This story about the lamp lighter or the underlying passages about lamps and lamp stands are key Christian concepts for kids to grapple with. They use a very tactile and easy to demonstrate element – light. As such all these games play on the idea of light and vision and may need a darkened environment to work fully. Please check if your teaching area can have dimmed light before selecting the best activity for your group.
Water the camels – the servant knew God had lead him to Rebekah when she offered to water the camels. This simple relay race has the child moving ‘water’ from the well to the animals. Use a large bucket of water and a cup to move it. If you can’t get wet in your space then use shredded blue paper.
Isaac and Abraham have lost Sarah to old age, and Abraham is probably more than aware his days are now numbered. He’s looking to secure the next generation of God’s people through his son, obviously the next-generation means he needs a wife and none of the locals will do. This passage is full of imagery, it’s a lovely passage to act out. As always, these are springboard notes, feel free to use your expressions and words.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Main Passage : Genesis 24
Abraham worried about Isaac, but had an idea. He found his top servant and asked him to go on a journey, a long journey, back to the land that Abraham lived in before God had called him.
He asked his servant to find Isaac a wife. Off the servant went with camels loaded full of treasures for the lucky girl and her family. Isaac watched him leave, Abraham has said that Isaac could no go.
Days passed and Isaac worried. What if the girl didn’t like him? What if he didn’t like her? As the servant travelled, he worried too. What if the girl wouldn’t come back with him? What if he couldn’t find anyone?
Eventually, the servant reached a well back in the land that Abraham had once called home. The servant sat down the camels and prayed.
“God of Abraham send to me a girl to take back to my master. Please let me know it is the right girl because she offers me, a stranger, a drink, and not just a drink, but offers water to my camels also.”
As the servant opened is eyes, he saw a girl approach, a beautiful girl, called Rebekah. Rebekah didn’t say anything as she drew some water from the well. As the water came up, she dipped in a cup and handed the servant a drink. She then drew more water for his camels without him asking. The servant asked her from which tribe and family she came. When he heard her answer, he was so joyful, he took out bracelets and a nose ring to for Rebekah.
Rebekah took him back to her family, and when they heard how God had led the servant to her, they all agreed she should travel to marry Isaac. Rebekah climbed onto a camel and off they went.
Many days later, they saw the tents of Abraham. As they approached, Rebekah was riding alone when she spotted a hansom man in the field.
“Who is that she asked?” When the servant replied it was Isaac, Rebekah quickly pulled a veil over her face.
When Isaac looked up, he saw the camels and the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen fixing a veil over her face. He ran to his father and soon, the two were married.
Isaac loved Rebekah, and Rebekah loved Isaac. Together, they helped God’s family grow.
There is an important moment in this story when Rebekah sees Isaac covers herself with a veil. Why she does this is debated. Some say it’s because she wants to soften or hide her face from her betrothed because it is his place to unveil it. Others claim it was a sign of a free woman, no slave could do such a thing, nor one already taken in marriage. Veiling the bride however is something that’s familiar with even modern day wedding customs. This very simple colouring page craft allows the child to attach the veil. here I’ve used baking parchment but you could use fine tissue paper or even lace if it’s avalible.
Isaac and Rebekah have this lovely moment when dusty and tired Rebekah spots Isaac from her camel and picks him out at the handsome man in the field! This may seem a contrived tale but at it’s heart is a love story orchestrated through prayer. This super simple paper craft will be wobbling all over your craft table.
Here are the images you need for the hero’s attributes linked to Isaac & Rebekah (Genesis 24).
Each hero set contains a high quality graphic of the character, a take home bible card and a colouring page.
The images are displayed small here, click on the image you wish to have, then save the image that loads.
(Please note : these images have no watermark but are not copyright free, they are only intended for classroom use.)
