Jacob Wrestles with God (Preschool Adaptation)

Get your ice cubes ready! Put them in a bowl. Get paper towels too. Hide the hair dryer until later.

Do you know what wrestling is? Wrestling is when two people try to be stronger than each other. Let's all make strong faces! Show me your muscles!

Make wrestler faces and flex your muscles with the children.

In the Bible, a man named Jacob wrestled all night long! He wrestled with God's angel. Jacob was very tired, but he kept trying. When morning came, Jacob had a new name and his leg hurt a little bit.

Sometimes we want to do things our way instead of God's way. God knows what's best for us. Do you always listen to Mommy and Daddy? Sometimes it's hard to obey, isn't it?

Give each child a paper towel. Now you get to choose! You can try to melt your ice cube three ways: blow on it with this straw, put salt on it, or hold it in your hands. What do you want to try?

Let the children pick their method and give them ice cubes. Give them one minute while you secretly use the hair dryer on your ice cube.

Time's up! Let's see what happened to our ice cubes!

Look! My ice cube melted fast! Why do you think mine melted so quickly? I had something more powerful - this hair dryer! It made hot air that melted my ice cube super fast.

God has the most power of anyone! When we listen to God instead of doing things our way, amazing things can happen. God loves us and knows what's best.

Dear God, You are so powerful! Help us listen to You. Help us obey Mommy and Daddy too. We love You, God. Amen!