Lesson Learned:  God made festivals and holidays to remember Him.


Materials Needed:  sticks


Bible Verse:
Leviticus 23:34-44


 39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”
 44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the LORD.


Nehemiah 8:17
17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.


Talking Points:  God did many great things for the Israelites when they were following Moses.  God led the people out of Egypt and kept them safe from Pharaoh, He parted the Red Sea, and He sent food from the heavens while they wandered in the desert.  He had done many great things for them, just like He has done for us.  It is very easy to forget all the great things God has done and all the blessings He has given us.  God wants us to remember!  He wanted the Israelites to remember. So God gave them some special days to help them remember.  These days were called the Feast of the Tabernacles.  For 7 days, the people would build tents/booths out of shrubbery and sticks and spend time remembering and rejoicing in all the great things God had done.  Remember God’s blessings always!


Questions:  We are about to celebrate a holiday that helps us remember what we are thankful for: do you know what this holiday is called? What does your family do on Thanksgiving?  Do you eat any special foods? What are you thankful for today? 


Activity:  Spend sometime with the child outside gathering some sticks that have fallen to the ground.  When you get back inside, build a tent or teepee out of the sticks as a miniature tabernacle.


Prayer:  Dear God, You are powerful and mighty and do so many amazing things. Thank You for giving us the Bible so we can remember these miracles and blessings.  Keep Your blessings in our hearts and in our minds always. Amen!

Leave a Reply