God hears Hagar and IshmaelGENESIS 16:1–15; 21:8–21

prepare

Session 8

Spring 2020

Multiage

PRAYER

Creator God, you fashioned the sun and the moon, the mountains and the valleys. Every creature was made by your hand. And yet, you listen to me. You hear my prayers. Help me listen to you as you listen to me: with love. Amen.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

To know that God hears our cries

STORY SUMMARY

Abram fathered Ishmael with his wife’s slave Hagar. When Hagar was pregnant, Sarah treated her harshly and Hagar ran away. An angel told Hagar to return and said that God would bless her and her child. Later, Sarah forced Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. When they were near death in the wilderness, God heard the cries of the child. Th ey found water and were saved.

teaching tips for multiageFor this session we shift from stories of Jesus to stories that focus on God’s care for the least. The focus for today is on how God hears our prayers. Children often pray about anything—from the smallest desire to the largest need. They tend to talk to God about many different things, even things that adults might consider silly. Encourage them, reassuring them that God hears all of their prayers, all of the time.

Some children may have personal experiences or know of instances where people cried out and were not given what they needed. Be mindful of this and provide space for feelings of sadness and anger that not everyone receives the care they need. Help children to consider how we might be God’s hands and feet in making sure all receive what they need to live well.

Today’s Spiritual practice requires a shallow tray of sand. Decide which Explore options to offer. One of the Create activities calls for colored sand (or salt) and small clean plastic or glass jars, one per child. You may want to gather these items early in the week. Check Supplies and To do throughout this session to see what needs to be prepared.

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dig deeper by Robert W. Neff

Background of the story

People of the Iron and Bronze Ages had a very diff erent perspective on population growth than we do today. Now, our world population grows rapidly; back then, infant mortality and short life spans dras-tically limited population growth. Even by the time of Jesus, the average lifespan of a Roman citizen was only 27 years. Maintaining a stable population required many births and large families.

Th is requirement led to family arrange-ments quite foreign to the contemporary reader. In Genesis 16, Sarai, Abram’s wife, fails to bear children. According to some ancient Near Eastern customs, when a marriage did not produce children, the wife was required to fi nd a substitute. In order to estab-lish legal off spring, Sarai behaves as any responsible wife in similar circumstances and provides a concubine for her husband. Hagar conceives and Abram is assured an heir.

When Hagar discovers she is fertile and her mistress is not, she is contemptuous of Sarai. Her arrogant treatment of Sarai is a direct breach of the law and of familial trust. Sarai appeals to her husband. Abram acknowledges her complaint, authorizes Sarai to treat Hagar as she pleases, and then removes himself from the confl ict. Sarai then treats Hagar very badly, although, in conformance with legal requirements, she stops short of expelling Hagar.

Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness

Hagar runs away to escape Sarai’s abuse but returns when she is instructed to do so by the angel of the Lord. She then bears a son, Ishmael. In Genesis 16:12, his destiny is given: “He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.” Before we judge Ishmael based on our contemporary morals, turn to Job 39:5–8. Here the wild ass, the word peré in Hebrew, is the epitome of freedom and independence. Th is animal

scorns civilization and refuses to submit to the command of a mule driver. Ishmael will roam the wastelands and exhibit an independence not found in urban and urbane settings.

God values this son and promises both Hagar and Abram that he shall become a great nation. God does not demand conformity; God values diversity and individuality. God values a child born through the misguided eff orts of parents and the squabbling of households. Each child is valued in the sight of God.

Aft er the birth of her own son, Isaac, Sarai (now Sarah) insists that Abram (now Abraham) expel Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham does so only aft er God reas-

sures him that both Ishmael and Hagar will be cared for. Ironically, Abraham now trusts God for this provision when earlier he failed to trust God to provide an heir (see Genesis 16).

Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael on their way with a skin of water for their journey in the wilder-ness. Th e water runs out, and Hagar cannot bear to watch her son die. At this moment, an angel appears and directs her attention to a well of water. Hagar refi lls the skin of water, and they come safely through all their wilderness wanderings. God cares for the dispossessed. In Matthew 10:42 and Romans 12:20, the cup of cold water becomes the symbol for Christian behavior toward the dispossessed.

GENESIS 11:1–9GENESIS 16:1–15;21:8–21

www.ShineCurriculum.com Genesis 16:1–15; 21:8–21 / 49

BUILD COMMUNITY

Remind the children that it’s great if they come to church happy, but it’s also okay if they come feeling sad. Hand out paper precut into the shape of a teardrop and have the chil-dren draw a picture of a time when they were sad. Invite children to share their drawings and stories if they wish. Hang the teardrops on the wall with drawings facing in or out as the children prefer, as a reminder that all their experiences, even sad ones, have a place in the church.

WORSHIP TOGETHER

Gather in a circle. Have a volunteer fi nd Psalm 46:1–3 and read it aloud as a reminder that God is always with us. Sing together “God’s Here Now” (track 4, page 6).

Pray:God, you are always with us and you hear us when we are sad. Th ank you for being here with us now and always. Amen.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Spiritual practice will fi t best aft er Wonder and refl ect.God heard Hagar’s cries and cared for her and Ishmael. God does the same thing for us. Invite the children to spend time with God by visiting two prayer stations as you play “Time to Pray” (track 13, page 19). If your group is large, children may need to wait their turn at each station. Introduce both stations before you begin.

Sand station: Hold sand in your hand and think of something you are sad or angry about. Let the sand trickle out of your fi ngers as you share your story with God.Water station: Pour a glass of water and drink it slowly, remembering that God hears you and cares for you.

When fi nished, children can write or draw a prayer to God, on paper or on page 2 of the Primary leafl et. Aft er a few minutes, pray together, using the prayer on the bottom of page 2 or your own prayer.

gather

media connections• When Daddy Prays by

Nikki Grimes• Abraham’s Farewell to

Ishmael sculpture by George Segal (Internet)

• “I’m Gonna Stick with You” from Seeds of Faith by The River’s Voice (Internet)

• “Don’t Be Afraid” song by John L. Bell

Bible memoryGive each child a copy of the Matthew 25 Bible memory passage found on page 93 of this guide. Ask children to highlight words they do not know as you read it through slowly. Discuss words that were highlighted. “The least in the Bible” poster may be helpful in the discussion.

supplies• Bible• Primary leafl ets• Matthew 25 Bible

memory passage (from Additional resources)

• Shine Songbook and CD (or digital versions)

• CD or MP3 player• Paper cut in teardrop

shape, one per child• Tray of sand• Pitcher of drinkable

water and cups• Paper and pencils• Highlighters or

markers• Tape

resource pack • Bible memory poster

(Matthew 25)• “The least in the Bible”

poster (optional)

to do • Cut paper into tear-

drop shapes for Build community.

• Create one prayer sta-tion with a pan or tray of sand. Create another station with a pitcher of drinking water and cups.

• Display the Matthew side of the Bible memory poster.

• Display “The least in the Bible” poster.

• Make copies of the Matthew 25 Bible mem-ory passage on page 93 of this guide.

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SHARE THE STORY

Introduce the next series of stories about caring for the least in sessions 8–13. Say:Over the next six times we meet, we are going to hear stories that might surprise you. Th e people in these stories aren’t rich or powerful. Th ey are babies, children, and people who are sick and in prison. We will hear how God took special care of them. We will also hear how those brave children and grown-ups helped others. Th ese stories from various places in the Bible will talk about how God cares for “the least of these.”

Before the session, put three larger wooden fi gures, two smaller wooden fi gures, some bread, a full water bottle, and an empty water bottle in a bag. Use the Share the story prompts on page 95 of this guide to know when to bring out the diff erent objects and how to move them during the story.

Open your Bible to Genesis. Tell the children that this story comes from the very fi rst book in the Bible. Show the children the picture on page 29 in Shine On. Read the story from page 28 in Shine On, using page 95 in this guide for Storytelling prompts regarding the props.

WONDER AND REFLECT

Make sure you have the Feelings and needs cards nearby. Begin by asking children what they found interesting in the story. Th en pose the following wondering questions and invite children to refl ect on them silently or aloud.• I wonder what types of things Ishmael and Isaac played together.• I wonder how Ishmael felt when he and Hagar were sent away.• I wonder if you have ever been so sad that you sat down and cried.• (Display the Needs cards.) I wonder what Hagar needed from God.

PEACE NOTES

Highlight “Th e least in the Bible” poster and read the section on “Th e Poor.” Talk about how God heard Hagar, even though she was poor and a slave. Hagar was not a powerful person in her community, but when Hagar cried out to God, God heard her and Ishmael.

God knew what Hagar and Ishmael needed and gave them water. Many parts of God’s creation need water. Younger children can look at page 4 of the Primary leafl et. Have chil-dren circle items that need water, such as animals, fl owers, grass, trees, and people.

Older children can read an example of someone crying out for help on page 26 of Glow. Discuss how to listen for people who are crying out for help.

experience

God hears Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 16:1–15; 21:8–21Shine On, p. 28

supplies• Bible(s)• Shine On: A Story Bible• Primary leafl ets• Glow magazines• Storytelling prompts

(from Additional resources)

• Pencils

storytelling props• Three larger wooden

fi gures• Two smaller wooden

fi gures• Bread• Full water bottle• Empty water bottle• Bag for props

resource pack• Feelings and needs

cards• “The least in the Bible”

poster

to do• Practice telling the

story with the props using the Storytelling prompts on page 95 of this guide.

www.ShineCurriculum.com Genesis 16:1–15; 21:8–21 / 51

exploreCREATE

If your group uses Glow, follow the directions on page 24 to create wild wilderness prayer jars. If colored sand isn’t an option, simply pour basic salt in a bag, add a few drops of food coloring, and shake!

If your group doesn’t use Glow, draw a wilderness scene, and then “paint” glue on the paper and sprin-kle sand on it, as if glitter.

suppliesWith Glow magazines:• Six different colors of sand or salt:

red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange (amount of sand needed will depend on the jars being used)

• Small clean, empty plastic or glass jar with a lid, one per child

• Index card• Hole punch• Yarn or ribbonWithout Glow magazines:• Paper• Markers or crayons• Glue• Sand

MOVE

Hagar and Ishmael needed God’s help to survive in the desert. God can work through friends to help us through hard times in life. Pretend your room is a desert. Your group will need to work together so that every-one can get across the desert. Hand out enough “rocks” (paper circles) to get across the desert. Children will need to place the rocks on the fl oor, and can only step on the rocks to get across. Th ey need to work together until everyone has crossed safely.

supplies• Paper circles

RETELL

Invite the children to act out the story using the bag and storytelling materi-als from Share the story. Assign each child to a prop, and have him or her pull it out of the bag and move it at the appropriate times as you or a child reads the story from page 1 of the Primary leafl et or Shine On.

supplies• Shine On: A Story Bible or Primary

leafl ets• Bag and storytelling materials (from

Share the story)

LEAFLET AND GLOW

On page 3 of the Primary leafl et, younger children will complete the maze to help Hagar and Ishmael reach the water. Th e solution is on page 95 of this guide.

Even when no one else heard Hagar’s cries, God heard. Older children can learn about other people in the Bible who cried out by reading their stories on page 25 of Glow and in the Bible. Solution: Egypt, Lord, daughter, Zacchaeus

supplies• Primary leafl ets• Glow magazines• Pencils

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other ideas• Who is calling out for help in your com-

munity? Research organizations that are responding to those calling out for help.

• Color the hidden picture to see what God provides for Hagar and Ishmael on www .ShineCurriculum.com/Extras.

blessPRAY

Gather together and sing “Carry the Light” (track 22, page 32). Light a candle and pray:

Dear Jesus, thank you for hear-ing us when we pray. Amen.

SEND

Send children out with the following blessing. Touch your mouth, eyes, and ears as you mention each one, inviting children to model you.

Go out today with mouths that can cry out to God, knowing that God is listening.Go out today with ears ready to listen for the cries of others.Go out today with eyes ready to see how you can respond to those cries.Go out today with hearts fi lled with God’s love.

Make sure to send leafl ets home with the younger children.

Give children the opportunity to pray aloud or offer requests to be included in prayers. Don’t laugh or stop them when they pray for stuffed animals, a long list of people or fi ctional characters (Disney princesses are prayed for regularly at our house). This keeps their hearts focused on a God who listens to all our prayers and needs.— Brian Messler

Frederick, Maryland

supplies• Primary leafl ets• Shine Songbook and CD (or digital

versions)• Annual Shine Songbooks• CD or MP3 player• Candle and matches (or battery-

operated candle)

www.ShineCurriculum.com Genesis 16:1–15; 21:8–21 / 53

leader’s closing prayerWhat are your cries to God today? What sor-rows or concerns are weighing on your heart? Know that God is always with you, listening to your heart’s deepest desires. You are never alone in your sorrow.God, today I cry out to you. I bring to you my concern about ___________________. I know that you hear my cries and are with me even when the world seems overwhelming. Th ank you for your constant presence in my life. Amen.