YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Tell that God always keeps His promises.

2. Define patience as getting things in God's time, not ours.

3. State that God's ways and timing are always best for us.

Topics & Themes

Abraham
God’s Law
God’s Plan
God’s Promises
Isaac
Ishmael
Patience
Sarah
Wait on God

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, attendance and memory verse chart, stars, songbook, music player and music tapes or CD

Preparation

As the teacher, you are entrusted with the responsibility of gaining the students’ attention and teaching the lesson in such a way that they stay tuned in to find out what the lesson is all about. To do this, your lesson must answer the question, "What
does this have to do with my life?" Your lessons should not merely inform and transmit facts; each one must have a practical application.

Become a motivator - encourage the children to become actively involved in the lesson. Ask questions, act out the lesson, play a game, have hands-on activities and allow students to share their own experiences. When the children see how their experiences connect to the Bible lesson they will be more inclined to "buy in" to the entire lesson.

How to Teach This Lesson

Introduce today's lesson with an object lesson demonstrating patience. Begin by placing a stack of heavy books on one end of a sheet of paper. Ask: "How many of you think I can move this stack of books without touching it?" First, take hold of the paper and yank it out from under the books - they shouldn't move. Say: "That didn't work, I must have done something wrong. Maybe I need to have more patience. Replace the paper. This time slowly pull the paper, moving the stack of books.

Sometimes it is difficult to have patience and wait for things we want. When we are thirsty we want a drink of water immediately. We don't want to have to wait for ice to melt to give us a cold drink! Just like the story of Lori in the student's book, sometimes we try to make things happen instead of waiting for God's timing.

There are times in all our lives when we must have patience and wait. It is not easy to wait, but if you practice having patience it will become easier. Patience means getting things in God's time, not yours.

God promised to bless Abraham and Sarah with so many children and grand children that they wouldn't be able to count them all. They waited for 25 long years before God fulfilled His promise. They even tried to help God out. Ask: Do you think God needed Sarah and Abraham's help to keep His promise?

Sarah gave Abraham one of her servants thinking that God might give him a child through her. Hagar did have a son for Abraham. Ask: Why was Ishmael not part of God’s plan? God promised to give Sarah and Abraham a son, not Abraham and Hagar. Because Sarah and Abraham were not patient in waiting for God, there would be trouble.

When Sarah heard God’s messengers tell Abraham she would have a son, she laughed. Sarah thought she was too old. And, when her son was finally born, she laughed because she was so happy. So, Abraham and Sarah named their son Isaac, which means laughter.

Sorrow came into Abraham's life when there was trouble between his two sons. At a party for Isaac, Sarah overheard Ishmael making fun of her son. She became very angry. Ask: What did Sarah tell Abraham to do? She demanded Abraham send Ishmael and his mother away. She didn't want them around her son. Abraham was sad, but it was his own fault - he didn't wait for God to give him a son.

God knows what is best for us. He knows what we need. And, His timing is always best. When we take matters in our own hands and run ahead ofGod, we just complicate things. Learn to patiently wait for Him to fulfill our wants and needs.

Review Questions

I. What does "being patient" mean?

2. What was the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah?

3. Which son was the one God promised, Ishmael or Isaac?

4. Why did Abraham and Sarah take matters in their own hands?

5. What did Ishmael do to Isaac that made Sarah angry?

6. What did Sarah tell Abraham to do as punishment ?

7. When God makes promises does He keep them?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Play a game of Simon Says to show the need for doing things God’s way and in His time. Line the children up on one side of the room. Give several commands, beginning with "Simon says. " They are to follow the directions as long as Simon says to do it. Now add a command without "Simon says . ". Those who followed that command must sit out. The last one standing is the winner.

REACH Activity

1. Don’t Peek: It’s hard to wait for something you really want. Anytime you wait will seem like a long time. Ask: How long is long? Test the kids: tell them to clap their hands when one minute has passed; five minutes; and so on. Finally, put something they really want to do or eat on a table. Tell them they must wait ____ minutes. Set a timer. When the timer goes off, have them tell how it felt to wait. Waiting on God is hard but it’s always best.

2. Let children list five things they eagerly wait for.

3. Then, list five things they wish they hadn’t done. Would waiting have helped?

4. Ask the kids to think of a time when their mom says, “Wait.” Ask: How does that make you feel? How should you feel? Why?

5.  When we are young we look forward to getting older because there are things we will be able to do. But we have to wait. And we know how hard waiting can be. Ask: What are you waiting for that you know you will be able to do once you’re older? Tell them to talk to their parents about what it is they are waiting for. Have them write it on a card, maybe with a picture of themselves, the date, and their name. Ask them to put it in their Bible so they will remember that they are waiting for something special. Pray, encourage them, and praise their patience as they wait.

6.  Ishmael was not the son God promised to Sarah and Abraham. God had told Abraham not to worry. Have the children find the meaning of Ishmael’s name. (“God will hear.”) Ishmael 
was a hunter, a warrior. God did take care of Ishmael. God always keeps His promises. Kids can make an acrostic poem of I-S-H-M-A-E-L that describes him.

Note: Acrostic poem: Each letter of a word begins a line of the poem; i.e., in a “P-R-O-M-I-S-E” acrostic poem, “P” starts the first line, “R” starts the second line, “O” the third, etc.

7. Sarah was very happy when Isaac was born. Abraham and Sarah were very proud of Isaac as he was growing up. He was the blessing God promised to them. Use an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper (or 11 x 17) and have children divide it into four parts and number each part. They should draw the following for each part number: 1) Abraham and Sarah alone; 2) Abraham and Sarah with baby Isaac; 3) Isaac growing up and playing; 4) Friends and family at the party for Isaac. Then they should label each part with facts from the lesson.

8. Love Your Neighbor: Have children write down mean things we say or do to others. Tear all the papers and “put them down” in the trash where they belong. Read Scriptures to find what God says about love and about how to treat others. Add a “love” Scripture to the memory verse for the lesson.

9. Jealousy set up: Get two items, one much better than the other. Give the items to two children. Ask: How do you feel about what you have? Then switch items. Talk about the meaning of jealousy and how the Bible explains we should handle it.

10. Let kids write the irmemory verse on a dry erase board or a chalkboard with colored markers or chalk. They should practice each day by erasing one or two words at a time as they are memorized, until all words are erased. Start over if necessary until the verse is memorized.

11. Sing “Father Abraham” on page 31 of Kids Classic Collection.

12. Have kids look up a good “wait” Scripture (i.e., Isaiah 40:31). In their best handwriting, have them copy it onto a colored sheet of paper. Then they can hang it on the refrigerator or in their room.

Other Ideas:
The biography cards can be used in so many ways. They can eventually be kept in a file of Who’s Who in the Bible. Store in a plastic card file box. The cards can be separated by men and women of the Bible; people of the Old and New Testament; prophets; kings, etc. Cards can be used to record information on Bible foods, animals, and places. Cards come in different sizes and colors!

The biography cards can also be used as “note cards” for a future book about that person. Books come in all shapes and sizes, and are a very creative way for a young person to express themselves. Be sure to make an author’s page.

Cartography (making and drawing maps) is very interesting and fun for young children. Paper towel rolls will help keep the storage issue under control for small paper maps. For the study of one specific area, a floor map would be fun. Use a shower curtain instead of paper. Fold and store in a plastic zipper bag.

Dramatic play is an area children usually love. Save old shirts and belts, hats and scarves, and let them play dress up. Acting out a story makes it easier to remember as well as making a lesson more relevant to them.

Song

"Father Abraham" is on page 31 of Kids Classic Collection.

Closing Prayer

Lead the children in prayer, asking God to help them patiently wait for His timing and thanking Him for knowing what they need and supplying it.