Isaac & Rebekah
Summary of Workshops:
- Storytelling- Story is told by teacher using props; game to show how big of a task it was to water all 10 camels.
- Art- Focus on the servant’s prayer and how God answers us. Children make a prayer plaque to take home to encourage prayer and reflection.
- Games – Focus on Isaac trusting his father; kids trust their parents; games to show trust and to quiz scripture.
Isaac and Rebekah
Storytelling Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
Story is told by teacher using props; students then play a game to show how big of a task it was to water all 10 camels. A snack is served during the reflection question time.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 24
Memory Verse:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9
Purpose:
Objectives and Life Application
Children will be able to…
- Identify where this story is in the Bible.
- Learn that we need to trust our parents and the decisions that they make for our lives.
- Learn that Jesus works in our lives and by trusting our parents’ decisions and obeying them, we learn to trust Jesus.
- Understand the traditions of marriages during Biblical times; finding a bride, the bride price, gifts, veil, marriage within the same family line, dress, etc., and compare Biblical marriage traditions and ceremonies to those of today.
- Learn about the faithfulness of Abraham’s servant and how his prayer was answered even before he finished praying.
Leader Preparation:
- Review the story from the last rotation when Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.
- Gather the materials.
- Prepare your classroom ahead of time.
- Make sure the pools are set up outside and ready for your activity. Plan where you will have the kids sit for discussion and the relay race.
- Make sure your snacks, cups, juice, etc. are ready to take outside.
Supplies List:
- Bibles
- Book - The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times by Ralph Gower
- Story (attached)
- Props – gold bracelet, map, picture of camels, two empty 2-liter soda bottles, pictures of wells
- Baby pools – 2 (1 filled with water)
- Snack
- Juice
- Cups
- Napkins
- Serving Trays
LESSON
Opening:
Introduce yourself. Take time to greet the children and share about today’s story. Pray before beginning class.
Main lesson:
Activity #1 - Storytelling
Bringing the story to life.
1. Read/Tell the story of Isaac and Rebekah found in Genesis 24. You will be using a version of the story that was adapted from http://childrensermons.com/rebekah/ for use in our children’s ministry. You will stop and ask questions and use props and read a few verses from the Bible as you tell the story.
Activity #2 - Game: Serving Others (plus snack and review and reflection questions)
- After the story, explain to the children that you will be taking them outside to the front lawn for an activity. The activity will help them understand how big of a request the servant had prayed and just how big God’s answer was. (When they get outside, they will need to all sit and listen to directions if they want to participate. Make sure they understand that this is not an opportunity for a water fight. They choose to sit out if they decide to get wet, or get others wet.)
- Take the 2-liter bottles and have the children follow you outside. Show them the two pools. One of them is filled with water and represents the well. The other is empty and represents the trough in which the camels drank from.
- Each child will have the opportunity to fill a 2-liter bottle from the “well” and empty it into the “trough.”
- Divide the children into 2 teams. Explain to them that one person from each team will begin the relay by running to the well to fill their “jug” and then emptying their water into the trough. They will run back to their team and pass the “jug” to the next player. The first team who finishes, is declared the winner and gets to serve just as Rebekah did. (If the teams are not evenly numbered, one child may have to go twice, or you can join them.)
- The winning team will serve the other team a snack and refreshment before serving themselves.
- Gather them together and as they eat, discuss the difficulty in Rebekah’s task.
- Possible questions:
- How many times do you think Rebekah had to fill her jug of water?
- Describe what you think a well looks like.
Share pictures from The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times by Ralph Gower and those printed from the internet. The well may have looked like one of these in the pictures. Which one looks like it might be easier to use? Most likely the well was one where a hole was dug deep into the ground and the water was drawn using a clay pot, or jug and a rope. - Where does the water in a well come from?
A well is made by reaching groundwater in the water table. Groundwater is stored naturally below the earth's surface. Most groundwater originates as rain or snow that seeps into the ground and collects. Groundwater provides about 20 percent of the freshwater used in the United States. Most rural areas, and some cities depend on groundwater as their source for water. (from WIKIPEDIA The Free Encyclopedia) - What do Rebekah’s actions tell us about her character? About serving others?
- Would you do the same in Rebekah’s position?
- Can you think of some examples when you have been asked to serve? What was your attitude/your heart in serving?
In Ephesians 6:7-8 it says. “Serve wholeheartedly (from your heart), as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…”
- Please clean up and empty both pools of water. After church, the pools need to be brought into your classroom, or church basement to use next week.
Activity #3 - Memory Verse (Optional)
Memory Verse Fade Away
This is a great way to help the children memorize scripture if you have extra time.
- Write the memory verse on the board and have the children read it aloud together.
- After each time of reading, erase one word and have them read the verse aloud again.
- Repeat until all of the words for the verse are gone and children have it memorized.
Closing:
If time allows, discuss times when the children felt they could have been a better servant and opportunities they might have in the future. Serving could take place at home with our parents and siblings, at school, in our neighborhood, at the grocery store, etc. (Make sure children understand the safety in serving with our parents in situations where we might have the opportunity to serve people we do not know.)
Take some time praying with the children at the end of class. Pray specifically that they/we would take each opportunity to serve others as if we were serving God.
Storytelling Script
Story of Isaac & Rebekah
(Abraham speaking to his servant said,) “The Lord, the God of heaven who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’ – he will send his angel before you, so that you can get a wife for my son from there.” Genesis 24:7
Text: Genesis 24:14, 34-67
Props: Bible, map of the region you live in, a gold bracelet, a picture of camel, empty 2-liter soda bottle
Today I want to tell you the Bible story of Isaac and Rebekah. It is a love story of promises made and promises kept, a story of trust and patience, and a story of how Jesus works in your life in ways you may not realize.
Sometimes your parents make decisions for you. If you go to buy clothes, they help you choose the right clothes to wear. If you need to be in bed at a certain time, they decide what time is best. You may not always agree with their decision, but they love you and try to do what is best for you.
You show Jesus that you love him when you obey your parents. You learn to trust Jesus by trusting your parents when they make decisions for you.
But what if your parents decided whom you would marry? Would you trust them for that?
Today young men and women choose whom they will marry. A long time ago that was not how it was done. The parents would choose for them. That doesn't sound very romantic, does it?
A very long time ago, God made a promise to Abraham. God kept his promise by giving Abraham a son named Isaac. When Isaac was forty years old, Abraham decided it was time for Isaac to marry. Abraham kept Isaac at home and sent his oldest servant to find a wife for Isaac and bring her back. He wanted a wife for Isaac that knew the true God and was from his own people. The servant left Hebron and traveled over 500 miles to Abraham's home city of Nahor. He took ten camels and everything he needed for the long journey. It probably took two months to get there.
[Show children the map of where we could go that would be 500 miles from home. Discuss the difference in traveling 500 miles then and now; time, comfort, mode of transportation, safety, etc.]
When he arrived it was late in the day. He stopped at a well just outside the city. He prayed and asked God to show him whom to choose.
Read Genesis 24:14.
Abraham's servant had not even finished praying when a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well. Rebekah gave him water to drink after he asked. Then she offered to fill the trough with water for his camels. Whew! Rebekah was not only kind but also a hard worker because ten camels can drink a lot of water! God had prepared her heart for this day.
What do you think of Rebekah’s offer to water 10 camels? This is a lot of work. It is no small, or easy task. How would you have responded?
I know I probably would have looked at the man like he was crazy. A camel can drink up to 200 liters of water a day. [Show the children the empty 2-liter soda bottle.] Each camel could drink up to 100 of these bottles and there were 10 camels. Wow! [You can take time to figure the math as a group.] Especially in today’s “me-world,” where we are taught to put ourselves first before the needs of others, I don’t know how many people would fulfill this request. What about you? Are you ever annoyed by someone’s request for help? Or do you jump at the opportunity to help someone in need? Where is our heart in serving others? What does God ask of us?
Rebekah had no way of knowing that she was an answer to prayer. Then the servant gave her a gold nose ring and two gold arm bracelets for her kindness and asked for a place to stay the night.
[Show children the gold bracelet. Explain that women wore nose rings and gold bands on their arms.]
Rebekah ran home and got her brother Laban to come back with her to the well. Then they invited Abraham's servant home to meet her father Bethuel. They all sat down to eat and the servant told what happened and how God answered his prayer. Rebekah listened as Abraham's servant explained he was on a mission to find a wife for his master's son, who was a wealthy man, blessed by God. He asked Rebekah's father and brother for permission for Isaac to marry Rebekah. --By the way, Rebekah and Isaac had never even seen each other!
Bethuel and Laban said, “This is from the Lord!” Then the servant gave Rebekah more gold jewelry, silver jewelry, and expensive clothes; he also gave her brother and mother precious things. In those days it was a custom for the father of the groom to give presents to the bride's family. It took a lot of faith for both Rebekah and Isaac to trust their parents to make this decision.
The next day Rebekah left to travel with the servant and meet the man she would marry.
A few months later, back in Hebron, Isaac was in the field at sunset spending some quiet time with God. He had waited patiently for nearly four months while the servant was gone. He must have been happy to see the caravan of camels coming home, hoping to meet his bride!
Rebekah saw a man across the field coming to meet them. She was so excited that she slid down off her camel and asked who this man must be. Somehow I think she knew it was Isaac even before she asked who it was. She covered her face with her veil so he would be surprised how pretty she was later on their wedding day.
Even though Isaac and Rebekah grew up miles apart, God brought them together.
This story has some similarities in how God works in our lives today. Isaac’s descendant was Jesus. God the Father sends the Holy Spirit, asking us to accept Jesus as our Lord, and become the bride of Christ. When he finds us he asks us to leave behind our old life and come join him in a new life as a Christian. We have to decide if we will follow him or not. It is our choice.
Let's pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me. Help me to trust my parents when they decide things for me. Help me to trust you more each day. Amen.
* Although Rebekah was a granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham's brother, she may have been close in age to Isaac because he was born when Abraham was 100 years old.
Resources:
Story adapted for Hillside Community Church Children’s Ministry from http://childrensermons.com/rebekah/ Isaac and Rebekah
©2002 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.
A lesson written by Tricia Shive from: Hillside Community Church, Golden, CO
Isaac and Rebekah
Art Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
Focus on the servant’s prayer and how God answers us. Children make a prayer plaque to hang up at home to encourage prayer and reflection.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 24
Memory Verse
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9
Purpose:
Objectives and Life Application
Children will be able to…
- Identify where this story is in the Bible.
- Learn about the faithfulness of Abraham’s servant and how is prayer was answered even before he finished praying. Talk about how their prayer lives can reflect that sort of faith.
Leader Preparation:
- Review the story from the last rotation when Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.
- Read Genesis 24:12-15
- Make a sample Prayer Plaque
- Gather the materials.
- Prepare your classroom before the children arrive.
- For the younger students, consider writing the prayer prompts on their plaques before they arrive.
Supplies List:
- Bibles
- Tiles (Plaque) (we used small canvas instead.)
- Wire
- Pencils
- Beads (Also added decorative wooden shapes for them to glue to their “plaque.)
- Hot glue gun and glue (We used masking tape to attach the wire.)
- Permanent markers
LESSON
Opening:
Introduce yourself. Take time to greet the children and share about today’s story. Pray before beginning class.
Bible story and activity:
Children will hear the whole story of how Rebekah was chosen for Isaac in the Storytelling Workshop (above). In this workshop, we will focus specifically on Genesis 24:12-15.
- Explain to the children that in each workshop during this rotation they will be (or have been) learning more about how Abraham chose a bride for Isaac, customs surrounding this tradition, answered prayers in choosing a bride, trusting God and trusting our parents. Tell them that Abraham’s servant was sent to find a bride for Isaac.
- Have children open their Bibles and read aloud Genesis 24:12-15.
- Ask questions to get the children thinking about how amazing it is that God answers our prayers. He loves us so much that He listens to our deepest desires. This was Abraham’s servant on a quest for a bride for his son Isaac. This was a huge task and one that the servant knew required God’s help.
- In verse 15 we see that God answered the servant’s prayer. When did the servant see an answer? (Even before he finished praying… wow!)
- What an honor to know that God is with us always and hears when we pray. Does anyone want to share about a time when they received an answer to prayer so quickly? What about a time when you had to wait for an answer?
- Tell the children that God wants us to pray about everything. Sometimes we turn to God only when we are sad, hurt, or angry, but God wants us to talk to Him all of the time. He cares about our little things as much as our big things. (Take time to share the differences between little prayer requests and bigger prayer requests. They will look very different at each age group and for each child. Emphasize that everything matters to God.)
- Write on the board:
- Pray for everything first and then act in faith.
- Praise God for His answers.
- Tell others what God has done for me.
- Read Genesis 24:26. The servant praised God for His answers.
- These are steps that we need to remember in our prayer life.
Activity- Prayer Plaque
The children are going to make a small plaque to hang in their rooms with the prayer reminders.
For the younger kids, the words are already written on the plaque. The 4th-6th graders can copy what you have written on the board with a permanent marker.
- Show the kids the sample.
- You can shorten the three prayer steps on your plaque if you would like, to "Pray, Praise God, Tell others."
- Pass out one tile to each child. Remind them to be careful and work cautiously. The tiles can break and we don’t have many extras.
- The kids can work to draw little designs on their tiles with the permanent markers. Tell them they don’t want to draw too much because it will cover up their words. Draw on the board a couple of sample items for them to draw. They could do dots, squiggles, a cross, doodle people, stars, etc.
- Pass out one wire and one pencil to each child. Show them how to curl the wire around the pencil to make it curly.
- Place a small bucket of beads at each table and show the children how to place 6-8 beads on the wire.
- When wires and tiles are done, you can invite the children up one at a time to your workspace and hot glue the wires on to the back of the tile. The plaques will need to sit for the rest of class to dry. The kids may even need to pick them up next week.
- Clean-up tables, floor, etc.
Memory Verse (Optional)
- Write the memory verse on the board.
- Pass out crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc. and a plan piece of white paper to each child.
- Have children copy the memory verse from the board to their piece of paper. They can decorate the paper with designs, colors, pictures, etc.
Reflection:
Read their Prayer Plaques together as a class and find out if they already have a place they might want to hang them.
Take some time praying with the children at the end of class. Pray specifically that they/we would continue to trust God’s plan for our lives.
A lesson written by Tricia Shive from: Hillside Community Church, Golden, CO
A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.
Isaac and Rebekah
Game Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
Focus on Isaac trusting his father; kids trusting their parents and Jesus; games to show trust and to review the scripture lesson.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 24
Memory Verse
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9
Purpose:
Objectives and Life Application
Children will be able to…
- Identify where this story is in the Bible.
- Learn that we need to trust our parents and the decisions that they make for our lives.
- Learn that Jesus works in our lives and by trusting our parents’ decisions and obeying them, we learn to trust Jesus.
- Understand the traditions of marriages during Biblical times, and compare Biblical marriage traditions and ceremonies to those of today.
- Learn about the faithfulness of Abraham’s servant and how is prayer was answered even before he finished praying.
Leader Preparation:
- Review the scripture.
- Gather and prepare the supplies.
- Create a list of story review questions from this Bible story and from others your students have studied recently.
Supplies List:
- Bibles
- Bucket and spoon
- Watch with a second hand/timer (or cellphone timer app)
- Hats - one less than the number of children in the class
- Safety pins
- Note cards with the name of a biblical character you have studied printed on each
- music and a player
LESSON
Opening:
Introduce yourself. Take time to greet the children and share about today’s story. Pray before beginning class.
Bible and activity:
Children will hear the whole story of how Rebekah was chosen for Isaac in the Storytelling Workshop. In this workshop, we will focus specifically on Genesis 24:1-8.
- Explain to the children that in each workshop during this rotation, they will be (or have been) learning more about how Abraham chose a bride for Isaac, customs surrounding this tradition, answered prayers in choosing a bride, trusting God and trusting our parents. Tell them that Abraham’s servant was sent to find a bride for Isaac.
- Pass out the Bibles and have children read with you Genesis 24:1-8.
- Discuss the following questions: (You may have to shorten the discussion for the K-1 class.)
- Why do you think Abraham would send his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac?
Young people did not normally decide whom they would marry.
It was marriage first and love afterwards. The practice of arranging marriages did not mean that parents did not consider the feelings of their children. - Why did Abraham ask his servant to find someone from his own people?
Marriages were arranged, if possible, with members of one’s own kin. People from other clans, or tribes had different beliefs and worshipped different gods. Abraham knew that by choosing a bride for Isaac from his own family line, that she would be a wife that loved God. We don’t hear of many arranged marriages in America, but parents should still play a role in making sure their child’s husband, or wife-to-be loves the Lord and that the two are right for one another. - Do you think it was difficult for Isaac to trust his father with such an important decision?
He had seen how his father was faithful to God and it might have easier because of Abraham’s faithfulness, or because it was simply the custom at the time. - How would you respond if your parents chose a husband, or wife for you at the appropriate time? What if it was someone you had never even met? What would you fear?
- Do you ever get frustrated with the decisions your parents might make for you now? Maybe a movie they won’t let you see, because they know it isn’t appropriate., or you can only have one bowl of ice cream instead of two. Can you think of anything? Do you remember how quickly your frustration goes away?
- Do you know why your parents make the decisions that they do even though you may not always like the decision, or agree with them?
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Your parents are doing what God has asked of them. They are obeying Him and leaning on His wisdom to know what is best for your life. It is your responsibility to trust and obey them.
Games!
Game #1 - “Who Do You Trust?”
Adapted from another lesson at www.rotation.org.
- Divide the children into two teams. Have the assistant teacher help manage the teams and keep score on the board.
- Have each team sit in a row facing the white board. Decide which team will go first by choosing the most quiet, or flipping a coin, etc. Have them decide on a team name. Write each team name on the white board. Use the information below to explain how to play the game.
- One person from the first team stands up front facing his team. Ask him/her the question, “Do you trust yourself, or someone else to answer this next question?” If they answer the question correctly, they are awarded 200 points for a correct answer. If they choose to have someone from their team answer their question, they are awarded 100 points answer. If the question is not answered correctly no points are awarded. Children may not choose the same person twice in a row and one person may not go twice in a row. (For example, Stephen can’t choose Blake each time it is his turn. If Blake chooses Stephen on his turn, the next person may not choose Stephen.)
- Using the questions you prepared, begin the game. Play until you have gone through each question several times, or until the children get restless.
Game #2 – “Bang The Bucket”
The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry Copyright 2002 Group Publishing, Inc. pp.153
- Ask children to form trios (or pairs, depending on your class size) and tell them, “Every time I bang the bucket, you’ll have 20 seconds to form a new trio – with different people. Then you’ll have 45 seconds to discuss the question I ask. Follow my orders every time I bang the bucket!”
- Ask the discussion starters giving each group approximately 45 seconds to talk before you again bang the bucket.
- What’s the weirdest haircut you’ve seen?
- Tell about your favorite socks.
- Imitate a cartoon character.
- How long do you think it took Rebekah to draw enough water for ten camels from the well.
- Describe a camel to someone who has never seen one before.
- Explain your answer to this question: Abraham's servant gave Rebekah bracelets as a gift. What would be your idea of the perfect gift?
- At the end of the game, bang the bucket one more time and tell the children to sit in a circle. Discuss the following questions:
- Who was in charge of this game? Why?
- You didn’t have to obey me each time, but you did. Those were silly questions to talk about. Why did you obey me and talk about them?
- This game was far more fun when you obeyed the leader. In what ways are our live more fun when we obey Jesus? How about when we obey our parents?
Game #3 – “Musical Hats”
- Have children sit on chairs in a circle. Each child, except one, will have a hat on their lap.
- Play the music as the children pass the hats to the left. When the music stops, each child with a hat must put the hat on their head fast, so it is not stolen. A hat on the head may not be stolen, but a hat still in a lap may be stolen.
- The child left without a hat is “out” and chooses one person. The person chosen needs to tell one fact about the name of the Biblical character written on their hat. If they do not have a fact, they become the one “out” and the game continues. Each time a child is “out” another hat needs to be removed.
Reflection:
Take time to read the memory verse together.
Can anyone explain the verse?
Our parents love us so much and they know what is best and good for our lives. We need to trust and obey. God loves us more than we can even imagine! This verse tells us that what God has planned for those who love and obey Him is something that no one has ever even seen, or heard, or been able to think about. That is truly magnificent!
Pray before dismissing.
Resource:
The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times by Ralph Gower Revised and updated edition, copyright 2005, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, pp. 62
A lesson written by Tricia Shive from: Hillside Community Church, Golden, CO
A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.
