Lesson Objective:
The children will understand that we have a choice to follow God or follow the world, but that choice brings consequences.
Scripture:
Genesis 13
Arrival:
Have the children sing several favorites. Include a movement song to get the wiggles out.
Prayer Time:
Pray for the lesson and any prayer requests the children have. Be sure to ask the Lord to help the children learn to obey.
Lesson:
Review the story of the call of Abram from Ur. Ask the children how Abram was supposed to know where to stop (God was going to tell him). Tell the children that Abram, Sarai, and Lot traveled for a long time until he arrived in Bethel. There God told him to stop and pitch his tent. While they were traveling, Lot and Abram both grew very wealthy. They had many animals they were tending, and it got really hard to tell whose animals were whose. Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen were constantly arguing about the animals, and the pastureland did not have enough food and water for all of them.
Ask the children what they think the two men should do? Tell them that Abram decided that Lot and his family and Abram and his family needed to part ways. He let Lot choose first.
Where Abram and Lot were living was near the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. These towns were very wicked, but the land near them was well watered and had beautiful green grass. Paint a mental picture for the children about how beautiful it must have looked. Then, the other option was a dry desert land. There was some grass for the animals, but it was dry and hot. Ask the children which option they would have chosen.
Tell the children that Lot did, indeed, choose the more beautiful land. Tell the children that the problem with the beautiful choice is that it was near sin. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were now much closer to Lot and his family, which meant that their wicked lifestyles were also closer. Even though the land was beautiful, it was a step towards evil and wickedness.
Tell the children that sometimes sin is like that. It looks beautiful or “fun,” but when we take a step closer, we find that there is danger. Often we find the danger when it is too late.
Tell the children that God blessed Abram for not moving closer to the world. Read Genesis 13:14-17. Tell the children that God promised to bless Abram for his obedience to the command to leave home and come to this new place.
On the other hand Lot, who chose to move closer to the world, was going to suffer. Tell the children that you will be learning in future lessons about the trials Lot had. The first one occurred after he moved, when the enemies of Sodom and Gomorrah attacked the land. Lot and his family, who were now living in Sodom, were taken away with the plunder of war. Abram had to rescue his nephew, and when the battles were over, Lot still went back to Sodom, where all of the wickedness was. God soon judged him for this action.
Game/Memory Verse:
Combine game and memory time. You are still working on the books of the OT. Have them on magnetic cards on the chalkboard. Have the children sit in a circle and give one a ball. Have her toss the ball to another child, saying “Genesis.” The next child must quickly pass the ball and say “Exodus” and so forth until all have been said. Then, take some of the books away. If a child cannot remember the next book and quickly pass the ball (within 3 seconds) he/she is eliminated from the game. Also, any child that drops the ball is eliminated. Play until time is up or you have just one child left in the game.
Dismissal:
Ask some review questions as you dismiss:
* What were Lot and Abram’s herdsmen arguing about?
* What choice did Abram give Lot?
* What did Lot choose?
* What was the problem with that choice?
* What did God promise Abram? What happened to Lot?
As you dismiss the children, remind them that sin often looks beautiful, but brings terrible consequences.