This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises even when life is hard and people are unkind. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the discussion, and the activity.
Big Idea
God is with us and keeps His promises, even when things are hard. We can trust Him, and we can be kind and peaceful like Isaac.
Memory Verse
Genesis 26:3
Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
(WEB)
Say the verse slowly with the children. Each time you say the words “I will be with you,” have them place both hands on their heart, then open their arms wide, as if they are giving God a big hug.
The Story: Genesis 26 for Kids
A long time ago, there was a famine, which means there was not enough rain, so the crops would not grow. Isaac, the son of Abraham, was living in the land of Gerar, and he was hungry, just like everyone else. Isaac was thinking about going to Egypt to find food, but God spoke to him and said, “Do not go to Egypt. Stay in this land, and I will be with you.” God reminded Isaac of the promise He had made to his father, Abraham.
Isaac stayed in Gerar. The men of that place asked him about his wife, Rebekah. Isaac was afraid they might hurt him to get her, so he told them she was his sister. Rebekah was truly his wife, and one day the king, Abimelech, looked out of a window and saw Isaac being loving toward Rebekah. The king called Isaac in and asked him why he had lied. Isaac said he was afraid. Abimelech told everyone that no one should hurt Isaac or Rebekah.
God blessed Isaac. He planted seeds, and that year he gathered a hundred times as much grain as he had planted! Isaac grew wealthy, with many sheep, cattle, and servants. The Philistines became jealous, and they filled up the wells that Isaac’s father had dug long ago. Isaac did not fight back. He simply moved away and dug new wells.
Isaac’s servants dug one well, and the herders from Gerar said, “This water belongs to us.” Isaac named that well Esek, which means “argument.” They dug a second well, and there was another argument, so he named it Sitnah. Then Isaac dug a third well, and no one argued over it. He called it Rehoboth, which means “room,” because he said, “Now the LORD has made room for us.”
That night God appeared to Isaac again and said, “I am the God of Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Isaac built an altar, prayed to God, and dug another well. Later, the king and his friends came to Isaac. They saw that God was with him and wanted to make peace. Isaac made them a feast, and they promised to live peacefully together. Isaac’s servants then found water in the well they had dug, and Isaac named it Shibah. That is why the town is still called Beersheba.
Read It Together
Genesis 26:12
Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. The LORD blessed him.
(WEB)
Point out that God blessed Isaac even in a year when the land was dry. Ask the children how God might bless them when things seem hard, and remind them that God’s blessings often come in surprising ways.
Genesis 26:24
The LORD appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
(WEB)
Show the children that God spoke to Isaac at night, when he was probably tired and worried. Explain that God comes close to us in the quiet moments, and we can talk to Him anytime.
Genesis 26:28-29
28 They said, “We saw plainly that the LORD was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of the LORD.”
(WEB)
Point out that Abimelech’s men noticed God was with Isaac, and they wanted peace too. Explain that when we live kindly and peacefully, other people can see God’s goodness through us.
Talk About It
- How do you think Isaac felt when there was not enough water for his animals?
- Why did Isaac keep digging new wells instead of fighting with the herders?
- What is one thing you can do when someone argues with you, like Isaac did?
- Why do you think Isaac was afraid to tell the men the truth about Rebekah?
- What is one way you have seen God take care of you or your family?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Well of Blessing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a well with water coming up from it. On the water, have them write or draw one thing God has given them. Encourage them to share their drawing with the class, explaining how God provides for them, just as He provided water for Isaac.
Dig for Water Game
You will need a large open space, a few paper cups, and a small bowl of water. Hide the cups around the room, with a little paper “water droplet” under some of them. Let the children take turns searching for the water. When they find one, have them cheer like Isaac’s family did when they found water. Afterward, talk about how patience and trust helped them keep searching.
Peace Promise Card
You will need index cards, colored pencils, and a hole punch with string. Have each child write “I will be kind and peaceful” on one side of the card and draw a small well on the other side. Punch a hole in the corner and tie the string so they can hang it on their bedroom door or in the car. Encourage them to look at it when they feel upset or want to argue.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is faithful to His covenant promises across generations. Isaac receives the same blessing God gave Abraham, and God reaffirms that His promises rest on His character, not on Isaac’s perfection. Isaac’s own failure to tell the truth about Rebekah is recorded honestly, reminding us that God works through imperfect people.
Be careful not to overstate the lesson to children as a formula where obedience guarantees wealth or success. Make clear that God’s presence and faithfulness matter more than material blessings, and that some hard seasons come without any clear explanation.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are with us, just as You were with Isaac. When things are hard or someone is unkind, help us to trust You and to be peaceful. Teach us to keep going like Isaac did, and to be thankful for every good thing You give us. Amen.
