The Children's Page
Allow the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. - Mark 10:14

Jacob, Joseph, and Jesus

Do you know what these 3 young boys had in common? We can easily see that their names each begin with the letter “J”, but let’s take a closer look at their lives as they grew up in Bible times.

In Genesis chapter 25:19-26, we read of the birth of Jacob to Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob had a twin brother named Esau, but Esau was born first. As the brothers grew up, Esau was a good hunter, while Jacob preferred abiding in the tents and preparing meals.

One night Isaac called Esau to him so he could bless him before he died. He told Esau to take his bow and arrow and go hunting, then to prepare a meal for him. But Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, overheard this. When Esau went out to hunt, Rebekah and Jacob tricked Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau. When Esau returned from hunting and found out what his brother had done, he was very angry; so Jacob ran away to a far country because he was afraid of Esau.

While Jacob was away, he married and had 12 sons; and these sons are the 12 tribes of Israel. We learn from Genesis 35:11-12 that God promised to bless Jacob greatly.

We learn of Joseph in Genesis 37, when he was 17 years old. His father, Jacob (Israel), loved him most—because he was the son of his old age. This made his brothers very jealous; and they could not speak peacefully to him. One day, while the brothers were tending their father’s flocks, they saw Joseph coming toward them. They decided to put him in a deep pit to teach him a lesson. Later, though, he was sold to some merchants who were passing by; and they took Joseph into Egypt.

After spending many years in Egypt (part of that time in prison), Joseph interpreted a dream for Pharaoh and was made second in command over all the affairs in Egypt. The dream told of a famine that was coming. Later, in Genesis 42, we see that Joseph’s brothers came down to Egypt to buy grain during the famine. They did not know that Joseph was the governor of the land, and did not recognize him. Joseph could have taken vengeance on his brothers, but instead, we read of a beautiful forgiving heart and reconciliation between the 12 brothers. Then Joseph sent for his father and the brothers’ families to come and live in the land of Goshen.

Many years later, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We read that Jesus grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him

(Luke 2:40). John the baptizer, Jesus’ cousin, baptized Jesus at about age 30. We can read throughout the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of the many miracles and healings of Jesus Christ. Jesus chose 12 men to be with him during his ministry; we call these men apostles.

Jesus taught many wonderful lessons before his death. He is God’s Son and the Saviour of the world. Jesus created this world and everything in it. And then He went to the cross and died for us—so that we might live forever in heaven with Him. He is the perfect example that we should follow. We should read our Bibles daily so that we will know how to live our life in a way that will be pleasing to God and Jesus.

How are Jacob, Joseph and Jesus all similar, and what do they have in common? They each played a role in God’s perfect plan for mankind. God used Jacob, even though he was the younger son, to bless the nations through his 12 sons. God blessed Joseph, the youngest son in his family, by saving the land of Egypt from a dreadful famine. And God blessed you and me and the entire universe by sending his son Jesus to earth to live a perfect and sinless life, so that all people might learn of Him, obey his commands, and live in heaven with Him throughout all eternity.

SCRAMBLED WORDS

- Sandy Garner
Fayetteville, GA