- The consequences of our actions can affect not only ourselves but also others.
- Deception and trickery can cause problems and hurt others.
- God’s plan can still come to fruition, even through human mistakes and sins.
- The consequences of our actions may not always be immediately apparent, but they can have long-lasting effects on our lives and the lives of others.
- Forgiveness and reconciliation are important for healing relationships that have been broken by deceit and conflict.
