Isaac and Rebekah

OBJECTIVE

Through the story of Isaac meeting Rebekah at the well, we hope to deliver the message to our children that the Lord delivers His promises to without delay and how we must put our trust in the Lord, especially in our times of need.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Option 1

Ask the students to think of a time when they were faced with something difficult, waited for God to answer, and He came through for you in an amazing way.

• For example, maybe they were really sick or hungry or lost in a store...

As Christians, we learn in the holy church that the Lord takes care of us and he delivers us out of problems and difficulties. This was the case with Isaac.

Next, introduce the story of Abraham's servant searching for a bride for Isaac and how he found Rebekah.

God directed Isaac to Rebekah through Abraham's servant and made sure that Abraham's promise was fulfilled in which God told him, "He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there." (Gen. 24:7)

God granted Isaac a faithful wife from a family who trusted in God.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Genesis 24

Memory Verse

"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way..." (Exodus 23:20)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 5 Minutes

Remember, that Isaac was born to Abraham (100 years old) and Sarah (90 years old) and God promised Abraham that he would have descendants like the stars in the sky and sand on the seashore.

Prayer- Abraham's servant prayed to God for the right woman for Abraham's son and sure enough before he was done praying, Rebekah came to the well where Isaac was. Abraham's father was worried because Isaac was 40 years old.

Meeting- Rebekah carried a pitcher of water and Abraham's servant asked to drink some water and she allowed him to drink as well as the camels that Abraham's servant brought. After the camels finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose ring and two bracelets. He asked if there was room to stay with her family and Rebekah said that there was room for them to stay the night and enough straw for the camels.

Sharing the news- Rebekah ran home to tell her mother what happened. The family took the camels and washed the servants' feet. Abraham's servant wanted to say why he was there- in order for Isaac to find a wife. The servant explained that the things Rebekah did were the signs that Rebekah was the right person. Laban, Rebekah's brother, said that this was from God. He agreed and said that Rebekah will be Isaac's wife as God had intended.

Celebration- Abraham's servant brought jewelry and gave it to Rebekah. He also gave clothing and gifts to Rebekah's mother and brother. Rebekah's mother requested Rebekah to stay 10 days with her before she married Isaac. However, Abraham's servant insisted that they get married immediately. Isaac met Rebekah when she arrived at his father's house and married Isaac.

God provided Isaac and Rebekah with two sons- Esau and Jacob.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

• What virtues can we observe in this story from both Isaac and Rebekah?
  • Trust- Rebekah listened to Abraham's servant and Laban said that it is God's will for this marriage to happen.
  • Patience- Isaac married in his 40s and his father patiently waited for him to find a wife.
  • Obedience- Rebekah did not oppose Abraham's servant and listened to the servant until she met Isaac.
• How many people helped Isaac in this story to find his wife?
  • His father, Abraham who took as one of his last missions to help his son.
  • The servant of Abraham who journeyed far, prayed and was obedient to Abraham's instructions and grateful to God. He recognized clearly God's instructions and messages to him.
  • Angel that God sent before the servant to direct him to the well at the right time.
  • Laban, Rebekah's brother who encouraged the servant to enter.

• What does God do for us in our daily lives that may seem difficult for us to let go of?
• If things do not necessarily go my way, does it mean that God does not love us?
• What are the lessons that I learn from Isaac and Rebekah that I can apply in my life?

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

In our daily lives, we encounter many different people that God may send to help us to see His will and future for us. List how many people God sent you as help or "angel" (parents, sunday school servants, relatives, friends, servants, priests, etc.)

God places our friends in our lives to help us. We must be diligent in seeking good friends and in surrounding ourselves with positive people.

All along, God had a plan for both Isaac and Rebekah. Although we may not always understand what God does in our life, God has a plan for each one of us.

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

Just like we learned, Isaac and Rebekah loved one another. In loving God and listening to Him, we can prepare ourselves to be sons and daughters of God.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Suggested activities

• Coloring Worksheet
• Memory Game (Purchase required - $0.95)
• Camel Clothespin Craft Kit (may also be duplicated using construction paper and pins)
• Paint a Camel - Handprint Craft

Optional - (requires preparation and going outside)

Materials: 2 liter bottles and 2 inflatable kiddie pools

• 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 willing to serve just as Rebekah. (If the teams are not evenly numbered, one child may have to go twice, or you can join them.)

SERVANT RESOURCES

• Additional Craft and Lesson materials can be downloaded as a PDF from TrueWayKids.com
• Visual Aids - A Wife for Isaac
• Refer to the Old Testament Timeline attached for major events and chronological order through the Bible.
• Old Testament Books Song- Missing Deuterocanonical books (Tobit and Judith from history books, Wisdom and Sirach from poetic books, Baruch, 1&2 Maccabees from prophetic books, and the Prayer of Manasseh)

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Show pictures from your wedding or someone you know. Discuss with your children the importance of marrying a Christian and the importance of letting God guide our decisions in our life.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS