Scripture: Joshua 1:1 – 2: 24
Target Age Group: 1st through 6th grade
Welcome the children to the classroom and chat with them about their week as they gather around the table.
Pray and ask God to teach the children not just head knowledge, but also heart knowledge.
Have the children open their Bibles to Joshua 1:1 – 2:24 or pages 178 – 181 in The Golden Children’s Bible.
(Read the story to the children because at this age some of the children do not read smoothly, which hinders comprehension for the whole class.)
- Who did God put in charge of leading the people of Israel after Moses died? Joshua
- What did God promise that He would give them? The Promised Land
- What commands did God give to Joshua? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Obey the Law.
- What did Joshua tell the people to do? Prepare food and supplies so that in three days they could cross the Jordan into the land.
- Did the people agree? Yes. They said, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.”
- Who did Joshua send first to Jericho? Two spies.
- What would spies be sent to do? To see where the weakness of the enemy would be to help them know how to take the city.
- Where did the spies stay? With Rahab the prostitute
- Did their visit stay secret? No. The king found out.
- Did Rahab turn over the spies to the kings men? No. She hid the spies on her roof but told the king’s men that the spies had left and sent them after them.
- Why do you think that she helped the spies? She believed in their God.
- How did Rahab come to believe in the God of Israel? They had heard stories about how God had opened the Red Sea for them and helped them win battles.
- How is Rahab’s reaction to the Israelites different from the other people in Jericho? She believed and wanted to join the Israelites, but the people of Jericho were afraid and wanted to destroy them.
- How are their different reactions similar to the different reactions of people today?
- Do you see yourself as someone who joins with God and asks for salvation? Or are you putting up walls of fear of God?
- How did the spies escape from the city? Rahab let them down a rope from her window that was on the city wall.
- What promise did the spies make to her? That they would save her and her family when they took the city.
- How would the Israelites know which house to spare? Rahab was to tie a red cord in the window.
- How does the red cord remind us of Jesus? It reminds us that all we have to do is trust in Jesus’ blood and we will be saved.
- Can you think of another story in the Bible that was similar? The Israelites painted their doorposts with the blood of the lamb on the Passover.
- What did the spies say to Joshua when they returned to him? “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
During the remaining class time do activities that help to reinforce what the children have learned. Here are some suggestions…
Memorize the verse.
Joshua 1:9b “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Have the children use colors or pastels to draw their own vision of the story on a sketch pad page. Or have them color a color page related to the story. Color page # 1 from Bible Wise . Color page #2 from Bible Wise. Color page #3 , Color page #4 from Printable Coloring Pages. An excellent color page book is “Through-the-Bible Coloring Pages For Ages 4-8” by Janet Skiles. The pages are reproducible.
Make this mini book by Gospel Hall. Search for Activity 301 or Rahab
Read or listen to the story “In Your Head” from Keys for Kids
Have volunteers or the children act out this skit.
Make a braided red cord bookmark. This idea is from Bible School Materials. Talk about how the red cord that saved Rahab reminds us of the salvation that we receive through Christ’s blood on the cross.
Younger children will enjoy this lesson and craft from True Jesus Church
Show this cute video.
Sing “Rahab’s Grace” “What Seems Impossible” or “Promised Land” by Mary Rice Hopkins from her Dancing in the Desert album. Or sing “Be Strong – Joshua 1:9″ by Mary Rice Hopkins from her Workmanship album.
Evaluate what the children have learned. While they are coloring or crafting ask each one what they learned today.
Send each child’s parent an e-mail (or a hard copy) of the Parents’ Page.