God Blessed Isaac

Session 7 Session 7: God Blessed Isaac

FOR THE God Blessed Isaac LEADER Genesis 26:1-6,12-33 Now grown, the son of promise, Isaac, was on his own living in the land of Canaan. In a vision, as had happened with his father, Abraham, God told Isaac to stay in Gerar even though a famine gripped the land. God promised to provide for Isaac and his family and to bless them where they lived. God also reiterated the promise He had given to Abraham, promising to make Isaac’s offspring as numerous as the stars and to give the land he lived in as a possession to his descendants forever. Isaac did as God instructed and remained in the land of Gerar. Over time, Isaac’s wealth in livestock and grain began to strain his relationship with the residents of Gerar. God had blessed Isaac with an abundant return of crops on what Isaac had planted. Even during a famine, God caused Isaac’s crops to produce a hundredfold what he had sown. Isaac’s neighbors began to get annoyed that Isaac’s crops were growing so well and his livestock continued to thrive and increase. When Isaac went to draw water from a well his father, Abraham, had dug, he discovered that the Philistines had filled the well in with dirt to prevent him from using it. The Philistines were making it clear that they did not want Isaac living in “their” land anymore. Instead of quarreling with the Philistines, Isaac moved to an area where Abraham had previously dug many wells. The Philistines had already covered those with dirt, so Isaac and his helpers dug out those wells and began to water their livestock. Before long, the people of the nearby town claimed those wells as their own and Isaac once again moved to another area and opened the wells Abraham had dug. Another argument ensued, Isaac moved again, dug a new well, and finally found peace in the land. Isaac trusted God to care for him. Isaac showed God’s kindness and sought peace with those around him, and God blessed Isaac and his family with rest.

SESSION FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 26:1-6,12-33 MEMORY VERSE: Genesis 26:24b TEXT TRUTH: Isaac trusted God and chose to seek peace. CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. In the beginning, God created a perfect world. Sin separated mankind from God and showed that people need a Savior. God called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with a promise that one of their descendants would be the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah, the One who came to rescue people from their sin.

GET STARTED TOOLS BIBLE STUDY TOOLS SMALL GROUP TOOLS (10 MINUTES) (35 MINUTES) (30 MINUTES) ¨¨Bible Skills: “Who’s ¨¨Jump In: “Well Pictures” ¨Ëxplorer Guides: Bibles, in Genesis? Cards” (Poster Pack), “Well Explorer Guides, pens (enhanced CD), Bibles Mosaic” (DVD-ROM), ¨¨Move: 4 buckets (2 filled a cup of water, a cup of with water), 2 plastic mud, plastic spoons, bowl cups, plastic sheeting or ¨Ëxamine the Text: towels Bibles, “Text Truth ¨¨Make: Bible, modeling Strips” (Poster Pack) clay ¨¨Play the Video: Explore ¨Ëxplore: “Choosing Peace the Bible on Location Cards” (enhanced CD) Videos ¨¨Memory Verse: “Genesis 26:24b” (Poster Pack), construction paper, marker ¨¨Prayer: bowl, index cards, pencils, Family Cards

NOTE: Downloadable versions of DVD items are available in the Digital Video Bundle. Downloadable versions of enhanced CD items are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible.

GOD BLESSED ISAAC TEXT CONNECTION Genesis 26:1-6,12-33 • Isaac, the son God had promised to Abraham, God made a covenant with Abraham. He told Abraham that the covenant had grown up in Canaan, the land where Abraham would also be for Abraham’s descendants. One day God spoke to Abraham’s lived. Isaac had become son, Isaac. A famine had come to the land but God said, “Stay in this very wealthy and had many land. I will be with you and bless you. I will give this land to you and crops and animals. The your descendants. All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your people who lived in the land descendants because Abraham listened and obeyed My instructions.” became jealous of Isaac’s wealth and told him to leave. Isaac planted seed and grew over 100 times what he planted. God was • Trusting God, Isaac chose to blessing Isaac. Isaac became very wealthy, but the Philistines were envious have peace with the people. of Isaac. The Philistines filled up all the wells that Abraham’s servants had Instead of starting a fight, dug. Now instead of water, the wells were full of dirt. The leader of the Isaac moved to another area Philistines, Abimelech, told Isaac to leave. and opened up the wells of his father, Abraham. (The Isaac left and settled in a new spot, the Valley of Gerar. He reopened some Philistines had earlier filled other wells that his father had dug long ago. Next Isaac’s servants dug and in all the wells Abraham used to keep Isaac from found a well of spring water. But the herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s having continued success.) herdsmen over the spring water. Another well was dug, but they argued over that well too. • Three times Isaac moved and worked to dig wells that So Isaac moved and dug a new well. Isaac knew that God was with him had already been filled in. and would take care of him. Isaac and his family moved to Beer-sheba. That Finally, Isaac found peace in the land. Isaac chose to night God appeared to Isaac. “Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will bless seek peace and trusted God you and your descendants.” Isaac built an altar to praise God. Then Isaac to care for him. God blessed pitched his tent and his servants dug a new well. Isaac and his family with rest. Later Abimelech came to visit Isaac. Isaac asked him, “Why have you come? You told me to leave.” • God blessed Isaac for his peacefulness. Paul wrote to Abimelech told Isaac, “We have seen that God has been with you. We want the Galatian churches that to make a covenant with you.” Isaac agreed to have peace. After the men mature believers seek to restore broken relationships left, Isaac’s servants came to tell him that they had dug a new well and through peace, and to found water. God was with Isaac and taking care of him. be good stewards of the resources God has given.

KEY POINTS EXPLORE THE • Choose peace. BIBLE AT HOME • Trust God to provide. See the enhanced CD for • Isaac trusted God to provide for him. additional family resources.

GET STARTED (10 MINUTES) TOOLS: BIBLE SKILLS • Bible Skills: “Who’s in • Welcome kids to your group and direct them to the “Who’s in Genesis? Genesis? Cards” (enhanced Cards” you’ve mixed up and put facedown on the floor. CD), Bibles • Give each kid a turn choosing a person whose story they think is in Genesis. • As they find ones that are featured in Genesis, make a separate stack of ANSWERS: those cards. • Adam (Genesis) • When you have found all the cards from Genesis, say: “Look at the • Noah (Genesis) • Abraham (Genesis) important people in history whose stories we can read in Genesis. From • Isaac (Genesis) Genesis to Revelation, the message of the Bible and each of these people’s • Jacob (Genesis) lives is that God rescues us and brings us closer to Him.” • Joseph (Genesis) • Guide kids to find the Book of Genesis in their Bibles. Explain that • Moses (Exodus) today’s Bible story will be about Isaac, Abraham’s son. • David (1 Samuel– • Dismiss to Bible Study. 2 Chronicles) • Ruth (Ruth) • Daniel (Daniel) • Samson (Judges) • Joshua (Joshua)

BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT • Identifies prominent Bible people by the books in which their stories are recorded. • Learns the Bible is God’s message about Himself and how He rescues and transforms us.

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES) JUMP IN TOOLS: • Display the “Well Pictures” poster. Invite kids to look at the different • Jump In: “Well Pictures” types of wells. (Poster Pack), “Well Mosaic” • Most kids will not have used a well to get water before, but ask if anyone (DVD-ROM), a cup of has or has seen one. water, a cup of mud, plastic • Show the “Well Mosaic” visual and explain that in Bible times wells were spoons, bowl very important because they were often the only source of water for a • Examine the Text: Bibles, “Text Truth Strips” (Poster town. In many places in the world without running water, wells are still Pack) very important. • Play the Video: Explore the • Show the cup of water and invite the kids to take turns spooning the Bible on Location Videos water into a bowl. Count the number of spoonfuls of water in the cup. • Memory Verse: • Now bring out the cup filled with mud. Ask the kids to do the same “Genesis 26:24b” (Poster thing, trying to get out spoonfuls of water. Pack), construction paper, • Ask the kids why they can’t get any more water out. (Because the dirt has marker absorbed the water and it’s just mud now) • Prayer: bowl, index cards, • Say: “This is going to be important to our story today. Let’s find out more pencils, Family Cards about it.”

EXAMINE THE TEXT • Direct kids to open their Bibles to Genesis 26. • Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 26:1-6 to set the story. • Now tell the rest of the Bible story in your own words. A Bible story page has been provided for you to use as a guide. • Ask the kids to stand while you tell the story. Every time you mention that Isaac had to move, move to another part of the room and invite the kids to follow. • When you get to the part about Isaac moving to Beer-sheba and building the altar, invite the kids to sit down. • Say: “Finally Isaac could stay in this land with his family and all his flocks.” • Ask: “Do you think Isaac had reason to be mad on this trip?” (Of course! He was often treated unfairly and had to keep moving just to get clean water. That would make anyone mad.) • Ask: “What are some ways Isaac could have handled his anger?” (Revenge, violence, filling up their wells with dirt) • Say: “Instead Isaac trusted God and chose to seek peace.” • Display and point out the “Text Truth Strip.”

PLAY THE VIDEO • Play the Session 7 video. • Ask: “Who did Kaileigh meet? Why did Morgan Grace travel to Asia? What happened while she was there? Why do Christians want others to have good, clean water?”

MEMORY VERSE MEMORY VERSE • Show the “Genesis 26:24b” poster and read the Memory Verse together. PREPARATION: • Give the phrases of the verse that you’ve written on the paper to the kids • Write each phrase of the and ask them to put themselves in order. Each time the kids get in order, Memory Verse on a separate say the verse again. paper. • Give each kid a chance to hold a part of the verse as new groups of kids put the verse in order.

PRAYER • Distribute Family Cards and review today’s object, the “Well Mosaic.” • Give kids index cards and pencils. • Put the bowl in the middle of the group and explain that this will symbolize a well. • Ask kids to write a sentence prayer to God. • Invite them to put their cards in the “well” and remember that we can trust God like Isaac did. • Tell them that you will take home the cards and pray for each of them this week. (Make sure you follow through!) • Close with a short prayer aloud. • Dismiss to Small Group.

TOOLS: SMALL GROUP (30 MINUTES) • Explorer Guides: Bibles, EXPLORER GUIDES Explorer Guides, pens • Distribute Explorer Guides and assist kids in locating today’s pages, “God Blessed Issac.” • Invite kids to review today’s object, the “Well Mosaic.” • Guide boys and girls to complete the “Mosaic” activity. • Allow kids to take turns reading about “How Wells Work.” • Direct kids to examine the map in “Isaac on the Map.” • Lead girls and boys to discuss the situations in “Choosing Peace.”

TECH CONNECT (OPTIONAL) • Prior to group, download the Explore the Bible: Kids Family App. • Use the activity labeled “Explorer Plus” on the app.

ACTIVITIES • Select one or more of the activities to complete as time allows.

MOVE

WATER FROM THE WELL Tools: 4 buckets (2 filled with water), 2 plastic cups, plastic sheeting or towels ¨¨ If possible, consider going outside for this activity. ¨¨ Set up the game with the two buckets with water at one end of the room and the empty buckets at the other. ¨¨ If indoors, cover the floor with plastic sheeting or towels to keep the floor from getting wet.

• Form two teams. (or bucket) to the next. • Tell kids that this will be a relay to transfer the water from one “well” • When you say “Go,” the first players in line will take the cup, run to the water bucket, fill it with water, and carefully walk to their empty bucket. • Encourage kids to be careful and try not to spill. • When the race is over, congratulate the team who transferred the most water. • Say: “Water was something that God provided for Isaac and He provides it for us. We should remember that we can trust God.” • Review the Text Truth: Isaac trusted God and chose to seek peace.

MAK E EXP LO R

E CLAY ALTARS CHOOSE PEACE Tools: Bible, modeling clay Tools: “Choosing Peace Cards” (enhanced CD) ¨¨ Provide enough modeling clay for each kid to have enough to make a small altar out of clay • Review the Text Truth: Isaac trusted God and “stones.” chose to seek peace. • Say: “It probably wasn’t easy to stay peaceful when Isaac was being treated badly and had • Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 26:23-25. to keep moving. It’s not always easy for us to • Say: “People in the Bible would build an choose peace either.” altar to God when they wanted to remember • Ask for a volunteer to select a card and read something special that God had done and to the situation. honor Him.” • Take time to answer the question on each • Review the Text Truth: Isaac trusted God and card. chose to seek peace. • Remind kids that God will be with us and will • Say: “Instead of getting angry and fighting, help us resist anger and wrong choices if we Isaac chose peace and led his family safely ask Him for help. to the land that God had prepared for them. That is the place where Isaac built his altar.” • Instruct the group to make small balls or “stones” from the clay and stack them to make a small altar. • If you prefer, work together as a group to make a larger altar. • As kids work, discuss: “Is there anything God has done that you want to honor Him for? We don’t usually build altars today to honor God. What are some ways that we can honor God?”