Day 1
Happy Monday Arrow Makers! Last week we ended Genesis 32, and now we are starting Genesis 33! In preparation for the lessons to come, let’s read all of Genesis 33 to your Tiny Arrows!
Day 2
Jacob saw Esau! His brother was coming towards them with 400 men! So Jacob put each child with their mother! Today we are going to read Genesis 33:1 and draw a line from each child to who their mother was!
Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. – Genesis 33:1 NIV
Day 3
Jacob put each child with their mother then put Bilhah and Zilpah first, Leah next and Rachel last! Today let’s read Genesis 33:2 and color and cut out the puppets, putting everyone in order! Keep these for the next few activities!
He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. – Genesis 33:2 NIV
Day 4
Jacob put his family in order, then went in front of them! Then, he bowed down 7 times as he went towards Esau! Today let’s color and cut out the Jacob and Esau puppets and put Jacob in front of his wives and children and Esau in front of Jacob, then have Jacob bow 7 times!
He himself went ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. – Genesis 33:3 NIV
Day 5
Jacob was in front of his family and bowed 7 times to Esau! Esau did not bow down, but ran to his brother and gave him a big hug and kiss! They even cried because they were so happy! Today let’s read Genesis 33:4 and act out the scene with your puppets! Keep them for next lesson’s activities too!
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. – Genesis 33:4 NIV
Day 6
Jacob and Esau are back together! They gave each other hugs and kisses and now Esau is asking Jacob who the women and children are! Jacob told him that they were his family! Today let’s read Genesis 33:5 and act out the scene with the puppets and see if your Tiny Arrow can name any of Jacobs wives or children!
Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God had graciously given your servant.” – Genesis 33:5 NIV
Day 7
Esau found out that Jacob has wives and children! Then the wives and children came and bowed down to Esau! Today let’s read Genesis 33:6-7 and act out the scene with our puppets!
Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. – Genesis 33:6-7 NIV
Day 8
Esau got to see Jacob’s new family, then he asked him why Jacob had given him so many animals as presents! Esau even told Jacob to keep them since he already had some! Today let’s read Genesis 33:8-9 and color and cut out the animal puppets and act out the scene!
Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” – Genesis 33:8-9 NIV
Day 9
Jacob had given Esau the animals as a gift, and Esau said he didn’t need them, but Jacob really wanted him to have them! He had prayed so hard to God about Esau, that seeing Esau and how everything went well was like Jacob had seen God! He was so excited and thankful! Today let’s read Genesis 33:10 and talk to your Tiny Arrows about a time you prayed very hard for something and it came true, or think of a story in the Bible where a prayer came true!
“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift for me. For he see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.” – Genesis 33:10 NIV
Day 10
Jacob had given Esau a gift of animals and Esau said he did not need them! But Jacob really wanted Esau to have them! So Esau kept them! Today let’s read Genesis 33:11 and draw a big bow on top of the animals and act out the scene with the puppets!
“Please accept the present that was brought for you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. – Genesis 33:11 NIV
Day 11
After Jacob and Esau met, Esau told Jacob he would go with him to his house! Today let’s read Genesis 33:12 and go for a walk! You can walk inside or outside, just designate one place to represent Esau’s home, and a starting point! Then play the role of Esau and tell your Tiny Arrow you will walk with them to your house, then go there!
Then Esau said, “Let us be in our way; I’ll accompany you.” – Genesis 33:12 NIV
Day 12
Esau told Jacob that he would go with him to his house, but Jacob did not want to go. He wanted to make sure his children and nursing and baby animals were taken care of! Today let’s read Genesis 33:13 and color the coloring page of the animals and their babies!
But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die.” – Genesis 33:13 NIV
Day 13
Jacob did not want to go with Esau to his house. He did not want to go fast, but slow! Today let’s read Genesis 33:14 and play a game! Have your Tiny Arrow stand a little from you, then have them come to you going fast or slow! Call out to them fast or slow as they are coming near and play until they reach you!
“So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” – Genesis 33:14 NIV
Day 14
Esau was not going to walk with Jacob, so he said his brother could have protection from some of his men. Jacob did not want Esau’s men to stay, he just wanted Esau to be happy with him. Today let’s read Genesis 33:15 and talk a walk! Take turns with your Tiny Arrow being Jacob or one of Esau’s men that would protect Jacob! Have fun letting the bodyguard protect Jacob as you walk, even from squirrels and falling leaves!
Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.” “But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.” – Genesis 33:15 NIV
Day 15
Esau was going to go back home with his 400 men and leave Jacob and his family alone. He lived in Seir, a land next to Israel! Today let’s read Genesis 33:16 and circle and color Seir on the map!
So that day Esau’s started in his way back to Seir. – Genesis 33:16 NIV
Day 16
We learned that Esau went to go back home to Seir. Instead of following his brother, Jacob decided to go to Sukkoth! He made shelters for his family and for his animals! Today let’s read Genesis 33:17 and grab some blocks, craft supplies or blankets and build a shelter!
Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. – Genesis 33:17 NIV
Day 17
Jacob had traveled all the way from Paddan Aram to past the Jabbok, then to Sukkoth and then to Shechem in Canaan! He had finally made it back to the land that was promised to Abraham! Today let’s read Genesis 33:18 and color the coloring page!
After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. – Genesis 33:18 NIV
Day 18
Jacob and his family went to the city of Shechem! He decided to live in the area and bought land! He bought land for 100 pieces of silver! This is the second piece of land someone from his family had bought in Canaan! Abraham bought the burial site for his family in Hebron, and now Jacob bought land for his family to live in Shechem! Today let’s read Genesis 33:19 and grab some coins (real or pretend) and give them to your Tiny Arrow, then have them “buy” a room or area in your house!
For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. – Genesis 33:19 NIV
Day 19
Jacob was now in Shechem with his family! They bought some land and set up their tents! After they were all settled in, Jacob built an alter and called it El Elohe Israel, which means, El is the God of Israel! Today let’s read Genesis 33:20 and tell your Tiny Arrow they can rename the room they “bought” the day before, and ask them what the new name is!
There he set up an alter and called it El Elohe Israel. – Genesis 33:20 NIV
Day 20
Today let’s reread Genesis 33 and remember the activities and verses we learned!