This God Gives Jacob a New Name Preschool Bible Lesson helps young children understand how God remained with Jacob, blessed him and gave him the new name Israel.
Many years had passed since Jacob left his homeland. He now had a large family and many animals, but returning home meant facing his brother Esau again. Jacob remembered how angry Esau had been and felt afraid about what might happen.
Through clear storytelling, retelling pictures, a matching game, a lift-the-flap craft and simple repetition, children learn that Jacob prayed and trusted God. God kept His promise to be with Jacob and brought the two brothers together again in peace.
The lesson truth is: God gave Jacob a new name: Israel.
Connecting the Story to God’s Promises
The lesson begins with a short review of the three promises God made to Abraham:
- God promised Abraham a big family.
- God promised a special land for Abraham’s family.
- God promised a special blessing through Jesus.
Children then review the events that led to Jacob leaving his homeland.
God gave Abraham and Sarah a son named Isaac. Isaac grew up and married Rebekah, and they had twin sons named Jacob and Esau.
Esau gave Jacob his special birthright in exchange for a bowl of stew. Later, Jacob dressed in Esau’s clothes, covered his hands and neck with goatskins and received the special blessing Isaac intended for Esau.
Esau became angry, so Jacob ran away. While Jacob was away from home, God promised to be with him and bring him back safely.
This review helps children understand why Jacob was afraid to return and why God’s promise was so important.
Reading the God Gives Jacob a New Name Story
The printable storybook presents the events from Genesis 32–33 in a clear sequence that preschool children can follow.
Many years after Jacob left home, God told him to return to his homeland. Jacob obeyed and began the long journey with his family, servants and animals.
When Jacob heard that Esau was coming to meet him with many men, he remembered how angry his brother had been. Jacob was afraid, so he prayed and asked God to keep his family safe.
Jacob sent gifts of animals ahead to Esau. That night, he helped his family cross the river and then stayed behind alone.
A man came and wrestled with Jacob throughout the night. As the sun began to rise, Jacob held on and asked to be blessed.
The man told Jacob that his name would no longer be Jacob. His new name would be Israel. He blessed Jacob, and Jacob knew that God had met him in a special way.
When Jacob finally approached Esau, he bowed low and waited to see what his brother would do. Esau ran to Jacob and embraced him. The brothers were reunited in peace, and God kept His promise to be with Jacob.
After reading, the teacher asks four simple questions:
- Where did God tell Jacob to go?
- What did Jacob do when he was afraid?
- What new name was Jacob given?
- What did Esau do when he saw Jacob?
The children then repeat the lesson truth together: God gave Jacob a new name: Israel.
Retelling the Bible Story With Picture Cards
Five large retelling pictures help children remember the main events from the story.
The pictures show:
- Jacob and his family returning home.
- Jacob praying and asking God to keep them safe.
- Jacob wrestling with a man throughout the night.
- Jacob receiving the new name Israel.
- Esau welcoming Jacob and God keeping His promise.
The teacher first displays the pictures in story order and uses them to retell each event.
The pictures can then be mixed up. Children work together to place them back into the correct sequence before retelling the story again.
This activity allows preschoolers to hear, see and organize the events. Repeating the story with visual support helps children remember that Jacob prayed, God blessed him and God gave him a new name.
Jacob and Israel Preschool Matching Game
The Jacob and Israel matching game reinforces the central idea that Jacob and Israel are two names for the same person.
Each matching pair includes:
- One JACOB card
- One ISRAEL card
- The same colored border
- The same shape
The cards are placed face down in rows. Children take turns turning over two cards and checking the names, colors and shapes.
A correct match must include one JACOB card and one ISRAEL card with the same color and shape.
Each time a match is found, the children repeat:
Jacob’s new name was Israel.
The matching colors and shapes provide visual support, while the repeated names help children connect Jacob and Israel as the same Bible character.
Optional Jacob’s New Name Worksheet
An optional cut-and-paste worksheet provides additional name recognition and sequencing practice.
Children cut out the letters and place them in number order to discover Jacob’s new name.
When the letters are arranged correctly, they spell:
ISRAEL
This activity combines Bible story review with number sequencing, letter recognition, cutting and gluing.
The worksheet can be completed after the matching game, used as an independent activity or added to a quiet table center.
Jacob’s New Name Lift-the-Flap Craft
The Jacob’s New Name craft gives children a simple visual reminder of the most important event in the story.
Children begin by coloring Jacob and decorating the outlined letters. They then cut out the JACOB flap, keeping the striped glue tab attached.
The flap is positioned directly over the name ISRAEL and glued along the tab. When children lift the JACOB flap, the name ISRAEL is revealed underneath.
As the children work, the teacher reviews the lesson truth:
- God gave Jacob a new name.
- Jacob’s new name was Israel.
- Jacob and Israel are two names for the same person.
The lift-the-flap design makes the name change concrete and memorable for young children.
Reviewing the Bible Truth
The lesson closes with a short teacher-led review.
Children answer simple questions such as:
- Who told Jacob to return home?
- What did Jacob do when he was afraid?
- What happened while Jacob was alone?
- What new name was Jacob given?
- Who welcomed Jacob home?
- Did God keep His promise to be with Jacob?
The class then repeats the lesson truth once more:
God gave Jacob a new name: Israel.
The closing prayer thanks God for being with Jacob and keeping His promise. Children are also encouraged to trust God when they feel afraid.
God Gives Jacob a New Name Take-Home Booklet
The take-home booklet gives children another opportunity to review the story with their families.
The booklet includes:
- A coloring cover showing Jacob receiving his new name
- Three important things children learned
- A story picture about Jacob wrestling through the night
- The tracing sentence “Jacob’s new name was Israel”
- A maze leading Jacob to the name ISRAEL
- A picture activity about what Jacob did during the night
The booklet is printed on one sheet of paper and folded to create a simple four-page resource.
Families can read the booklet together, talk about the story and review how God kept His promise to Jacob.
Why This God Gives Jacob a New Name Preschool Bible Lesson Works
The God Gives Jacob a New Name Preschool Bible Lesson uses several ways of learning to help young children understand and remember the story.
- The storybook presents the events through clear visual storytelling.
- The review pictures connect the lesson to God’s promises and earlier events.
- The retelling cards help children sequence the story.
- The matching game reinforces the connection between Jacob and Israel.
- The worksheet combines story review with early learning skills.
- The lift-the-flap craft makes Jacob’s name change easy to visualize.
- The take-home booklet supports repetition and family discussion.
Together, these activities help preschoolers understand one clear Bible truth: God gave Jacob a new name: Israel.
What Is Included
The complete God Gives Jacob a New Name Preschool Bible Lesson includes:
- Teacher lesson plan and script
- Three Promises to Abraham review picture
- Five review pictures from previous lessons
- God Gives Jacob a New Name printable storybook
- Five Bible story retelling pictures
- Jacob and Israel matching game with six pairs
- Optional Jacob’s New Name cut-and-paste worksheet
- Jacob’s New Name lift-the-flap craft
- Foldable take-home booklet
- American and Australian spelling versions
- Printable preparation and activity directions
Get the Complete God Gives Jacob a New Name Lesson
The complete resource is available from Kinder Resources.
The God Gives Jacob a New Name Preschool Bible Lesson is designed for Sunday School, church preschool programs, Christian classrooms, homeschool Bible time and other faith-based early learning settings.
Blessings as you teach! 😊
Other Preschool Bible Lessons
Thank you for supplying these lessons, they are a blessing and a great soource of help to a small church, with just a few children in Sunday School.
God Bless
These are beautiful resources. Thank you for offering them for free. That is rare. The Lord bless your ministry.
Thank you for the lesson! I cannot find the clipart of Jacob on the download. Is it on the same one as Rachel, Leah and the messengers?