Genesis 20:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,[b] for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[c]
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[d]
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.[e] Then she stopped having children.
Jacob was a scoundrel for a good part of his life. He wasn’t just working to marry Rachel he was also hiding from his recent past. This passage of scripture is a good lesson in how other people’s sin can affect the innocent. Leah and Rachel’s father was not looking out for their best interests and later in this passage we see that Jacob wasn’t either.
God saw both women and blessed them both with children. Rachel had 3 and Leah 7. But that wasn’t enough, they both gave their servants to Jacob to have more children. Jacob went along with his wives and took the easy path.
None of the above scenarios seem ideal. Do you struggle like I do with your life being different than you would have chosen because someone else’s sin has oozed onto your life? I continue to pray that I don’t try to fix my life with my own means but wait for God to show me the way.
Worship
Judges 5:3
Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.
Supplies:
- TV or a music account and a speaker
- worship scarves
- instruments
Everyone needs to be up, standing on their feet, including teachers and helpers. Children naturally look to the adults in the room and mimic their behavior. Place the bucket of instruments and scarves in the middle of the room and have the children and adults pick an instrument. Start the music and encourage the children to worship the Lord with dance, instruments and song.
NOTE: Sometimes the pink scarves can cause trouble with the girls in your class. Lots of tears 😦 trying to keep a worship filled environment is difficult at this point. Either hide the offensive pink scarf or buy enough pick scarfs for each little girl.
Here are songs that your children will enjoy!
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Crafts
God Looks at Our Heart
Supplies:
- washable markers, color pencils, or crayons
- white printer paper
- fancy wrapping paper
- red and brown construction paper
- scissors
- glue
Directions:
- Print out 2 per page of the worksheet below. I don’t have a link for this worksheet but it is simple enough for you to type in your word processor. The font I used is comic sans or use whatever font you like 🙂
- Cut the worksheet in half
- Cut out and glue the construction paper heart under “God Looks At Our”
- Cut out the brown boring paper to cover the words and the heart. Cut out a box the same size as the brown one.
- Glue the top edge above the words.
- Ask your children which paper is prettier? Which paper would have the best present under it? etc…
Jacob Picks With His Eyes
Supplies:
- washable markers, color pencils, or crayons
- blue construction paper cut in half
- God’s Promise to Abraham worksheet, you can find it Here
- scissors
- glue
Directions:
- Print out the worksheet, one for each child. here
- Have the children color their worksheet.
- Type up and cut out one for each child: “Man Looks on the Outside” and “God Looks at Our”
- Cut a heart out of construction paper for each child.
- Glue on Man Looks on the Outside on Rachel and the heart and God Looks at Our on top of the heart on Leah.
Little Steps 