ISAAC AND REBEKAH
Genesis CHAPTER 24 Abraham commands that Isaac shall not marry a Canaanite—The Lord guides Abraham’s servant in choosing Rebekah as a wife for Isaac—Rebekah is blessed to be the mother of thousands of millions—She marries Isaac.
I Can Be Kind to Others.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27”
To highlight Rebekah’s impressive example of kindness, you could show your children the picture below or this week’s activity page as you summarize the story in Genesis 24:10–21. This could lead to a conversation a.
Show the picture of Rebekah in this week’s activity page. Point out details in the picture as you summarize the story in Genesis 24:10–21, in which Rebekah showed kindness to the servant of Abraham. Point out that her words and act of kindness were the sign that Rebekah was the one that God wanted to marry Abraham’s son Isaac.
Your children might enjoy acting out the story. Invite the children to pretend to be the servant arriving with his camels or Rebekah getting water for them. Give them phrases to recite from the scriptures, such as “Let me … drink a little water” (verse 17) and “I will draw water for thy camels also” (verse 19). Why is it important for us to be kind to others?
Latter Day Kids “Rebekah at the Well” Lesson ideas
Tell a story about how the Savior showed kindness to someone. Invite some of the children to share their own experiences of showing kindness, or they could tell of acts of kindness they have seen.
Friend July 2023 “The Making Things Better Club” Josie and Ashlyn start a “Making Things Better Club.” They looked for people to help, like kids that need a friend. Soon Josie was doing it without thinking and realized that it was making her better.
How can we be kind like Rebekah?
- Consider singing a song about kindness together, such as “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). Your children could listen for the word “kindness” (or a similar word) and stand when they hear it.
JACOB AND ESAU
Genesis CHAPTER 25 Abraham marries, has descendants, dies, and is buried in the cave of Machpelah—His descendants through Ishmael are listed—Rebekah conceives, and Jacob and Esau struggle in her womb—The Lord reveals their destiny to Rebekah—Esau sells his birthright for a mess of pottage.
Genesis Chapter 26 The Lord promises Isaac posterity as the stars of heaven in number—In his seed, all nations will be blessed—The Lord prospers Isaac, temporally and spiritually, for Abraham’s sake—Isaac offers sacrifices—Esau marries Hittite wives to the sorrow of his parents.
Genesis Chapter 27 Rebekah guides Jacob in seeking blessings—Jacob is blessed to have dominion and rule over peoples and nations—Esau hates Jacob and plans to slay him—Rebekah fears that Jacob may marry one of the daughters of Heth.
Eternal things are more important than worldly things.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27”
- Consider using “Jacob and Esau” (in Old Testament Stories, 38–41) to help your children understand the story in Genesis 25:21–34.
Old Testament Stories “Jacob and Esau”
- What things matter eternally to you and your children? Perhaps your children could find pictures or objects that represent things of great spiritual worth (like a temple) and pictures of things that bring only temporary happiness (such as a game, toy, or treat).(Temporary: lasting only a short while, not permanent. Eternal: something that will last forever.) The choices we make show what our values are, or what is most important to us. How can we show the Lord that the things of eternal value are important to us?
For example: If you had to choose between going on a picnic and being baptized, which would you choose? You are tempted to miss church to watch a sports event or go hunting. You are tempted to buy a toy rather than pay your tithing. Which would give temporary pleasure? Which would make eternal happiness possible?
The Red Crystal See link for printable activity
Friend August 2018 “Soccer and Sundays” When we try to live the gospel and put the most important things first, we are blessed! Follow the path of scriptures to help the boy get to church.
- Sing a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61) with the children. Testify that we are blessed and happy when we choose the right.
- Tell about a time when you had to sacrifice something good for something else of greater value. Or show the video “Continue in Patience” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How does your story or the story in the video relate to the choice Esau made in Genesis 25:29–34? Help the children think of blessings Heavenly Father wants to give them (such as a stronger testimony, temple blessings, or eternal life with Him). Encourage them to think of things they would be willing to sacrifice in order to receive these valuable blessings.
- See “What is a birthright” below or the Bible Dictionary if they need help understanding what a birthright is. Invite the children to imagine that Esau asked for our advice about whether he should trade his birthright for the pottage; what would we say to him?
What is a Birthright?
“Lesson 33: Genesis 25–27,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material Isaac received more than Abraham’s other children because of Isaac’s birthright. A son who held the birthright not only inherited his father’s lands and possessions, but he also took his father’s position as the spiritual leader of the family and received the “authority to preside” (see Bible Dictionary, “Birthright”). The birthright son was then responsible to provide for the family’s needs. The birthright was often passed from a father to his eldest son. However, righteousness was more important than being the firstborn son. The birthright Isaac received from Abraham also included all the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.
GENESIS 28-33 Lesson ideas
Additional Resources
See Old Testament Stories & Lesson Ideas & Old Testament: Activities & Games for additional lesson resources.
After Isaac learned that he had unknowingly bestowed the blessing on Jacob, he could have revoked the blessing and bestowed it upon Esau. However, he chose not to. Isaac thus confirmed that the blessing was given to the person the Lord intended.
Lesson 13: Jacob and Esau,” Primary 6: Old Testament (Pages 52–55)
- Have a child put a large coin or cardboard circle up to one eye, close the other one, and then slowly move the object away from the eye that is open. Have the child tell what he or she could see with the coin up close and how much more there is to see when the coin is moved away.Explain that the coin could represent an immediate desire, such as hunger, that blinds us to other things around us. Like Esau, sometimes we experience failure or unhappiness because we trade what we want most for what we want at the moment. Present several situations such as the following for the children to discuss:
- You are tempted to miss church to watch a sports event or go hunting. You are tempted to buy a toy rather than pay your tithing.
Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Our Divine Birthright” Lesson ideas
Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
Bracelets and Scriptures – The manual suggests, “Your family could look in these verses for attributes
that made Rebekah a worthy eternal companion for Isaac. Encourage family members to pick
one of these attributes that they feel they should develop.”
- Scriptures: Read Genesis 24:15–28, 55–60 and let each person choose one way they want to be more like Rebekah.
- Bracelet: Write that attribute on a strip of paper and draw specific things you might do if you have that attribute. Tape/staple the strip to make a bracelet. Wear it to remind you of the story of Rebekah. Could also write the attribute on the below jewels and cut them into two strips to make a bracelet.
