TLDR: A guide for having a family discipleship time on Genesis 33 based on the ACT Bible Study Method.
Act 3: God Promises Jesus
Scene 19: Jacob and Esau Meet Again
Genesis 33:1–20
Analyze the Passage
Step 1: Introduce the Passage
Genesis was written by Moses sometime between 1445–1405 BC to help the Israelites leaving Egypt understand their history with God. It’s one of the five books of the Law that Moses wrote, which we also call the Torah, or the Pentateuch, which means “five books.”
Today’s true story can be a little tense at first, as two estranged brothers meet again for the first time in many years. But we’ll soon see that God can heal and restore people to each other. This story is in Act 3: God Promises Jesus.
Step 2: Read the Passage
Step 3: Summarize the Passage
When Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men, he divided his family and put the servants and their families in the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob then went ahead of them and bowed to Esau out of respect. Esau ran to Jacob, hugged him, and they both wept. Jacob then introduced his family to Esau.
Esau then asked about the gifts Jacob had given him. Jacob told him it was so he could find favor, but Esau responded that he didn’t need any of it. But Jacob urged Esau to accept the gift, so he did.
Esau then left for Seir and Jacob and his family and animals followed more slowly. Jacob went to Sukkoth and built a house and shelters for his animals. He then went to Shechem, where he purchased a portion of land. He built an altar there and called on God.
Step 4: Interrogate the Passage
Questions you and your family ask might include:
- Why did Esau bring 400 men with him?
- Why did Jacob divide his family the way he did?
- Was there anything significant about Jacob bowing seven times?
- Why did Esau and Jacob go back and forth about the gift?
- Why did Jacob go to Sukkoth instead of Seir to see Esau as he had said?
- How long was Jacob at Sukkoth?
- Why did Jacob build an altar at Shechem?
Step 5: Wonder about the Passage
Wonder statements you and your family make might include:
- I wonder what Jacob thought seeing Esau coming with so many men.
- I wonder if Leah understood why she was closer to the front than Rachel?
- I wonder what it was like when Esau and Jacob embraced and wept together.
- I wonder if Jacob insisted that Esau keep the gift because he was still worried Esau was angry.
- I wonder if Esau understood that Jacob wasn’t coming to Seir right away.
Connect the Passage to Christ
Step 6: Find the World in Front of Text
God designed families to be loving and forgiving. While throughout Genesis Jacob’s family lived far from God’s design, here we see when they seemed to get it right. Esau seemed to genuinely forgive and welcome Jacob. While we cannot be sure about Jacob’s motives—why did he insist that Esau keep his gift?—he too seemed to some degree to want Esau to forgive him and to be restored as brothers.
Step 7: Find the World of Jesus of the Text
We have no greater example of forgiveness than Jesus—both what he did to provide our forgiveness of sins on the cross, and in how he demonstrated such amazing forgiveness for what others did to him. We can learn from Esau, and perhaps Jacob to a degree too, but we can surely live how God wants us to live by looking to Jesus.
Translate It to Your Context
Step 8: Connect the World of Jesus of the Text to Your World
Who do you need to forgive? Who has wronged you in a big way or a small way that you can truly forgive? How can you let that person know they are forgiven? Who might you ask to forgive you for something you’ve done wrong?
NEXT: Act 3: God Promises Jesus; Scene 20: Joseph Is Wronged by His Brothers (Genesis 37:1–36)
Learn more about this family discipleship method here.
brian dembowczyk 