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Read Genesis 12 - The call of Abraham
A conversation between God and Abraham.
You will need: two people to play the roles.
Explain that today you are going to listen to someone pray. His name is Abraham and he is a very old man. The person playing Abraham comes to the front and kneels and if possible ‘God’ should be behind a screen so that only his voice is heard.
| A |
God, please hear my prayer. I have prayed to you every day all my life and now I am a very old man. Lord, can you hear me? |
| G |
Of course I hear you Abraham, just as I have heard every one of your prayers for the last 80 years. |
| A |
Thank you, Lord. It is wonderful to know that, despite your greatness, you have time to listen to someone like me. |
| G |
What do you mean Abraham — someone like you? You have been a good man all your life, always doing what is right for your family and your neighbours. |
| A |
Yes, Lord, I have tried to follow your ways even when it has been difficult. |
| G |
What has been most difficult for you, Abraham? |
| A |
Well, Lord, you always promised that my wife Sarah and I would have a child. Many, many years have passed since you made that promise but we still have no child. |
| G |
Do you believe that I will always keep my promises? |
| A |
Yes, of course Lord, and that is why we have waited in hope all these years. |
| G |
Well Abraham, your long wait is over and your faithfulness will be rewarded. You and Sarah will have a son. |
| A |
But Lord, Sarah is an old woman now. How can this be possible? |
| G |
Everything is possible if you have faith in me.
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| A |
You are great and powerful, God of all the earth, I should have realised that with you everything is possible. Thank you, Lord, for this great gift — a son after all these years. I must go and tell Sarah at once. |
For children
Invite the children to work in small groups or pairs and imagine how Abraham might have felt after this conversation and how he told Sarah the news. What do they think her reaction would have been?
Make pictures of stars in the sky
For young people
Many years before God confirmed his covenant to Abram and Sarai, he had promised Abram that his children would be as countless as the stars.
- Can you imagine what the family tree would be like for a family with so many members?
- When nothing had happened for Abram and he still had no children with Sarai, how do you think he was able to stay faithful to God?
- Abram knew when God was speaking to him. How can we know we are hearing from God?
- How can we learn from Abram’s example of patience?
- How do you think Sarai might have reacted to:
- The news of many descendants?
- Abram’s name change?
- Her own name change?
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