Genesis 23 - Sarah Dies and is Buried Quiet Book Page

In Genesis 23, Sarah dies and is buried in a cave - the only property Abraham ever owns in the Promised Land during his lifetime.

 

Memory Verse: Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” Genesis 23:3-4 (NIV).

 

Materials needed to create the Sarah Dies and is Buried quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used pale blue
• my free template
• double sided fusible interfacing and/or fabric glue
• fabric scrap for the field - I used a shaggy green
• fabric scrap for the inside of the cave - I used a patterned cotton that somewhat resembled cave paintings
• felt scraps in pink, dark brown, light blue, light purple, and light tan
• light tan small wooden button
• light tan round elastic
• light tan ribbon scrap - I used a jute/hessian/sting type ribbon
• sewing thread to best match the page

Cut out the inside of both sides of the cave and the field from your fabric scraps. I trimmed a lot of the shag from my fabric to reveal short rows of shag to represent my field. Use the double sided fusible interfacing or the fabric glue to attach the fabric scraps to dark brown felt for the cave, and the page background for the field. Cut out the cave pieces from the felt and sew around all the pieces using matching thread in a tight zig zag stitch to prevent fraying.

If you want to add trees as I wish I did (see the devotional section), this might be a good point to do that.

Use the template pieces to line up where the back cave piece should be sewn onto the page and sew it down as close to the zig zag stitch as possible. Then sew the top cave piece over the top along the bottom, left side and top edge, leaving the right side open to form a pocket.

Cut out Sarah and sew onto the same colour felt, then cut her out. You can put her in the cave pocket.

If you are using actual ribbon, see my post on How to Stop Ribbons Fraying.

Cut out your left and right city gates from the light tan felt. Line up your city gates and measure the amount of elastic you will need to fit over your button on the opposite side (with a bit extra to sew into the left gate). Sew down the left gate with the elastic tucked between it and more light tan felt on the inside edge of the gate, and the light tan ribbon on the outside edge to use as a hinge. Cut it out, being careful to fold back the elastic and ribbon so you don't cut them off as you do this. Sew down your right gate with ribbon on the outside edge and cut it out, folding back the ribbon as you go around. Hand sew your button onto the right city gate. Button the elastic from the left city gate over the button on the right city gate.

Use your template pieces to line up where to position Abraham and Ephron on the back of the city. They should hover a little above the bottom edge so that you can sew the back city piece onto the page background. Use your front city template piece to position the back city behind where the gate will be and sew it down. Place the city gate over the back city and place the front city piece over the ribbon hinges. Trim and prevent the ribbons from fraying if needed to fit underneath the front city piece without sticking out the outer wall of the city. Ensure there is enough ribbon so the gate can be swung open. Sew the front city into position catching the ribbon as you go.

My photos reveal that I sewed the purple hill down before the city, but I think it is better to sew it after so you can be sure to align the edgeof the  city with the edge of the field. If you cut the purple hill a bit wider/longer than necessary, you can cut it down to fit exactly in the space between the cave and the city. Sew the purple hill in place. 

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus no-sew version.

A very easy quiet book page!
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Genesis 23 - God promised the whole land to Abraham and his descendants - but this promise was not realised in Abraham's lifetime, yet he believed it would happen (and one day he will live to see it)
• Buttoning - open and close the city gate using a button
• Pocket Play - young children love pulling things out and placing items and putting them back (not always lol) into pockets - Sarah is all wrapped up ready to be buried in the cave
• Peek-a-boo - Abraham and Ephron are hiding behind the city gate
• Imaginative Play - sometimes kids need to be allowed to play with topics like death and burial, especially if they have recently lost a loved one - play is how they work through issues
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Genesis 23

Devotional

While Abraham didn't own the whole Promised Land, God did allow him one little slice where he could confidently bury his dead without fear of disruption.

The Death and Burial of Sarah (Chapter 23)

Parable Tunes

This song made me realise I had left an important part of this page out. It made me realise that this scene and the location of the cave and field at Machpelah near Mamre including all the trees in the field is probably the same place that Abraham camped near the trees at Mamre in Genesis chapter 18 when God visits him and talks to him about a promised son, and about Sodom and Gomorrah. 

It must have been a very significant and special place for Abraham and the family. I think maybe this place holds his hopeful expectation of the resurrection and the ultimate fulfilment of God's promises. If I made this page again, I'd want to include the great trees at Mamre.

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What has God asked you to believe in faith? Comment below!

Exodus 14 - Crossing the Red Sea Quiet Book page

In Exodus 14, God provides a way of escape from Egypt by crossing the Red Sea.

Memory Verse: Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Exodus 14:28-29 (NKJV).

Materials needed to create the Crossing the Red Sea quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used red
• Betty Lukens Felt book kit 06 Old Testament Stories, also available at Koorong
• hot glue gun and glue
• sewing thread to best match the page and pocket
• scissors!

Cut out all the pieces for this page, and along the dotted lines where indicated to form two flaps that will open to reveal the Israelites underneath crossing the Red Sea. The Betty Lukens FAQ section has posted a cutting tips PDF.

Hot glue (or sew) the picture of the Israelites crossing in place behind the flaps, being careful not to get any glue on the flaps (or they might get glued shut).

Sew the page onto the background felt along three sides, leaving the top edge open to form a pocket. Pop the Egyptian army piece inside (or better yet, play with the page)!

Difficulty Level = Easy, Plus no-sew version!

One of the easiest pages to make! Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Exodus 14 - God made a way to escape the Egyptian army even though it seemed like there was no hope - He wants to set us free
• Imaginative Play - action the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to escape from the Egyptian army
• Ordered Storytelling - remember and tell the story in order using the scene changes
• Pocket Play - young children love pulling things out and placing items and putting them back (not always lol) into pockets
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Exodus 14

Devotional

God can make a way where there seems to be no way. He enjoys displaying His strength and Wisdom against dire circumstances. The more dire your circumstances, the more His miraculous workings out are shown to be. So don't despair when things seem impossible, rejoice that God is preparing a miracle for you to bear witness of!

Moses’ Miracle - Radiant Mercy

Additionally, I think it is important to tell the full story, including the death of the Egyptian army. Sometimes people leave these kinds of things out, but without this part of the story, it is incomplete. It is a warning to those who defy God, and who think they can get away with treating others as slaves without consequences - there are always consequences! And can there be a true hero without setting people free properly? How can you triumph if your enemies are still casting their shadow over you? Kids are more resilient than you think. They rejoice when the dragon is slain.

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Do your little ones enjoy learning to plait? Comment below!

Ephesians 3 - Christ May Dwell in Your Heart Through Faith Quiet Book Page

  In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul explains that Gentiles can become heirs alongside Israel, and share in access to God through faith in Christ. 

Memory Verse: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV).

 

Materials needed to create the Christ May Dwell in Your Heart Through Faith quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used bright blue
• my free template
• red/pink felt for the heart
• a ribbon to match the felt colour of the heart - I used an organza ribbon and did some tacking and gathering on it
• felt scraps in mid brown, white, and dark brown for Jesus
• awl and/or darning needle
• sewing thread to best match the page
• scissors!

Cut out your heart from felt and sew it onto the middle of your page. Add the ribbon to the top edge of the pocket part of your heart before sewing it down over the bottom section of the heart.

Tacking and gathering the organza ribbon.

Cut out two feet and hands from your mid brown felt (reverse the pattern to make the right and left sides), sew them down and cut them out. Cut out a tunic from white felt and sandwich the hands and feet between it and a piece of white felt on the bottom. Sew the tunic down and cut it out, making sure to bend back the hands and feet as you go.

Cut out a face from mid brown felt and a hair and beard piece from dark brown felt. Position the hair/beard over the head and sew it down around the mouth and face. Place dark brown felt behind the head/chest area of the tunic with the hair/beard/face on top and sew around the outside of the head (hair/beard), catching the tunic in between at the bottom. Cut out the head around the top and trim at the bottom on the back side at the same width from the sewing as the rest of the head.

Use the awl to make holes in the hands and ankles and use a darning needle to make the hole wider.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No-Sew Version.

A very easy and quick quiet book page. 
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version, but make sure you don't put glue where you want to put the holes in the hands and feet.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Ephesians 3 - God's love is so wide/long/high/deep - let's pray that we will be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God
• Imaginative play - Jesus dwells in our hearts, His love is wide like His arms are stretched wide
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Ephesians 3

Devotional

I have had this idea churning around for a while. I remember as a child in Bible class we used to hold hearts up similar to this on a stick with a picture of Jesus inside while we sang "Into My Heart".

As I grew up, I started thinking about whether this was a concept that came from the Bible or not. More often, it is the Holy Spirit which is said to live in our hearts. I guess Ephesians 3 is more of an abstract idea due to having faith, rather than Jesus actually living in our hearts. I think the only other place the Bible talks about Jesus (rather than the Holy Spirit) being in our hearts is 2 Corinthians 4, where Jesus' face shines in our hearts. I think this is also alluding to the idea that others ought to be able to see Jesus' love shining out from our hearts, just as we can feel the happiness and peace within. 

The Love of Christ - Ephesians 3:17b-19

Truth Songs

Faith in Christ gives Gentiles access to God too, and we can share the inheritance. In this way, Christ can dwell in our hearts. And we will begin to understand the immeasurable love Jesus has for us. This love is beyond knowledge. Knowledge alone would not cause someone to die in someone else's place. It is only great love that would move someone enough to do that. I made Jesus with his arms outstretched and nail holes in his hands and feet so we can grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ in some small way.

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Does this quiet book page make you reminisce or remind you of something? Comment below!

Mini Sealed Scroll craft for Bible Class

These are a great craft to do with your Bible class if you want to encourage them to learn memory verses in a fun way. The wax seals really give a certain charm about them.

A page I recently wrote about, Letters to Early Christians quiet book page - Interview with Jessica, has inspired a whole lot of scroll creations. This was not the first, but it seems to be the first I am going to post.

I kinda really like these Mini Sealed Scrolls and I kinda don't. 

They are really cute and fun, but they don't demonstrate that a seal can't be re-sealed after it has been opened...

(Have I mentioned before that I like toys that "work")?

Oh well, they are helping us learn more memory verses.

We used a Posca fabric marker to write the Bible verse. You need to iron it to set it so it doesn't wash out if you need to clean the scroll. But I have used regular pen before and it seems to work fine as well (not sure about the wash-ability though).

Here is a tutorial on how to do the wax seal (I just used felt instead of paper):

Wax Seals for Beginners - Everything You Need to Know! Channel: Katrina Crouch

For the first version I tried making I sewed press studs down on a single sheet of felt, but then I realised that the cotton showed through to the other side - right in the middle of where I wanted to write the Bible verse.

I tried hot gluing the press studs onto felt instead. That seems to have worked, but I am not confident it would last, and this is of course dangerous for small children, so I didn't proceed with that idea.

I tried using Velcro dots instead. Just make sure you set the pen with an iron before adding the Velcro dots or the iron will melt the hot glue and it may come through onto the side with the Bible verse written on it (as you can see below).

I had hoped that using a Velcro dot would make the seal sit flush with the rest of the felt underneath so it looked like it was doing more of the job a seal should be doing, but it is rather thick and the press stud actually looks better.

My stick of seal wax ran low pretty quickly, so I looked up if you can use candle wax instead. You can't - it's not flexible enough. So now I am hankering to try using cheese wax... wish me well!

Now we can't wait to make a bunch of these with everyone in Bible Class!

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Which Bible verse would you choose to write on one of these?

Isaiah 54 - A Promise of Peace Quiet Book Page

God promises a covenant of peace in Isaiah 54. 

Memory Verse: “The Lord says, “This day is like the time of Noah to me. I promised then that I would never flood the world again. In the same way, I promise I will not be angry with you or punish you again. The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; my promise of peace will not come to an end,” says the Lord who shows mercy to you.” Isaiah:54-9-10 (NCV).

Materials needed to create A Promise of Peace quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used green
• Betty Lukens Felt book 00001 Bible Stories Felt Activity Kit (not an affiliate link)
• sewing thread to best match the page
• scissors!
• pony beads in rainbow colours
• 1.5mm black elastic
• alphabet beads
• small button tie tie off elastic at the back
• two 3mm grommets (and grommet tool set)

Cut out all the pieces for this page and the page itself from the Betty Lukens set. The Betty Lukens FAQ section has posted a cutting tips PDF.

Sew the Betty Lukens page onto the background felt along three sides, leaving the top edge open to form a pocket. 

Add two grommets to the top right and top left of the Betty Lukens page. I went through both the pocket and background page together (you will still be able to open the pocket. You can google how to do this - it is not as scary as it looks!

Thread the elastic through the grommet from the back of the page and thread on some pony beads in rainbow order (I used two beads per colour), followed by the word 'promise' using your alphabet beads, and then more rainbow beads in reverse order. Thread the elastic back through the other grommet and tie it off through a button at the back (like I did on the Leviticus 25 - Jubilee Calendar Quiet Book Page). This is to prevent the knot coming through the grommets to the front of your page.

Pop the animal pieces inside the pocket (or better yet - play with them)!

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No Sew version.

A very easy quiet book page! Grommets are not as intimidating as they appear.
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Isaiah 54 - Learn about the Covenant of Peace promised by God
• Imaginative Play - position the animals around Noah's ark and remember God keeps His promises - just like He kept His promise to never again flood the entire Earth like He did in the days of Noah
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Isaiah 54

Devotional

Whilst Isaiah was speaking to the Israelites about the captivity and those that God would bring back afterwards, they prefigure the goodness God will bring upon all believers in the covenant of peace made with blood in the previous chapter (prophesying Jesus' death). This covenant is certain because it is not built on our merit, which is a changeable thing, but on God's mercy, which is from everlasting to everlasting.

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Has this page inspired you?

Psalm 11 - Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope Quiet Book Page

Psalm 11 asks why we should flee as birds to a mountain when we are trusting God for protection.

Memory Verse: “I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,

“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!" Psalm 11:1.

Materials needed to create the Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used dapple grey
• My free Psalm 11 - Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope Quiet Book Page Template Pattern
• cotton fabric for the green mountain
• fabric glue or double sided iron-on interfacing
• felt scraps in green, sky blue, orange and dapple grey
• decorative beads in orange and silver
• short dowel rod (about 20cm in length, 7mm in diameter)
• hot glue and glue gun
• sewing thread to best match the page
• scissors!

Mark and cut out the mountain shape from your mountain fabric and use fabric glue to glue it to a piece of green felt (or use thedouble-sided iron-on interfacing according to the directions). Once it is dry, cut it out and sew a fine zigzag stitch along all edges to stop it fraying and peeling. Then sew it onto your background felt to about just below half way up the sides of the mountain leaving the top open to form a pocket.

Cut out the circles from the sky blue felt and sew down your orange birds followed by their dapple grey wings, making sure to position one in the upper position and the other in the lower position. Hand sew on your decorative beads.

Testing different decorative bead positions

Position your circles back to back (ensure the birds are level with each other) and sew around the circles, leaving about a 2cm hole at the bottom. Use hot glue on about 4cm of the end of your dowel rod and insert it into the hole and press the birds together to attach it. 

Spin the thaumatrope rod between your hands to watch the bird fly away to the mountain.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No Sew version.

A very easy quiet book page!
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Psalm 11 - Putting your trust in God is the best way to stay safe and remain calm when you are in danger.
• Imaginative Play - Fly your birdie to safety in the mountains.
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skills through turning pages, and on this page, through using the thaumatrope.

Read the Chapter

Psalm 11

Devotional

This Christian Hymn seems to be to be using the phrase "flee like a bird to your mountain" in the opposite way to what David's adviser was. But the point in the end is the same. God is your refuge, put your faith in Him.

I have heard stories of many people who chose to stay in dangerous places because they felt that is where God wanted them. They trusted Him and escaped all kinds of danger because He looked after them. The most dangerous place in all appearances may actually be the safest because God is with you. The safe places might actually be the most dangerous because you are no longer relying on God.

I looked up some of the birds that inhabit Israel and tried to model mine on the Oriental Turtle-dove and the Laughing Dove.

Oriental Turtle Dove : (Streptopelia orientalis) in Satara
I, Ravivaidya - CC BY 2.5

Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis cambayensis)
at Zighy Bay in the Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Charles J. Sharp - CC BY-SA 3.0

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Have you made a thaumatrope before? Comment below!

Letters to Early Christians quiet book page - Interview with Jessica

Today I would like to introduce you to Jessica and find out how she came up with such a simple Bible quiet book page that keeps kids entertained for ages. When the pages are so easy to make, you might have to start coming up with other reasons for not making a start on a quiet book project!

Carissa D: Hi Jessica and thanks for letting me share your Letters to Early Christians quiet book page. I know you made this page as part of a New Testament quiet book swap because I participated in that swap and received this page (among others) back. 

You can read about what a quiet book swap is in my post about my participation in a Puzzle Quiet Book Page Swap.

Carissa D: I must admit that your page was probably Tahlia's favourite from that swap, and she absolutely LOVED this page at around 5 years old. I can't remember if topics for each page were already chosen and we picked from a list or if we made up our own page topics, but this is a unique idea I haven't seen anywhere else. So I am wondering how you came up with the idea?

Jessica: I do believe we had topics for the pages. If I remember right we swapped about 10 pages but I ended up making a bunch more at home to complete an Old Testament Book and a New Testament book. I think the idea was just that the new testament letters are so hard to capture unless you only represent one single powerful verse such as John 3:16. But I wanted to capture all of it. The concept was that the original letters were written on scrolls and to provide the kids an image of a scroll and then they could point off the ABC's or trace over the letters on the page. For very young kids they can use a pretend feather pen that was tucked behind the scroll, and trace the letters. For older siblings they could practice reading the name of the Letters from the Apostles or even memorize the names of the books.

Carissa D: I love pages that can suit multiple age groups and can sort-of grow with the child. What significance do the New Testament letters hold for you? Was there a particular attraction to the topic of this page?

Jessica: I think I chose this page simply because I had an idea I thought I could do. I don't consider myself very artistic and so if I had any idea for a page I went for it!

Carissa D:  What do you think of quiet book swaps and would you recommend people join them?

Jessica: Many many mother's struggle through going to Mass with little ones. I love Quiet books because it is an activity that the kids can do that still keeps them at least in some way thinking about God, while not letting them have a toy that they can bang into the pew and make us Mom's worry about disturbing others. Little ones need to be active and they do belong at church with us. Anything that makes it easier for them is a worthy effort. We have made four quiet books now.

Carissa D: Well done! Could you explain how you made this page please?

Jessica: Supplies- 

Background color of your choice in Felt or Fabric
1 sheet of white felt
1 feather
1 bottle black puffy paint

To recreate this page is easy. Cut out a piece of felt in the shape of a scroll (maybe practice on paper and then transfer to white felt). Sew all sides down except one so that you can tuck in a feather behind it. If you feel conformable with a sewing machine sew your lines across to give the appearance of a scroll like you see in a line drawing or you can sew the edges and use puffy paint for the lines. I used a google image for "scroll line drawing" as an example. Once your sewing is done, write out the names of all the letters in puffy paint (hopefully your handwriting is better than mine), and keep a feather behind the white felt, on the side your didn't sew for kids to practice tracing with.

Carissa D: It does sound easy. I love the embossed felt you used (we don't have such a variety of felt available in Australia). It looks like you painted the tip of your feather as well which really makes it feel authentic when you are pretending to write. Was there anything about this page that you would change if you made it again?

Jessica: I would probably have someone with better handwriting write the names!

Carissa D:  What encouragement can you give to others who might be thinking of starting a quiet book?

Jessica: I think I would have never started quiet books if it wasn't for my crafting group. Getting the unique ideas from so many different people and only having to come up with one or two unique ideas yourself makes the entire project so much more manageable. Find a community online and start from there.

Carissa D: Did/do you use your quiet books to keep your children quiet in church or do you use them elsewhere? Do they live up to their name?

Jessica: I keep at least 1 in my car at all times when I have children under 2 years old, but we use them during car rides or at church most often. Quiet books work for us unless the kids decide to argue over who gets to hold which one. We have a Mass book, Old Testament, New Testament, and a generic baby book (that my 8 year old made for my infant when I was pregnant, it is a great project to teach young ones how to sew).

Carissa D: That sounds amazing, I am really hoping my daughter Tahlia wants to start making quiet books one day too. Thanks so much for sharing your page idea with us. Sometimes getting the ideas is the hardest part!

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Do you have any simple busy book pages that your kids play with for hours? Comment below!

Leviticus 25 - Jubilee Calendar Quiet Book Page

In Leviticus chapter 25, God explains the Jubilee cycle.

Memory Verse: "‘And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family." Leviticus 25:8-10 (NKJV).

 

Materials needed to create the Jubilee Calendar quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used hot pink
• my free Leviticus 25 - Jubilee Calendar Bible Quiet Book Page Template Pattern
• 16 silver grommets with a 3mm diameter
• hole punch / grommet tool
• 1mm black elastic
• 42 wood coloured beads, 7 blue beads, and 1 yellow/gold bead - I bought these (not an affiliate link)
• small flat button

Punch holes and insert grommets in your background sheet using the template as a guide (where the x's are marked) - see the video tutorial in the difficulty level section below. 

Thread the black elastic through the holes in rows, adding beads as you go. The beads should be in seven rows of seven beads (six wooden and one blue for the six working years and the seventh year of rest) followed by a single yellow/gold bead to represent the Jubilee year. Since I wanted to save elastic, I threaded the elastic through the nearest hole rather than going to the start of the next row. That meant I had to add every second row of beads in the reverse order.

Ensure the elastic is pulled so it is not too loose on the front and cut it to the appropriate length to allow you to tie it off nicely. Thread the elastic ends through the button and tie them together in a tight knot to prevent the knot from moving to the front of the page.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No Sewing involved.

A very easy quiet book page!

You can watch the below video by Irina Sorokina from My Craft / Quiet books to see how to install grommets.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Leviticus 25 - the Jubilee year represents Eternity and what God is going to do for us - set us free, restore us to our families and give us our land back
• Counting - count seven lots of seven years until the 50th year - the Jubilee
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Leviticus 25

Devotional

The Jubilee is such good news! I believe it represents eternity on the New Earth, when we will all be released from slavery, returned to our families and given land to inherit. The Jubilee year follows seven lots of seven year "weeks", where the land was given a rest every seventh year. It was not to be sewn and grape vines were not to be pruned, etc. This would rejuvenate the land, and God promised that if they would keep the Sabbath rest for the land every seventh year, that He would bless the harvest in the sixth year so there would be enough to feed everyone for three years (which would of course last until the harvest came in in the first year of a new Jubilee cycle, with a Jubilee resulting in two Sabbath years rest for the land in a row). This was reported to have occurred during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:29).

Although the first day of the seventh month (on the religious calendar) is New Year's day on the civil calendar, the Jubilee is not announced until Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), which is ten days later. I'm not quite sure why that is yet, but I'm sure there is a reason. Nevertheless, I can certainly see the contrast the God is intending announcing a Jubilee celebration on a day of traditional fasting. And He does state that the four major fast days will be turned into joyous occasions (Zechariah 8:19) - and what more joy could you have than when set free from slavery, returned to your family, and given an inheritance?

Ron Kenoly - Jubilee (Official Live Video)

I have previously explained my reasons for believing that the Jubilee is the 50th year (and not the same as the 49th year as some people propose) in my Time to Celebrate: Jubilee Bead Cycle tutorial (plus bracelet craft) for the High Holidays post. 

Most people would have only experienced one Jubilee in their lifetime, at least only one that they remember. It is the countdown to restoration. Ultimately, the land belongs to God, and He divided the land between the tribes of Israel. Because the land belongs to God, it was not allowed to be sold permanently. At the Jubilee, if you had sold your land sometime during the 49 years, you would get it back. The price of the sale was to reflect the amount of time remaining until the Jubilee (if there were many years, the sale price would be more than if there were only a few years left). The family that the land had been given to always had the right to buy their land back (called redeeming it), with the price again reflecting how many years were left until the Jubilee. An example of this might be the story of Naomi and Ruth, where Naomi's husband sold his land because of a drought, and when Naomi and Ruth returned, Boaz became their Redeemer. Not only did he have to marry Ruth, but I imagine he would have paid the price due on their land. 

It seems that Sabbath rests for the land were not often kept, since the children of Israel were required to go into captivity for 70 years to allow the land to have it's rest (2 Chron. 36:21)! 

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What does the Jubilee mean to you? Comment below!