CE: We can trust that His story is true
📜 The Toledoth
The Hidden Signatures and God’s Story of Jesus
🧱 Did You Know Genesis Was Written on Clay?
A long time ago, people didn’t have notebooks or computers.
They wrote on clay tablets—like hard dirt that got baked in the sun!
There’s a cool idea called the Wiseman Hypothesis. It says:
- The book of Genesis was first written on clay tablets.
- Each person who saw something important—like Adam, Noah, or Abraham—wrote it down.
- At the end of each tablet, they wrote:
“These are the generations of…” (In Hebrew, that’s Toledoth — תולדות)
🧑🏫 Then Came Moses
Moses didn’t make up Genesis.
He copied the tablets just like God told him to.
He didn’t change them—he saved them forever by writing them down on papyrus scrolls.
So when you read Genesis, you’re reading real eyewitness records!
✝️ But There’s More...
Even though the people were writing history, God was writing a secret message at the same time!
Just like:
- David wrote songs (Psalms) that talked about Jesus (Psalm 22)
- The prophets wrote about Israel but also about Jesus (Isaiah 53)
God made sure every name, event, and word was like a puzzle piece that fits into Jesus’ story.
📖 What’s a Toledoth?
Toledoth means:
“This is story was written by..."
It’s like when you sign your name at the bottom of a letter.
The Toledoth told who wrote the tablet and what part of the story it was.
Each Toledoth is a marker that helps us find new sections—and find clues about Jesus.
🔍 What If We Never Find the Tablets?
Some people say:
“If this is true, where are the clay tablets?”
But here’s what we know:
- Most old clay tablets break or disappear.
- The important thing is that God saved the message, not the mud!
The Bible is like a treasure chest—and God hid Jesus in it from the very beginning!
💬 Final Thought
The Toledoth are like secret signatures from people who saw God at work.
Moses didn’t make up Genesis.
He passed along God’s message—just like the prophets did.
And guess who the whole message is about?
Jesus!
📝 Activity Page: Who Wrote What?
1. 🖋️ Match the Person to Their Tablet
| Person | What They Might Have Written |
|---|---|
| Adam | A. “These are the generations of Shem…” |
| Noah | B. “These are the generations of Noah…” |
| Shem | C. “These are the generations of Adam…” |
✏️ Why do you think they signed their part of the story?
2. 📜 What’s a Toledoth?
Circle the best answer:
A. A type of candy
B. A clay tablet
C. A signature
D. A talking goat
✏️ How do you say “Toledoth” in Hebrew?
(write it like this: תולדות)
3. ✅ True or Not True?
Circle T or N
- Moses made up Genesis all by himself T / N
- God guided the writers to hide messages about Jesus T / N
- “Toledoth” means “the generations of…” T / N
- The Bible started as an oral bedtime story T / N
4. ✝️ Clues to Jesus
Draw a treasure map!
- Start with Adam’s tablet
- Add Noah’s ark
- End with a cross
Write this on the map:
“From the beginning, it was always about Jesus.”
5. 🙏 Prayer Time
“Dear God, thank You for saving the real stories and showing us Jesus from the very beginning…”
(Draw or write your prayer)
🖍️ Coloring Page Idea
Title: “The Toledoth: God’s Family Record”
Illustration Includes:
- Ancient clay tablets with Hebrew writing: תולדות
- A scroll unrolling with a cross glowing in the center
- Moses writing on papyrus while people bring clay tablets
- A trail of “Toledoth” stones leading to a hill with a cross
- A banner that says: “It was always about Jesus!”
