GENESIS: God's Chosen People
For another episode on Sarah and her hardships, listen here.
For more episodes on God doing the impossible, listen here.
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I have 2 Christmas lunches! At the one before Christmas Day, the people who are invited are only those who are part of the family or those who have married into the family. Cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents.
At the Christmas Day family lunch, it is different. We have an open invitation, so that those who aren’t part of the family are welcome, especially if they don’t have anywhere to go on Christmas Day. We invite all kinds of people, some people accept our invitation and other people don’t.
God’s chosen people started off like the first one, with just those who were born into Abraham’s family invited at first, but then the invitation included a few special extras until Jesus came and the invitation was to include anyone who believed in him.
God’s people are those who will go to in heaven when we die.
Jesus calls all of us “The Kingdom of Heaven.”
We don’t know exactly who that includes but God does.
Our names are written in his Book of Life.
Are you one of God’s people?
What do you think?
Not only is this episode about God’s chosen people, but it is also about God’s power - his ability to do what we think are impossible things. Do we ask for the impossible?
Have you ever asked God to move a mountain? Because he could if he wanted to!
Have you ever asked God for money and it has come to you? He does that sometimes!
Have you ever asked God for covid to be gone and all that goes with it? I do and I keep hoping he will answer that one!
What is the craziest request you have made to God and have you gotten it?
What crazy thing could you ask for now that you would like?
*Verses about Abraham's son from his servant Hagar as well as verses about circumcision were left out to make the story simpler - feel free to chat about those aspects of the story with your family!
Story Time!
Bible Passage: Genesis 12:2
“I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation.”
Bible Passage: Genesis 15:1-6
Later the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, “Abram, don't be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly.”
2 But Abram answered, “Lord All-Powerful, you have given me everything I could ask for, except children. And when I die, Eliezer of Damascus will get all I own. 3 You have not given me any children, and this servant of mine will inherit everything.”
4 The Lord replied, “No, he won't! You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That's how many descendants you will have.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, so the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him.
Bible Passage: Genesis 17:1-22
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him again and said, “I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right, 2 I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted.” 3 Abram bowed with his face to the ground, and God said:
4-5 I promise that you will be the father of many nations. So now I'm changing your name from Abram to Abraham.[a] 6 I will give you a lot of descendants, and they will become great nations. Some of them will even be kings.
7 I will always keep the promise I have made to you and your descendants, because I am your God and their God. 9 Abraham, you and all future members of your family must promise to obey me.
15 Abraham, from now on your wife's name will be Sarah instead of Sarai. 16 I will bless her, and you will have a son by her. She will become the mother of nations, and some of her descendants will even be kings.
17 Abraham bowed with his face to the ground and thought, “I am almost 100 years old. How can I become a father? And Sarah is 90. How can she have a child?” So he started laughing. 18 Then he asked God, “Why not let Ishmael[b] inherit what you have promised me?”
19 But God answered:
No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac,[c] and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.
. 21 But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.
22 God finished speaking to Abraham and then left.
Bible Passage: Genesis 18:1-15
One hot summer afternoon while Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre, the Lord appeared to him. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground, 3 and said, “Please come to my home where I can serve you. 4 I'll have some water brought, so you can wash your feet, then you can rest under a tree. 5 Let me get you some food to give you strength before you leave. I would be honored to serve you.”
“Thank you very much,” they answered. “We accept your offer.”
6 Abraham went quickly to his tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread.” 7 After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared. 8 He then served his guests some yogurt and milk together with the meat.
While they were eating, he stood near them under the tree, 9 and they asked, “Where's your wife Sarah?”
“She is right there in the tent,” Abraham answered.
10 One of the guests was the Lord, and he said, “I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.”
Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children. 12 So she laughed and said to herself, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?”[a]
13 The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? 14 I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.”
15 Sarah was so frightened that she lied and said, “I didn't laugh.”
“Yes, you did!” he answered.
Bible Passage: Genesis 21:1-8
The Lord was good to Sarah and kept his promise. 2 Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said. 3 Abraham named his son Isaac.
5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born, 6 and Sarah said, “God has made me laugh.And now everyone will laugh with me. 7 Who would have dared to tell Abraham that someday I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son.”
8 The time came when Sarah no longer had to nurse Isaac, and on that day Abraham gave a big feast.
God can do anything.
He has no limitations.
He started his chosen people with Abraham.
Jesus extends the kingdom to include those of us who believe who aren’t Abraham’s descendants - you and me.
Bible Passage: Ephesians 3:6
“Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.”
All we have to do is believe and follow him!
Question Time!
Are there any parts of the story that didn’t make sense to you and if yes, what were they?
Do you have any questions after hearing today’s episode?
How do you feel when you find out that you have been invited to be a member of God’s Chosen People, God’s family?
