Curriculum

God Cares for Ishmael

God Cares for Ishmael Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Regardless of our past circumstances or current situation, each of us is loved by God and precious to Him.

Scripture Summary

When God promised Sarah, Abraham’s wife, a child, she didn’t trust God and His timing. She was getting older and older and still was without a child. So Sarah took matters into her own hands. She offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham with whom Abraham could have a child and fulfill God’s promise of a great nation. Hagar conceived and gave birth to Ishmael.

However, God continued to fulfill His promise and original plan. Sarah also conceived and gave birth to Isaac. The raw joy and elation Sarah felt at the birth of her son quickly turned ugly toward Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah was cruel to Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar fled from Sarah once, returned, and eventually was ostracized from the family.

Hagar was understandably distraught and found herself without enough water or food to care for Ishmael. She expected him to die. But God saw her, spoke to her, and provided water and a future.

God promised Hagar that He would make Ishmael into a great nation, just like He promised Ishmael’s father, Abraham. “Great” doesn’t mean good and wholesome in this case. Ishmael led the Ishmaelites, nomads living in the desert. Ishmael’s nephew Esau married one of Ishmael’s daughters. The Ishmaelites were antagonistic toward Israelites and God.

Later on in the New Testament, Jesus was preparing His disciples for persecution. He reminded them how God cares for even sparrows.

What a similarity to how God saw Hagar and cared for her and Ishmael. He sees and knows what we’re going through, and He loves us deeply.

Why Is This Important

There are consequences, good and not-so-good, for our decisions and actions. But nothing will ever change the fact that we are precious in His sight.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

God Wants What’s Best For Us

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

God commanded the Israelites with one simple (and all encompassing) statement: Love the Lord with everything (Deuteronomy 6:5). Everything. This command wasn’t intended to be limiting, instead that we “may enjoy long life” (v. 2). God’s command is for us, and He quickly mentioned for us to share it with the children in our lives. They are precious in His sight.

A new Sunday school teacher anticipates great moments of learning and discovery for the little ones in his or her class. Like Sarah’s joy over Isaac, new moms beam while holding their newborn baby. The hearts of retirees leap for joy when a family with children moves in next door, and they can’t wait to hear the sound of laughter and play.

These blessings can provide other opportunities, just as a familiar quote says, “Grant me patience to deal with my blessings.” The Sunday school children may provide more opportunities for discord than discovery. The newborn child can create a sleepless night for the entire family. The neighborhood children may leave their bikes and toys scattered about… including on the neighbor’s driveway.

Regardless of what we’re facing today or what challenges our children bring, God loves us and considers us precious. He desires to care for those He loves with provision and guidance on how to navigate life. When we love God with everything, we are able to better see His best for our lives. And our great calling is to share these truths with the little ones–the precious children in our lives.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me and calling me precious. Please help me see the beauty of Your plan and care for me. And allow me the joy of sharing Your love and truths with the children in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: A large playing area

“So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

Lead kids to play this game by following these steps:

  • Instruct kids that they are to fly like sparrows.
  • When you call “freeze” they must freeze and repeat after you.
  • Each time they freeze, have them repeat several words in today’s Bible memory verse.
  • After you have played a round with short phrases, have them repeat longer phrases from the Bible memory verse.

Then SAY: What great sparrows you were. Isn’t it good news to know that we do not have to be afraid because we are more valuable to God than sparrows? We are precious in God’s sight.
 

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Paper plates - two per child, Markers - one per child

Give each child two paper plates. Explain what kind of face they are supposed to draw on each side of each paper plate. Tell kids the eyebrows and mouth can show emotion best.

Side 1 - happy face Side 2 - sad face Side 3 - mad face Side 4 - worried face

SAY: Now that you have created your face reactions, I am going to tell you a story from the Old Testament. I will pause and say to you “show your face.” You will think about how the characters feel during the story at that time. Hold up the face that you think best represents that in front of your face.

Today’s Bible lesson comes from Genesis, the first book in the Bible. (Show them the book of Genesis in your Bible.) This true story from Genesis 21 is about two families. Family one was Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. Family two was Abraham’s other family, Hagar and Ishmael.

These families didn’t get along very well.

Show your face. (Invite kids to hold up the face that best represents these families not getting along very well.)

Sarah and Hagar did not get along very well and finally Sarah told Abraham that Hagar and her son, Ishmael, should move away. Abraham was worried and didn’t know what to do. He wanted to stop the fighting, but he also loved his son Ishmael. He also loved his wife, Sarah, and his other son Isaac.

Show your face. (Invite kids to hold up the face that best represents how Abraham feels.)

God knew Abraham’s worries and told him not to worry. It would be okay for Ishmael to move away and God promised to take care of Ishmael.

Show your face. (Invite kids to hold up the face that best represents how Abraham feels.)

Early the next morning, Abraham packed some food and water for Hagar and Ishmael and sent them on their way. Hagar and Ishmael went on their way to the dessert. As you can imagine the desert was hot and they needed lots of water. Soon, all their water was gone. Hagar put Ishmael under a bush and she cried out to God.

Show your face. (Invite kids to hold up the face that best represents how Hagar feels.)

God heard her and the boy crying and sent an angel to Hagar. The angel told Hagar not to worry and opened her eyes to see a well. She was able to get water to give to Ishmael to drink. God was with the boy and took care of him as he grew up.

Show your face. (Invite kids to hold up the face that best represents how Hagar and Ishmael feel.)

ASK:

  • What do you think about how God took care of Ishmael?
  • Did you know that God loves and cares for you, too?

SAY: Wow! Even though things got tough, God promised that He would care for Ishmael. You and I are precious in God’s sight.

Snack

Sparrows in a Nest Treat

You'll Need: Pretzel sticks, Round banana slices, Raisins, Small pieces of cheese cut in triangles, Paper plates

SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, we learned that God cares for us and we are valuable to Him. Today we are going to make some Sparrows in a Nest snacks for you to enjoy.

Have kids follow these steps to make their Sparrows in a Nest Treat.

  • Place your pretzel sticks around in different directions to look like a nest.
  • Place several round banana slices on your nest as birds.
  • Place two raisins on the banana slice as eyes for the sparrow.
  • Put one cheese triangle in the middle of the banana slice for a beak.
  • Enjoy.

Game

Under the Bush

You’ll Need: A green or brown, sheet/blanket

Play the game as follows:

  • Explain that in today’s Bible lesson, Hagar put Ishmael under a bush as she went and cried out to God.
  • Show kids the sheet/blanket and explain that this will represent the bush.
  • All children will face the other direction with their eyes closed. The teacher will choose one child to silently move and hide under the bush sheet/blanket.
  • After they are well hidden, children are invited to open their eyes and try to guess who is hidden under the bush.
  • Play several rounds, as time allows.

SAY: Even though Hagar put Ishmael under a bush, God still saw him.

God even heard their tears. God sent an angel to Hagar who opened her eyes to the well which had water that they really needed. The angel told her that God would take care of Ishmael because he was precious in God’s sight. And we are precious in God’s sight, too.

Craft

Sparrow Art

You’ll Need: “Sparrow Art” handout, Different color ink pads, Hand wipes

Have kids follow these steps to make their Sparrow Art.

  • Add the feathers to the sparrow by using your fingerprints from different color ink pads.
  • When your sparrow is completely inked, hold it up for others to see.

SAY: Wow, look at each of your sparrows. They are beautiful and unique just like you. God created you each so special and He cares for you. He values you even more than a whole flock of sparrows! You are precious in God’s sight.

Prayer

Well Prayers

You’ll Need: Blue-gray Playdough

SAY: We heard in today’s Bible lesson that when Hagar saw Ishmael crying she cried, too. She cried out to God and He revealed to her a well. That well was just what they needed because Ishmael was thirsty. God was showing Hagar that He would take care of Ishmael.

ASK: What are some things that make you cry?

Share with the kids, like Hagar, we can cry out to God because He takes care of us.

Follow these steps:

  • Invite kids to take some blue/gray playdough and roll it up into balls.
  • With each ball have them share things that make them cry.
  • Then have them put all their dough balls together and make a well.

PRAY: Dear God, You are so big and mighty, but You do not forget about us. You see us, You care for us, and You know every tear that we cry. Thank You for Your example in today’s lesson of being our God who sees. Please see our tears and hear our prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.