Isaac and the Wells of Peace Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Dig, dig, dig – another well!”
Isaac was the son of Abraham. He lived in tents in the land of Gerar. His family and all his animals were with him.
Isaac planted seeds in that land. And in the same year, he got a hundred times more! The LORD blessed him. Isaac had many sheep and cows. He had many servants too. He grew richer and richer.
But the people of that land, the Philistines, were jealous of him. Jealous means you want what someone else has.
In a dry land, water is very important. People need water. Sheep and cows need water. So people dig wells. A well is a deep hole in the ground with water at the bottom.
Long ago, Isaac’s father Abraham had dug wells there. But the Philistines had filled them all up with dirt. No more water!
The king was named Abimelech. He said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Mightier means stronger. So Isaac moved away to the valley. There he dug his father’s wells again. He gave them the same names his father had given them. Dig, dig, dig – another well!
Then Isaac’s servants dug a new well in the valley. They found fresh, flowing water! Splash! But the herdsmen of Gerar came. “The water is ours,” they said. So Isaac named that well Esek. Esek means quarrel.
Isaac’s servants dug another well. And they argued over that one too! Isaac named it Sitnah. That means fighting. Dig, dig, dig – another well!
Isaac did not fight back. He left that place. And he dug yet another well. What do you think happened this time?
This time nobody argued! Isaac named it Rehoboth. That means lots of room. He said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” Fruitful means growing and having plenty. Can you stretch out your arms to show lots of room? Dig, dig, dig – another well!
Let’s count Isaac’s new wells on our fingers: Esek – one. Sitnah – two. Rehoboth – three!
Then Isaac went up to Beersheba. That same night the LORD came to him. God said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you.”
Isaac built an altar there. An altar is a pile of stones for worshiping God. He called on the LORD’s name. He set up his tent. And his servants began to dig a well.
Then King Abimelech came to visit. His friend and the captain of his army came too. Isaac said, “Why have you come to me? You sent me away from you.”
They said, “We saw plainly that the LORD was with you.” Plainly means very clearly. They wanted to make a promise of peace. So Isaac made them a feast. They ate and drank together. In the morning they made their promise. And they went home in peace.
That same day, Isaac’s servants came with good news. “We have found water!” they said. Dig, dig, dig – another well!
Isaac named the well Shibah. The town there is called Beersheba to this day. Beersheba means “well of the promise.”
Isaac chose peace. And the LORD was with him and made room for him. Dig, dig, dig – another well!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Isaac felt when the herdsmen took his well again?
- What do you think it was like to find fresh water in a dry land?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 3 wells Isaac named: Esek, Sitnah and Rehoboth.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you” — Genesis 26:24 (Don’t be afraid → shake your head gently; I am with you → hug yourself; and will bless you → hold your hands open)
Dear God, thank you that you are with me and bless me. Help me to choose peace, like Isaac. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Choose peace and trust God
Memory verse: “Don't be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you.” — Genesis 26:24 · WEB
The Bible story
When jealous neighbors fill his wells with dirt, gentle Isaac keeps digging and choosing peace, and God makes room for everyone and turns enemies into friends.
Talk about it
- Why did Isaac think about moving away at the start of the story? — There was very little food
- What did God tell Isaac to do? — Stay in the land
- When Isaac planted seeds, how much did God make his fields grow? — A hundred times more
- How did the Philistines feel about everything Isaac had? — Jealous
- What did the Philistines do to Isaac's father's old wells? — Filled them with dirt
- When the shepherds argued over the first new well, what did Isaac do? — Let them have it and moved on
Where is Jesus in this story?
Isaac dug wells to give thirsty people fresh, living water, and he brought peace instead of fighting. One day Jesus would come and call Himself the Living Water, giving a drink for our hearts that never runs dry. Jesus is also the Prince of Peace, who makes peace between us and God. Just as Isaac turned quarrels into friendship, Jesus turns enemies into family and fills us with a peace that lasts for ever.
What God wants to tell us
When others were unkind to Isaac, he did not shout or fight back. He kept trusting God and chose to be a peacemaker, even when it was hard and unfair. And God took wonderful care of him, giving him room to grow and turning the people who pushed him away into friends. God shows us that we do not always need to fight to make things right. When we stay gentle and trust Him, He makes a way for us and fills our lives with peace.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for taking such good care of Isaac, and for taking care of me too. Help me to be a peacemaker, even when others are unkind. When I feel like arguing, please fill my heart with Your gentle peace. Thank You that You are always with me. Amen.
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