Day 1
Happy Monday Arrow Makers! Last week we ended Genesis 29, and now we are starting Genesis 30! In preparation for the lessons to come, let’s read all of Genesis 30 to your Tiny Arrows!
Day 2
Rachel was married to Jacob, and even though she wanted to have children, she didn’t have any! Her sister Leah had 4 sons and Rachel was jealous that she had none! The Bible tells us not to be jealous but to value others more then ourselves and to be thankful in everything! Today let’s read Genesis 30:1, Philippians 2:3-4, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Then print the coloring page and grab a black marker, and 2 crayons; yellow and pink. Write down Reuben in the top square and color the block yellow for Leah, then Simeon, Levi and Judah in the next three squares and color them yellow too. If this was a scoreboard, who would be winning? Leah! Now draw 4 lines under Team Leah to count off how many children are on Leah’s team. Then color Leah, Rachel, Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah! Rachel saw that she had more, but should Rachel be jealous or happy for her sister? Happy! Remember God knew Leah was not loved by Jacob and gave her children. Rachel needed to be thankful for what she did have! Just like we should be thankful for what we have and be happy for our siblings or friends with what they are given! So the next time we are playing a game and the other person wins, let’s tell them “Good job” and be thankful we tried our best! Save this coloring page for more lessons to come!
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. – Genesis 30:1 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4
In everything give thanks. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Day 3
Rachel was jealous that her sister had children and she didn’t, so she complained to Jacob that it was his fault! But Jacob told her it was not because of him, it was God’s choice! Rachel did not pray to God, she just complained to her husband. Today let’s read Genesis 30:1-2 and Psalm 27:14 then encourage our Tiny Arrows that instead of complaining about something, to pray about it first, and ask God if it is something you should have!
So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who had kept you from having children?” – Genesis 30:1-2 NIV
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14
Rachel wanted to have children and did not have any, so she decided to have her servant marry Jacob too so Bilhah could have children and Rachel could adopt them. Today let’s read Genesis 30:3 and play a game. Have you and your Tiny Arrow play something like Tug-O-War, and after you win a few times, let someone else be on your Tiny Arrow’s team. Then tell your Tiny Arrow Rachel wanted Bilhah on her team to help her out!
Day 4
Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.” – Genesis 30:3 NIV
Day 5
Jacob now has three wives! Leah, Rachel and Bilhah! Today let’s read Genesis 30:4 and color Bilhah under the Jacob’s wives section of the coloring page from Tuesday! Save this page for more lessons to come!
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. – Genesis 30:4 NIV
Day 6
Rachel gave Jacob Bilhah to be his wife and Bilhah got pregnant and gave birth to a son! Rachel named him Dan! Today let’s read Genesis 30:4-6 and write Dan on the next rectangle and color it pink, then color Dan and make a line under Team Rachel!
Jacob slept with her, and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan. – Genesis 30:4-6 NIV
Day 7
Bilhah had the first baby on team Rachel, then she had another son! Rachel named him Naphtali! Today let’s read Genesis 30:7-8 and write Naphtali on the next rectangle and color it pink, then color Naphtali and make a line under Team Rachel!
Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali. – Genesis 30:7-8 NIV
Day 8
Team Leah was winning, but Team Rachel had 2 marks! Leah saw that she was not having any more children, so she decided to do what Rachel did, and had Jacob marry her servant too! Now each team had 2 people! Today let’s read Genesis 30:9 and color Zilpah on the coloring page then play a game, like Tug-O-War again, and have someone else on your side, so it’s 2 vs 2!
When Leah saw that she has stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. – Genesis 30:9 NIV
Day 9
Zilpah had a boy too! Leah named him Gad! Today let’s read Genesis 30:10-11 and write Gad on the next rectangle and color it yellow, then color Gad and make a line under Team Leah!
Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. – Genesis 30:10-11 NIV
Day 10
Leah had Jacob marry her servant Zilpah and she had a boy! Then she had another boy whom Leah named Asher! Today let’s read Genesis 30:12-13 and write Asher on the next rectangle and color it yellow, then color Asher and make a line under Team Leah!
Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher. – Genesis 30:12-13 NIV
Day 11
During the wheat harvest Leah’s son Reuben was in the fields and found some mandrake plants! A mandrake plant is a small plant with flowers and red-orange berries in the summertime it also has a long root sometimes looks like a person! Today let’s read Genesis 30:14 and help Reuben find the mandrake in the fields on the coloring page!
During the wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants… – Genesis 30:14 NIV
Day 12
Reuben was out in the fields and picked his mom a pretty flower! Today let’s read Genesis 30:14 and have your Tiny Arrow go outside and pick you a flower, or draw you one!
…which he brought to his mother Leah. – Genesis 30:14 NIV
Day 13
Rachel saw that Reuben had picked mandrakes for his mom, but she wanted them! A long time ago some people believed that mandrakes helped parents have babies! So instead of Leah having more babies, Rachel wanted the mandrake so she could have a baby! Today let’s read Genesis 30:14 and encourage your Tiny Arrow to make or do something for you. They can sing you a song, color you a picture, etc. then after they tell you what they are going to do, have someone else, another parent, or sibling, etc., say they want the present instead and to ask you for it! Then explain how the present was for Reubens mom, but his aunt Rachel wanted it instead.
Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” – Genesis 30:14 NIV
Day 14
Rachel wanted the mandrakes that Reuben picked for his mom, Leah, but Leah did not want to give them to her. Leah thought that Rachel was taking everything that was hers away from her: her husband and her sons plant. Today let’s read Genesis 30:15 and encourage your Tiny Arrow to think of something that then can give to someone to bless them. Something they can make or do for someone that someone would like!
But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” – Genesis 30:15 NIV
Day 15
We learned that Reuben found some mandrakes and gave them to his mom Leah, but Rachel asked for them instead! People thought that the mandrake would help parents have babies! Leah did not want to just give the plant to Rachel, so Rachel exchanged some time with Jacob for it. She traded! Today let’s read Genesis 30:15 and explain trading something to your Tiny Arrow, then trade something with them!
“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” – Genesis 30:15 NIV
Day 16
Leah traded her mandrakes for some time with Jacob. So when Jacob came home from working in the fields he spent time with Leah. Today let’s read Genesis 30:16 and color the coloring page.
So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. – Genesis 30:16 NIV
Day 17
God knew that Leah wanted to have more babies, and that is why Reuben brought her the flower, but she did not need a flower, God is the one who gives us children! He gave her a fifth son, and she named him Issachar! Today let’s read Genesis 30:17-18 and write Issachar on the next rectangle and color it yellow, then color Issachar and make a line under Team Leah!
God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. – Genesis 30:17-18 NIV
Day 18
Leah had another son! That’s 6 sons! She was so excited she named him Zebulun! Today let’s read Genesis 30:19-20 and write Zebulun on the next rectangle and color it yellow, then color Zebulun and make a line under Team Leah!
Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. – Genesis 30:19-20 NIV
Day 19
Leah had 6 sons! Then she had a daughter named Dinah! That’s 7 kids! Wow! Today let’s read Genesis 30:21 and write Dinah on the next rectangle and color it yellow, then color Dinah and make a line under Team Leah!
Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. – Genesis 30:21 NIV
Day 20
Leah had 7 kids, Bilhah had 2 kids and Zilpah had 2 kids! Then God listened to Rachel and she got pregnant! This is just what Rachel had been praying about! Today let’s read Genesis 30:22 and tell your Tiny Arrow’s about a time God answered your prayer, or a time in the Bible when someone’s prayer was answered!
Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. – Genesis 30:22 NIV
Day 21
Rachel had a boy! She was so excited and she named him Joseph! Today let’s read Genesis 30:23-24 and write Joseph on the next rectangle and color it pink, then color Joseph and make a line under Team Rachel!
She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” So she named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.” – Genesis 30:23-24
Day 22
We had learned that Rachel gave birth to Joseph and Jacob now had 12 kiddos! 11 boys and 1 girl! He has been at Laban’s house at least 14 years. He had left home to find a wife, and he now had 4 wives and 12 kids! Now he wanted to go back home! Today let’s read Genesis 30:25 and grab 16 small objects and a bag to place them in. Have your Tiny Arrow travel from one place to another and collect or find the 16 objects and place them in their bags. Count with them 4 wives and 12 children as they collect. Then explain that now Jacob wanted to go back home, and let them take their bag back to where they had started out from.
After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland.” – Genesis 30:25
Day 23
Jacob wanted to go back home and he wanted to take his family with him! He had nothing to give Laban for marrying his daughters, so he worked for 14 years to marry them! Today let’s read Genesis 30:26 and think of a time your Tiny Arrow, you or someone from the Bible worked for something and how they wanted to keep what they worked for!
“Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.” – Genesis 30:26
Day 24
Jacob had asked Laban if he could go back home and take his family with him, but Laban had discovered that he was being blessed by having Jacob work for him! The Lord was being extra kind to Laban because of Jacob! Today let’s read Genesis 30:27 and grab a large handful of small objects. Place a few in one pile explaining that Laban had a few sheep before he knew Jacob. Then after he met Jacob he had a lot more because he was blessed by the Lord. Then place the rest of the objects in the pile showing how now there are a lot more!
But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” – Genesis 30:27 NIV
Day 25
After Laban discovered that he was being blessed by having Jacob work for him, he wanted him to stay! Laban wanted him to continue working for him and told Jacob that he could tell him what he wanted and that he would give him it as payment! Today let’s read Genesis 30:28 and give your Tiny Arrow a chore, like picking up their toys, and tell them if they could get payment for doing it, what would they want? Laban was asking what Jacob wanted for working!
He added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.” – Genesis 30:28 NIV
Day 26
Laban told Jacob to tell him what he wanted for taking care of his flocks, and Jacob told him that he wanted something to take care of his family. He knew that Laban had little before and now he had lots more! Today let’s read Genesis 30:29-30 and color the coloring page of Laban’s flocks before and after Jacob came!
Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?” – Genesis 30:29-30 NIV
Day 27
Happy Monday Arrow Makers! Laban asked Jacob to continue working for him, and Jacob wanted animals from the flocks to be his payment. He wanted the speckled or spotted sheep and goats, and the dark-colored lambs. Today let’s read Genesis 30:31-32 and circle the animals Jacob wanted as payment!
“What shall I give you?” He asked. “Don’t give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks today and watching over them: Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.” – Genesis 30:31-32
Day 28
Jacob wanted payment that would be recognized as his, so Laban would know that it was not taken. Today let’s read Genesis 30:33 and grab a pretend or real dollar. Write or draw something on the dollar and explain that if you give them the dollar as payment, it has distinct markings on it. No one could say that it was not theirs because it looks different then all the other dollars.
And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.” – Genesis 30:33
Day 29
Jacob wanted all the speckled or spotted sheep and goats, and the dark-colored lambs as payment and Laban agreed. This is like a work contract. You do something for payment, and afterwards you get paid. Today let’s read Genesis 30:34 and fill in and make a contract with your Tiny Arrow.
“Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” – Genesis 30:34
Day 30
Laban told Jacob he could have all the speckled or spotted sheep and goats, and the dark-colored lambs, but before Jacob could pick them out Laban took them and gave then to his sons. He had told Jacob he could have them, then took them away before he could claim them. Today let’s read Genesis 30:35 and color the coloring page.
That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. – Genesis 30:35
Day 31
Laban tried to trick Jacob by taking away all the animals that he was going to give him as payment for looking after the animals. He even made sure Jacob would not notice the missing animals by moving them a long way away from Jacob. Laban gave the animals to his sons and had them go on a three day journey away from Jacob so he could not see them! That’s almost like taking the animals to the opposite side of the Houston! Today let’s read Genesis 30:36 and take your Tiny Arrow outside and see how far they can see. Then walk a little and ask if they can see anything better or new. Then tell them how hard it would be to see something that would take days to walk there!
Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks. – Genesis 30:36 NIV
Day 32
We learned that Laban had promised Jacob certain animals in his flock, then he took them away before Jacob could get them! So Jacob had an idea. It started with branches from trees! He found some poplar, almost and plane trees and peeled back strips of the bark to make light and dark stripes! Today let’s read Genesis 30:37 and find some branches! Then demonstrate for you Tiny Arrow the color of the inner wood by peeling back some of the bark with a tool!
Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white strips on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. – Genesis 30:37 NIV
Day 33
Laban had kept Jacob’s wages from him, so Jacob decided to make his own! Back then it was believed that if you put striped wood before flocks they would make that color animal! For example, striped wood would make stripped sheep! Today let’s read Genesis 30:38-39 and color the coloring page to determine the color of the sheep!
Then he placed the peeled branches in the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or spotted. – Genesis 30:38-39 NIV
Day 34
The baby animals that were now streaked and spotted were Jacob’s! Now he had his own flock, and Laban had his! Today let’s read Genesis 30:40 and color the coloring page of Laban’s and Jacob’s flocks!
Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals. – Genesis 30:40 NIV
Day 35
Jacob wanted to make sure that if he was growing his own flock, they were strong! So he only used the branches with the strong animals! This meant he had a strong flock and Laban had a weak one! Today let’s read Genesis 30:41-42 and demonstrate being strong and weak for your Tiny Arrow by trying to lift something up!
Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches, but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. – Genesis 30:41-42 NIV
Day 36
Jacob wasn’t given animals, so after they were born he grew his own flock! He came to have lots of animals! He became rich and had servants, camels and donkeys! Today let’s read Genesis 30:43 and color the coloring page then reread all of Genesis 30!
In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. – Genesis 30:43 NIV
Day 37
Today let’s reread Genesis 30 and remember the activities and verses we learned!