Jacob s Ladder. As we encounter Jacob in today s Bible story, he is on the run. Having tricked his SESSION 12. Did You Know?

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1 Jacob s Ladder Bible Verse The Lord bless you and keep you. (Numbers 6:24) Did You Know? As we encounter Jacob in today s Bible story, he is on the run. Having tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing meant for his older brother, Esau, it was no longer safe for Jacob to remain at home. In order to escape Esau s plan to kill him, Jacob leaves to go live with his mother s family. Today s Bible story is the first story about Jacob without his twin brother. Whether he should have or not, Jacob has received the blessing from Isaac. This story marks the transition in Genesis from Isaac s story to Jacob s story. As Jacob is headed for Haran, he stops along the way for the night. While he is asleep, God appears to Jacob in his dream. God s message to Jacob is a promise. Like God did for his grandfather, Abraham, God promises Jacob land, many descendants, and protection. Jacob is also promised God s presence, now and always. When Jacob awoke from his dream, he realized its significance. Being on the run as he was, Jacob was likely afraid and uncertain of his future. God s promise to be with him always changed everything. Although Jacob would no doubt encounter challenges, he could count on God to see him through. When Jacob awoke from his dream encounter with God, he thought, The Lord is definitely in this place, but I didn t know it (Genesis 28:16). Growing up as Isaac s son and Abraham s grandson, Jacob was certainly taught about God. Through this encounter with God, Jacob claims a relationship with God as his own. For more Bible background information, go to: Exploration Points God blesses each of us. SESSION 12 November 22 Bible Story Genesis 28:10-22 Anchor Point God blesses us. Your Lesson q Welcome q Nighttime Picture q Make a Stone Sculpture q Musical Thanks q Blessing Bags Inventory q What Jacob Said q Mixed-up Thanks q Deep Blue Bible Adventures q Jacob s Ladder q Climb-up Bible Verse q Worship q Younger Elementary Small Group q Older Elementary Small Group God is present with us. Leader s Guide DVD CD-ROM DeepBlueKids.com Requires preparation.. Fall 2015 Session 12 DeepBlueKids.com 117

2 Jump In! The following activities are planned to introduce today s theme. Be sure there is a leader to welcome and direct the kids to the interest groups of their choice. An adult will be needed at each group to lead the activity with the children. WELCOME Supplies: CD-ROM, CD player Greet each parent and child as they arrive. Play music (CD-ROM) to make your room cheerful. NIGHTTIME PICTURE (DRAWING ACTIVITY) Supplies: black construction paper, white crayons SAY: Usually when we think about drawing a black-and-white picture, we are referring to black writing on a white piece of paper. Today you will use white crayon on black paper to draw a nighttime picture. Give each child a piece of black paper. SAY: Our Bible story today happens at night. Encourage each child to use white crayon to draw a nighttime scene on the paper. MAKE A STONE SCULPTURE (ART ACTIVITY) Supplies: old CDs, small rocks, Tacky Glue, small pieces of paper, pens or pencils SAY: In our Bible story today, Jacob uses a rock to mark a sacred place where he had an encounter with God. Give each child an old CD. Have each child turn the CD shiny side up. Invite each child to use rocks to make a sculpture, using the CD as a base. When the child is satisfied with the sculpture, have the child glue the rocks in place. Have each child write the words, The Lord is in this place, on a piece of paper. Encourage each child to glue the paper to one edge of the CD. MUSICAL THANKS (MOVEMENT ACTIVITY) Supplies: CD-ROM, CD player, paper, masking tape Draw a rock on several of the sheets of paper. Set up a circle by taping pieces of paper on the floor. Include the pieces of paper you have drawn rocks on. Make sure you have enough pieces of paper for each child to stand on one piece. SAY: This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. It is always good to give thanks to God. TIP If you do not have old CDs, you may use cardboard for the base of the project. This is one time when it is okay to use a lot of glue. Assure the children that when the glue dries, it will be clear. 118 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide November 22

3 Have each child step on a piece of construction paper. Start playing the song for this unit, Blessings and Birthrights (CD-ROM) or another song, and have the children begin walking around the circle. Stop the music and have each child stand on a piece of paper. ASK: Who is standing on a piece of paper with a rock drawn on it? Encourage each child standing on a rock to name something for which he or she is thankful. Continue playing the game, inviting each child standing on a rock to share. To make the game more challenging, encourage the children to try to think of things that have not been named already. BLESSING BAGS INVENTORY (MATH ACTIVITY) Supplies: Blessing Bag item collection box, mural paper, scissors, marker, tape Cut a large piece of mural paper. On the mural paper, make a list of the following items: Labeled bags, Pairs of socks, Snack crackers, Tooth care kit, Wet wipes. Place the mural paper where the children will be able to write on it. Invite the children who brought donations for the Blessing Bags project to place them in the box. Remind the children that they may still bring items next week. SAY: Next week we will be putting our Blessing Bags together. Today we re going to take an inventory to see how we are doing on our collection and what items we still need. Have the children remove the collected items from the box and sort them, placing like items together. Have the children count each item and record the number on the mural paper. Encourage the children to figure out how many complete Blessing Bags you could assemble. Have the children make note of any items you are particularly short of. Tape the mural paper up in the large group area. WHAT JACOB SAID Supplies: CEB Bibles, Leader s Guide p. 125, pencils Photocopy What Jacob Said (p. 125) for each child. Give each child a copy of What Jacob Said and a pencil. Encourage each child to solve the puzzle. Have the children look up Genesis 28:17 to check their answers. TIP The number of bags you need to label is dependent on the number of Blessing Bags you intend to make.. Fall 2015 Session 12 DeepBlueKids.com 119

4 Dive Deeper Bring the children together to experience the Bible story and worship. Use a bell to alert the children it is Large Group Time. MIXED-UP THANKS (TRANSITION ACTIVITY) SAY: It s always good to be thankful. We re going to thank God in a funny way. Give the children the following directions and encourage them to respond. If you re thankful for your hands, stomp your feet. If you re thankful for your feet, clap your hands. If you re thankful for your nose, blink your eyes. If you re thankful for your arms, lift your leg. If you re thankful for your fingers, tap your toes. If you re thankful you can speak, don t say a word. DEEP BLUE BIBLE ADVENTURES Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television or projector and screen Play the Deep Blue theme song, Let s Go Deep Blue (DVD). SAY: Today Asia and Kat are roasting marshmallows, and Edgar is trying to use a rock for a pillow. Let s watch and see what happens. Show the children the Deep Blue Bible Adventures video for today s session. ASK: Why did Jacob sleep on a rock? (He was traveling; that s all he could find.) JACOB S LADDER Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 124 Photocopy Jacob s Ladder (p. 124) for each child to take home. SAY: Last week we heard the story of Jacob tricking Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. Today Jacob is going to tell us what happened after that. Read the story from Jacob s Ladder. ASK: How do you think Jacob was feeling when he first started on his journey? How do you think Jacob felt when he woke up? Jacob named the place where he had been sleeping Bethel, or God s house. Why do you think Jacob chose the name God s house? Is God only found at the place Jacob slept? CLIMB-UP BIBLE VERSE Supplies: CD-ROM, computer, projector and screen Review the sign language for the Bible verse (Graphic 9b CD-ROM). Show the children the Bible verse (Graphic 9a CD-ROM) and the signs for the Bible verse from American Sign Language (Graphic 9b). 120 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide November 22

5 Encourage the children to sign and say the Bible verse with you. SAY: Since we heard the story of Jacob s ladder today, let s say the Bible verse while we are climbing. We will begin in a squatting position and with each word we say, we will climb a little taller. Encourage them to sign and say the Bible verse with you while climbing. WORSHIP Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television or projector and screen, Blessing Bags item collection box Place the Blessing Bags item collection box near your worship center. Play this month s song, Blessings and Birthrights (DVD), and encourage the children to sing and move along with the music. Show the children the collection box for the Blessing Bags items. SAY: This month we are collecting items to make Blessing Bags to give to people who are homeless. Thank you to those who brought items for our bags today. Next week we will assemble the Blessing Bags. Some of you took an inventory of what we have collected so far. Invite the children who did the inventory to share the results. Make the children aware of any items that you are particularly short of. SAY: You can still bring items for our Blessing Bags next week. ASK: Do you know how to do the wave? SAY: We are going to do a blessing wave today. I am going to toss out some blessings to you. Each time I do, those in the front row will jump up, raise their arms as if to catch the blessing, and sit down. As they are sitting down, the next row will jump up, raise their arms as if to catch the blessing, and then sit down. We ll continue all the way to the back of the room, and then we ll send the wave to the front of the room. That will be tricky because you ll have to peek behind you to see when the wave is coming your way. Let s practice. Have the children in the front row start the wave, and encourage the children to send the wave to the back and then up to the front. SAY: That s pretty good. Let s add some blessings. Pretend to toss something out over the children as you say each of the following blessings. Encourage the children to do a wave to accompany each blessing. You are God s child. You are special. You are loved. You are blessed. SAY: Amen. Dismiss the children to their small groups.. Fall 2015 Session 12 DeepBlueKids.com 121

6 Grow Stronger Divide the children into small groups based on age levels. Keep the groups small, with a maximum of ten children in each group. You may need to have more than one of each group. YOUNGER ELEMENTARY SMALL GROUP Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 126 Photocopy Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Review (p. 126). Have the children sit in a circle. SAY: Let s review some of what we ve learned the last few weeks. I am going to read some statements. If the statement is true, stand up. If the statement is false, sit down. Read the statements on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Review, and encourage the children to respond. SAY: Great job! I can tell you have learned a lot about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Answers for Leader s Guide p. 126: The children will stand UP: 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16. The children will sit DOWN: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14. ASK: In our Bible story today, how did Jacob know God was with him? (God told him in a dream.) SAY: Many of us have not had the experience of God speaking with us, yet we know God is with each one of us. ASK: How do you know God is with you? Are there certain places you feel closer to God? Are there people who help you feel God s presence? Allow the children time to share. Assure the children there are no right or wrong answers. Each of us experiences God s presence in his or her own way. SAY: Like we have done the last two weeks, let s take time to pray for and bless other people. ASK: Are there people whom you would like us to remember and bless as we close our time together with prayer? Allow the children an opportunity to share. PRAY: God, thank you for promising to be with us as you promised to be with Jacob. Bless the people we have named today. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, help us to remember to give thanks to you for our many blessings. Amen. 122 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide November 22

7 OLDER ELEMENTARY SMALL GROUP Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 126, pencils Photocopy Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Review (p. 126) for each child. SAY: Let s review some of what we ve learned the last few weeks. Give each child a copy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Review and a pencil. SAY: Read each statement and determine whether it is true or false. If the statement is false, circle the number. Allow the children time to read the sentences individually or with a partner and determine whether they are true or false. Read each sentence aloud and have the children indicate whether it is true or false. The following statements are false and should be circled: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14. SAY: Now for an added challenge, change each sentence you have circled to make it true. Encourage the children to work in groups of two or three to correct the false statements. Invite the children to share their corrected sentences. 3. Abraham and Sarah had one child. 4. God told Abraham that he would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. 5. Sarah laughed when she heard God tell Abraham that she would have a son even though she was very old. 7. Isaac s wife, Rebekah, gave birth to twins. 9. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. 11. Rebekah covered Jacob s arms with goat hair so he would feel hairy like Esau. 12. When Esau discovered Isaac had blessed Jacob instead of him, he was mad. 14. Jacob stopped for the night and used a rock for a pillow. SAY: Like we have done the last two weeks, let s take time to pray for and bless other people. ASK: Are there people whom you would like us to remember and bless as we close our time together with prayer? Allow the children an opportunity to share. PRAY: God, thank you for promising to be with us as you promised to be with Jacob. Bless the people we have named today. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, help us to remember to give thanks to you for our many blessings. Amen.. Fall 2015 Session 12 DeepBlueKids.com 123

8 Jacob s Ladder Hi! My name is Jacob. You may remember that my brother Esau sold me his birthright for a bowl of soup. He must have forgotten about that because when our father blessed me instead of Esau, Esau was really mad. I had never seen him that mad! Well, to be honest, he may have been mad because our mother, Rebekah, and I tricked Isaac into thinking I was Esau. Anyway, Esau was so mad that I feared for my life. I left home and went to live with my mother s family. It was a long journey, and after traveling all day, I was tired. I stopped to rest, using a big stone I found as a pillow. While I was asleep, I dreamed there was a big staircase or ladder extending from earth up to the sky. God s messengers were going up and down the staircase. Suddenly, God was in my dream, standing at the top of the ladder. God said, I am the God of your grandfather, Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. I am with you now. I will protect you everywhere you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will give you and your descendants the land you are lying on. I will never leave you. When I woke up, I thought, Wow! I hadn t realized it before, but after my dream, I knew that God was in that place. To show that place was special because God appeared to me there, I turned the rock I had slept on upright and poured oil on it to mark it. I named the place Bethel. Bethel means, God s house. After my dream, I knew that God would be with me and protect me on my trip. I knew that I would always worship and trust God. (Based on Genesis 28:10-22.) 124 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide November 22

9 What Jacob Said Follow these directions to discover what Jacob said when he woke up from his dream in the grid below. Cross out all of the words that are food. Cross out all of the words that are buildings. Cross out all of the words that rhyme with rock. Cross out all of the words that are animals. Write the remaining words in order on the lines at the bottom of the page. Look up Genesis 28:17 to check your answer. This potato house dock sacred cherry apartment place mock church is cranberry sock library awesome dog It s ham hospital none pie bear restaurant other beans store than pineapple lock God s barn house blueberries and lock the apple office entrance yogurt to bread kangaroo cat heaven grapes llama yak.. Fall 2015 Session 12 DeepBlueKids.com 125

10 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Review 1. God told Abraham to move to a land God would show him. 2. God promised Abraham that God would make of him a great nation. 3. Abraham and Sarah had many children. 4. God told Abraham that he would have as many descendants as there are legs on a centipede. 5. Sarah cried when she heard God tell Abraham that she would have a son even though she was very old. 6. Abraham and Sarah named their son, Isaac, which means laughter. 7. Isaac s wife, Rebekah, gave birth to triplets. 8. Although Esau and Jacob were twins, they were quite different from each other. 9. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a pack of gum. 10. Rebekah helped Jacob trick his father into blessing him instead of Esau. 11. Rebekah covered Jacob s arms with cotton balls so he would feel hairy like Esau. 12. When Esau discovered Isaac had blessed Jacob instead of him, he was overjoyed. 13. Jacob left home so Esau wouldn t hurt him. 14. Jacob stopped for the night and used a giant mushroom for a pillow. 15. Jacob dreamt of a staircase reaching to heaven, and God promised to be with him. 16. When he woke, Jacob marked the place he had been sleeping with a rock and named the place Bethel. 126 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide November 22