Free Bible lesson for kids · Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Isaac Is Born
The LORD did for Sarah just as He had spoken: when Abraham was an hundred years old, Sarah bare him a son at the very time God had promised. Abraham named the baby Isaac, and Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Isaac was the child of promise, and from his family Jesus would one day be born (Matthew 1:1–2).
- Bible passage
- Genesis 21:1–7
- Big idea
- God always does what He says, right on time.
- Memory verse
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalm 126:3 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son. When Sarah laughed, the LORD asked, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:10–14). Then the Bible says “the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken” (Genesis 21:1). In Abraham’s old age Sarah had a son, at the set time God had spoken (Genesis 21:2). By faith Sarah trusted that God, who had promised, was faithful (Hebrews 11:11).
Abraham, who was a hundred years old, named his son Isaac (Genesis 21:3, 5). Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6). No one would have said that Sarah would nurse a baby in her old age, but God did it (Genesis 21:7). Isaac was the child of promise, and from his family Jesus Christ would one day be born (Matthew 1:1–2).
Read it in the Bible: Genesis 21:1–7 (KJV)
1And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Questions to ask
Did God keep His promise to Sarah?
Yes. The LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken, and she bare Abraham a son at the set time (Genesis 21:1–2).
How old was Abraham when Isaac was born?
An hundred years old (Genesis 21:5).
What did Sarah say God had made her do?
Laugh: “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).
What this story teaches
- God always does what He says He will do (Genesis 21:1).
- God’s timing is always exactly right (Genesis 21:2).
- God can do what seems impossible to us (Genesis 21:5–7).
- Faith trusts that God is faithful to His promises (Hebrews 11:11).
- God gives us joy worth sharing with others (Genesis 21:6).
Jesus Came Right on Time
Isaac was born at the very time God had promised. When the time was just right, God sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem us.
Galatians 4:4–5
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for the great things He has done for us. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God always does what He says, right on time.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Psalm 126:3 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
The Laughing Game
You need: Nothing
- Sit in a circle. The first child says “Ha!” with a straight face. The next says “Ha ha!”, the next “Ha ha ha!”
- Keep going around without laughing for real.
- It won’t last long! When everyone is laughing, tell how Sarah laughed.
Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh.” God did exactly what He promised.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes
Improv Night
You need: Suggestion cards
- Play clean improv games: a scene with three words from the audience, an expert interview, a story told one word at a time.
- Everyone takes a turn.
- Talk: when has God surprised you with joy?
Isaac’s name means laughter. God brings joy that surprises us.
Pray
Thank God for the great things He has done for us.