Before He Finished Praying: Rebekah at the Well
Genesis 24:1-67 Old Testament PrincipleKindness
Abraham sent his oldest servant on a long journey to find a wife for his son Isaac from his relatives. When the servant reached the town with his ten camels, he prayed by the spring, "LORD, show kindness to my master." He asked God to show him the right young woman, one who would offer water to him and his camels too. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She gave him a drink and hurried to water all ten camels. The servant bowed and worshiped God, who had led him all the way. God is kind and keeps His promises, and He helps us be kind too.
Kindness means doing good to others, even when it costs us effort, because God has been so kind to us. God's kindness leads Him to guide, provide and keep His promises.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master.”
Genesis 24:27 BSB
Christ Connection · Promise
God kept His promise to give Abraham a family through Isaac and Rebekah. From that family came Jesus, the offspring of Abraham through whom God's blessing reaches every nation.
Galatians 3:16; Matthew 1:1-2; Romans 4:16-17
The Big Story · Redemption
God promised Abraham a family through Isaac that would bless every nation. By guiding the servant to Rebekah, God kept that promise moving, all the way to Jesus, the promised Son of Abraham.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: A cup of water
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Jars and camels
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Camel relay
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God is kind. I can be kind!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Thirsty camels, Color Rebekah
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Abraham sent his servant far away to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant came to a well with ten camels. He prayed, "LORD, show kindness to my master." He asked God to send a girl who would give water to him and his camels too. Before he finished praying, Rebekah came. She gave him a drink and then ran back and forth to water all ten camels. The servant bowed and thanked God for leading him. God is kind, and He helps us be kind to others.
Memory verse
“Blessed be the LORD, who has not held back His kindness.”
Adapted from Genesis 24:27
Start here
Ask, "What is the hardest kind thing you have ever done for someone?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today we'll meet a girl who did a very hard, very kind thing for a stranger."
Bible story 6 min
Abraham was very old. He wanted a wife for his son Isaac. So he called his oldest servant. "Go to my family far away. Find a wife for Isaac there. God will send His angel ahead of you."
The servant took ten camels. He packed them with gifts. Then he went on the long, long trip.
At last he came to a town. It was evening. He made the camels kneel down by the well. Soon the girls would come out to get water.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A pitcher of water and a cup
- Choose a narrator, Abraham, the servant, Rebekah, Laban and her mother. Everyone else is a camel.
- Act out the skit. The camels slurp loudly when Rebekah "waters" them.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
Abraham sent his oldest servant on a long journey to find a wife for Isaac from his own relatives. At a spring outside the town of Nahor, the servant prayed, "LORD, show kindness to my master Abraham," and asked God to show him a young woman who would offer water to him and his camels too. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came. She gave him a drink and hurried back and forth to water all ten camels. The servant bowed and worshiped the LORD, who had led him. God is kind and keeps His promises, and His kindness makes us kind.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: God led the way, Camel relay
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
To keep His promise to Abraham, God guided an old servant five hundred miles to a spring outside the town of Nahor. The servant prayed for the LORD's kindness and asked for a sign of character, a young woman who would offer to water his ten camels as well as give him a drink. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came, and she did all he had asked, hurrying to water the camels until they were full. The servant bowed and blessed the LORD, "who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness." God's faithful kindness moves His promise forward, and it shapes kind people.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Kindness and faithfulness, Ten-camel kindness
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Kindness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
With MusicKindness in a Song: David Plays the Harp for Saul1 Samuel 16:13-23; 1 Samuel 18:10-11; Ephesians 4:32King Saul was troubled and upset inside. God had chosen young David to be the next king, and God sent David to play the harp for Saul and help him feel better. David used God's gift to be kind, even to the king he would replace. God is kind to us, so we can be kind to others.Old TestamentKindness
The Church BeginsDorcas Helps PeopleActs 9:36-43; Mark 5:35-43Dorcas loved Jesus and was always doing kind things, like making clothes for widows. When she got sick and died, her friends sent for Peter. Peter prayed, and God brought Dorcas back to life, and many people believed in Jesus.New TestamentKindness
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 20:14-17King David remembered his promise to his best friend Jonathan. He found Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who couldn't walk, gave him back his family's land and invited him to eat at the king's table every day. God shows that same kindness to us, so we show kindness to others.Old TestamentKindness
Kings and ProphetsRuth and NaomiRuth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:1-23; Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:1-22When Naomi lost everything, God showed His kindness through Ruth and Boaz, and Boaz became the family's redeemer, pointing to Jesus, our Redeemer.Old TestamentKindness
Seeing God's WorldSalt and LightMatthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Long before, God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Christians don't hide from the world or blend into it. We do good and show Jesus' love so people see it and praise our Father in heaven.New TestamentKindness