God's Big Promise

I'm sorry the timing of my teachable story posts has been so confusing. I'm trying to stay two steps ahead, so you can stay one step ahead. Here's the layout for Passion Week teaching so far:

Day 1 {today} Creation
Day 2 {tomorrow} the Fall.
Day 3 {Wednesday} God's Big Promise Genesis 12, Exodus 1, 3-4, 7-12, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, 30:15-20

Context: Adam had many sons and many grandsons and many great grandsons, on and on. Most of his sons did not love God, but one son, Abraham, was loved by God and loved God back. God promised {right index finger to lips, change to a flat hand as you bring to meet left fist ASL for 'promise'} Abraham that he would always love Abraham's sons and grandsons and great grandsons. They would be God's special people. Best of all, God promised that one of Abraham's grandsons would deliver {sweep your flat hand up, as if lifting} the whole world. 

This is the story from God's word: Now Abraham's great, great, great grandchildren, the people God loved, were all slaves {encircle your wrist with your other hand} in a far off land, Egypt. Their lives were very hard, and they cried for someone to deliver them. God heard them. He told a shepherd named Moses to go to Egypt and tell the king to 'Let God's special people go!'  God was going to deliver his special people from slavery, and Moses was going to lead them home.

Moses walked up to the king in Egypt and told him to let God's special people go. The king said, 'No,' {shake head} so God sent punishments to change the king's mind. But the king still said 'No' {cross arms while shaking head}. Finally, God told Moses that he was going to kill the firstborn son of everyone in Egypt, even the king. But He would deliver his special people, if they took the blood from a lamb and painted their doors with it. When his people obeyed, God's messenger passed over their houses, leaving them safe.

 After God's final punishment, the king let God's special people go. God's people danced and sang to God as they followed Moses toward their home. God had delivered them. When they set up camp, God explained his big promise to them. He told them that if they would love Him more than anything that He would give them a home and protect them. But if they loved other things more than God, He would punish them and take away their home. Finally, he reminded them of his big promise to Abraham: one day, God would send Jesus, and He would deliver God's special people forever. That's the end of the story.

 Days 4-7 are forthcoming. Tim and I are still deciding exactly how to arrange them and which passages to focus on. Please pray for our wisdom as we work through these stories.

As always, feedback is appreciated!