This lesson teaches children that God keeps his promises, even when they seem too big to believe. It is written for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God always keeps his promises, even when we think they are impossible. He made a promise to Abraham and he kept it, and he will keep his promises to us too.
Memory Verse
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.
(WEB)
Ask children to stand tall with their hands on their hips, like a strong, brave leader. Then have them say the verse together while they stand this way, and sit down slowly on the word “blameless” to remind them that God wants them to walk with him.
The Story: Genesis 17 for Kids
Abram was ninety-nine years old when God came to him and said, “I am God Almighty.” God told Abram to walk with him and to be good and faithful. God also said he would make a covenant with Abram, which is a special promise that would last forever. Abram fell on his face in wonder, because God was so great and so kind to him.
God gave Abram a new name. From now on he would be called Abraham, which means “father of many nations.” God told Abraham that he would have so many children and grandchildren that they would become kings and great peoples. Abraham had no children yet, and he and his wife were already very old. Abraham laughed inside his heart, because the promise seemed impossible.
God said, “Your wife will not be called Sarai anymore. Her name will be Sarah. She will have a son, and his name will be Isaac.” Sarah was ninety years old. God told Abraham that Isaac would be the child of the promise, and that God would keep his covenant with Isaac and his family after him. Abraham could not see how this would happen, but God had said it.
God gave Abraham a sign of the covenant. Every boy in Abraham’s family, including the babies on the eighth day, would be circumcised. This was a mark on their bodies to show that they belonged to God and were part of his promise. Abraham obeyed right away. He did this for himself, for his son Ishmael, and for every man in his house, all on the same day.
God kept his word exactly as he said. A year later, Sarah had her baby, and they named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” God had made a promise, and God kept it, because God always keeps his promises.
Read It Together
Genesis 17:7
I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.
(WEB)
Point out that God uses the words “everlasting covenant” here. Explain that a covenant is a promise that God makes with his people, and that God says it will last forever, not just for a little while.
Genesis 17:15-16
15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
(WEB)
Show children how God gave Sarai a new name, Sarah, and promised to bless her too. Point out that God cared for Sarah and gave her a special place in his plan, even though she was old.
Genesis 17:19
God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
(WEB)
Ask children to find the name Isaac in this verse. Explain that God told Abraham the name of the son before he was born, which shows that God planned this promise long before it happened.
Talk About It
- What did God promise Abraham in this chapter, and how did God feel about keeping that promise?
- Why do you think Abraham laughed when God said he would have a son at ninety-nine years old?
- What new name did God give to Abram, and what do you think the name meant to him?
- How can you tell that God wants Abraham and his family to belong to him?
- When is a time you had to wait for something good, and how did you feel while you waited?
Activity Ideas
Star Count Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have each child trace their hand on paper and cut it out. Then ask them to write one promise God has made, like “God is with me,” on the cutout. Explain that God told Abraham his family would be as many as the stars, and let children draw small stars around their hand to show how God’s promises grow and reach far.
Walk With God Game
You will need an open space and a few cones or chairs. Set up a path and have children walk slowly from one end to the other, saying “I will walk with God” with each step. Then have them stop, turn, and say “God keeps his promises” before they go again. This helps children move their bodies as they remember that God calls us to walk faithfully before him.
Promise Jar at Home
You will need a clean jar, paper slips, and a pen. Ask each family member to write a promise God has kept in their life on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. Read a few together at dinner or bedtime. This gives children a simple way to remember that God is faithful, and it helps the whole family see God’s faithfulness again and again.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Genesis 17 shows that God’s covenant is initiated by his grace, not earned by human effort. God speaks first, renames Abram and Sarai, and promises a son to a couple who are long past the age of having children. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant, and it marks the people of God as set apart and belonging to him. Adults can see in this chapter a foreshadowing of the gracious promises God fulfills through Christ.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the meaning of circumcision as a requirement for children to earn God’s love today. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and promise, and gently explain that this sign was for God’s people in that time. Do not suggest that children should fear God’s promises or that God will punish those who fail to keep every detail perfectly.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for keeping your promises to us, even when they seem too big for us to believe. Help us walk with you every day, and help us trust you when we have to wait. Thank you that you are faithful, now and always. Amen.
