Lesson Learned: Joshua and Caleb are sent at spies into the Promised Land.
Materials Needed: several pieces of fruit (can be real or toy food), basket
Bible Verse:
Numbers 13:1
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
Numbers 13:17-25
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21 So they went up and explored the land …… 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
Talking Points: God’s people had been wandering in the desert for a long time, and God was about to bring them home to the land He had promised them long ago. The people were scared to go into the land though because they didn’t know what it would be like. They sent 12 men, including Joshua and Caleb, to go see what they land was like. They saw that the land was good and full of fruit and other good things. However, there were also people already living there that they were afraid of. So, 10 of the spies said that they shouldn’t go into the land and that they should stay where they were. Joshua and Caleb insisted that they should go into the land, just like God said. They knew they could trust God and that God would keep His promises.
Questions: Have you ever been afraid to try something new? What was it? Why were you scared about trying it? Can you trust God when you are afraid?
Activity: Hide some fruit around the room and let the child go explore the room to try to find it. Gather the fruit in a basket.
Prayer: Praise the Name of the Lord! God, You always keep Your promises! You brought Your people into the Promised Land, full of fruit and other good things. Help us to trust You and remember that You always keep Your promises! Amen!