SOME FAMOUS JOURNEYS—A BIBLE-STUDY ILLUSTRATED BY
OBJECTS
Prepare seven symbols of seven important Bible journeys, those that teach lessons you wish to impress upon your children. You may not prefer the seven that I have chosen, but I give these as samples. Upon the upper part of your blackboard, or, if you have no blackboard, upon any strip of wood that you can suspend in your meeting-room, place seven hooks or nails from which your symbols may hang, and write under each, or place in connection with each, a placard containing a single word in plain letters, which will be the key-word of the journey.
For example, a large bean-pod—for that is what the husks really were—may stand for the sad journey of the prodigal son, the word over it being “love,” and the central teaching being love to parents and to God. A sickle will stand for the story of Ruth and Naomi, “unselfishness” being the key-word. The picture of a great fish, best a shark, will remind the children of Jonah’s self-willed journey, “obedience” being the key-word.
A stairway you may make from pasteboard, or a picture of the famous scene, will stand for Jacob’s journey to his uncle, and this journey is to teach the lesson of “trust.” The picture of a river and the word, “faith” will summarize the journey of Naaman the leper. A gilded box, as symbolizing her presents, with the word, “wisdom,” which she was seeking, represents the journey of the queen of Sheba to Solomon’s court. Finally, a bit of rough rock, with the word, “bravery,” will be a sufficient hint of Elijah’s journey through the wilderness, when his heart sank within him after his magnificent victory on Mount Carmel, and when he hid in the hollow of a rock and saw God pass before him.
By questions, get from the children the story of each journey, and at the end review in several different ways, asking such questions as, “What journey does the sickle stand for? the altar? the rock?” “What does the husk journey teach? the fish journey? the box journey?” “What journey teaches courage? what obedience? what faith?”