Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

In Genesis 24, Abraham requires his top servant to make an oath that he will bring Isaac a wife from Abraham's native land.  Isaac was not to take a wife from Canaan.  Abraham wanted a wife for Isaac who worshipped God.  This oath is a serious oath so Abraham's servant asks what he should do if no woman agrees to come back with him.  He asks Abraham if, in that case, he should take Isaac back to Abraham's homeland.  Abraham's response reflected his great faith in God who always keeps His promises.  His response also reflected his character as a fair man when dealing with others.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Beware that you do not take my son back there!  The Lord, the God of Heaven who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me saying, "To your descendants I will give this land," He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.  But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free of this oath of mine, only do not take my son back there. - Genesis 24:6-8

Isaac Gets a Wife

Abraham's servant then takes ten camels and other good things and sets out for the land of Abraham's brother, Nahor.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

At the time of day when the women of Nahor go out to draw water from the well, Abraham's servant had the camels lay down by the well just outside the city.  The servant prays the God will allow him success in finding a wife for Isaac.  So that he would know which woman to take back to Isaac, he made a plan as he prayed to God.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Behold, I am standing by the spring and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the young woman to whom I say, "Please let down your jar so that I may drink; and who answers, "Drink, and I will water your camels also," - may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know the You have shown kindness to my master. - Genesis 24:13-14

Before Abraham's servant could even finish praying, Rebekah shows up.  Rebekah is Nahor's granddaughter born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.  Rebekah comes out carrying her jar on her shoulder.  She fills her jar with water.  Abraham's servant asks her for a drink from her jar.  Rebekah gave him a drink and then offers to give his camels water as well.  

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Abraham's servant is careful.  He watches her closely to make sure this woman, Rebekah, is God's chosen wife for Isaac.  

This servant sure didn't want to mess this up!

When the camels finish drinking, the servant gives Rebekah jewelry.  He asks her who her father is and whether or not her family has room enough for him to spend the night with her family.  She tells him who her family is and offers the servant a place to stay with her family for the night.

The servant, realizing Rebekah is the woman God has chosen for Isaac, prays a prayer of gratitude.

Blessed by the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and His trustworthiness toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers. - Genesis 24:27

Rebekah runs to tell her family what the servant has told her.  Rebekah's brother, Laban, welcomes the servant into the house.  Laban shows great hospitality to the servant, preparing him and his camels for the night and bringing him food.  The servant tells Rebekah's bother, Laban, that he will not eat until he says what he needs to say.  Laban prompts the servant to speak what he needs to speak.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Abraham's servant tells the whole story, starting from the oath he made with Abraham, the plan he made by the well so he would know which woman was the woman God has chosen for Isaac, and how Rebekah fulfilled that plan.  The servant gives all the details to Rebekah's family.

When the servant finishes his story, Rebekah's father and brothers basically say - "This is obviously from God so we can't argue with you.  Here is Rebekah.  Take her!" 

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The matter has come from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.  Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken." - Genesis 24:50-51

The servant gives Rebekah and her family precious valuable gifts.  The next morning, the servant requests to leave with Rebekah to return to Abraham and Isaac.  Rebekah's family requests that she stay a little longer, perhaps 10 days, but the servant insists that they leave immediately.  Rebekah's family checks with Rebekah again to see if she still agrees to go with the servant.  Rebekah says she will go.  

Rebekah leaves with the servant taking her nurse and other female attendants.  She also leaves with her family's blessing.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

By Genesis 24:62, the servant is returning with Rebekah.  Isaac had gone out to meditate in a field when he saw the camels.  Rebekah sees the man, dismounts from her camel, and asks the servant who the man is.  The servant explains that the man she sees is his mister, Isaac.  Rebekah covers herself with her veil.

The servant tells Isaac all that had happened.  Isaac takes Rebekah into his mother's tent and marries her.  Genesis 24:67 tells us that Isaac loved Rebekah and he was comforted after his mother's death.

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; so Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. - Genesis 24:67

Teach the Kids

It is important to teach our children Biblical truths from the Bible as early as possible.  Here is a list of resources for teaching the story of Isaac and Rebekah to your children.

Issac Gets a Wife Coloring Flip Book by ME.  :).  I just created a cute little flip book for your kids to color, bind together, and read.  

Isaac Gets a Wife Coloring Flip Book for Young Children

This flip book is a condensed version of the Bible story for younger children so be sure to read the actual historical account with your child.  You'll find it in Genesis 24.  As your child colors the pages, talk to him or her about the story and remind your child that God promised Abraham many children and grandchildren.  God chose Rebekah as a wife for Isaac because God always keeps His promises.  

Your child can ALWAYS trust God and His Word.

Download a copy of Isaac Gets a Wife for your child here.

More Ways to Teach Your Kids the Story of How Rebekah Became Isaac's Wife

Isaac and Rebekah Coloring Pages from Best Coloring Pages for Kids

Genesis:  Isaac and Rebekah from Bible Fun for Kids

Isaac and Rebekah Kids Bible Lesson from Share Faith 

A Bride for Isaac:  A Free Bible Lesson Outline for Kids from Bible Baton

Rebekah:  A Toddler Devotion Practicing Pouring Skills from Baby Devotions

A Wife for Isaac from Bible Wise

This Isaac and Rebekah Bible story book is available here.

This post is part of my Coloring Through Genesis Series featuring my Beautiful Word Coloring Bible.  You'll find all the posts in this series here.

PIN ME! 

Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

The Fall of Man (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel)

The image of Cain and Abel is my own photograph taken at the Creation Museum.

The Fall of Man

Today, I'm reading Genesis, chapters 3 and 4.

As and adult, I am drawn to particular parts of this story that I didn't think much about as a child. In a church ladies' Bible study, I was drawn to Genesis 3:8.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

It was the first part that got our attention. Adam and Eve recognized the sound of God walking in the garden. It occurred to us that this was a common sound to them. They must have been accustomed to walking with God in the garden in the cool of the day . . . walking WITH God here on Earth. What an amazing custom of fellowship with God they must have enjoyed . . . until they disobeyed Him.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. - Genesis 3:1-8 

In my Bible, I underlined a key phrase and a key word in the passage above.  Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye and it was desirable for gaining wisdom.

We are not so different from Eve.  Oh how those words snare us today just as they snared Eve back in the Garden of Eden.  Not everything that is "pleasing to the eye" is pleasing to God.  Just because something is desirable doesn't mean it is God's plan for our lives. 

Another thing that, for some reason, never caught my attention until more recently is found in Genesis 3:21. I don't know why but I always thought that Adam and Eve made their own garments after they allowed sin to enter into their lives. We learn in Genesis 3:21 that God Himself made garments for Adam and Eve.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 

God loved Adam and Eve. He loved them before their rebellion and He loved them after. Adam and Eve's actions resulted in negative consequences, the fall of man, but God still provided protection for them.

When our kids disappoint us, we must love them like God loved Adam and Eve.

When our kids disappoint us, their actions result in negative consequences perhaps in the form of punishment, but we still provide for them because we love them. God loves us in the same way that we love our children. When we disappoint Him, we suffer negative consequences, but He continues to love us and provide for us.

Cain and Abel

If you grew up in church, you've probably been reading the story of Cain and Abel since you were a child.  Cain and Abel were brothers, sons of Adam and Eve.  Abel kept flocks.  Cain worked the soil.  Cain and Abel both brought an offering before the Lord.  Abel offered the firstborn of his flock and God was pleased.  Cain brought an offering, but God was not pleased with Cain's offering.   Cain became angry because God found favor in Abel's offering, but not his own so Cain killed his brother, Abel.

I remember the story as a simple one from childhood but this story is far more complicated.  Jealousy is not a simple matter.  Jealousy breeds resentment. It causes us to lose control of our emotions.  Left unchecked, it can cause us to lose control of our actions too.  Jealousy changes people.  Jealousy resulted in murder in the case of Cain and Abel.  Jealousy can result in the same today as it did then.  

What does the Bible say about jealousy?

Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the Lord. - Solomon 8:6

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. - James 3:14-15

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. - 1 Corinthians 13:4

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. - James 3:16

Pay close attention to this next verse.  Paul did not sugarcoat the consequences of a jealous heart in his letter to the Galatians.  He places jealousy in the same category as immorality, sorcery, drunkenness, and others.  Read the last part of this verse carefully.  Paul warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

This doesn't mean that you will lose your salvation or go to Hell if you felt jealous over a situation yesterday.  Remember that we all guilty of sin (Romans 3:23).  The danger is when our lifestyle indicates that we are living a life without conviction and repentance.  We know believers by the fruit they bear.  

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:16-20

Cain suffered severe consequences for his sins.  God told Cain that the ground would no longer yield crops for him.  He would become a wanderer on the Earth.  

Even as God revealed His punishment for Cain, He showed compassion for Cain.  Cain was afraid that whoever found him would kill him, but God told Cain that anyone who killed him would suffer vengeance 7 times over.  Then, God placed a mark on Cain to protect him.  Then, Cain left God's presence and wen to the land of Nod which was East of Eden.

If jealousy is something that you are dealing with right now, I urge you to hand the situation over to the Lord.  Let Him have it all.  

If you are not a believer, then I urge you to go back and read Galatians 5:19-21 again.  Then, know God loves you and wants you to know Him.  Learn more about how to receive Jesus and know God personally here.

This post is part of my Coloring Through Genesis Series.  I'm using my new Beautiful Word Coloring Bible.  I love it because it leaves plenty of space for notes and I enjoy coloring the pages.  I look forward to using this Bible as I continue through the book of Genesis.

 

PIN ME!

The Fall of Man (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel)

Read all posts in the Coloring Through Genesis Series here.

Check out our stores and affiliates!

Abundant Family Living Blog Store

eBay

Etsy

Mary Kay

Brave Books

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

The 7 Days of Creation

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

For a long time, I’ve wanted to read through the Bible in chronological time order. Reading in time order will help me understand the stories on a deeper level so I’ll gain a better understanding of Biblical truths all the way through from the 7 days of creation in Genesis to the book of Revelation. I have several different versions of the Bible. I loved my Ryrie Study Bible in the NASB version through high school and college. I still have that Bible (and several childhood Bibles). Now, I use a large print NASB version, a single column ESV journaling Bible, a Message version, a Chronological Bible, and most recently, a Large Print Beautiful Word NIV version. I enjoy my time in all of these versions, but I like the way the Beautiful Word version draws me into the scriptures and makes me want to spend more time in God’s Word. If you’re an adult who enjoys coloring, you’ll love the Beautiful Word Bible.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

This week, I’ve enjoyed coloring the scriptures in the margins as I reviewed the 7 days of creation and the origin of man.  Today, I'm reading Genesis 1:1 - 2:25.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Color coding the 7 days of creation helps me remember what God created on which particular day.

On the first day, God created light. He created night and day.

On the second day, God created the sky.

On the third day, God created land and vegetation.

On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars.

On the fifth day, God created birds and sea animals.

On the sixth day, God created animals and humans.

On the seventh day, God rested.

7 Days of Creation:  Adam and Eve

It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18 

In Genesis 2, we learn that God brought all the animals to Adam so that Adam could name them, animals of all kinds. This is when God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone so He created Eve.

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Genesis 2:21-22

Now we have the first marriage.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

If you would like a Beautiful Word Bible, this is the one I have.

This item is available here.

7 Days of Creation for Kids

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

I’ve created a few simple activities to help kids learn about the 7 days of creation.  Included are the following:

*A matching sheet.  Your child will draw a line from the day of creation to a picture representing what was created on that day.

*Two Bible memory verse cards.  Cut out the cards so that your child can continue to review the verses.

*A writing practice page.  Your child will practice writing the names of Adam and Eve.

*Sequencing Cards.  Cut the pictures out.  Practice placing them in the order they were created.

*Letter Recognition Cards:  Cut out the cards.  Practice the letters A (Adam), B (Beginning), C (Cain), D (Day), and E (Eve)

Click here to get your free activities in a PDF version. 

 

  7 Days of Creation Coloring Page

 

OOOPS!  I had intended to include the following coloring page in the PDF file above.  Hover over the picture.  Right Click.  Save to your computer.  Print and color.

 

Image Credit:  CCXpistiavos – CCO Public Domain Image – via Pixabay

PIN ME!

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

More Bible Learning for Your Kids

Usborne Books offers several Bible story books your kids will love.

Illustrated Bible Stories

A fully illustrated collection of stories from the Bible, retold for young readers. Including Joseph and the Dreams, The Story of Baby Jesus, The Easter Story, Jonah and the Whale, Noah's Ark and more. A beautiful gift book that children will love to receive on any special occasion. Check it out here.

 Bible Stories

This engaging collection of Bible stories has been written, with the help of a language expert, for young children who are just starting to read. Each story is told word for word, with delightful sound effects, on the CD included with this book. By following the words across the page as they hear them, beginner readers will gain confidence and soon be able to achieve the pleasure and satisfaction of reading a whole story by themselves.  Check it out here.

Read all posts in the Coloring Through Genesis Series here.