(Here’s a lesson I used when leading a Bible Study in our church’s Children’s Department.)
Abraham’s Loyalty (Abraham and Isaac)
Opener: Ask a child to sit on a stool at the front of the room. Put a blindfold on the child. Tell him to open his mouth and let him know you’re going to put something inside. He can choose to trust you and open his mouth, or keep his mouth closed. (Put a gummy worm inside the child’s mouth. Let all the kids know that at the end of class they will each get a gummy worm.)
Say, As our story begins, things were going pretty well for Abraham. He has peace with his neighbors, water in the dessert, Ishmael and his mother were taken care of.
Then… (have the kids help make the sound – dum, dum, dum)
Read Genesis 22:1.
Say, Let me explain what it means that God “tested” Abraham. God wanted to see if Abraham was loyal. I’m gong to use this tape to show you what that word means.
Have two kids come to the front. Give each child a different colored strip of Duck tape. Tell them to connect the two pieces of tape – sticky sides together. Thank those students and allow then sit down.
Say, let’s say this “purple” side of the tape represents God and this “orange” side represents Abraham. To be loyal means you stick with someone no matter what. (Try to peel the tape apart-you should not be able to.) Again emphasis that loyalty means you stick with someone-no matter what.
Ask, Why might God want to test Abraham to see if he’s loyal now?
Say, God had made a promise to Abraham – that he would have as many descendants as the stars! Descendants means children, grand-children, great grand-children, great, great grandchildren and so on. Before they had any children yet, Abraham and Sarah were passing through an area and he told Sarah to lie and say she was his sister so the king wouldn’t see how beautiful she was and want her for his bride and kill him.
Ask, Did Abraham trust God? (No) Was he sticking with God no matter what? (No) [show tape]
Say, Later, this same Abraham decided he would pick another boy to be his heir when God clearly said he and Sarah’s son would be heir.
Ask, Did Abraham trust God? (No) Was he sticking with God no matter what? (No) [show tape]
Say, Some time has passed now and things are going well for Abraham. He’s learned a lot. And now God is testing him to see if he trusts Him now – if he’s loyal and will stick with him no matter what. [show tape again]
Read Genesis 22:2.
Say, Abraham has a choice to make. Will he now trust/stick with God-no matter what? Let’s find out…
Read Genesis 22:3-12. Be sure to stop and point out the word “we” in verse 5. Did Abraham trust God now? (Yes) [show tape] He knew that God had promised that his descendants would be like the stars. Isaac was his only son. He didn’t understand it, but he was sticking with God and knew God would keep his promise.
Read Genesis 22:13-19. Here, God restated his promise to Abraham. He knew that Abraham was loyal to Him and would stick with Him no matter what! [show tape]
Say, When I put the gummy worm in ___ (student’s name) mouth earlier, he had to decide if he trusted me or not, but we can always trust God. We can obey Him and stick with Him – no matter what!
Give each child a gummy worm.