In this lesson, children learn that God keeps His promises and is with us wherever we go. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the discussion, and one activity.
Big Idea
God is always with us, even when we are far from home and feel scared. He keeps His promises, and we can trust Him wherever we go.
Memory Verse
Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands up in front of their chest, then slowly bring them together and open them outward, like a door swinging open. Each time you say “I am with you,” have them tap their heart with one finger.
The Story: Genesis 28 for Kids
Jacob was a young man, and his brother Esau was angry with him. Their father Isaac was old now, and he wanted Jacob to find a good wife from his own family, not from the people living in Canaan. So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him. He told him, “Go to Paddan Aram, to the house of your uncle Laban, and find a wife there.”
Jacob packed up and started the long trip. He walked for many hours, and when the sun went down, he was in a lonely place with no house or tent. He picked up a stone, put it under his head as a pillow, and lay down to sleep under the open sky.
While Jacob slept, he had an amazing dream. He saw a ladder, or staircase, that reached from the ground all the way up to heaven. Angels of God were climbing up and down it. Then Jacob saw the LORD standing right above him. The LORD said, “I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. I will give this land to you and your children. I am with you, and I will keep you safe wherever you go.”
When Jacob woke up, he was amazed. He said, “The LORD is in this place, and I did not even know it!” He was a little scared too, and he called the place Bethel, which means “house of God.” Early the next morning, he took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it to show that this was a special place.
Jacob made a promise to God. He said that if God would take care of him on his trip and bring him safely home, then the LORD would be his God. Jacob even promised to give back a tenth of everything he had.
Read It Together
Genesis 28:12
He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
(WEB)
Point out the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and ask the children to imagine what it would look like. Explain that the angels going up and down show that heaven and earth are connected, and God is close to His people.
Genesis 28:13-14
13 Behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring will all the families of the earth be blessed.
(WEB)
Show how God told Jacob that his family would grow and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. Explain that God’s promises are bigger than one person’s life, and He keeps them over many generations.
Genesis 28:20-21
20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and the LORD will be my God…
(WEB)
Point out that Jacob made his own promise to God, asking for help and protection. Talk about how we can also talk to God about our needs, just as Jacob did on his long journey.
Talk About It
- Where do you feel most safe when you are away from home?
- What did Jacob see in his dream, and what do you think it meant?
- How did Jacob feel when he woke up, and why do you think he felt that way?
- What is one promise God makes in this story that tells us He will always be with us?
- What is something you could say to God if you were scared or far from home?
Activity Ideas
Ladder Drawing Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Have the children draw a tall ladder going from the bottom of the page up to the top. Next, let them draw small angels going up and down the ladder, and a big sun or star at the top to represent God. Ask each child to tell you one thing about what they drew.
Ladder Climb Game
You will need an open space, such as a hallway or gym. Set up two lines of chairs or cones to make a ladder path. Call out instructions like “angels climb up” or “angels come down,” and have the children move carefully along the path. End by saying, “God is with us wherever we go,” and let everyone cheer.
Stone Reminder at Home
You will need a smooth stone or a small rock from outside and a marker. Have each child write the words “God is with me” on the stone using the marker. Encourage them to keep it on their nightstand or in their backpack as a reminder that God is with them, just as Jacob remembered the place where God met him.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that God meets His people in ordinary places, even on a lonely road with a stone for a pillow. Jacob was not perfect, and his journey was full of uncertainty, yet God chose to speak to him and renew the promise made to Abraham and Isaac. It is a reminder that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our circumstances.
Avoid telling children that God will always make their trips safe or that doing the right thing guarantees a happy result. Jacob’s story does not promise that every journey will be easy. Instead, focus on the truth that God is present and keeps His promises, even when life is hard.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are with us wherever we go. When we feel far away or scared, help us remember that You are close to us. Thank You for keeping Your promises, just as You kept them for Jacob. We love You and trust You. Amen.
