God Gives Abraham a Test

Transcription

1 PCPC Preschool Curriculum - The Patriarchs - Lesson 6 June 29, 2014 God Gives Abraham a Test Worship Emphasis God is pleased when we obey Him. Scripture Reference Genesis 22 Hymn of the Month Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Morning Overview First Hour 9:35-10:00 Kinder Church (4s/5s) 10:05-10:30 Cherub Church (2s/3s) Craft: Cross Mosaic Snack Second Hour Craft: Ram in Sticks Story Questions for Review Singing Scripture Memory Optional Activities Preparing Your Heart to Share the Wonders Now God was about to test Abraham (Genesis 22:1-2) not to tempt Abraham to do evil but to strengthen him. Since God had given him everything, Abraham knew he could hold nothing back - not even his son. Along with his obedience, Abraham s faith in God s provision shines throughout the narrative: Abraham expected Isaac to return with him (22:5) and anticipated that God would provide for the offering (22:8). Abraham trusted God so completely that he believed God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). God was teaching Abraham that he provides everything his people need. Great Commission Publications So long as men live in the world, they will turn to this story with unwaning interest. There is only one scene in history by which it is surpassed: that where the Great Father gave his Isaac to a death from which there was no deliverance. God and Abraham were friends in a common sorrow up to a certain point; though the infinite love of God stepped in to stay the hand of Abraham at the critical moment, sparing His friend what He would not spare Himself. F. B. Meyer, Abraham Notes for 9:30 Craft: Cross Mosaic Supplies: cross template with Bible verse, construction paper squares, glue: Genesis 22:7-8 Directions: Let the children glue the construction paper squares inside the cross shape. 1

2 Lesson Objectives 1. Children will complete the craft with help. 2. Children will participate in the Transition Game. 3. Two and three year olds will sit quietly for at least 8 minutes and listen to the story. Four and five year olds will sit quietly for at least 12 minutes and listen to the story. 4. Children will be able to give simple answers to the questions listed at the end of the lesson. You may want to intersperse the questions throughout the story rather than waiting to ask them all at the end. 11:00 Craft and Transition to Story Time Craft: Ram in Sticks Supplies: pictures of ram, sticks or hay, glue, crayons Directions: Let the children color the picture of the ram. Let the children glue the sticks or hay to the picture. Finger Play Here is the mother. (Point to thumb.) Here is the father. (Point to index finger.) Here is the brother tall. (Point to third finger.) Here is the sister. (Point to ring finger.) Here is the baby. (Point to little finger.) Oh, how God loves them all! (Cradle arms and rock back and forth.) Prayer Father, give us good listening ears and help us to understand this story from your true Word. In Jesus name, amen. Transition Last week we talked about two cities: Sodom and Gomorrah. But before that we talked about a baby. Who remembers what the baby s name was? Who was his father? Who was his mother? Lots of people have baby boys like Isaac, but why was he so special? You can imagine how much Abraham and Sarah loved their baby. They were so thankful that God had given him to them. It was a miracle. God had promised that He would give Abraham and Sarah a baby boy and He did! But one day God decided to give Abraham a test. Do you know what a test is? A test shows what you really know about something or whether 2

3 Key Concepts: It would be wonderful if our little ones could grasp these main points: God desires our obedience. Abraham obeyed God even when it was costly. you can really do something or how you really feel about something. God was going to give Abraham a test to see if Abraham would obey God even if God asked him to do the hardest thing in the whole world - a test to see if Abraham loved God most of all. Story God speaks to Abraham One day God called Abraham. Abraham knew God s voice. He had heard Him before, Abraham. Here I am, he said. You must take your only son Isaac, whom you love so much, go to the land of Moriah and there on the mountain I want you to give Isaac back to Me as an offering. Now I m sure Abraham didn t understand at all why God would want him to give Isaac back. Why, Abraham and Sarah had waited so long for a baby. God had given Isaac to them. God also had promised that Isaac would begin a big family (with as many people as the stars, remember?). And that family would be a blessing to the whole world. But now, God was asking Abraham to do something that was very, very hard. But Abraham knew that God loved him. Abraham knew that God loved Isaac and Abraham knew that God only wanted the very best for them both. And so Abraham decided that he would obey God. Yes, even though he didn t understand why God was asking him to do such a hard thing as giving his sweet Isaac back to the Lord. Yes, Abraham would obey! The journey The Bible says Abraham didn t wait, but he got up early the next morning and put a saddle on his donkey. He took two young servant men with him and Isaac his son. Abraham also cut enough wood to make an altar for the offering he would give to the Lord. For three days Abraham and Isaac and the two men traveled. They had to go a long distance. God had told them where to go and it was pretty far away. All the time they were traveling I bet Abraham was so sad as he thought how God had asked him to give Isaac back. But he kept moving forward, toward the place God had said. Abraham had heard God s voice and He would obey. The sacrifice Finally, on the third day Abraham looked up and saw the mountain way in the distance. He said to his two servants, Stay here with the donkey while Isaac and I go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you. Then Abraham took the wood for the offering and placed it on Isaac s shoulders. Isaac carried the heavy wood like this (show 3

4 how Isaac would have carried it on his shoulders). Now Isaac knew how to build the altar. He had probably watched his father Abraham offer sacrifices to the Lord before. He knew how to make a fire, but Isaac didn t know where the animal was that they would use as an offering. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac asked Abraham, Father? Yes, my son? Abraham replied. Where is the lamb for the offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the offering, my son. And the two of them went on together toward the mountain. All the time Abraham must have wondered why God would ask him to give Isaac back. But Abraham would obey. He would trust that God loved him and Isaac and he would trust that God would only do what is right. Finally they got to the place where God had told Abraham to go. Abraham built an altar there. First he arranged the wood he had cut and Isaac had carried. Then Abraham placed Isaac on the altar to give him back to the Lord. Isaac would be the offering. Abraham would do just what God had said. He would give his son Isaac who he loved so much back to God just as God had asked. God speaks again But God was looking down at Abraham. He saw that Abraham would obey. God saw that Abraham loved Him even more than his sweet Isaac. Oh, but God was pleased! Abraham! Abraham! It was God s voice again! Abraham stopped. He listened to God s voice, Don t do anything to Isaac. Now I know that you love Me more than anything else. For you would have even given me your only son. God provides the sacrifice Then Abraham looked up and there in some thick bushes (called a thicket) was ram. A ram is a boy sheep that has long horns that are curved like this (show long curved horns). Why the ram was caught by his horns in the bushes and he was stuck. Abraham knew that the ram had been placed there by the Lord. Abraham would offer that ram to God instead of his son Isaac. God had provided that ram for the offering. The Bible says Abraham gave that place on the mountain a special name. It was the place where he had built an altar to give Isaac back to God, but instead, God had provided a ram. God had provided the only sacrifice that was needed. Abraham called it, the Lord will provide. Then Abraham heard God s words again. Because you have done this 4

5 and were willing to give me even your son who you love so much, I will surely bless you, Abraham, I will make your children and their children as many as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. All nations on the whole earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me. Then the Bible says Abraham returned to his servants, and with Isaac they all went home. Once again, Abraham had trusted and obeyed God. For the 2s Refer to the sacrifice as God told Abraham to give Isaac to Him. For the older children You may choose to be more specific. (This story leaves out the He bound his son Isaac... then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.) If you choose to include this, make certain the children understand that God meant this as a test (22:1). He never intended for Abraham to kill his son and He has never required any human sacrifice. Questions younger: older: Who gave Abraham a test? What did God want Abraham to do? What did Abraham do? What did God put in the bushes so that Abraham and Isaac could give an offering to Him? Why did God give Abraham such a hard test? Singing Review Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Alphabet Memorization: Phil 2: Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world... Optional Activities Mother, May I Simon Says 5

6 55: To God Be the Glory To God be the glory, great things he hath done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, Who yielded his life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that we may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give him the glory, great things he hath done! O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood! To ev'ry believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus forgiveness receives. Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.