Dear families,

Jacob’s journey in Genesis is one of unexpected and undeserved blessing after blessing. With a name that literally means he cheats, Jacob was unlikely to receive the privilege and opportunity God gave him.

Jacob was a cheater, a liar, and a deceiver. He was quiet and not strongly gifted. And he was gullible, too. We cannot miss that the deceiver was deceived at times too - easily convinced by his mother and tricked by his uncle. But God would work through Jacob when no circumstances or characteristics made it seem possible.

In Genesis 32: 10, Jacob expressed his own bewilderment to the Lord. “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. Indeed, I crossed over the Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two camps.”

Jacob came to realize that nothing that he had accomplished or accumulated was the result of his own doing. He was not capable or competent enough to produce the many good things he had received and especially not to be the recipient of the promise of God to make his family like the dust of the earth. Jacob was humbled by the reality that through him and his offspring, all of the families of the earth would be blessed.

Have you ever had a moment of astonishment at the magnitude of what God has given you through Christ? Have you taken the time to recognize that all that you have is from God? Does it cause you to rejoice when you think about God’s grace?

It’s easy to look at Jacob and say he didn’t deserve what God gave him. It’s hard to feel that way about ourselves. But it’s just as true.

Paul wrote in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Salvation should bring about this astonishment in us as well. It should remind us that we are not worthy, and it should lead us to rejoice in the undeserving gift of God’s grace.

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. 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 even more, 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.

Pray: 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.

Who makes everything happen? God makes everything happen.

Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.

Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of God's good plan.

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.

Supplies: saucer, salt, pepper, plastic spoon, microfiber cloth

Collect clothing and coats to donate to those in need. Take time to pray for those who may receive the items. Remind your kids how God was there for Jacob when he cried out for help. Ask God to give comfort and peace to those who are in need.

Supplies: collected clothing and coats

Tell God the fears and struggles that you might face today. Ask God to give you peace in each of these areas. How does it feel to know that God cares and wants to help you overcome your fears?

Ask God to help you live in the new identity that came when you trusted in Jesus. How does faith in Jesus change us? How should the love God has shown us change the way we live?