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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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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Psalm 85 - Righteousness and Peace Have Kissed Quiet Book Page

 In Psalm 85, God provides a way for His justice and His mercy to prevail together.

Memory Verse: Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Psalm 85:10-11 (NKJV).

Materials needed to create the Righteousness and Peace Have Kissed quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used cream
• my free template
• felt scraps in royal blue and green
• magnetic handshake keychain from AliExpress (not an affiliate link)
• kissing lips button
• alphabet beads
• 7 black grommets and tool set - I used 3mm inside diameter (perhaps 5mm height)
• round hat elastic in black
• 4 small thin buttons
• sewing thread to best match the page

Cut out your hill piece from green felt and insert grommets where indicated. Thread your elastic through to the front and thread your "mercy" and "truth" beads on at either side (remember to thread "truth" in reverse order so it shows correctly - a little ironic, I know!). Detach the magnetic hand beads from the keychains and thread them onto either end of the elastic before threading the elastic back through the "mercy" and "truth" beads and then to the back of the felt. Thread the elastic through a thin button and tie together to prevent the elastic knot from making it's way to the front of the felt, making sure the correct length is achieved for the hands to clasp each other without too much slack or needing the elastic to stretch. Sew the green hill to green felt to cover the back button and cut it out.

Repeat this process with the two cross pieces, although you don't need to double the elastic back through the beads (just thread them straight back through the other grommet to the back). Then addon your buttonholes where indicated. 

Use the template pieces to position the green hill on your page and sew along the sides and bottom leaving the top open to form a pocket.

Use the template pieces to mark the position of where to place the kissing lips button. Add a grommet to the page background. Thread more elastic through from the back of he page and thread on your lips, then pass the elastic back through the grommet to the back of the page. 

Again, thread the elastic through a thin button and tie together to prevent the elastic knot from making it's way to the front of the felt, making sure the correct length is achieved to allow both cross pieces to be buttoned on comfortably.

Finished! Now you can play with your page.

Difficulty Level = Easy

Grommet installation can be scary - but the following YouTube tutorial by Irina Sorokina from My Craft Quiet Books should help.

Eyelets and grommets - My Craft Quiet Books

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Psalm 85 - the cross was the only solution for God to both uphold justice and extend mercy
• Imaginative Play/Clasping - clasp and unclasp the hands as if they are "meeting together" or shaking hands greeting each other
• Buttoning - button the sections of tthe cross to the kissing lips button
• Spelling - learn to spell the words "mercy", "truth", "righteousness" and "peace"
  
• Pocket Play - young children love pulling things out and placing items and putting them back (not always lol) into pockets - the cross pieces can be stored in the hill pocket
• 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

Psalm 85

Devotional

There is a great deal to learn from this Psalm and Matthew Henry's commentary on it is very enlightening. I will summarise one point only. Ultimately Jesus is the mediator who brings Heaven and earth together again. He is the truth that sprang out of the Earth (rose from the grave). And God justifies us by looking down favourably from Heaven because of Jesus' restoration. The cross is where God's mercy meets Truth, and where Righteousness brings Peace to men.

The penalty of sin is death. If God wants goodness to exist and goodness to rule, the rules He established to make good conditions must be kept. If He forgave without justice then why bother having laws - kaos and death would dominate instead of love. In order to forgive and keep the good rules in place, He had to pay the penalty (death) for us.

Psalm 85 - A Love Song… With a Kiss!

Selah - Acoustic Psalms

Here is another interesting read on Mercy and Truth by Ismar Schorsch from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

There is an interesting history of Aaron and Moses representing mercy and truth respectively via the atoning sacrifices and the provision of the law. Additionally, during the Zugot (pairs) time period of Judaism (c. 170 BCE – 30 CE), after the loss of confidence in the High Priest, the Sanhedrin was ruled  by two appointed rulers, the Nasi (President) representing mercy, and the Ab Bet Din (Vice President) representing truth. 

This video explains how God upholds justice and can deliver mercy at the same time. It's a great listen, and not too long. 

I explain the gospel to Julian Dorey - Wes Huff

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Genesis 17 - Abram becomes Abraham Quiet Book Page

 In Genesis 17, God establishes a covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham, and Sarai becomes Sarah. 

Memory Verse: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5 NKJV.

Materials needed to create the Abram becomes Abraham quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used mint
• my free Genesis 17 - Abram becomes Abraham Bible Quiet Book Template Pattern
• gray hard felt
• white felt and coloured felt in two (or three) colours, or alphabet felt in those colours, or
• a method of cutting letters - see my Letter Cutting Hacks post
• 5mm ribbon in matching colours to your white and coloured felt
• sewing threads to best match the page
• diaper hook and loop tape material (like velcro but doesn't wreck felt so much and is wider and can be cut to the size needed) - I bought this (not an afiliate link)
• clear plastic - you can use tablecloth plastic or sheet set packaging
• scotch tape and paper
• hot glue and glue gun
• scissors!

Firstly, cut out as many alphabet blocks as you need for the names you are making from the gray hard felt. I used: YHWH (4 blocks in white), ABRAAM (6 blocks in blue), SARAI (5 blocks in pink), and TALIA (5 blocks in green). You can add your own child's name if it has an "ah" or "ha" sound in it.

Tahlia's toy came in handy to trace around
to make the perfect block shape for me

Cut out you letters as required for the blocks above - see my Letter Cutting Hacks post (I used the Sizzix method). Sew them onto the gray alphabet blocks in the center of each block. Work out the length of each ribbon required to trim each block (13cm from memory). Cut the number of lengths needed and melt the ends to prevent fraying. Sew a border around each block using the corresponding colour 5mm ribbon, tucking the end of the ribbon under itself to finish it nicely at the ends.

Cut out the pocket from your clear plastic and trim with ribbon in a simmilar manner as above. Place scotch tape onto your sewing machine foot so the plastic will move through your machine easily. I also place paper underneath part of my sewing machine - see my set-up on my Psalm 46 - Be Still and Know that I Am God Tea Set Quiet Book Page post. Sew the plastic onto your page on three sides leaving the top open to form a pocket. Place it at the bottom leaving room to sew the pages together at the end and enough room at the top for the writing strip.

Cut the writing strip from loop tape material and sew it onto your page at the top.

Cut as many hook tape backings as you need and hot glue to the back of each alphabet block.

Finished! Store blocks back to back in the pocket to minimise dammage that can be done with the hook side of the hook and loop tape material.

Difficulty Level = Difficult

It would be easy except for sewing the ribbons around the corners is a little tricky, but you will get better with practice! Sewing the plastic is very tricky if you don't follow the suggestions of using scotch tape and paper above.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Genesis 17 - God gave Abram and Sarai new names to show his covenant with them
• Spelling - learn to spell the names Abram, Abraham, Sarai, Sarah, and maybe some others
• 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 17

Devotional

I heard something about this Bible chapter once and it has stuck with me. I don't remember where I heard it so unfortunately I can't give credit where it is due. It may have been a sermon - I'm not sure. But their words definitely helped inspire this quiet book page.

Basically, they were saying that when God changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah, He was breathing into their names (and lives). God added the "H" sound from His name YHWH (often translated as Yahweh) to their names. The "ah" sound is the sound made when breathing, so it was as if God was speaking a miracle into their lives. And when God speaks, things happen!

God created the whole universe by speaking. He said "let there be light" and there was light. He made a man out of dust, and when He breathed into him, he became a soul. When God breathed into Abram and Sarai's lives, they had a baby in their old age, even though they both laughed at the idea.

Who But You (Abraham & Sarah)

I had heard this before Tahlia came along, and it definitely influenced how I spelled her name. It HAD to be spelled with an "ah" in it. Many Hebrew names contain an "ah" sound, and I suppose it is only natural since God interfered with the name of the first Hebrew, Abraham.

As I have discussed in more detail in my post Tahlia's Quiet Book - Front Cover and First Page, Tahlia means "dew from Heaven". If I had known that the root word for "dew" in Hebrew was "Tal" beforehand, I might have spelled her name Taliah instead. I have explained all this reasoning to her and occasionally she now likes to spell her name Tahliah! I guess the more "ah" sounds the better hahaha (pun intended)!

I hope this page will become a special one to your child as well, especially if their name is spelled with an "ah" or "ha" too. May God breathe into their life, and yours.

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Can you include your child's name on this page? 

Genesis 39 - The Temptation of Joseph Quiet Book Page

Genesis 39 demonstrates Joseph's integrity.

Memory Verse: "No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9

Materials needed to create The Temptation of Joseph quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used black
• sublimation printed Ancient Egypt dress-up dolls by Gabi's Paper Dolls (I only printed some of the female costumes and the dolls) - you can read how I had it done on my Sublimation Printing on Felt - Test post
• Veltex material (also called loop fabric or industrial webbing) in skin colour
• Velcro dot
• hot glue gun and glue
• Double sided iron-on interfacing scrap
• gold coloured material that won't fray - I used pleather but it was difficult to sew due to it's stretchiness (made easier by gluing first)
• clear craft glue if using pleather to make sewing easier - I used polyacetic acid & ethylene resin based glue
• decorative material
• two decorative buttons
• jump ring tassel
• gold ribbon
• gold elastic
• felt in gold/straw colour
• sewing thread to match
• my free template (Egyptian wardrobe only)

First cut out your paper dolls, clothes and wigs, cutting off the tabs as you go. Then use your male paper doll to cut out a section of Veltex and double sided iron-on interfacing to the same shape as his torso/legs.

This one is Tahlia's favourite dress

Arrange your pieces onto the background and iron on the Veltex to the background in the correct position using the interfacing. Sew around the edge to hold in place.

Potiphar's wife acting like a 'cougar'... - this one is my Grandma's fav dress

Hot glue the feet of the male doll to the background in place over the Veltex. Cut out his undergarment and finish gluing down his legs. Hot glue the Velcro dot to the back of his undergarment and place in position. Then line up the head and glue the remainder of his body down. Hot glue the woman into position.

To make the wardrobe, trace the pieces using the template onto the back of your pleather using pen - this will avoid puncturing the pleather unnecessarily. Cut them out. For the decorative panel, cut the size to the back piece and then trim down slightly so it doesn't show on the edge of the wardrobe when layered. Using the clear craft glue, glue the decorative panel to the gold/straw felt and allow it to dry. Then glue the gold edging on top and allow to dry. Sew the inner section around the decorative panel.

Glue two sections of gold ribbon on the back to form hinges for the front door of the wardrobe. Then glue some pleather to the back of your felt and allow to dry. Sew around the outside edge of your wardrobe door and then cut it out, making sure not to cut off the hinges.

I found I had to shorten the bottom of the wardrobe base by around 5 mm and overlap the door over the lower section of the wardrobe front slightly to fit it on my page. I didn't change the pattern as you may be using a different size page to me.

Glue the pleather wardrobe base to the background page and insert the hinges from the door underneath on one side and insert a short loop of gold elastic with a jump ring tassel threaded onto it on the other side where you want the latch to be. Allow to dry and sew in place, reinforcing the stitching over the hinges and elastic loop.

Glue the remaining pleather pieces to the gold/straw felt and sew along the top edge of the draw and lower section of wardrobe front. Cut the draw out and sew the lower edge in place over the lower section of the wardrobe front. Then sew the lower section of the wardrobe front down over the base on the bottom and sides to form a pocket. To complete the wardrobe, hand sew your buttons on.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Hard

It will be easier if you use something other than pleather that stretches! If you use pleather, be sure to use the glue.

"Hey Joseph, want to see my secret garden?"

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Genesis 38 - This page teaches about how we need to be prepared to suffer even when we do the right thing.
• Buttoning - Open and close the wardrobe
• Tucking - Tuck the wigs into the wardrobe draw
• Imaginative Play - dress up Potiphar's wife in all her outfits
• Velcro - rip off Joseph's undergarment (and re-position them)
• 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 39

Devotional

I admire the way that Jacob brought up Joseph. He was only around 17 when he was sold as a salve and yet His devotion to God is to be greatly admired. It must have been difficult to follow God in the situation he found himself in, and it would have been easy to go along with new cultures and customs and tell himself that God had forgotten him, so he may as well do likewise.

"Hey Joseph, do you want some 'trifle'..."

There are a few boundaries Joseph put in place to reduce the chances of finding himself in less than ideal circumstances. You can read about Joseph's 5 Steps to Avoid Temptation: Genesis 39:6-23 on the God Running blog. He had resolved to keep himself from "strange" women (those who did not follow God) as told in the story of Joseph and Asenath, translated by H. F. D. Sparks. He must have envisaged a celibate life, exiled in the land of Egypt. And not only exiled, but imprisoned. Nevertheless, as stated at the end of the blog post mentioned above, God preserved his life in that the punishment due Joseph was death. I noticed that Joseph was sold to Potiphar the Captain of the Guard (Genesis 37:36) - and the same titled person is in charge of the prison. It looks like Potiphar realises that Joseph is innocent because instead of putting Joseph to death, he saves face by putting him in his prison, but eventually puts him in charge of it just as he had done with his household (Genesis 40:3-4). Despite his circumstances, Joseph sticks to his values and God rewards him with freedom, power, and a beautiful convert, Asenath.

There are so many parallels between the story of Joseph and Jesus in the Bible, and I can only see more told through the love story of Joseph and Asenath.

Dreamcoat Part 8 - Potipher

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Genesis 50 - Joseph's Bones Quiet Book Page

Genesis 50 contains Joseph's dying words where he expresses his faith that God will make good on His promise to bring Israel out of Egypt. Joseph  asks his descendants to bring his bones with them when they leave.

Memory Verse: "So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, “When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.” Genesis 50:25.

Materials needed to create the Joseph's Bones quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used aqua
• gold coloured material that won't fray - I used pleather but it was difficult to sew due to it's stretchiness (made easier by gluing first)
• clear craft glue if using pleather to make sewing easier - I used polyacetic acid & ethylene resin based glue
• gold trim
• gold ribbon - melt the ends to prevent fraying
• sewing thread to best match the colours
• two buttons - I found some ivory ones with black etchings that somewhat resembled hieroglyphics
• felt in gold/straw (or near enough), black, skin colour, and white/glow-in-the-dark
• glow-in-the-dark paint if using white felt
• decorative material or ribbons etc for the coffins
• white ribbon for wrapping Joseph's mummy
• my free template

Trace the sarcophagus, coffin head and death mask pieces using the template onto the back of your pleather using pen - this will avoid puncturing the pleather unnecessarily. Cut them out. Glue the front and lid of the sarcophagus to your gold/straw felt, inserting small strips of ribbon to form hinges along the top edge of the lid and loops for your buttons along the bottom edge. Make sure you make big enough loops to fit the buttons through easily. You can use pins to keep the ribbons in place if you need to but make sure it is where you will be sewing so you don't have holes where they will be visible. Leave to dry overnight.

Sew the pleather to the felt on all sides for the lid, reinforcing where the ribbons are. Only sew the top edge for the front. Cut them out ensuring you do not cut off the ribbons. Next glue the sarcophagus back to the background page, inserting the other ends of the ribbon hinges from the lid. Sew down once dried overnight. Then sew the front on the bottom and sides to form a pocket. To complete the sarcophagus, hand sew your buttons on.

Cut scraps of pleather to fit underneath the face holes of the coffin heads and death masks. Glue the death mask pieces to the gold/straw felt, layering a scrap in position under the front piece with the face hole. Leave to dry overnight, then sew down around the face hole and edges. Cut out the pieces and sew together along the top curve.

Decorate your coffin bases as desired and glue and sew on the head pieces. Sew together by the sides excluding the head or from the center of the head at the top to the center of the base at the bottom to form pockets.

I sewed the black one the first way as there was no reinforcing on the base and the other way for the blue/green coffin as it had a double layer due to the material.

I also used glue under the decorative material on this one as it is very thin material and very prone to fraying. To ensure there would be no fraying I did a tight zig zag stitch around those edges too.

For the mummy I doubled the skin coloured felt twice, inserting a wide white ribbon between the under body piece before sewing the two doubled pieces on top of each other along one straight side edge.

To make the bones I drew around the template pieces onto my white felt with a black pen and painted the glow in the dark paint on.

Glow-in-the-dark felt would make this step easier - not that it was hard, but as it is unavailable in Australia and I could not find a seller online, this was my solution. To finish, simply cut out the bones and glue them in place on the inside of the body.

Done!

Difficulty Level = Intermediate.

If you are using pleather the glue is imperative. It will be a nightmare without it as you will get bunching and/or stretching out of shape. Also, DO NOT attempt to use tape instead of glue - you will end up with the dodgy sewing featured below and have to start over.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Genesis 50 - Joseph showed his faith by instructing his descendants to take his bones with them when God brought them out of Egypt!
• Imaginative Play - wrapping and burying an Egyptian mummy is pretty fun, not to mention golw-in-the-dark bones!
• Buttoning - open and close the sarcophagus lid
• Wrapping - wrap the ribbon around the body
• Sequencing & Spatial Awareness - order the pockets the wrapped body goes into - death mask, small coffin, large coffin, sarcophagus
• Science - could incorporate a lesson about UV light and glow in the dark phenomena
• 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 50

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If you know of any earlier patterns or other information, I'd love to hear from you!

Devotional

There are Jewish legends about Joseph's bones that tell stories about the Israelites forgetting to take them with them when they were about to leave Egypt. The stories were written well after the fact and there are variations in the details, but basically the story goes that the pillar of cloud/fire would not move when they were all assembled ready to leave. The great-granddaughter of Levi realised that they had forgotten Joseph's bones. She was the only person old enough to remember where his body was laid. Apparently the Egyptians had sunk his coffin into the Nile River in an attempt to bless it, so Moses had to perform a miracle to get it to float so it could be retrieved. Only then did the pillar move forward to lead them out of Egypt.

Whether the story has some truth to it I don't know, but I did find it rather interesting.

You can see the monument at Joseph's burial site in this video.

Our actions follow from what we believe to be true. Joseph gave instructions about his bones fully believing that God would bring the Israelites out of Egypt. God had told Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved in Egypt for four hundred years (Genesis 15). He also brought them to Egypt to keep them safe throughout famine. That which brought blessing also brought suffering. And you can see in what Joseph says on his deathbed that he believed both that Israel would suffer in Egypt even though throughout his lifetime it had been a blessing and that God would come to their aid and bring them out of Egypt. Indeed they did need God to come to their aid to secure release from Egyptian slavery. The story of Exodus shows what great lengths God went to keep His promise. He will surely keep the remainder of His promises and bring us out of this world of suffering and into His eternal life of blessing. May our actions demonstrate our faith to our children and peers like Joseph's did.

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Which is your favourite coffin?