So, after using what I wrote last night with my own children, I realized writing at a 10th grade level was inappropriate. Also, many edits and confusing bits. Sorry about that. Hope to clean all that up in the final version. It is, I remind you, a running project. Here is what we will use tonight (the formatting is not coming through, sorry, haven't figured that out using Open Office, yet; suggestions welcome):
Monday, the first week of Advent
Today we follow along in the continuing story of Abram and his promise from God. Since the last
reading, YHWH (Yahweh)has changed Abram's and Sarai's name as a sign of his special relationship to
them: Abram becomes Abra-YAH-ham or Abraham, and Sarai becomes Sar-YAH or Sarah. Much els has
happened, as well. For instance, Sarah heard that YHWH had promised to give them a child and she
laughed at the thought, thinking it impossible in her old age.
Genesis 21—The birth of Isaac
Now YHWH was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and YHWH did for Sarah what he had
promised [despite the fact that she was too old to have children any longer]. Sarah became pregnant
and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the
name Isaac [or he laughs] to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham
circumcised him, as God commanded him [as a sign of the covenant between them, recalling the cut
animals during that ritual]. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And
she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a
son in his old age.”
Discussion Questions
1. How old are your grandparents? Would you expect them to have babies any time in the future?
Why not?
2. How do you think it was possible for Abraham and Sarah to have children at such an old age?
3. Why do you think we are reading about Isaac's birth during Advent?
No comments:
Post a Comment