VERSES: Genesis 29:31-35; 30:1-24; 35:18
MEMORY VERSE: Genesis 30:24 "And she called his name Joseph..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review Genesis through 2 Chronicles
PRAYER: Thank God for our mothers and fathers who love us and take care of us and see that we receive the things that we really need. Thank God for hearing and listening to our prayers.
SPECIAL SONG:
THE SONS OF JACOB
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher,
Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin,
Those are the sons of Jacob!
TWELVE!
VISUAL AID: Four Tents (For directions, read 'Activity" instructions below, but make it larger, perhaps on a 22" x 28" poster board.)
LESSON POINTS:
- God knew that Jacob loved Leah less than he loved Rachel, so God provided Leah with Jacob's first child. She named him Reuben. Then she had another son and she named him Simeon. Leah had another son and she named him Levi. Then she had another son and named him Judah.
- Rachel couldn't have any children and this made her very sad.
- Jacob had another wife named Bilhah who was Rachel's handmaid and she, too had a baby boy and named him Dan. AND she had another son and named him Naphtali.
- Jacob had a third wife named Zilpah who was Leah's handmaid and she, too, had a son and named him Gad. AND she had another son and named him Asher.
- Then Leah had another baby boy and named him Issachar. AND she had another son and named him Zebulun. The last baby Leah had was a little girl and she named her Dinah.
- Then the Bible says that God remembered Rachel and had listened to her prayers and she had a baby boy. Let's turn to Genesis 30:24 to see what she named him. (Read verse.) Let's put our bookmarks right here. What was the baby's name? Joseph! Baby Joseph! What joy Rachel felt holding her sweet baby boy! And, a little later, Rachel had one more baby boy and Jacob named him Benjamin.
- SO...how many sons did Jacob have all together? Let's name them and count them! (Perhaps sing the song above.) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin...those are the sons of Jacob! Twelve!
ACTIVITY: Four Tents
Materials needed: Four different patterned fabrics (any fabric will do--old shirts, sheets, anything!) , a piece of any colored 12" x 18" construction paper, twelve 1/2" circles for babies' faces, scissors, glue, crayons, a pencil for older students.
- It is an easier task if the Bible teacher cuts out four triangles for tents prior to coming to Bible class. Tip: Cut a 6" x 6" square diagonally to make two tents. Take a look at Step 11, the Bible teacher may have additional prep time with the sons' names.
- Pass out the larger piece of construction paper to each student. This is the foundation.
- One by one, pass out a triangle of fabric This is a tent.
- If they can, each student cuts each triangle up the middle WITHOUT CUTTING IT IN TWO PIECES. (The Bible teacher may need to help. No problem if they cut it in two, just glue it back like a tent.)
- Repeat until all four triangles are cut to resemble tents.
- Glue four triangles on the foundation, landscape-wise. ONLY GLUE THE TWO OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE TRIANGLE TO THE PAPER, SO THE 'DOOR' WILL OPEN.
- The student writes "Leah," "Bilhah," "Zilpah," and "Rachel' above each tent.
- At the top of the paper, write "Twelve Sons Of Jacob" and "Genesis 29:31-35; 30:1-24; 35:18", so the parents know that the story came from the Bible.
- Each student takes twelve small circles and draws a face on each. Older students can probably cut their own circles.
- Student glues the appropriate number of babies inside each tent. (If additional room is needed, 'babies' may be glued to the inside of the tent door.)
- Somewhere in each mother's tent, the student can write the name of the right baby on the inside of the tent on the paper or 'floor' of the tent. If students cannot write, the Bible teacher may need to type or write the babies' names on extra paper for the student and the student can at least glue the matching baby to right mother.
- Since the lesson is a short one, review the twelve sons of Jacob's names. This may be a good time to sing the Special Song again and again! (See above.)
