Help me teach the story of Jacob to my kids

[Steadfast_love]

My kids (5yo, 4yo and 1yo) all love bible stories. But I’ve skipped over the story of Jacob because I don’t know how to deal with all the questions the kids will ask about Jacob decieving his father with a disguise and a baldfaced lie. And generaly, I don’t realy understand how he plays into Catholic theology.

Question 1: Is it ok to dress up as your brother and lie to your father if mom tells you to?
Question 2: Are there any broader theological lessons?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TimothyH]

St. Louis de Montfort saw the story of Jacob and Esau as allegory for the elect vs. the rebrobate, obedience, and devotion to Mary.

Esau was of the world, always away from home, out in the fields hunting. Esau relied on himself. As his father’s son, Esau was an heir to his fathers blessing and estate, both ow which he sold for food, which represents the cares of the world.

***When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country… *(Genesis 25:27)

Jacob however, was in the home, obediently doing all that his mother told him.

…whereas Jacob was a simple man, who stayed among the tents. (Genesis 25:27)

This the saint clearly sees as allegory to devotion to our Blessed Mother. Jacob does what his Mother tells him and in so doing secures both the blessing and the birthright.

The dressing up in the skins, St. Louis sees as him putting on the world, appearing to be someone who is “Of the world” but underneath he is reliant on his Mother, whom he obeys.

***His mother, however, replied: “… Just obey me. Go and get me the young goats.” So Jacob went and got them… *(Genesis 27:13-14)

I’m not too sure how this would be worked into a story to such young children. I hope it helps in some way.

And congratulations for teaching your children the faith.

-Tim-

 

[puzzleannie]

the bible records lots of events by just stating the facts and giving the details, which does not necessarily imply approbation, approval or condoning those actions.

 

[TimothyH]

In the end, Jacob apologized to Esau and Esau forgave his brother Jacob. They kissed, and loved each other, and they all lived happily ever after.

The End.



-Tim-

 

[MACHIU]

I think you need to tell the family story, not just Jacob.

Mum’s the word
As mentioned above, being close with your mom brings certain benefits and insight. Just as being close with Our Lord’s Blessed Mother.

Choose your wife wisely
Esau’s wifes got on the wrong side of Isaac (Gen 28:6-8) so realising why Isaac prefers Jacob over him.

You reap what you sow
After stealing Esau’s blessings and tricked him to gave up his birthright, Jacob was forced to run away from home, from his father, mother and the comfort of his home.
He was tricked into labour for at least 14 years by Laban, his own uncle
He was tricked into marrying NOT the woman of his dreams.
Rachel, his first choice has difficulty in bearing a child.

Repentance and the promise of blessings
However, he got on God’s good side (Gen 28:20-22) and there was no mention that he is wicked or bad. God even blessed Jacob, somehow revealing the trick of sheep genetic manipulation (ok, that is speculative, but that’s how I tell the story). (Gen 30:31-43).
He tried to amend things with Esau and offering half if his flock to Esau.

And as the poster mentioned, he lived happily ever after (except when his sons lied to him about Joseph, and the drought so he needs to go to Egypt).

Hope this helps.

M

 

[Dave_Noonan]

My kids (5yo, 4yo and 1yo) all love bible stories. But I’ve skipped over the story of Jacob because I don’t know how to deal with all the questions the kids will ask about Jacob decieving his father with a disguise and a baldfaced lie. And generaly, I don’t realy understand how he plays into Catholic theology.

Question 1: Is it ok to dress up as your brother and lie to your father if mom tells you to?
Question 2: Are there any broader theological lessons?

Thanks in advance!

I really hope you are not serious about question 1.

Jacob the deceiver was himself deceived several times later in life (by his father-in-law and also by his sons); senseless parental favoritism nearly spelled the end for Joseph. There’s a lot of “what goes around, comes around” in these stories but despite all of Jacob’s faults and arrogance, he still became the eponymous ancestor of the Israelites.