God is Unchanging

Our story this week is/was about a very famous Bible character we've heard about before: Abraham (introduce boy as A.) He is not famous because he was a perfect example, but because of what God did in his life to show His own faithfulness.

One of Abraham's famous ancestors was Noah. (introduce boy as N) Do you remember who Noah was? (ask all) (give N. picture of ark as a hint) Did N. know God? (ask all) Yes, he did, but his descendants gradually forgot Him and started worshipping other gods. A's family was like that. But when A. was 75 years old (tape #75 on front of A's shirt), God told him to leave his family and go to a land He would show him. (angel with halo flies in to tell him to go). God promises him that in that land, He would make A. into a great nation. So, A and his wife Sarah (introduce girl as S.) get ready to travel (both don backpacks). A's nephew Lot wanted to go to (introduce boy as L), so they brought him along (dons backpack). (The three walk together to large sheet of green paper on one side of room & take off backpacks). The first thing A does is build an altar and make an offering to God (stool, sticks, picture of sheep he tears up & puts on sticks, pours shredded yellow & orange tissue paper on for fire) He says, starting today, we are God's people in this land.

But before too long, the weather isn't good and there isn't enough grass for all the sheep. What should A do? (ask all) Instead of praying and asking God's help, he decides they should all go down to Egypt! (put on packs again, walk to large sheet of brown paper on the other side of room). Things go pretty well there for a while, and both A's and L's flocks increase (give each pictures of multiple sheep & goats). They have almost forgotten God's plan! But God hasn't changed His plan. Eventually A. and the king of Egypt (introduce boy with crown) have an argument, and the king of Egypt tells him to leave (pushes A away). (all walk back to green paper) Well, when they get back there, they soon decide it isn't very convenient for A & L to live near each other because of all their sheep needing more grass. So finally, L. leaves (sits down)

By this time A. is over 80 years old (change number to 80+). God again appears to him and says, I am definitely going to make you into a great nation here in this land. (angel flies in, congratulates A). A says, well, but I'm already over 80 years old and I don't have any children yet. Even my nephew doesn't live with me any more! How can I even become a LITTLE nation? But God says, trust me. I have not changed my mind, and I will bring it about. (angel leaves) Not long after this, S. says to A, I have this great idea. Since I am too old to give you children, why don't you have children with my maid, Hagar? (introduce girl as H) Was this a good idea? (ask all) But does he do it? (ask all). Yes, and so when he was 86 years old (change number), H had a son, named Ishmael (give doll to H) A was quite pleased with himself for coming up with this great solution, and celebrated. (passes out red eggs to all adults present—a Chinese tradition when a baby is one month old) Everything seems to be just fine, God isn't punishing him or anything.

But when he gets to be 99 years old (change number), God appears to him again and says, A! I haven't changed my plans for you! I am going to make you into a great nation! A says, yes, thank you, do bless my son Ishmael. But: (angel does sign for "wrong!") God says, you know, when I first created man, I said that a man was supposed to cleave to his wife, and I haven't changed my mind about that either! My plan has always been to bless you AND YOUR WIFE with descendants. A. says, but we're SO OLD! But is God still God? (ask A) Can God do anything? (ask A) Does God lie? (ask A) Well, then! (angel flies away) And sure enough, when A. is 100 years old (change number), Sarah has a son, named Isaac. (give doll to S.) When God first gave this promise to Abraham, how old was he? (ask all, hold up #75 next to number on A's shirt) How many years before he saw the proof of it? (ask all) But did God keep His promise? (ask all) But did A. have to be perfectly obedient for God to keep His promises? (ask all)

**So, that was the story. For our game, I put out the same number of letters in a large circle on the floor as we had kids. Each child got a corresponding letter label on his shirt. The object of the game was, like God, no matter how many other things changed, was to get back to the original thing. Each child, in order, kept throwing our large die and moving that number of letters around the floor. When a child landed on his or her letter, he had "won" and was out of the game. We never finished playing the whole game though. We had eight kids, so it was taking forever for them to get back to their places and they were getting a bit antsy. Though I always prepare for extra, I had only been expecting five kids—I think it would have worked a lot better with the smaller number. So, if anyone out there has a better game idea for this concept of God's unchanging nature, please give suggestions!

The craft was easy & cute. Each child got a single-serving size Pringle's potato chip can with a section (maybe a third of the can) already cut out from top to bottom. Their job was to paste wrapping paper on the outside & ends of the can, line it with cotton batting, stuff a cotton ball in the gap behind the face of a "baby" (these great person-shaped plastic spring clips I'd found at an educational store in the US), lay it in the cradle & cover it with a little piece of cloth for a blanket. When the kids had completed the craft, they received the chips from their can, which I'd reserved in little plastic bags (SO glad I'd prepared just enough cans!!) Boy was THAT a hit! The kids have never been that totally well-behaved during the free time, munching happily & then enjoying playing on full tummies.

For Bible study with the adults, Bruce focused on Numbers 23:19