This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises, even when they seem too wonderful to be true, and that He listens when we ask Him to be kind. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God always keeps His promises, and He is kind even when we are afraid to ask Him questions or when we laugh at good news we don’t expect.
Memory Verse
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”
(WEB)
Ask the children to stand up. Have them reach their arms high for “Is anything too hard,” then stretch their hands out wide for “for the LORD.” Let them sit down slowly on “At the set time,” and clap once for “Sarah will have a son.” Repeat it together three times.
The Story: Genesis 18 for Kids
One hot afternoon, Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent under some big oak trees. He looked up and saw three men standing nearby. Abraham ran to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He wanted to take good care of his guests, so he asked them to rest in the shade and have some water to wash their feet.
Abraham hurried inside and asked his wife Sarah to bake fresh bread. Then he ran to the herd and chose a tender calf for his servant to cook. When the meal was ready, Abraham stood nearby while the visitors ate under the tree. He was a good host, and he wanted them to feel welcome.
One of the visitors asked where Sarah was. Abraham said she was in the tent. Then the visitor said something wonderful: “I will certainly come back about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening from inside the tent, and she laughed to herself. She and Abraham were very old, and a baby seemed impossible.
The Lord asked Abraham why Sarah laughed. He said, “Is anything too hard for me?” Sarah got scared and said she had not laughed. But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.” Even so, God still loved her and kept His promise.
After the visitors got up to leave, they looked toward a city called Sodom. The Lord said He was going to see whether the people there were as wicked as people had said. Abraham was worried about his nephew Lot who lived there, so he began to ask God to save the city if good people were found in it.
Abraham asked God over and over, bringing his questions down from fifty good people to just ten. God answered each time that He would not destroy the city for the sake of the good people. Then the Lord finished talking with Abraham and went on His way, and Abraham went back home.
Read It Together
Genesis 18:1
The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
(WEB)
Point out that the Lord appeared to Abraham while he was simply sitting by his tent. Help children see that God meets us in ordinary moments, not only in special places.
Genesis 18:2-3
2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
(WEB)
Show children how Abraham ran to greet his guests and asked them politely to stay. Ask them to name one way they can make a visitor feel welcome this week.
Genesis 18:32
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
(WEB)
Point out how Abraham kept asking God gently, one question at a time. Explain that God welcomes our honest questions and prayers, and that He is patient and kind when we bring them to Him.
Talk About It
- What did Abraham do when he saw the three visitors coming toward his tent?
- Why do you think Sarah laughed when she heard the good news about a baby?
- What did God say when someone asked if anything was too hard for Him?
- How did Abraham show that he cared about the people in Sodom?
- What is one promise from God that you can trust even when it feels too big?
Activity Ideas
Oak Tree Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a big oak tree with a tent door underneath it. Help them add three simple figures standing nearby to show the visitors. Let them color the picture and talk about where Abraham sat when God came to visit.
Stand Up, Sit Down Game
You will need an open space and a timer or a counter. Call out “Ask God a question” and have children stand, then call out “God keeps His promise” and have them sit. Mix up the calls and speed them up slightly. Each time children stand, let them say one thing they would like to ask God.
Promise Keeper Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a sticker or stamp for each child. Have each child write or draw one promise God has made, such as “God is with me.” Let them decorate the card and take it home. Encourage them to place it on a bedside table so they can read it each night.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is faithful to His word and that He personally involves Himself in the lives of His people. Abraham’s conversation with God reveals a God who is both just and merciful, willing to listen and to spare a city for the sake of a few righteous people. Sarah’s laughter and her fear show that doubt is not hidden from God, and that He still keeps His promise.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the destruction of Sodom or turning the lesson into a discussion of judgment. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness, His kindness to Abraham, and the simple truth that He keeps His word.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for keeping Your promises to us, even when they seem too wonderful to believe. Help us to ask You our questions and trust that You are kind. Teach us to welcome others the way Abraham did. Amen.
