The story of Abraham and Isaac is an important lesson in trusting God and understanding that all things happen in His time. Children can learn the values of patience, faith and sacrifice through the stories about Abraham found in the book of Genesis. Help students remember the events from Abraham’s life even after they leave class through the construction of simple and fun crafts.
God promised Abraham his descendants would be as many as the number of stars in the sky or grains of sand on the beach. Since Abraham was an old man and had no children when God told him this, it must have been difficult to believe, but God kept his promise when Isaac was born. Help students remember that God always keeps His promises by making stars to number Abraham’s descendants. Cut star-shaped pieces of thick card stock or use an old cereal box. Allow children to cover each side with glue and wrap the star in aluminum foil. Punch a hole in the top so the star can be hung and spin in the breeze. Students can make several to create a night sky scene.
Use paper bags, markers, fabric scraps and cotton balls to make bag puppets of Abraham, Isaac and the ram God provided for Abraham’s sacrifice. Assign children to be different characters and act out the story of Abraham trusting the Lord with all his heart in his willingness to sacrifice his son. Use a small cardboard box to serve as the altar, and collect small leafy branches to place the ram puppet in before God speaks to Abraham.
Provide students with magazines, scissors, construction paper and glue. Encourage them to cut out pictures of things they love and make a collage. Let children take turns sharing one or two items and why they are so special. Discuss the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Ask children how they would feel if God asked them to sacrifice a parent or sibling. Review items from the collage. Tell children no matter how much we love something, it is more important to trust God.
Take the classic s'more ingredients to recreate the sacrifice Abraham made. Build an altar from three graham crackers. Lay one piece of chocolate on top to represent Isaac. Explain that because God provided a ram, Isaac's life was spared. Take him off the altar and set him aside. Remind children that Abraham learned patience, and have them practice patience by waiting to eat the chocolate until after the lesson is finished. Place a marshmallow on the graham cracker altar to represent the ram and have students consume the sacrifice just as God consumed Abraham's sacrifice. Allow children to eat the chocolate square after thanking God for sending Jesus to be our sacrifice.
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images