Children’s Bible Program- Level 2: Lessons 38-41 Packet: Israel in the Wilderness
Includes the lessons:
- Lesson 38 “Between the Army and the Sea”
- Lesson 39 “Bitter Water Made Sweet”
- Lesson 40 “What Is It?”
- Lesson 41 “Water From the Rock”
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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 42 “Israel Prepares to Meet God”
Featured Passage: Exodus 19
When Moses and the children of Israel left Egypt, they began their journey toward Mt. Sinai just as God had instructed (Exodus 3:12). They arrived at Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God, a few weeks after departing Egypt. God announced to Moses that He would speak to the Israelites from a thick cloud around the mountain. But they were required to prepare themselves. What did the Israelites need to do to prepare to meet God? Would they finally see the God who delivered them from the most powerful nation on the earth?
Discuss:
- God proposed a covenant with Israel. What does it mean to be in a covenant?
- There was a lot of excitement in the camp with the anticipation of meeting the Creator. How would we feel if we had the opportunity to meet God like the Israelites did?
- Why did the Israelites have to clean-up before meeting God? Why do we wear our best clothes to Sabbath services?
- In what ways was God’s presence announced to Israel? How did God get the attention of the people?
- What were some of the conditions of God’s covenant with Israel?
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 43 “God Speaks to Israel”
Featured Passage: Exodus 20
God wanted to enter into a special relationship with Israel, but they had to agree. He planned to speak the terms of the agreement to Israel directly. The most magnificent fireworks display could not compare to what the people saw, and the loudest thunder storm would diminish in comparison to what they heard that day. Could the people, sinful as they were, stand before the Creator and live? What was so important that God wanted to say it Himself?
Discuss:
- The sights and sounds were truly amazing that day. What did the people hear? What did they see? What things do you think they felt?
- The people heard God’s voice, but they did not actually see God. Whose was the voice which they heard?
- Why are each of the commandments important? How do you think the world would be different if everyone kept these ten laws?
- The people were very afraid while God was speaking, even Moses was shaking in his sandals (Hebrews 12:18–21). How do you think we would feel if we were there?
- In the end, the people did not want God to speak with them anymore.
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 20:20
And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 44 “The Golden Calf”
Featured Passage: Exodus 24 & 32
Moses went to the top of the mountain where God gave him detailed instructions on God’s law and constructing the tabernacle. God also wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone and gave them to him. While Moses was away for 40 days, the people began to wonder when he would return. Not knowing what had happened to Moses, the people took matters into their own hands.
Discuss:
- The people had made a covenant with God saying they would do everything that God told them to do. Did they really keep their word?
- What was Aaron’s role in creating the idol? Why did Aaron participate in the worship of an idol? Did God hold Aaron accountable for his actions (Exodus 32:21–25; Deuteronomy 9:20)?
- What was Moses’ reaction to Israel’s sin? Was it wrong for Moses to be angry? What are the limitations God puts on human anger (Ephesians 4:26)?
- There are always consequences for sin. What are some of the consequences for Israel’s worship of the golden calf?
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 45 “Joshua and the Spies”
Featured Passage: Numbers 13-14
A man named Hosea, who Moses called Joshua, was from the tribe of Ephraim. Joshua was already used by God in the wilderness as an assistant to Moses at Mount Sinai and as a leader of troops in a victorious battle against the Amalekites! Now the Israelites were coming close to the entrance to the land God promised them and it was time for Joshua to help out again – this time as a spy! Joshua and eleven other spies were sent into the land to see what the land was like and what kind of people lived there. When they returned, the group brought with them delicious fruit, exciting news of the land, and a disagreement that would impact the lives of every person in Israel.
Discuss:
- The Amalekites attacked Israel near the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land (Exodus 17:8-16). What job did Moses give Joshua in Israel’s first battle?
- How did Joshua assist Moses at Mount Sinai? (Exodus 24; 32)
- Why was Joshua chosen as one of the spies?
- When the spies came back what did they say about the land and the people they saw? What did the spies recommend? What did Joshua and Caleb recommend? How difficult do you think it was for them to stand up against the crowd?
- What was Israel’s punishment for refusing to go into the promised land?
Memory Challenge:
Numbers 14:8-9
“If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
Children’s Bible Program- Level 2: Lessons 42-45 Packet: Ten Commandments
Includes the lessons:
- Lesson 42 “Israel Prepares to Meet God”
- Lesson 43 “God Speaks to Israel”
- Lesson 44 “The Golden Calf”
- Lesson 45 “Joshua and the Spies”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 46 “Moses’ Mistake”
Featured Passage: Numbers 20
The Israelites rebelled against God when they were supposed to go into the land God promised them, so as a punishment God made them wander in the desert for forty years. They were now getting close to the end of that time, but it seemed the people had not changed very much – they still complained and complained. One day, the congregation was made to camp in a place where there was no water. Instead of asking God for help, they were angry and complained to Moses and Aaron. God told Moses to gather the people together to witness a special miracle that God was going to perform to bring water from a rock. God had done this miracle before, only this time He wanted Moses to speak to the rock instead of hitting it with his staff as he had before. Moses was so angry with the people for all their complaining that he made a hasty mistake – a mistake which would change the course of his life.
Discuss:
- Why do you think the people were the people complaining about not having water? What would it be like to be in the desert without water?
- Why do you suppose the people didn’t ask God for help when they were in trouble? Why is it important that we ask God to help us when we are in trouble?
- What were God’s instructions to Moses and Aaron? What did Moses and Aaron actually do?
- Why was God so angry with Moses? Have a look at Numbers 20:10. Was Moses giving God the credit for causing the miracle? What should have Moses said?
- What was Moses’ punishment for his mistake? What lessons can we learn from this story?
Memory Challenge:
Numbers 20:12
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 47 “Joshua: The Courage to Lead”
Featured Passage: Deuteronomy 31-34, Joshua 1
The Children of Israel had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years and it was finally time to go into the land God promised them. Moses was now one hundred and twenty years old! He had lived a long and very exciting life, but God would not allow him to enter the Promised Land. It was time for Moses to sleep and await the resurrection. God gave Joshua the charge to lead Israel, but before Joshua could take on his new role, God had a few things to say to him.
Discuss:
- God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). What did God tell Moses to do to ensure an orderly transition of leadership? (Numbers 27 gives some more details about this as well)
- What jobs did Joshua have over the forty-year period which trained him for leading Israel?
- What was one of the last things Moses told Joshua before he died?
- What is courage? Does being courageous mean we are never afraid? What does it mean to be strong and courageous? From where do we ultimately get our strength?
Memory Challenge:
Deuteronomy 31:7
Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 48 “Rahab”
Featured Passage: Joshua 2
Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites into the land God promised them. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task, and there would be obstacles along the way. There were two big obstacles right from the beginning—the Jordan River and the great, walled city of Jericho. In order to cross over the river and take the city, Joshua would need a plan. So, he selected two men to be spies to go look around the city and bring important information about it back to him. The spies went into the city and found a place to stay in the house of a woman named Rahab. Unfortunately, someone had seen the spies and suspected what they were up to. The two men were in great danger, and Rahab had a risky decision to make.
Discuss:
- Why did Joshua send spies into the city of Jericho? Why was it important that they go secretly?
- What did Rahab tell the men who came to capture the two spies?
- Where did Rahab hide the spies? Why was it dangerous for her to do this?
- Why did Rahab want to help Joshua’s spies? What was her request to them?
- It would have taken Rahab a lot of courage to do what she did in hiding the spies and requesting that they allow her and her family to be unharmed in the upcoming battle. What does it mean to have courage? As Christians, how can we gain courage?
Memory Challenge:
Joshua 2:11
“And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 49 “Israel Crosses the Jordan”
Featured Passage: Joshua 3-4
The spies that Joshua sent returned safely from Jericho with important information that Joshua needed to attack the city. However, before the Israelites could capture the city they had to make it past the first big obstacle—the Jordan River. The river flowed from the north in Galilee to the Dead Sea and at the time was a broad, wide river, filling its banks to the brim. How was Joshua supposed to get all the people safely across to the other side? Joshua trusted that God had a plan. The Ark of the Covenant would be carried down to the river and the people were to follow after it. But, how would they get across? God was about to perform another miracle before His people, this time intending to remind the people that Joshua had been chosen as Israel’s leader after Moses.
Discuss:
- The Israelites had been camping for three days near the Jordan River. How were the people supposed to know that it was time for them to move?
- What is the Ark of the Covenant? What did it represent? Why do you think God wanted the Ark to lead the people?
- What miracle did God perform to help the people cross the Jordan River? How was it similar to or different from the crossing of the Red Sea?
- Why did the twelve tribes set up memorial stones after crossing the river? Where did the stones come from? What did they mean?
Memory Challenge:
Joshua 3:5-6
And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.