Isaac and Rebekah

ShepherdGuidesIsaac andRebekahShepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.Isaac and Rebekah — 141

SHEPHERDGUIDEIsaac and Rebekah(Genesis 24; 25:19-34; 27:1-40)LowerElementaryWelcome to the story of Isaac and Rebekah. As the caring leader of your small group of kids, you are an importantpart of their Spark experience. You also support the other Rotation leaders by being a consistent and friendlypresence with your group. Use these Small Group Builders, Conversation Sparks, and Transition Tips to generateconversation and build relationships with your kids. Have fun as you grow in faith together!Small Group BuildersTry these tips to build relationships, trust, and friendship with your small group of kids when you have a fewminutes at the beginning of Sunday school or between activities.• Wrestling RivalsEsau and Jacob wrestled even before they were born. Arrange an arm-wrestling competition. How does it feelto lose and to win? How would you feel if one of the competitors cheated to win, like Jacob did?• Meal PlanningIsaac requested a favorite meal from his son to receive a blessing. Jacob brought him goat meat. What is onthe menu for your favorite meal? Don’t forget to order dessert!• Wedding BellsIn Jacob’s time, marriages were arranged by families. Share stories of weddings you have attended. Whatwere your favorite parts of the wedding?Conversation SparksSpark some faith-filled conversation during time you wait for activities to start or between activities. Use thesequestions with the kids in your group whenever you have a minute or two.• Why did the servant have to go far away to find a wife for Isaac? What kind of wife did Abraham want for hisson?• Where did Isaac’s servant find Rebekah? How will you find your spouse?• I wonder how Rebekah felt when she told her family good-bye.• How could Rebekah and Isaac tell their twins apart?• Who is the oldest kid in your family? Is that kid a leader?• How did Jacob trick his father? Who helped him?Shepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.Isaac and Rebekah — 143

Transition TipsAs your group moves from one place to another, keep things fun and story-focused! Try these tips as youtransition.• Camel CaravanAbraham’s servant took ten camels when he journeyed to find a wife for Isaac. What do you know aboutcamels? Lope like a herd of camels to your next destination. Pretend you are walking on sand, and up anddown hills while carrying a heavy load.• The Race Is OnEsau and Jacob were in a race to be born first. Race to different points along your journey: crawl, speed walk,skip, hop on one foot, and crab walk.• Senses WalkWalk slowly like old, blind Isaac. Periodically, stop, close your eyes, and listen. What senses do you rely onwhen you can’t see? How do you know which way to go?• Well-Balanced MealJacob brought Isaac a special dinner to trick him into thinking he was Esau. Pretend to balance a tray of dinneron each hand as you make your way down a hall.144 — Shepherd GuidesShepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.

SHEPHERDGUIDEIsaac and Rebekah(Genesis 24; 25:19-34; 27:1-40)UpperElementaryWelcome to the story of Isaac and Rebekah. As the caring leader of your small group of kids, you are an importantpart of their Spark experience. You also support the other Rotation leaders by being a consistent and friendlypresence with your group. Use these Small Group Builders, Conversation Sparks, and Transition Tips to generateconversation and build relationships with your kids. Have fun as you grow in faith together!Small Group BuildersTry these tips to build relationships, trust, and friendship with your small group of kids when you have a fewminutes at the beginning of Sunday school or between activities.• Merry MarriedsTalk through all the steps that people take to plan a wedding: invitations, clothing, lodging, transportation,flowers, the service, the reception, and more. In Bible times, marriages were arranged by families, almost likebusiness deals. Whose marriage do you admire? What makes a marriage relationship solid? Say a prayerasking God’s blessing on all marriages.• Thumb WarThe wrestling match between Esau and Jacob began before they were born. Their rivalry led to Jacob cheatingto win their father’s blessing. Declare a thumb war! Pair up to compete against each other in thumb wrestling.Switch partners and select an ultimate thumb-wrestling champion from your group. No cheating allowed!• Tricky TricksterPlay a silly prank on the kids. Match a spool of thread to the color of your shirt and hide it in your pocket.Leave a string hanging out. When the kids pull the thread, it will keep coming! This is a harmless trick, butJacob and Rebekah teamed up to trick Esau and Isaac in a mean way. What does it feel like to be on thereceiving end of a trick? Have you ever tricked someone? What happened?Conversation SparksSpark some faith-filled conversation during time you wait for activities to start or between activities. Use thesequestions with the kids in your group whenever you have a minute or two.• I wonder how Abraham chose the servant whom he sent to find a wife for Isaac.• How do people meet their spouses today? How will you know when someone is “the one” for you?• What are the top three traits in an ideal spouse?• When you argue with your brothers, sisters, or friends, how do you work out disagreements?• If you were tricked by your brother, would you be able to forgive him? What about your mother?• What ordinary things does God use to keep promises in the stories of Isaac and Rebekah?Shepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.Isaac and Rebekah — 145

Transition TipsAs your group moves from one place to another, keep things fun and story-focused! Try these tips as youtransition.• Master of DisguiseWith the help of his mother, Jacob became a master of disguise to fool Isaac. Put a finger across your upper lipas a masquerade mustache and sneak through the halls on tiptoe.• Birth Order CrawlEsau and Jacob raced to be born first. Play a reverse game of leapfrog in which the kids crawl through eachother’s legs instead of jumping over each other. Form a line. The last two kids in line crawl through the legs ofthe others to reach the front of the line first. Repeat this game until you arrive at your destination.• Brotherly LoveSplit into two groups: Esaus and Jacobs. Esau grew into a fine hunter. The Esaus hunt with bows and arrows.Jacob helped out around the house, cleaning, and cooking. The Jacobs sweep with a broom and stir lentil stew.Switch roles as you travel.• Wedding Processional ParadeHum a wedding march as you pretend to parade down the aisle. Are you a bride, groom, ringbearer, flower girl,pastor?146 — Shepherd GuidesShepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.

SHEPHERDGUIDEIsaac and Rebekah(Genesis 24; 25:19-34; 27:1-40)All KidsWelcome to the story of Isaac and Rebekah. As the caring leader of your small group of kids, you are an importantpart of their Spark experience. You also support the other Rotation leaders by being a consistent and friendlypresence with your group. Use these Small Group Builders, Conversation Sparks, and Transition Tips to generateconversation and build relationships with your kids. Have fun as you grow in faith together!Small Group BuildersTry these tips to build relationships, trust, and friendship with your small group of kids when you have a fewminutes at the beginning of Sunday school or between activities.• Nickname GameEsau was given his name because of his red, hairy skin. Give yourself a name based on one of your uniquetraits: Blondie, Smiley, Curly, Lefty. Why did you choose that name?• Line LeaderIn Bible times, the oldest child in a family was usually the leader. Line up oldest to youngest and paradearound. In the story Isaac’s Blessing, God said that Jacob, the younger child, would be the leader of his family.Switch! Everybody turn to follow the new line leader, the youngest child.• Blind Man’s BluffIn his old age, Isaac lost his sight. Blindfold a volunteer “Isaac” to stand in the center of a circle of the rest ofthe kids. Try to trick Isaac, who must reach out to feel each kid’s hand to identify him or her. Take turns beingIsaac. How do you think Isaac felt when he realized he had been duped by Jacob and Rebekah? How wouldyou feel if you were Esau?Conversation SparksSpark some faith-filled conversation during time you wait for activities to start or between activities. Use thesequestions with the kids in your group whenever you have a minute or two.• What was the sign that the servant looked for as he chose a wife for Isaac? What signs does God give us?• What is a good age to get married? Could you trust someone else to choose the person you marry?• Are you the oldest or youngest kid in your family? Are you ever jealous of another member of your family? Areyou a leader in your family?• Which of the twins should have been given Isaac’s blessing, Esau or Jacob?• Is there a favorite kid in your class, on a team, or in a club? How does that make you feel?• How do you think Esau and Jacob felt about each other after Jacob tricked their father into giving him thefamily blessing?Shepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.Isaac and Rebekah — 147

Transition TipsAs your group moves from one place to another, keep things fun and story-focused! Try these tips as youtransition.• Ankle AnchorsJacob was holding onto Esau’s heel as the twins were born. Form a line. With one hand, hold onto the ankle ofthe person in front of you and try to walk. How far can you go like this?• Wedding MarchRebekah agreed to marry Isaac without even meeting him. She trusted God. Link arms with a friend, hum awedding song, and process through the halls as if you were parading down the aisle at a wedding.• Well WalkAn ordinary walk to the well changed Rebekah’s life. Put a water jar on your head and carry it to the well.What do you see when you get there? Pretend that you are calling down the well, your voice echoing againstthe rocks.• Muscle ManEsau was big and strong. He hunted big animals with a bow and arrow. Strike poses to show your muscles.Then point your arrow, pull back the string on your bow, and try to catch some wild game.148 — Shepherd GuideShepherd Guides, Isaac and Rebekah Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School © 2010Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only.