Abraham’s Three Visitors

Scripture Reference:
Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

Suggested Emphasis or Theme:
We can trust what God says.

Memory Verse: Those who know the Lord trust him. He will not leave those who come to him. Psalm 9:10, ICB

Story Overview:

God changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah. Three men visited this couple and said that God would give them a child within the year. The promise was fulfilled when Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac, one year later. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90.

Background Study:

Once again, we find Abraham and Sarah living in tents near Shechem as they did just after God called Abraham to leave his home and go where God would lead. Many things (some noble and some not) have happened since that time.  Here’s a quick overview:

• (Genesis 12:1-9) God Calls Abram
• (Genesis 12:10-20) Abram and Sara go to Egypt during a famine. Abram allowed Pharaoh to take Sarai into his harem for a short time to protect himself.
• (Genesis 13) Abram and Lot separated. Abram gives Lot 1st Choice
• (Genesis 14) Abram rescued Lot from danger.
• (Genesis 15) God made a covenant with Abram and says he will father a great nation.
• (Genesis 16) Impatient for the promise to be fulfilled, Sarai asked Abram to father a son by Hagar, her servant girl.
• (Genesis 17) God restated his promise to Abram. Abram’s name became Abraham, and Sarai’s became Sarah’s. Circumcision instituted as a sign of God’s covenant marked him and his descendants out as God’s people.

In today’s event, Abraham and Sarah are visited by “three men”. It is obvious that these are not just normal men because they appear. Although Abraham had been sitting in his tent, he looked up, and they were standing nearby. Two of the visitors are angels (as later related in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah), but Abraham addresses one of them differently. This writer does not completely understand this, but this particular visitor seems to be a manifestation of God himself.

Abraham and Sarah offer the extreme hospitality well-known in Middle Eastern culture, and the visitors join them for a meal. At this time, the Lord tells Abraham a son will be born to Sarah in one year.

Note: After this, the visitors leave, and the two angels go on to Sodom and Gomorrah. Today’s lesson will leave that story for another time but skip on ahead and conclude with the birth of Isaac one year later, as recorded in Genesis 21:1-7.

Just as God had promised, a son was born one year after the visit from the three men. Abraham was 100 years old. The child was called “Isaac”, which means “laughter”. This name makes sense because Abraham laughed when God first told him he would have a son in his old age (Genesis 17:17). Later, Sarah laughed from inside her tent when she overheard the three visitors repeat the promise (Genesis 18:11).

In your Bible lesson today, make sure the children understand the timeline. God made this promise first, and then Isaac was born. God always keeps his promises.

Way to Introduce the Story:

“If you could change your name, what would you like your name to be?” (Allow each child to answer.) “Did you know God changed Abram’s name? Let’s read Genesis 17:5. (Read) What was Abram’s new name? (Abraham) Now let’s read about another name change. Let’s read Genesis 17:15. (Read) What was Sarai’s new name? (Sarah). In the book of Genesis, we can learn about a time when Abraham and Sarah had three special visitors come to their house.”
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The Story:

Abram and Sarai had brand new names. God told them to change their names to Abraham and Sarah. Once, Abraham sat by his tent, wishing again that he and Sarah had a son of their own. He remembered that God had promised, “I am going to give you children, Abraham.” But that was such a long time ago. Would God keep His promise? Abraham hoped so. He wanted a son very much.

Abraham’s wife, Sarah, wanted a son, too. But she didn’t think God would keep His promise. “I’m too old to have a baby,” she said to herself. “I’m almost 90 years old.”

It was a very hot day! The sun was beating down, and no breeze was blowing. Suddenly Abraham looked up and saw three travellers coming toward his tent. Abraham bowed to the travellers and said, “Hello! Please stay awhile and rest under these trees near my tent. It’s cool and shady here. And if you rest awhile, I’ll bring you water to wash your tired, dusty feet and give you something to eat and drink.

Then the visitors accepted Abraham’s kind offer and settled down in the shade of the trees.

“Thank you,” they said.

Abraham hurried into the tent. “Sarah!” he cried, “We have visitors! Quickly bake some bread for them while I see to the preparing of the meat for their dinner.”

Later Abraham brought milk, cheese, and meat for the visitors. While they ate, Abraham stood nearby. One visitor said to Abraham, “God is going to keep His promise to you. When I come to visit you next year, Sarah will have a baby boy.”

Sarah was inside the tent, listening to the men talk. She laughed to herself. “That’s impossible!” she thought. “Abraham and I are much too old to have children.”

The man said, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for God to do? When I come back next year, Sarah will have a son. You can always trust what God says.”

Sarah was very surprised that the visitors knew what she was thinking. She hadn’t said anything out loud, yet they knew what she said to herself! These were not just ordinary visitors. One of the visitors was the Lord, and the other two were angels.

What do you think Abraham thought when he heard this good news? He was very happy. He knew his time of waiting would soon be over. He knew he could trust what God said.

Why did the visitors come? Because God wanted Abraham to know about the baby. God wanted Abraham and Sarah to learn that they could trust what He said about a baby and what He said about other things. A year later, Sarah held a little baby boy in her arms. The baby’s name was Isaac. Sarah was so happy, she laughed. She had the little baby she had always wanted. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and Sarah was 90.

Abraham was happy, too. “God did what He said He would do,” Abraham said. “We can always trust what God says. He has given us a fine baby boy.”
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Ways to Tell the Story:

This story can be told using a variety of methods. Always remain true to the facts found in the Bible but help children connect to its meaning by using drama, visual aids, voice inflection, student interaction and/or emotion.
Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods.

Click here to download these illustrations and slideshow. Be selective. Each teacher is unique, so only use the illustrations that best relate to how YOU tell the story in THIS lesson. Too many illustrations can be confusing, so eliminate any that cover other stories or details you do not wish to emphasise in this lesson.

Review Questions:

1. What new names did God give Abram and Sarai? Abraham and Sarah
2. Who were the three visitors who came to visit Abraham and Sarah? The Lord and two angels.
3. What did Sarah do when the Lord told Abraham that Sarah would have a son even though she was almost 90 years old? She laughed
4. What was the name of Abraham and Sarah’s son? Isaac
5. What were Abraham and Sarah’s ages when Isaac was born? 100 and 90

Song Suggestions:

• Father Abraham Song
• My God is So Big Song
• He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Song
• Father Abraham
• Refer to the Song Page on this website for more options.

Learning Activities and Crafts:

(How to choose the best learning activities for my teaching situation)

Activities:

• Abraham and Sarah entertained guests. Younger children can pretend to make preparations for guests.
• Use a world record book to find out the ages of the oldest parents.
• Help older children use a bible concordance to look up Scriptures concerning the word of God. Keywords could be “word” and “truth”.
• Use a fist puppet and tell the story from different perspectives. Example: Let the puppet be Abraham, and let “Abraham” tell what happened to him that day. Or perhaps let the puppet be Sarah and let her tell her story.
• Bring a wrapped gift to the class. It should have enough items (like biscuits, fruit or lollies) in it so that everyone will have some. Before you open the gift, sit it in the middle of the table and talk about how difficult it is to wait for surprises like Christmas or birthdays. Abraham and Sarah had to wait long for God to do what He said and give them a child. After you discuss this, then open the gift and share.
• Print bookmarks, trading cards or timelines (printable pages).
• Visit the Teaching Ideas page for additional activities and crafts.

Other Online Resources:

• Colouring page of Sarah and baby Isaac (Church House Collection)
• Colouring page with text (Ministry Spark)
• Other:Use iPhone “aging app” for children to see themselves old (EduKate&Inspire)
• Other: Various puzzles and activities specifically about Sarah (Garden of Praise)
• Other: Bible class tent ideas (Bible Fun for Kids)
• Other:Lesson with activities, visual aids to print, and craft ideas (Bible Fun for Kids)

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