THEME: Learning to Be Like Jesus July 18, 2015

LESSON 1: Who Will Help?

Gen. 24 Rebekah helps a stranger.

Objective: The child will

 Identify the trait of helpfulness in the story of Rebekah.

Eliezer was going on a long journey, an important journey. His master, Abraham wanted to go himself, but
Abraham was too old. Instead, he was sending his most trusted servant, Eliezer. And what was Eliezer to do on
this important trip? He was to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.
After traveling many days on camels, Eliezer and the other servants stopped at a village. Eliezer had
come to this village because Abraham had relatives who lived there, it was evening, and they all rested beside
the village well.
A well is a hole dug in the ground to get water. Bible-time houses didn’t have pipes or faucets to bring
in water. A bucket or pitcher was lowered by rope into water at the bottom of the well. In just a little time, water
filled the pitcher. By pulling up the rope, the pitcher of water was brought to the top of the well. (use device to
illustrate “drawing water” from a well.)
Eliezer sat beside the well. He closed his eyes. He was worried. How would he find the right wife for
Isaac? Eliezer knew Abraham didn’t want just any young girl to marry his son. He wanted a wonderful girl, a
special girl, to be Isaac’s wife. Abraham wanted a girl who loved and worship the true God. Eliezer had to find
the right girl.
Suddenly Eliezer heard laughing and talking. He looked up. Some girls were walking towards the well.
On their shoulders they carried water pitchers. They were coming to get water and carry it home for their
families and animals. Eliezer watched. The girls were almost at the well now. Maybe one of them will be the
right girl for Isaac. Eliezer wondered how he would know.
“Dear God,” Eliezer silently prayed. “Help me to know if one of this girls is the right one for Isaac. I
will ask for water to drink. Let the young girl be helpful to me, and for my camels also. Then I will know she is
the one to be Isaac’s wife.”
Did you hear that? Eliezer doesn’t looking for the prettiest girl, or the girl with the nicest clothes. Or the
one from the riches family, No. Eliezer asked God to show him which girl had a kind heart and was helpful
to others.
Eliezer walked over to the well. The Holy Spirit helped him know which girl to speak to. As the girls
began to fill their pitchers with water, Eliezer spoke to one of them. Her name was Rebekah.
“May I have a little water to drink from your pitcher?” he asked.
Rebekah looked at the man. She had never seen him before. She didn’t know it – but Rebekah was about
to become the answer to that man’s prayer.
“Certainly, sir,” Rebekah answered. “I will be happy to help you.” Then she looked up Eliezer’s camels.
She counted the camels, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Ten camels! That would mean a lot of work, and she like
helping people. “And, sir, I will water your camels, too, until they have had enough.”
What a girl! Surely this was the girl for Isaac. Eliezer watched as Rebekah hurried between the well and
the camels. (use device for drawing water from the well.) Pitcher after pitcher of water she pulled up from the
well to water the thirsty camels. And he watched and waited, Eliezer thanked God for answering his prayer.
Rebekah did become Isaac’s wife, and he loved he very much.

APPLICATION QUESTION
1. How did Eliezer know that Rebekah was the right girl?
2. What was the test Eliezer used to choose Isaac’s wife?
3. Do you think Rebekah was helpful just because Eliezer was looking for a helpful girl? How do you know?
4. What can you do today to help for someone?
-Encourage children to watch for helpfulness among classmates.

ACTIVITY
*I Can Help At Home