5. Abram's Call
Genesis 12:1-9Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
Abram was a descendant of Shem (Noah's son). His father was Terah. Terah and his household left Babylon (remember last week's story?) and began to move to Canaan. But on the way, the made the decision to stop and live in Haran instead and they lived there for many years.
- Babylon is in modern-day Iraq.
- Haran is in modern-day Turkey.
- Canaan is in the area of modern-day Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.
God called Abram to leave Haran and his people and finish the journey to Canaan (Genesis 12 and Acts 7:2-4). Abram was married to Sarai. At this point in the story, they did not have any children. Abram left as the Lord told him. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot and all their possessions.
God promised Abram that he would make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:2 and Genesis 15). "I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust , then your offspring could be counted." Genesis 13:16 He confirmed this covenant again in Genesis 17:4. God changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17:5-6). Abraham means "father of many nations".
My Notes
What You Will Need
Supplies
- A world map that contains the middle East (including Iraq, Turkey, and Israel)
Snack
sugar cookies in the shape of stars. Ice cookies and add sprinkles
Take Home
Glow in the dark stars for bedroom ceiling
Resource Sheets
Camel Outline
Use this camel outline for some of the reinforcement activities below.
Abram's Call Coloring Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts Abram's journey of faith
1 Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
Ask the children if they have ever moved. Were they nervous? Was it scary? Imagine if you packed up your house and started moving before you even knew where you were going! In this lesson, we learn about a man who did just that.
2 Teach the Story teach a holistic story
The key things to focus on in this lesson are:
- Abram did what God asked him to do in faith. He moved from Haran to Canaan.
- God promised Abram children, even though Sarai could not have any children at that point.
- Sometimes God asks us to do things, and we aren't exactly sure how it is going to turn out. It takes faith to believe God and do what he asks of us anyway.
- God did fulfill his promise to Abram - and in the next couple weeks, we will learn about Abraham's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, you can read Genesis 12:1-9 directly from a Bible (especially an easy-to-understand version like the NIrV)
3 Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud Genesis 12:1-5, Genesis 15:1-6
4 Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- Where did Abram live when God asked him to move?
- Haran, 12:4
- Where did Abram move to?
- Canaan, 12:5
- What is it called when you do something God asks you to do, even though you don't know exactly how it is going to work out?
- Faith
- What was God's promise to Abram when he got to Canaan?
- That his children would own that land
- How old was Abram when God told him his children would inherit the land?
- At least 75 years old - WOW!
5 Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- The story of Abram gives one of the first real pictures of faith in the Bible. Faith is a really important word to God. It means to trust what he says and then to act on it.
- Do you have faith in God? Do you believe in Him and will you obey Him when he asks you to do something like Abram did?
6 Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
If you believe, you will receive what you ask for when you pray. Matthew 21:22
Suitcase Relay
Scripture He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They took all of the things they had gotten in Haran. They also took the workers they had gotten there. Genesis 12:5
Supplies fill two similar sized luggage bags or small suitcases with clothing, toys and other items that kids are familiar with.
- Divide class into two teams and have them line up one behind another.
- Give the first child in line the suitcase.
- Put all the items (clothes, toys, etc) at the opposite side of the room, in a pile on the floor.
- The first child in line for each team must run to the pile of clothes and toys, fill up the suitcase, run back to the line, and hand the suitcase to the next child in line.
- The next child must take the suitcase to the opposite side of the room, unpack it, run back to the line, and hand the empty suitcase to the next child in line.
- Repeat until all children have gone for each team.
- Remind the students that Abram and Sarai packed up everything they had to move, just because God asked them to.
He Walked How Far?!?!?
Scripture The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country and your people. Leave your father's family. Go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1
Supplies A world map that contains the middle East (including Turkey and Israel)
- Show a map of modern day Turkey and modern day Israel (Haran is now in Turkey and Canaan is Israel)
- Emphasize that Abram had to walk the entire way from Haran to Canaan
- Compare the distance between Turkey and Israel and the distance between your location and another state.
- It is about 550 miles from Haran to Israel
- How long do they think that took?
- Find creative ways to help them understand how long it took. For example, if your parking lot is a half-mile around, tell them it would be like they walked around the parking lot 1,100 times
About Camels
Scripture Abram left, just as the Lord had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.
He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They took all of the things they had gotten in Haran. They also took the workers they had gotten there.
- Camels were the most popular mode of transportation in ancient times. Abraham would have had a large caravan of camels to carry the tents and supplies needed for all of his family and workers.
- The camel is a large, strong desert animal.
- Traveling at a rate of 2 to 3 miles per hour, camels can carry 500 to 1,000 pounds on their backs.
- They are able to keep up this pace for 6 or 7 hours a day. Camels will refuse to carry loads that are not properly balanced.
- The hump of a camel is mostly a lump of fat. Bands of strong tissue hold pads of fat together, forming the hump above the backbone. The hump of a healthy, well-fed camel may weigh 80lbs or more.
- Most kinds of animals store fat in their bodies, but only camels keep most of their fat in a hump. If food is hard to find, the fat in the hump provides energy for the animal. If a camel is starving, its hump shrinks. The hump may even slip off the animal's back and hang down on its side. After the camel has had a few weeks' rest and food, its hump becomes firm and plump again.
- The tough, leathery skin pads on a camel's legs act as cushions when the animal kneels to rest. The camel bends its front legs and drops to its knees. Then it folds its hind legs and sinks to the ground. To get up, the camel straightens its hind legs and then jerks up its front legs. A camel can lie down and get up again even with a heavy load on its back.
Salty Star Art
Heads up! I love to use empty individual, disposable applesauce containers for paint projects
Scripture So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
Supplies salt, water, food coloring, small containers, paint burshes, construction paper, measuing cups and spoons
- Mix 1/4 cup of water, food coloring and 1 Tbsp of salt into your containers.
- Mix salt each time you dip your brush into the water.
- Paint stars onto your paper.
- Preheat oven to its lowest setting.
- Place paper in oven for 10 minutes or until dry.
Follow God's Voice
Scripture Romans 10:17
Supplies blindfold, 2 student volunteers
- Choose two confident student volunteers.
- Blindfold one volunteer.
- Have the second volunteer go across the room as far as possible.
- The volunteer across the room must try to guide the blindfolded student to himself by only using his voice.
- An adult should walk next to blindfolded student to prevent accidents.
- Encourage the speaking student to give thorough instructions and for the blindfolded student to listen carefully.
- For older students, you can choose a few in the audience to try to distract the blindfolded student.
- Explain that Abraham had to follow God without seeing Him. This took much faith!
- Since the completion of the Bible, God speaks to his children through his Holy Word the Bible.
- Just like God had a plan and a promise for Abraham, God has a plan and a promise for us.
- We must be listening to God's voice like Abraham by reading our Bible, praying, and coming to church to hear the Word preached. It takes faith!
- Are we folllowing God's voice?
Tent Lesson
Scripture From there, Abram went on toward the hills east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. Genesis 12:8
- Teach the Bible story while sitting in a tent or allow children to play in a tent prior to lesson, if the class is too large.
- While you are teaching the lesson, emphasize to the children that Abram stayed in a tent while he was traveling to Canaan.
- Ask the children if any of them have ever slept in a tent.
Follow the Leader
Scripture The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country and your people. Leave your father's family. Go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1
- Play a game of the classic "Follow the Leader"
- Remind them that Abraham followed God, even though he didn't know where He was leading him
Star Craft
Scripture "So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
Supplies black construction paper, white chalk, printed or die cut stars
- Glue printed stars (or die cuts) to black construction paper.
- Have students draw a line to connect the stars with chalk.
- Remind the students of God's promise to Abram.
Crystal Stars
Scripture So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
- God promised to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
- Make stars out of borax powder
- Students can take them home to let them grow overnight or leave them in the classroom to be picked up the next week.
Origami Stars
Scripture So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
- God promised to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore
- Children love making origami crafts
- You can have them make these origami stars and remind them of God's promise to Abraham
Star Craft Example