LESSON 5Review
Teaching Material.—Genesis, chapters 1-4.
Pupil’s Work.—Answering questions and reading Genesis 4:20-22.
Read at one sitting the first four chapters of Genesis, and then think through the stories to get at the inner meaning which you have tried to bring to the children. The class review with the cards will have brought the more mechanical facts that have been learned sufficiently to mind. This review should emphasize the truths that the stories hold in solution, but should do this, not by dogmatizing concerning them, but by leading the children to make the statements for themselves. Because of the natural interest of children in the origin of things enough new matter is introduced in the Pupil’s Book for Work and Study to give the names of the persons to whom are ascribed the originating of tent life, music, and the making of instruments of metal. These things should not be touched upon in this lesson, however, but left as a surprise for the home work.
Recite to the children the lines from Joseph Addison’s hymn, “The Spacious Firmament on High” (quoted in the first lesson). Why is it that the sun, the moon and the stars make people think of the power of God? What else that you see every day reminds you of God’s handiwork? Can you tell the story which was given us in the Bible to teach us that God made all things? (Have the story told briefly and as nearly as possible in the Bible words.)
What is the name of the beautiful home which God gave to Adam?What did Adam have to do in the garden? Why could not the animals be his true companions and friends? What did God do for him? (Let the children describe what they think might have been a day in the life of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Mention the two trees and the command concerning them if the children do not do so, and see if without any reminder or suggestion from you, they tell that in the cool of the evening God walked with the pair in the garden.)
What a happy home that was in the Garden of Eden! Were Adam and Eve always happy there? How was it that one day instead of looking forward with joy to the time when God would come to talk with them, they tried to hide from him? Yes, they had not been strong enough or loving enough to obey, and having been disobedient, they were afraid to meet God. Was it right for them to try to hide? What should they have done?
We had a story of two brothers. What were their names? (Let the children tell the story briefly.) What was it that made Cain do such a dreadful thing? Could he have conquered the sin that crouched like a wild beast at the door of his heart, if he had tried?
I am going to ask you four questions, and I think you can answer each one of them in the words of a Bible verse. Who made the world? What did God give Adam to do in the Garden of Eden? Can anyone hide from God? Tell me two things that love does and one that love will never do.