Joshua and Caleb. Leader BIBLE STUDY. March 6. land. care of us.

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1 UNIT 7 Session 1 Use Week of: March 6 Joshua and Caleb 1 BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 13:1 14:38 MAIN POINT: The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. KEY PASSAGE: Joshua 1:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 10 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 12 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 18 Leader BIBLE STUDY Before God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, He promised to bring the Israelites back to the land He had given to Abraham so many years ago. (Ex. 3:8) God was leading the Israelites to the promised land. When they were close, God instructed Moses to send spies into the land to scout it out. The spies traveled around the land for 40 days, and it was just as God had promised. There was one problem: the people in the land were big and strong. One of the spies, Caleb, announced, We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it. Caleb understood that God was with them. With God s 6 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

2 help, they could do anything. Joshua and Caleb understood who God is. When God promises to do something, He will do it. But the other men were afraid. That night, all of the people wept loudly. They despaired because they did not believe God s promise to lead them into the promised land. The people plotted to find a new leader who would lead them back to Egypt. 1 God was not happy with Israel. They had turned away from Him and put their trust in themselves. God threatened to destroy the people, but Moses interceded for them. God struck down the spies except for Caleb and Joshua, and He declared that anyone who had sinned against Him would not enter the promised land. The Israelites would wander in the desert for 40 more years. Help the kids you teach understand that the Israelites sinned when they did not believe God was in control. Point kids to Christ as the perfectly obedient Son who trusted the Father s plan to save people from their sins. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Savior 7

3 The BIBLE STORY Joshua and Caleb Numbers 13:1 14:38 God told Moses, Send men to scout out the land of Canaan (KAY nuhn). I am giving this land to the Israelites. Moses sent out one leader from each family tribe, just as God commanded. Moses told the men what to do. Go see what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. Moses had a lot of questions: Is the land good or bad? Are the cities they live in camps or forts? Is the land good for farming? Are there any trees? Moses told the men to be courageous. So the men went and scouted out the land. They traveled around the land for 40 days. They cut down a cluster of grapes in the valley and carried it on a pole. Then they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite community to tell them what they saw. The land is good. It is flowing with milk and honey, they said. But the people living in the land are strong, and the cities they live in are large and well protected. Then Caleb, one of the spies sent to scout out the land, said, We must go up and take possession of the land! We can certainly conquer it with God s help! But the other men disagreed. We can t go up against the people! They are stronger than we are. We looked like grasshoppers compared to them! The Israelites were afraid, and they cried all night. They thought Moses and Aaron had brought them to Canaan to die. The Israelites said, Let s appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt! Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the Israelites. 8 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

4 Joshua and Caleb, who had both scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the Israelites, The land we explored is extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will give it to us. Don t be afraid of the people living in the land; God is with us! The Lord spoke to Moses. How long will these people despise Me? He asked. How long will they not trust Me? God threatened to destroy all the people, but Moses said, Please forgive the wrongdoing of the people. I know You are great, faithful, and loving. God replied, Since you have asked, I will forgive them. But none of them who despised Me will live to see the promised land of Canaan. Since Caleb and Joshua had followed God completely, God decided to let them enter the promised land. God said that the Israelites who did not trust God would face consequences for their sin. They would wander in the wilderness 40 years, and they would not enter the promised land. All of the spies who went to scout out the land died, except for Joshua and Caleb. Christ Connection: Caleb and Joshua trusted God. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that the Israelites fear exposed their sinful hearts: they did not trust God. Caleb and Joshua trusted God, and they pleaded with the people. (Num. 14:9) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Savior 9

5 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Joshua and Caleb BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 13:1 14:38 MAIN POINT: The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. KEY PASSAGE: Joshua 1:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. As kids arrive, invite them to imagine they were going on a journey into a new, strange land. If they could only bring one item along, what would they bring? SAY Today we are going to learn about some men who journeyed into the promised land the land of Canaan to see what was there. Promised Land Maze activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete the Promised Land Maze on the activity page. Challenge kids to move through the maze to collect each cluster of grapes and then return back to the Israelites. Kids must avoid the people already in the promised land and may not backtrack. SAY In today s Bible story, some Israelite spies went into the promised land and explored for 40 days. What kinds of things do you think they found in the land? We will find out soon! 10 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

6 Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Whom can you trust? Give each kid two or three sticky notes. Prompt them to write on each sticky note people they can trust (parent or teacher, for example not specific names). Kids may also list qualities that make someone trustworthy. Instruct kids to post their sticky notes on a chalkboard or focal wall. Lead them to study the people on the notes. Talk about what makes a person trustworthy. Discuss the difficulty of trusting someone who has let you down and the ease of trusting someone who is consistently faithful. SAY Today s Bible story is about a time when the Israelites struggled to trust God. God had always been faithful to the Israelites, but they doubted that He would take care of them. Let s find out what happened to the Israelites. OPTION 2: Build a story Use the printable The Big Move to guide kids to select certain parts of speech. List their choices on the page. Read the story aloud, filling in the blanks with the words kids provided. If your group is large, you may choose to make copies of the printable for kids to fill out on their own or in small groups. SAY Does this story sound familiar at all? This story is silly, but today we will hear the real story of what actually happened when God told the Israelites to enter the promised land. sticky notes pencils LOW PREP The Big Move printable pen or pencil Transition to large group God the Savior 11

7 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Joshua and Caleb BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 13:1 14:38 MAIN POINT: The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. KEY PASSAGE: Joshua 1:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. leader attire name tag Bible labeled box (Note: This box will be used each week.) Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters wearing a name tag and carrying a Bible. Leader is dressed in a solid-colored polo shirt, khaki pants, and a sun or safari hat. Approach the box. Carefully lift a corner of the lid and then quickly close the box.] LEADER Whoa! [Address kids.] Hi, everyone! I am so glad you are here today to see that incredible creature in the box. Wow, I m not sure there is anything else quite like it! Have any of you ever been to a petting zoo? Well, I m not sure you d want to pet this. I 12 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

8 promise it s safe, but [shudder] eww. So, this animal really has me thinking about our Bible story today. It s not a key part of the story, but it gets a mention, which is a pretty big deal for such a small animal. Any guesses as to what this animal might be? [Allow kids to guess.] I ll give you a hint: It can jump as high as 10 times its length and as far as 20 times its length! So if you are 4 feet tall, imagine being able to jump 40 feet high or 80 feet out! Incredible! Now, before I tell you more, let s take a step back to look at the big picture. Giant timeline (1 minute) LEADER Let s take a look at our timeline to see where we are. Remember, all the smaller stories in the Bible fit together to tell one big story the story of how people turned away from God and how He brought us back to Himself by sending His Son, Jesus, to save us from sin. So we saw how God rescued His people the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. God used Moses to lead the Israelites toward the promised land. Point to Joshua and Caleb on the timeline. LEADER In today s Bible story, Moses sent spies into the promised land to scout it out. Two of the spies were Joshua and Caleb. I wonder what they found! Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER Whatever it was, I m not so sure they had a reason to be scared. Didn t they trust God to give them the promised land? Our big picture question is, God the Savior 13

9 Whom can we trust? Let s see if this story helps us figure out the answer. Bibles Joshua and Caleb video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Numbers 13:1 14:38. Tell the Bible story in your own words, or show the Bible story video Joshua and Caleb. LEADER Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Now out of all the spies who went into the promised land of Canaan, who trusted God? (Joshua and Caleb) In fact, Caleb said to the people, We can conquer the land with God s help! But the other spies (besides Joshua) disagreed. They reported that the people living in Canaan were stronger than them. They said, Compared to them, we look like [Lift up the box with the live animal. ] Like what? Like grasshoppers! Can you imagine running into people so big and strong that you felt like a grasshopper compared to them? OK, I can understand why the Israelites were afraid. They doubted God, and I probably would have doubted too. But Joshua and Caleb had a lot of faith. They trusted that God is who He says He is and that He would do what He said He would do. Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Because the Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land, God punished them. God said that the spies and all the people who doubted Him would not enter the promised land. They would wander in the wilderness for 40 years, and 14 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

10 only their children and Joshua and Caleb would enter the promised land. We do not always trust and obey God like we should, but God is always faithful. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from sin. Jesus trusted and obeyed God perfectly, even though it cost Him His own life. Everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior will enter the promised land of eternity with God. The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. Encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Tip: Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. Key passage (5 minutes) LEADER Speaking of trusting God, listen to these words that God spoke to Joshua. Show the key passage poster. Read it aloud, and then lead the boys and girls to read Joshua 1:9 together. LEADER What enabled Joshua to be strong, courageous, and unafraid? (God was with him wherever he went.) Let s work on memorizing this verse so we can remember that God is with us, too. Lead boys and girls to read the verse again. Then sing Wherever You Go. Key Passage Poster Wherever You Go song God the Savior 15

11 Pray (2 minutes) Before you dismiss to small groups, lead kids in prayer. LEADER Lord God, over and over again, You show us that You are faithful. Even when the Israelites did not trust you, You kept Your promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham s family. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from sin. We know we can trust You to take care of us in every way. We love You. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 16 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

12 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:19. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. God the Savior 17

13 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Joshua and Caleb BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 13:1 14:38 MAIN POINT: The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. KEY PASSAGE: Joshua 1:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Key Passage Poster colored duct tape permanent markers scissors ruler or tape measure Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster paper pens Key passage activity (5 minutes) Share the following instructions and guide each kid to make a wristband reminder of the key passage: 1. Cut four pieces of duct tape about 8 inches long. 2. Layer the pieces on top of each other, sticky side up. 3. Fold down the top edge of the tape lengthwise so the edge lays at the center of the sticky side. 4. Fold up the other edge to meet at the center, completely covering the sticky side. 5. Turn over the wristband and use permanent markers to add words or symbols. Suggest kids write a few key words from Joshua 1:9. 6. Use a 2-inch piece of duct tape to secure the wristband loosely around a child s wrist. SAY When you wear your wristband, remember that the Lord enables His people to be strong and courageous. Remember that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Form groups of four to six kids. Assign one or two kids to be reporters. The rest of the kids will be spies. Provide 18 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

14 Bibles, paper, and pens. Instruct kids to prepare a news interview as though they are the spies who returned from the promised land. Reporters should ask the spies questions about what they saw. Encourage kids playing out the role of the spies to read Numbers 13: Encourage the reporters to ask who, what, when, and where questions about what the spies saw in the promised land. SAY The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. How did God punish the Israelites for not trusting Him? (God made them wander in the wilderness; they would not enter the promised land.) Joshua and Caleb trusted God. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Spy a word Before the session, write several key words from the Bible story on separate index cards or pieces of masking tape. Position the key words on or near various classroom objects. Invite kids to play a game of I Spy. Begin by describing a key word object. For example, I spy something green. Call on kids one at a time to guess. If a kid guesses the object, he should read the card aloud and then describe how the key word fits into the Bible story. Consider using these key words: Canaan (the name of the promised land) Moses (Moses sent spies into the land of Canaan.) masking tape or index cards marker LOW PREP God the Savior 19

15 Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. large sheet of paper purple and yellow paint paintbrushes bubble packing material green markers grape-flavored drink mix (optional) Caleb (Caleb was a spy who trusted God.) grapes (The spies carried a cluster of grapes from the promised land.) afraid (The Israelites were afraid because the Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land.) grasshoppers (The spies felt like grasshoppers compared to the people living in Canaan.) 40 years (God punished the people by making them wander in the wilderness for 40 years.) SAY We saw in the Bible story that Caleb and Joshua were not like the other spies. They trusted God. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. OPTION 2: Promised land mural Invite kids to work together to create a mural of the promised land. Kids may use purple paint and bubble packaging to stamp grapes (or use yellow paint to stamp honeycombs). Provide green markers for kids to draw stems on the grapes or to draw grasshoppers. For an enhanced experience, you may choose to add grape-flavored drink mix to the purple paint for kids to smell. SAY What type of fruit did the spies bring back from the promised land? (grapes, figs, and pomegranates; Num. 13:23) Who else lived in the land? (the Israelites enemies, strong people who looked like giants; Num. 13:31-32) 20 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 1

16 How small did the spies feel? (as small as grasshoppers, Num. 13:33) Explain that when the spies entered the promised land, they found delicious fruit like grapes, pomegranates, and figs. They reported that the land was flowing with milk and honey. That meant that the land was very good. SAY So why did the Israelites hesitate to enter the land? The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. They did not think they could defeat their enemies, but that wasn t true! God promised to give them the land. They could trust Him. Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. God the Savior 21

17 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the L ORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Key Passage (ESV) Kids Unit LifeWay OK to Print

18 The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. Main Point Kids Unit 7, Session LifeWay OK to Print

19 Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13:1 14:38) Unit 7, Session LifeWay OK to Print

20 Write about a time you felt weak or afraid. Remember that we can trust God to take care of us. God has the power to make us strong and courageous. Joshua and Caleb Numbers 13:1 14:38 FOLD MAIN POINT: THE ISRAELITES DID NOT TRUST GOD TO GIVE THEM THE PROMISED LAND. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS Do you think it was easy or hard for Joshua and Caleb to take a stand for God? Why? What do you have a hard time trusting God with? Talk about other times when God has kept His promises. God told Moses, Send men to scout out the land of Canaan (KAY nuhn). I am giving this land to the Israelites. So the men went and scouted out the land. They traveled around the land for 40 days. Then they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite community to tell them what they saw. The land is good, they said. But the people living in the land are strong, and the cities they live in are large and well protected. Then Caleb, one of the spies sent to scout out the land, said, We must go up and take possession of the land! We can certainly conquer it with God s help! But the other men disagreed. We can t go up against the people! They are stronger than we are. We looked like grasshoppers compared to them! The Israelites were afraid, and they cried all night. The Israelites said, Let s appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt! Joshua and Caleb, who had both scouted out the land, said to the Israelites, Don t be afraid of the people living in the land; God is with us! The Lord spoke to Moses. How long will these people not trust Me? God threatened to destroy all the people, but Moses said, Please forgive the wrongdoing of the people. I know You are great, faithful, and loving. God replied, Since you have asked, I will forgive them. But none of them who despised Me will live to see the promised land of Canaan. Since Caleb and Joshua had followed God completely, God decided to let them enter the promised land. God said that the Israelites would wander in the wilderness 40 years, and they would not enter the promised land. Christ Connection: Caleb and Joshua trusted God. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. 1

21 Promised Land Maze Move through the maze to collect each cluster of grapes. Avoid the people already in the land. No backtracking! Scout It Out Look up each reference in the Bible to fill in the blanks. Use the color-coded spaces to fill in the bonus sentence. 1. The name of the promised land: 2. (Numbers 13:2) How many days the spies scouted out the land: (Numbers 13:25) 3. The spies compared themselves to this insect: (Numbers 13:33) 4. Where the Israelites wanted to go back to: (Numbers 14:2-4) 5. Where the Israelites would wander for 40 years: 6. These two spies trusted God: BONUS: The Isr lit (Numbers 14:32-33) and s did n t trust G d t (Numbers 14:38) giv them the pr mis d l nd. 2

22 Whom can we trust? Big Picture Question and Answer Kids Unit LifeWay OK to Print

23 Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Big Picture Question and Answer Kids Unit LifeWay OK to Print

24 God the Savior Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 7, Session LifeWay OK to Print Hints adjective: describes something (green, fluffy, cold) verb: an action (run, jump, swim) name: (Bill, Callie, Thomas) 1. name: 2. number: noun: person, place, thing (car, kid) number: (4, 16, 350) plural noun: people, places, things (cars, kids) God told 1, Send 2 men to go look at the land. name name 3. adjective: Moses told the men what to do. He said, See what the land is The Big Move Instructions: Call on kids to suggest each part of speech. List them in the column below. Then tell the story aloud, inserting the words into the blanks. 4. adjective: 5. adjective: 6. adjective: 7. number: 8. verb: 9. plural noun: 10. noun: 11. adjective: 12. noun: 13. noun: 14. adjective: 15. adjective: 16. adjective: 17. name: 18. verb: 19. adjective: 20. plural noun: like and whether the people who live there are 3 or 4, 5 or 6. adjective So the men went and looked at the land. They traveled around the land for 7 days. They 8 a cluster of 9 in the valley and carried it on a 10. Then they went back to Moses, Aaron, and noun the Israelite people. We went into the land where you sent us, they said. It is 11, flowing with 12 and 13. But the people living in the land are noun 14, and the cities they live in are 15 adjective and , one of the spies who saw the land, said, We noun adjective adjective must 18 and make the land ours! We can do it verb number plural noun with God s help! But the other men disagreed. We cannot go up against the people; they are more 19 like 20 compared to them! plural noun adjective adjective adjective noun adjective verb adjective than we are! We looked