Sabbath School February 10

Nature Corner: World's Largest Beaver Dam

Beaver photo #1369813 by Gavin Spencer, courtesy of FreeImages.com

Beavers are God's furry architects.  They use fallen trees and mud to build dams in water ways.  A dam stops or slows the water flow so that a pond is created.  Then, the beaver can build its home, called a lodge, where it will be surrounded by water.  By surrounding themselves with water, beavers are protected from enemies that may try to hunt them.  But in making their dam, they have also created a wetland.  Wetlands are shallow water areas that are home to many other animals and plants.  

Beaver Dam photo #1493167 by Victor Maltby, courtesy of FreeImages.com

​Beaver dams are usually about 15 feet long and 5 feet wide or much bigger.  But, there is one dam that is so big, you can see it from space!  It's over 2,000 feet long.  It was discovered in 2007 on satellite images in North Alberta, Canada.  Beavers have worked on it for over 20 years!  You can visit it on Google Maps here below.  

​The North Alberta beaver dam reminds me of a big construction project in the Bible that took 20 years - Solomon's temple for God.  In 2 Chronicles 6:18, Solomon asked, "But, God, can you really live here on the earth with people? Not even the highest of heavens can hold you. And this Temple I built cannot hold you."  But, God did come in a thick cloud and fill His temple showing Solomon and all of Israel that God does want to live with us on earth.  

Bible Story: Building a House for God

Reference: 2 Chronicles 2-7

King Solomon decided to move forward with building the temple for God.  He wanted God to have a place on earth to call home that was a beautiful house.  Instead of coming up with his own plan of how to do it, he used the plans that God had given David his father. Solomon also built the temple on the spot that God had told David to build it, Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.

King David set aside a special place in Jerusalem for God's temple, called Mount Moriah. Can you point to the empty plot of land ready for building? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Building the temple was a big project.  Solomon needed lots of help.  So, he gathered together all the best workers from his country and from Tyre to help him build everything for the temple.  He also gathered all the best materials, like gold, cedar, bronze, and blue, purple, and red linen.  He pulled out all the precious things David his father had set aside for the temple.  Even with all that help, it took Solomon 20 years to build the temple for God.

King Solomon, David's son, had lots of help building God's temple. It took 20 years. Can you pound your fists like you are building? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

When the temple was finished, Solomon gathered all the priests, levites, and people of Israel together to have a special ceremony to present to God His new house.  Solomon kneeled in front of the people before God and prayed, "Father God, You are the only God in the Universe.  There is no one like You.  You have kept your promise to my father David that I would be king and that I would build Your house.  Here is Your house.  But You, God, are so great and big that not even heaven can hold You.  Even so, please, come live with us here in this house.  We want to obey and serve You as your people.  If we disobey and say we are sorry, please always accept us again.  Amen."  

When the temple was finished, Solomon prayed and asked God to come and live there. Can you open your arms wide to God like Solomon? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

​When Solomon finished praying, a wonderful thing happened.  God sent fire out of heaven to consume the sacrifices that Solomon had prepared on the altar.  God's glory filled the temple, so that it was covered in a thick cloud.  All of the people fell on their faces and said, "The Lord is good.  His love continues forever."  God was happy to live with His people, Israel.

Suddenly, God sent fire from heaven to the altar. Then, God appeared in a thick cloud and filled the temple. Can you clap your hands and blow? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Our prayer verse is Revelation 21:3, which says, "Now God’s home is with men. He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God."  Did you know that God wants to live with us?  He can live with us right now through the Holy Spirit.  After Jesus comes again and makes this earth new again, God the Father and Jesus will come and live with us on earth forever.  

Dear Father God, I invite your Holy Spirit to live inside of me.  I love You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen