Abraham intercedes for Lot
Lot and Abraham separate; Abraham offers Lot first choice of land. Lot is taken captive during war and Abraham risks his life to free him. Abraham asks God to spare Lot from Sodom’s doom.

Scripture: Genesis 13, 14, 18, 19

Theme: Jesus our Redeemer
Point: God loves us and wants us to pray for others.
Memory Verse: “Pray for each other.” James 5:16

SNACK: Saltines, cheese, and punch (Lot’s wife - Genesis 19:26)

Supplies:

• large sheet of paper and tape to attach it to the wall
• crayons
• coloring sheets
• magnifying glass
• salt (table salt and kosher salt)
• paper plates (dark color, if possible)
• Sandpaper
• crayons
• white balloons
• dowels
• 2 towels
• white construction paper

Arrival Centers:

Art: prayer wall -

Talk about how God loves us and wants us to pray for others.

Invite children to put prayer requests on a large sheet of paper on the wall. They can draw pictures with crayons or dictate their request to a teacher/helper. (Add to the prayer wall the rest of the week.)

Science:
magnifying glass – look at salt.

Explain that at snacktime we will hear a story about salt.
Also talk about sharing (magnifying glass) and taking turns: What was hard about sharing? How did it make you feel? What did it feel like when someone else shared with you?

Storytime:
Show the children your Bible and explain that today’s story comes from the Bible, from the book of Genesis.
Share the story of Abram and Lot. (below)

Discuss:
How did Abram and Lot solve their problem?

How do you think Abram and Lot felt about moving away from each other?

I wonder if any of you ever get into arguments with your brothers or sisters or friends?

How do you settle those arguments?

I wonder who you can ask for help when you are having trouble getting along with someone?

How did Abram show he cared for Lot?
Who can we pray for?

Teach the memory verse:
“Pray for each other.” James 5:16

PRAY: The hands are held in a gesture of prayer.

FOR: The forefinger moves forward from the side of the forehead.

EACH OTHER: The two A handshapes (fist with thumb on outside) circle one another to show that they are in close proximity.

Review the memory verse from yesterday.

Craft:
Sandpaper drawings
Have the children draw pictures of their families, their homes, or whatever they want on a piece of sandpaper with crayons.
While they work, talk about today’s Bible story: about the land in the story (the sandy desert), about caring for one another, about sharing, and about praying.

Music:
Rock-a My Soul (in the bosom of Abraham).

Wee Worship (disc 1, track 8).

“We Are Glad to Pray Together”

[to the tune of “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?”, adapted from Hands-on-Bible-Curriculum]
We are glad to pray together,
Together, together.
We are glad to pray together
And give thanks to God.
Thank you for (name),

And (name), and (name).
Oh thank you, dear God, for everyone in our class.
(Repeat until all are named)

“Abram’s in the Desert”

[to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”; can be done as a circle game]
Abram’s in the desert,
Oh Abram’s in the desert.
Heigh-ho the derry-oh,
Abram’s in the desert.

Abram takes Sarai...
Abram takes Lot...
Lot takes the shepherd...
The shepherd takes a sheep...
The sheep stands alone...
[adapted from the Chapel’s Abram preschool notebook]

“I Will Pray for You Today”

[to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”]
I will pray for you today;
God hears everything I say.
God loves me,
He loves you, too.
Jesus prayed for his friends, too.
I will pray for you today;
God hears everything I say.
[from the Chapel’s Abram preschool notebook]

Game:
Herding Sheep

[adapted from Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met]

Let’s practice being Abram’s and Lot’s shepherds.

First, we need some sheep. Let’s pretend these are sheep. [Put some balloons on the floor.]

Here is your shepherd’s staff. [Hand each child a dowel.]

Take your staff and herd your sheep into your field. Here is Abram’s field and here is Lot’s field. [Put 2 towels on the floor.]

Don’t mix your sheep up with the ones belonging to the other owner!
Hold your staff pointing down so that no one gets poked and the sheep don’t get hurt. Guide them gently! Remember, you need to share the space!

Talk about:
* Was it easy to get the sheep balloons go where you wanted them to go?
* Did all of the sheep fit into the field?
* Why were Abram’s and Lot’s shepherds arguing?

Snack:
Share the story of Abram’s intercession, Lot, and Sodom and Gomorrah during snacktime:
Talkable Bible Stories. “Abraham Talks to God about Sodom”

Additional Learning Centers and Activities:
Art:
praying hands - trace and cut out hands and write names of whom children are praying for inside

Hang stars with names from ceiling before the next lesson.

Sources:

Sources:
ASL Browser - with videos of the signs used for the memory verse: see first post resource.

Keefer, Mikal and John Cutshall. Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met. Loveland, Colorado: Group, 1998.

Abraham and Lot
Story script

Do you remember yesterday’s story? Abram, his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their servants and animals left a nice, cozy home to travel to — only God knew! God said to do it, so they did. They trusted the Lord.

Abram and his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot lived in the new land God had given them, and God blessed them. They were rich men. Soon Abram and Lot had so many animals, they were running out of food and water. The shepherds could not find enough grass in water in one place to feed all those animals. Some of their people who took care of the animals began arguing about whose animals could drink first and eat in the best places.

“Hey! Abram’s animals were here first!!”

“No way! We always bring Lot’s animals here. You go find another place for Abram’s animals.”

You don’t ever fight rather than sharing with your brothers or sisters or friends, do you? I didn’t think so.

Lot went to Abram and asked, “What can we do about this problem? We have too many people and animals living in one place!”

Abram said, “This is silly. Let’s not fight. We are family. We’ve got this whole land. Surely we can find enough space for all of us to live without fighting. Lot, you choose the part of the land you want for your family and animals and I will keep mine in another part of the land.”

Lot looked around. He thought the land along the river looked good with all the grass and water, and even a few cities. He looked the other way and saw it looked rough and hilly. There was hardly a patch of grass for the animals to eat! So he said, “I’ll take this place near the Jordan River.” And Lot moved his family and all his animals to the Plain of Jordan.

Abram could have said “No! You just want the best for yourself!” But he didn’t. He trusted God to provide food and water for his animals. Abraham said, “That’s fine with me. I’ll stay in the land of Canaan and we’ll both have what we need to take care of our families and animals.”

Abram and Sarai remembered God’s promises to them. And sure enough, God gave Abram just what he needed.

But still no baby.

Lot went and lived near the city of Sodom. Unfortunately, Lot chose the land he wanted because he thought it was the best, but it turned out to be an unsafe choice. Soon afterward, there was war in the land. Four kings and their armies ganged up on the five kings that and their armies who tried to protect the land where Lot lived. The five kings lost, and Lot and his possessions were captured and taken from Sodom.

One of Lot’s servants escaped and reported everything to Abram. Abram prayed for his nephew Lot’s safety. So God sent Abram to go rescue him. Abram and 318 trained soldiers – children of his servants – attacked the army and chased them away. Lot was saved, along with his family and servants – and all his stuff. The five kings were very grateful, too!

Afterwards, Lot settled by the city of Sodom – which turned out to be a very wicked city – and a bad deal for him. We’ll talk about that at snacktime.