This lesson teaches children that God’s people can be sad when someone they love dies, and that Abraham showed respect and faithfulness even in grief. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Even when we are very sad, we can trust God and do the right thing. Abraham was sad about Sarah, but he was careful, kind, and honest as he cared for her.
Memory Verse
Genesis 23:2
Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
(WEB)
Ask the children to stand up and put one hand on their heart. Then have them slowly lower their heads, as if they are sad, and then lift their heads and clap once. Repeat the motions together three times until everyone knows them.
The Story: Genesis 23 for Kids
Sarah was Abraham’s wife, and she lived a long life. She lived one hundred twenty-seven years. Then Sarah died in a town called Kiriath Arba, which is also called Hebron. Abraham was very sad, and he came to cry for her.
Abraham needed a place to bury Sarah. He was a stranger in that land, so he did not own any ground there. He stood up and spoke kindly to the people of the land, called the children of Heth. He said, “I am a stranger here. Please give me a place to bury my dead.”
The people answered him with respect. They said, “You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs.” They wanted to help him. But Abraham wanted to buy his own land, so that it would truly belong to his family forever.
Abraham asked a man named Ephron if he would sell a cave called Machpelah. Ephron said, “I will give you the field and the cave. Bury your dead.” Abraham wanted to pay for it, so he said, “Please let me pay the full price.” Ephron named a price of four hundred pieces of silver.
Abraham agreed. He weighed out the silver and paid Ephron in front of everyone at the gate of the city. Now the field and the cave were his. Abraham buried Sarah there in the cave of Machpelah, in the land of Canaan.
Read It Together
Genesis 23:3-4
3 Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
(WEB)
Point out that Abraham was a stranger and did not have his own land. Ask the children how Abraham spoke politely and asked for help instead of demanding anything. Show that being humble is a good way to treat others.
Genesis 23:16
Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.
(WEB)
Explain that Abraham paid the full price for the land. Tell the children that Abraham was honest and did not take what was not his. Ask them when they have been fair and honest with someone.
Genesis 23:19
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
(WEB)
Point to the end of the story, where Abraham finally buried Sarah. Remind the children that Abraham kept caring for his wife even after she died. Talk about how we can show love to people who are no longer with us.
Talk About It
- How do you think Abraham felt when Sarah died, and what did he do about his sadness?
- Why do you think Abraham asked to buy the cave instead of just taking it?
- What are some ways we can be kind and polite when we need help from someone?
- How did Abraham show that he trusted God even while he was grieving?
- Who is someone in your life that you can thank or remember with kindness this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Cave Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons, and a glue stick. Have them draw a simple cave in the middle of a field, with a few trees around it. Ask them to write or draw one thing they can do to be honest and kind this week, and tape it inside the cave.
Stranger and Friend Game
Play a simple game where one child pretends to be a stranger asking for a place to sit, and the others pretend to be the people of the land. Let the children practice speaking politely and kindly to each other. Switch roles so everyone gets a turn to be the stranger and the friend.
Family Memory Jar
Give each child a small jar, paper scraps, and a pen. Have them write a memory of someone they love, or a thank you note to a family member. Place the notes in the jar and read a few together at dinner this week to remember how we honor the people we love.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows a grieving man who keeps his integrity. Abraham refuses to take what is not his, pays a fair price, and honors his wife with a proper burial. It also shows how Abraham treats the people around him with respect, even when they are strangers to him.
Avoid suggesting to children that God rewards good behavior with immediate blessings or that sadness will always go away quickly. Keep the focus on Abraham’s faithfulness and character, and let children know that it is normal to feel sad when someone dies.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for loving us and for being with us when we feel sad. Help us to be kind, honest, and polite like Abraham, even when things are hard. Please help us remember the people we love and trust you with every feeling we have. Amen.
