INTRODUCTION

Jacob Gets Married

Bible Point:

God helps us.

Key Verse:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Big Picture:

Children will know God helps them in all they do.

Jacob Gets Married

Genesis 29:15-30

Even though young children are working hard toward becoming independent, most still require help in many areas. For children who seek and receive help from adults and others, it’s easy to teach them that God is part of that helping process. Just as Mom, Dad, teacher, brother, and sister help him or her get dressed or give comfort for hurt feelings, God is there to protect and guide, too. Use this lesson to encourage your children to ask God for help in any area.

BIBLE TIME!

Genesis 29:15-30 tells us that Jacob left his home and went to live with his Uncle Laban to work in his fields. Laban wanted to pay Jacob for his work, so Jacob agreed to work for seven years if he could marry Rachel. But on the day of the wedding feast, Laban lied and tricked Jacob. Jacob ended up marrying Leah, Rachel’s older sister, instead. Laban told Jacob that if he wanted to marry Rachel, he had to work seven more years for her. Your child learned that God helped Jacob get through a bad time, and God will help him or her, too.

KEY VERSE

In all things God works for good (adapted from Romans 8:28).

BIBLE POINT

God helps us.

PLAY AND PRAY

Find some foods your child doesn’t like to eat plain—like celery without dip, crackers without jam, or potatoes without salt. Then add something that makes each food taste better!

ASK

• How did the food taste before we added anything?

• How did it taste after we added the good stuff?

Sometimes life feels plain or yucky, like food without flavor! But when we love God and trust Him, He adds “good things” to our lives like love, joy, and peace. God can take hard things and make them turn out good, just like the toppings made your food better.

Pray: Dear God, thank You for making the hard things in life better. Help us remember that You are always working for our good. Amen.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Have your child draw his or her favorite community helper, such as a mailman, a garbage collector, a gardener, or a babysitter. Then, have your child give the picture to that person, along with ice-cold refreshing drinks like sports drinks or lemonade on a hot afternoon. Remind your child that just as we can put a smile on the community helper’s face, God turns bad days into good ones.

ASK

• In what ways does this person help us?

• What are some ways God helps us?

• What can we do to help others?

READY, SET, GROW! 

This week, your child learned that God is always helping us. Your child committed to one of the following challenges to remember that he or she needs to trust God to help him or her all the time. Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenge!

• Draw a picture of a time God helped you, and give it to a friend.

• Ask your grown-up or loved one to tell you about a time God helped them.