📖

Alone by the River

Wrestling with God

Day 27of 180
Week 6of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that God meets us in our moments of fear and uncertainty

2

Recognize how Jacob prepared to face a difficult situation by being alone with God

3

Learn that God is always present, even when we feel most alone

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 32:22-24

“He rose up that night, and took his two wives, his two servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.”

— Genesis 32:22-24 (WEB)

Demonstrates Jacob's vulnerability and preparation before a major life moment

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Blue or brown blanket/sheet
  • Stuffed animal
  • Markers
  • Paper
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse adventure! Remember how we learned Jacob was going home to meet his brother Esau?

💭 Review Question: What do you remember about Jacob's journey home?
2Teaching (8 min)

Tonight, we'll explore a special moment when Jacob was all alone, preparing to meet his brother after many years.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Jacob sent his family ahead across the river
  • He wanted to be alone to pray and think
  • Sometimes being alone helps us talk to God
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Have you ever felt scared about something?
  • What do you do when you're worried?
3Activity: Riverbank Reflection (10 min)
storytelling

Create a quiet 'riverbank' where children can experience Jacob's moment of solitude

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread blue/brown blanket to represent the river
  2. Sit quietly and imagine being Jacob
  3. Draw a picture of what you might be thinking
  4. Share your drawing and feelings
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps child draw, discusses feelings

Challenge: Write a short prayer from Jacob's perspective

4Closing (3 min)

BibleMouse reminds us that God is with us, even when we feel alone!

📝 Review Questions:
  • Where was Jacob before meeting Esau?
  • How might Jacob have felt?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us remember You are always with us, even when we feel scared.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about an amazing wrestling match with God!

💎 Memory Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Memory Verse River Hop: Create a 'river' with paper stones. Child hops from stone to stone while saying a word of the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Jacob was preparing for a potentially dangerous meeting with his estranged brother

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, age-appropriate language about fear
  • Validate children's emotions
  • Emphasize God's constant presence
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand complex emotions of waiting and uncertainty

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to express feelings, understand waiting

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a river scene in BibleMouse Printables Library
  • Act out the story using stuffed animals
  • Sing a BibleMouse song about God's protection

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 28 →Back to Bible