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Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 37 “Joshua’s Leadership in the Promised Land”

Featured Passage: Joshua 2-6


After Moses’ death, God selected Joshua to lead the children of Israel into their new homeland. But it would not be easy! The Canaanites lived there, and would not leave willingly, even though God had promised this land to the Israelites hundreds of years earlier. Joshua knew that God would fight for Israel, if necessary, to fulfill His promise. In Egypt God brought Pharaoh to his knees with plagues, forcing Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. What miracles would God perform to help His people this time? How would He bring the Israelites into a land flowing with milk and honey? How would God help Israel now? 

Discuss:

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  • Israel fought many battles to go into the promised land, but who was the one who made sure they won against their enemies?
  • How did Joshua show loyalty to God? 
  • What were some of the miracles that God performed for the Israelites as they came into the land of Canaan?
  • Joshua set a good example as Israel’s leader. What are some things we can do to set a good example for others?

Memory Challenge: 

Joshua 6:27 

So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.




Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 36 “Joshua Becomes Israel’s Leader”

Featured Passage: Deuteronomy 31 – Joshua 1

The children of Israel refused to go up to the Promised Land as God had told them. Because of their disobedience, God caused Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. All the adults of that generation died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb. After a long and productive life, it was time for Moses to die. God selected Joshua to be Israel’s next leader and gave him some very important instructions. 

Discuss:

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  • Why did God allow Joshua and Caleb to survive the 40 years in the wilderness?
  • Joshua had served Moses for more than 40 years, before assuming his role as the new leader of Israel. What are you learning today that will help you be a better leader in the future?
  • God always has a work for His people to do. Joshua’s mission was to lead the children of Israel into Israel, with God’s guidance. What is our mission today? 
  • God inspired Moses to challenge Joshua to be strong and courageous. In what ways do you show strength and courage?

Memory Challenge: 

Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.



Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 35 “Joshua’s Faithfulness in the Wilderness”

Featured Passage: Numbers 13-14

Israel tested God over and over again while in the wilderness. They were constantly complaining and often refused to obey God. However, Joshua had a different attitude. When the Israelites reached the entrance to the promised land Moses selected one man from each tribe to secretly go into Canaan and spy out the land. Joshua was selected from the tribe of Ephraim. The twelve men were to report back on what they saw. Was the land truly flowing with milk and honey? Were there big walls around the cities? The Israelites waited expectantly to hear what the spies would say. 

Discuss:

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  • Why was Joshua selected to be one of the spies? 
  • Did the spies find a truly rich land just as God had said? How did they describe it?
  • Why did the spies demand that Moses take them back to Egypt?
  • Of the twelve men sent to spy out the land of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report. Why was their report different from the other men?
  • Joshua and Caleb were faithful to God even when everyone else wanted to give up. How did God bless them for trusting in Him? 
  •  God always blesses and rewards those who are faithful to Him. How can we show faithfulness to God?

Memory Challenge:

Numbers 14:6–7

But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.”



Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 34 “Joshua in Training”

Featured Passages: Exodus 17, 24, 32

In the tribe of Ephraim, there was a man named Nun who had a son named Hoshea, whom Moses called Joshua (Numbers 13:16). Joshua was a slave in Egypt when God sent Moses to deliver Israel from bondage. Joshua and his family left Egypt with more than two million other Israelites as Moses led them toward the Promised Land. Moses saw potential in Joshua to be a good leader, and God began to use Joshua in His service. What did the future hold for this young man? In the book of Exodus we begin to uncover the beginning of Joshua’s adventures. 

Discuss:

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  • Joshua went from being a slave to commanding the armies of Israel in a very short period of time. How does having a relationship with God help us to be successful in our lives?
  • Joshua was with the elders when they ate before God. He was with Moses on the mountain for forty days when Moses received the Ten Commandments. What lessons do you think Joshua was learning from these opportunities?
  • Joshua served Moses, but he also developed a personal relationship with God. What can you do to help you be closer to God? 
  • How do you think Joshua’s service to Moses was preparing him to be a good leader?

Memory Challenge: 

Exodus 24:13

“So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.”



Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 33 “Joseph Saves Israel”

Featured Passage: Genesis 37-50

 Jacob had twelve sons, but Joseph was his favorite. Seeing the special treatment he received from his father, Joseph’s older brothers became very jealous of him. They were also annoyed that Joseph would tell their father what they were doing, and would bother them by talking about his crazy dreams. One day, when they saw him coming, they decided to get rid of him for good and sold him to some traders as a slave. They thought they would never have to see or hear from him again. How wrong they were! Joseph ended up being taken down to Egypt and sold to an officer of Pharaoh named Potiphar. This was only the beginning of Joseph’s adventures, and as time went by, God began to work out his special purpose for Joseph. Little did his brothers know that Joseph’s dreams were about to be fulfilled in a way they would never have imagined. 

Discuss:

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  • God was with Joseph throughout his trials. How do you think Joseph was able to stay close to God even when things got tough?
  • What was the important position that Joseph had in Egypt under Pharaoh?
  • God used Joseph to save many people in the area from starvation, including the Israelites and the Egyptians. What was Joseph’s plan to make sure that the people didn’t go hungry during the seven years of famine?
  • Jacob blessed each of his sons near the end of his life. Joseph, who was the firstborn son of Rachel, was given a double portion and Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) were given an inheritance with Israel’s sons.

Memory Challenge: 

Genesis 45:8

“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”



Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 32 “Jacob Returns with a Family”

Featured Passage: Genesis 28-35 

On the way to Haran, God spoke to Jacob in a dream. God promised to be with him and to bring him safely back to Canaan. When Jacob arrived at his uncle Laban’s home he fell in love with Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter. Jacob bargained with Laban to work for seven years in return for Rachel as his wife. When the time came, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah, his older daughter, to Jacob for his wife instead of Rachel!    Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel. Jacob had many more adventures, but eventually he and his family made it back to the land of Canaan just as God had promised. He had twelve sons, who became the foundation for the nation of Israel.

Discuss:

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  • Laban tricked Jacob just as Jacob had tricked Esau. What lessons did Jacob learned from the way Laban treated him?
  • God was with Jacob and protected him from Laban and Esau. What can we learn from how God took care of Jacob?
  • God changed Jacob’s name from “Supplanter” to Israel which means “Overcomer with God”. Why did God change Jacob’s name?
  • Notice how Jacob received the promises God made to Abraham. His large family was important in fulfilling the promise that Abraham would have many descendants.

Memory Challenge: 

The Sons of Jacob –  
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 31 “Jacob, and Esau, and the Promises”

Featured Passage: Genesis 25-27

Jacob and Esau were twins, but never were two people more different. Esau was hairy, but Jacob had smooth skin. Esau was a skillful hunter, but Jacob was a mild-natured shepherd. Esau was the older of the two, but God chose Jacob to inherit the promises. One day Jacob was cooking lentil stew when Esau came in from the fields. He had been hunting and was very hungry. Jacob, whose name means “supplanter” (schemer), offered to give Esau some stew in exchange his rights as the firstborn. Esau agreed because he did not value his birthright. The day came when it was time for Isaac to pass the blessings on to his sons. He wanted to give the greater blessing to Esau. Rebekah and Jacob decided to try to trick Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing. For Jacob to receive the birthright and the blessing would impact the rest of history. 

Discuss:

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  • The twins Jacob and Esau were very different from each other in many ways. They became the fathers of distinct nations.
  • What attitude did Esau display when he sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew? Did Esau appreciate his birthright? Talk about God’s laws concerning inheritance and the responsibilities and blessings of being firstborn in the family.
  • What were some of the Commandments that were broken when Jacob and his mother tricked Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing?
  • It was God’s intent for Jacob to receive the promises. However, Jacob did not wait for God to give the promises to him. He tried to take the matter into his own hands instead of relying on God. 

Memory Challenge

Genesis 27:29

“Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 30 “Isaac and Rebekah”

Featured Passage: Genesis 21-25

When Abraham was 100 years old, God fulfilled His promise and gave him a son. Amazingly, Sarah was 90 years old! Abraham and Sarah watched and guided Isaac as he grew. As God worked with Abraham, Isaac saw first-hand his father’s example of faithfulness and obedience. Once Isaac was grown, God brought him a beautiful wife from among his relatives. Her name was Rebekah. God blessed Isaac and Rebekah with a family of their own as the blessings God promised to Abraham were passed to the next generation. 

Discuss:

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  • Isaac’s birth was the fulfillment of a promise God made to Abraham and that it was a miracle.
  • Isaac was also being tested when Abraham was to offer him as a sacrifice. Isaac had to be obedient to his father and to trust God as well. 
  • Rebekah chose to leave her home to go to a land she did not know to marry a man she had never met. How does this show that she was a brave woman?
  • How must have Isaac felt when he saw Rebekah for the first time?Isaac inherited the promises God made to Abraham.God chose to work with Abraham’s family. Why do you think He chose Abraham’s family?

Memory Challenge: 

Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 29 “Israel Prepares to Meet God”

Read Together: God sent Moses with only a rod in his hand to deliver Israel from Egypt, the most powerful nation on the earth at that time. With miracle after miracle, God devastated the land of Egypt. The Israelites were so excited to finally leave Egypt! God had told Moses that when they left Egypt, he was to bring the children of Israel to Mt. Sinai. So the children of Israel began to walk to the mountain of God. God told Moses to instruct the people to bathe and wash their clothes in preparation to meet Him! What an eventful meeting that would be!

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Read Together:  Exodus 14 – 19:1-14

Discuss:

  • Israel faced many problems on the way to Mount Sinai. For example, they ran out of water to drink in the desert and God had to provide for them.  The Israelites were tired and sometimes hungry. Ask your child how they might feel if they were an Israelite. Israel responded by complaining about God and Moses which did not please God. Why should we be careful not to complain?
  • Why do you think God instructed the Israelites to bathe and wash their clothes before meeting Him?

Review Memorization:

Exodus 24:3  “So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the LORD has said we will do.’”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 28 “Abraham—The Father of the Faithful”

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Read Together:  Time after time God intervened to protect and care for Abraham and Sarah. They knew that they could completely trust God. But then God asked a very strange thing of Abraham. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. God had never asked anything like this before of anybody! Even though it must have been very difficult and confusing for Abraham, he knew that he must obey God. Abraham set out early the next morning to do what God said. Isaac allowed himself to be tied up, and Abraham placed his son on the altar. Just as he was preparing to sacrifice his son, an angel from God stopped him. At that moment, God knew that Abraham would obey and trust him above all, even with the life of his own son, Isaac. Since that time, God has never asked such a great sacrifice of any man. As the story ends, God miraculously provides a different sacrifice, and it was waiting right behind him!

When we read about the life Abraham, it’s no wonder that he is known as the “father of the faithful”.

Read Together:   Genesis 22:1–18; Romans 4:16; James 2:23.

Discuss:

  • Share with your child some of the dangerous situations from which God delivered Abraham. Talk about the time when Abraham rescued Lot and all the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. These things helped to deepen Abraham’s faith in God.
  • Explain to your child that the phrase “practice makes perfect” applies to our faith as well.  When we depend on God for the little things, we develop more faith to trust Him for the bigger things.
  • Help your child to understand that we can be God’s friend by obeying Him. Every Christian who puts their faith in God is following the example of Abraham. This is why Abraham is called the “father of the faithful.”

Review Memorization:

Genesis 22:18  “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”