Children of Israel

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Bible Blocks:Children of Israel

Many times the scriptures tell us "the Children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord;" (Judges 4:1; 6:1; 13:1). Over and over, God delivers His people into the hands of their enemies. Again and yet again, the people cry out to God, promising to repent and turn away from worshiping idols and other evil deeds. Each time, God raises up a leader to gather the people and lead them back to the Promised Land and the path of righteousness. Each time, the people are obedient for a short time, only to fall back into sin.

Sometimes, even the judge appointed by God fails to seek God's way, choosing to do evil. Read about Samson and Delilah in Judges 16. It's easy to feel superior to Samson: how can he be so gullible? Why can't he see what Delilah is doing? Samson is so enamoured with Delilah, he'll do anything to gain her love; ruled by his emotions, he places no real value on God's gift, with disastrous results. Are we any different from Samson and the other Children of Israel who persist in doing wrong? Are we looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places - not trusting our loving Father to provide all we need? Are we adopting the "if it feels good, do it" sexual morality of the world around us; the "I'm worth it" consumerism; the "me first" attitude in our workplace? Are we childishly following our appetites; easily led astray by the suggestion that "everyone else is doing it?"

As individuals, we will suffer the emptiness that comes from relying on worldly things for lasting value. As a people, when God's children fail to hold their leaders to those standards (and uphold those leaders in prayer), we see too many modern "Samsons" falling victim to their own "Delilahs."

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 stands in sharp contrast to those attitudes as Paul reminds us to put away childish things and seek the perfect love that is a gift of God.

Step #1 Plan:

Choose your prettiest large-scale print for the A square to represent the Promised Land. The C and D patches might represent the Children of Israel as they should have been: the twelve tribes in their assigned places. B patches may represent the countries where God's people are sent into exile as a consequence of their sins.

In the traditional version of this block, the section that is shown here as CDC is either a checked fabric, or a pieced checkerboard alternating light and dark, and representing the many Israelites. If you have an appropriate striped or check fabric, you can cut four strips the same size as the B if you prefer. Expert quilters may want to piece 1"
[1/2"--yikes!] squares into a B patch sized checkerboard for this piece.

If you use the same fabric for B and D and another fabric for both C and E, you'll find you have a "woven effect" that might make an interesting variation [see the drawing to the right above]: take time to play with fabric placement for your own unique creation.

The cutting directions in the chart below refer to the fabrics by the letters in the blank drawings. 12" block instructions are in bold; 6" blocks are in italic

Step #2 Cut:

FABRIC
# TO CUT
12" 6"

focus A
1 square
4 3/4" 2 5/8"

medium/dark B
1 strip
19 1/2" x 1 1/4" 12"x 1 5/8"

medium/dark C
2 strips
19 1/2" x 1 1/4" 12"x 7/8"

light D
1strip
19 1/2" x 1 1/4" 12"x 7/8"

medium E
4 squares
2 5/8" 1 1/2"

background F
2 squares
4 1/4" 2 3/4"

background G
2 squares
4" 2 3/8"

Step #3 Sew striped units

Sew dark C strips to either side of the light D strip. Press seams toward the C strips. (Or use striped or checked fabric or make a pieced checkerboard- see Step One.)
Add B strips, press seams toward the C strips. Cross cut at 4 3/4" [ 2 5/8"] intervals, aligning a gridline of your ruler with one of the seamlines. You should have four units. Set two of the units aside.

Step #4 Sew centre unit

Sew the A square between the two remaining units; press seams toward the C strips.
Cut the G squares in half on one diagonal to make a total of 4 triangles.
Matching centres, sew the long side of G triangles to the ends of the A/C/B unit: be careful not to stretch the bias edge.

Step #5 Sew corner units

Cut the F squares in half on both diagonals to yield 8 triangles.Sew one short side of an F triangle to the side of a E square. Press seams toward the triangles. Make four units.
Sew remaining F triangles to the E squares to match the diagram: triangles will overlap 1/4" at the point of the square.
Sew the remaining striped units between two of the triangle units: press seams toward the triangles.
Add the remaining G triangles to the ends of the corner units.

Step #6 Assemble the block

This block is assembled on the diagonal. Match and butt the seams of the striped unit with the seams of the E squares: you may find this easier to sew if you place pins just beside the seams.
Carefully guiding the seam allowances to lie flat, sew the triangular units from Step 5 to either side of the centre unit.
Press and measure your completed large block: the triangles are sized a tiny bit large to allow trimming. After trimming, the block should be 12 1/2" [6 1/2"] square.

Hint: if you find (as I did) that the centre patch doesn't quite lie flat, try spraying your finished block lightly with water; it will probably behave quite nicely once it dries. (Don't worry if it's still a little puffy - experienced quilters know that those little irregularities will all "quilt out" as you finish.)

For individual personal use only: any other use requires express written consent from the author.

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If you have comments or questions about these instructions, drop me a line: Kim Graham

FABRIC		# TO CUT	12"	6"
focus	A	1 square	4 3/4"	2 5/8"
medium/dark	B	1 strip	19 1/2" x 1 1/4"	12"x 1 5/8"
medium/dark	C	2 strips	19 1/2" x 1 1/4"	12"x 7/8"
light	D	1strip	19 1/2" x 1 1/4"	12"x 7/8"
medium	E	4 squares	2 5/8"	1 1/2"
background	F	2 squares	4 1/4"	2 3/4"
background	G	2 squares	4"	2 3/8"