God Loves You | Lesson 12
God Will Forgive You and Help You
Learn this about God:
- God’s blessing is worth more than food.
- God forgives and blesses Jacob.
- God has made a way for you to go to heaven.
- God will help you say, “I’m sorry.”
These words are from the Bible. Read them aloud 5 times.
“I am the Lord. . . . I am with you and I will watch over you wherever you go.” Genesis 28:13, 15 (BV)
Jesus answered him: “I am the way.” John 14:6 (TEV)
To do as you read and study this lesson
Ask God to help you understand what you are reading. Think about the meaning of each underlined sentence.
God’s blessing is worth more than food.
Isaac’s wife was Rebecca. Isaac and Rebecca loved God. God gave them twin sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau was a hunter. Esau was born before Jacob.
He had the right to receive a special blessing from God. This was the birthright of the oldest son. But Esau was more interested in food than in special blessings from God. Esau did not love God. He just loved himself. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Later Esau was sorry he had sold God’s blessing (his birthright). God’s blessing is worth more than all the food there is.
God forgives and blesses Jacob.
Jacob did some very bad things to his family. He lied to his father and cheated his brother. He bought Esau’s birthright and stole his blessing. But God loved Jacob anyway.
Esau wanted to kill Jacob. Jacob had to go far away from home to escape from Esau. On the way God spoke to Jacob in a dream.
Jacob saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven. God promised to bless Jacob.
When Jacob woke up, he was happy. God still loved him. God would forgive him for the bad things he had done. God would go with him and help him do right. Jacob knew that if he followed God, God would take him to heaven some day.
God has made a way for you to go to heaven. Jesus is the way to heaven. Jesus died to save you. Follow Jesus all your life, and He will take you to heaven.
God took care of Jacob. Jacob became a shepherd. He had many sheep and goats. God gave Jacob a family too.
God helps Jacob say, “I’m sorry.”
Finally God told Jacob to go back home. But Esau still wanted to kill Jacob. Esau came out with 400 men to meet Jacob. Jacob was sorry for what he had done to Esau. Jacob wanted his brother to forgive him.
Jacob prayed to God for help. God forgave Jacob and named him Israel. God helped Jacob show Esau he was sorry. God helped Esau forgive Jacob. Then the brothers were good friends again.
God will help you say, “I’m sorry.”
Do you ever feel sad because you have been bad? Maybe you have treated someone wrong. You want God to forgive you and bless you. You must tell God you are sorry. But you must say, “I’m sorry,” to the person you have hurt too. God will forgive you and help you. He will help you be friends again with others.
Memorize this Prayer
The wrongs that I have done to others Please forgive me, Lord, I pray. Help me tell them, “I am sorry.” Make us friends again today.