David Butler - Bible Ites: An Illustrated Guide to the People in the Holy Bible

Meet the Bible ites

Even though the people of the Bible lived thousands of years ago, their examples and legacy are as potent and powerful now as they were in the past. Some of the people were faithful followers of God. They were obedient through difficult times and were witnesses of His miracles. Others chose to align themselves with wickedness, and they experienced great misery. The stories and people of the Bible span a time period of over 4,000 years and are varied and unique. Some of them were part of Gods chosen people known as Israelites. Others were from neighboring nations and were called Canaanites, Hittites, or Amorites. With all of the variety, however, there is at least one thing in common among these ites, or people, from the Bible: the lessons from their stories, whether good or bad, are lessons that can help you and your family in the decisions and challenges that you face today.

Have you ever imagined what the people of the Bible were like? Have you ever wondered why they lived the way that they did? What if you applied their stories in your own life? Maybe you can.

Book of
Genesis

Esau

Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandsons of Abraham and Sarah. Esau was a skilled hunter and would often bring the meat he caught back home to his father, Isaac, who favored Esau over Jacob. When it was time for marriage, Esau married a woman who did not believe in God. This made his parents upset. Esau was the older of the twins and should have had the family birthright, but he forfeited it to his brother Jacob. After a hunting trip when Esau was very hungry, he sold his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of pottage. Later, he was extremely angry when their father gave Jacob the birthright blessing, and Esau plotted to kill his brother. The two brothers were in a long, angry fight, but after many years, Jacob and Esau met again and Esau forgave Jacob and the two brothers were reunited.

A Mess of Pottage (Genesis 25)

The brothers Esau and Jacob were drastically different and cared about different things. Esau was a mighty hunter, and Jacob preferred to tend the flocks near his home.

One day, Esau came home from the fields tired and hungry. He had been out hunting and had not eaten for a long time. Jacob had been near the tents and had prepared a bowl of pottage to eat. When Esau saw and smelled the dinner, he begged Jacob for it. Jacob asked Esau to trade his birthright for the bowl of pottage. Esau seemed to think his responsibilities and birthright privilege were not very valuable.

What profit shall this birthright do to me? (Genesis 25:32)

In a moment when he was desperate for food, Esau sold his special birthright for a bowl of beans and soup. His stomach was full, but his future was empty.

There are many things that we may want in this life. There are things we may hunger for. There are also many special blessings that God has promised to us. We need to be careful to not trade the special blessings of tomorrow for the things we hunger for right now. Dont give up your heavenly blessings for earthly pottage.

Activity

Put a small treat in front of everyone (preferably before the lesson begins). Tell everyone they can have the small treat now or any time throughout the discussion, or they can wait for a bigger one at the end. At the end, give the bigger treat to those who waited, and talk about what this example teaches.

Book of
Genesis

Joseph

Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons but seemed to favor his second youngest, Joseph. He gave him a colorful coat as a gift of his love, and Joseph wore it with great pride. His older brothers hated him and were jealous. Their bitterness worsened when Joseph had dreams of being a ruler over them. In anger, they sold him to a group of travelers heading to Egypt. They tore up his coat and dipped it in goats blood to convince Jacob that Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Joseph spent many years as a slave in the house of Potiphar, the rich man who bought him, until Potiphars wife accused Joseph of attacking her. He spent years in jail for a crime he did not commit but was eventually released by Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt, so Joseph could interpret his dreams. Pharaoh loved and trusted Joseph, and he became the second in command in Egypt. As a ruler, he helped the Egyptians save food for a time of famine. Eventually, his brothers, who were starving from the famine, came to Egypt for food. They did not recognize Joseph at first, but Joseph forgave them for what they had done. Then his whole family, including his elderly father, Jacob, moved to Egypt.