WELCOME TO WEEK 2

God gives us strength to face the big things in life. Sometimes we may not always understand what God is asking of us or how it will all work out, but God will continue to provide. We just need to continue to trust and obey. This week we will see how the Israelites’ obedience allowed them to see a big victory in a strange way. 

Joshua 6

BIBLE STORY

Let’s learn about a few animals that have significant strength. Follow this link to read about some amazingly strong animals. Which animal do you think is the strongest?

Each of those animals is strong and God gave them special abilities and strength to take care of themselves. God gives us special strength too! God can help us do things we are not able to do on our own. Can you think of some things you need help doing? Maybe you need help picking up a heavy box, or you need help with your homework. God give us the strength to do things He has asked us to do that we can’t do on our own. Our story this week is about Joshua and the strength God gave him through an unusual way. The tool God gave the Israelites to use was not what they were expecting but they obeyed and God delivered. 

Let’s read the Bible story for the week Joshua 6

Who was leading the Israelites into Jericho? (Joshua)

How was Jericho preparing for the Israelites? (locking down their city each night)

What did God tell Joshua he would do to overtake the city? (March around the city once a day for 6 days and on the 7th day march 7 times and the last time blow trumpets and shout.)

Who did they save from the city? (Only Rahab and her family, everyone else was to be destroyed)

Could they take some of the treasures of Jericho for themselves? (no, they couldn’t keep anything)

What did God say would happen if they took some of their cursed possessions? (They too will be cursed at the camp.)



BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

The Israelites trusted that God was strong enough to win the battle at Jericho even if it wasn’t the way they thought it would happen. They did not know how walking around a wall would make it crumble to the ground, but they believed that since God said it, He would do it. We can trust God’s strength too.

Activity

Using large building blocks or empty cardboard boxes, build a wall and act out the story. Have your child march around the wall silently 6 times. Then on the 7th walk around the wall, have them shout and blow pretend horns, then knock down the wall. Remind them of how God won the battle for them because they had faith and believed God would give them strength.

Materials: Large building blocks or empty cardboard boxes

Alternative:

Review these previous bible stories by playing this game of charades. Print and cut out the cards. Take turns pulling a card and acting out what is on the card not using any sounds but using gestures. Play with teams by acting out the cards as a group, or play individually, using props around you. 

Materials: printed activity sheet matching scriptures

independent activity:

Complete the following activity sheet.

Materials: printed perspective glasses, scissors, pencil, crayons

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Using 2 large sheets of foam, cut out a horn shape. Attach a party blower between the two sheets of foam. Use a large piece of string to wrap around the horn to create a handle. Alternately you can use paper or cardstock, but it may get wet from the child blowing and then fall apart.

Materials: sentence strip or strip of construction paper, red, black, orange and yellow construction paper

CRAFT 2

Create a wall of Jericho

Using a small to medium cardboard box, cut off the top and bottom flaps. Then cut out rectangles from the top of the box to create a Wall of Jericho shape. Using brown or black paint, create a brick pattern on the sides of the box. Create a large door on the front of the box by cutting out a large rounded door and glueing it to one side.

Materials: printed coloring page

craft 3

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring page

FOLLOW-UP

In our story this week, Joshua and the Israelites are going to battle at Jericho. God gives them instructions on what to do to win the battle but the instructions seem too easy! All they have to do is walk around the wall and it will come down! The Israelites have to decide if they will trust God and obey Him, or fight their own way. The Israelites decide to trust God’s strength to win the battle, and He does! We can trust that God will give us strength during times that seem very difficult.

Have you ever tried to lift something that was too heavy for you?

Did you ask an adult for help?

Do you think God can help you with things that are too big for you?

Is it easy or hard to obey our parents?

Do you think it would be easy to obey God, even when the instructions seem too simple?

Practical Application at Home

Give your child a simple puzzle (but hard enough that they can’t complete it in under 1 minute). Give them the pieces for the puzzle without the picture. Okay, I want you to try and put this puzzle together in less than 2 minutes (or 1 minute if its too easy). Ready, go! Was that an easy puzzle to put together without the picture? Let’s try it again but this time let’s use the picture as our guide to how the pieces fit together. (you can help your child complete the puzzle and not use a timer if desired).

In our story, God gave Joshua instructions on how to defeat Jericho but it was not completely clear to Joshua how God would give them the victory. He did not know how it would all work out. Joshua listened and obeyed what God asked of him, even though it seemed crazy or impossible! God did exactly what He said He would do, and he knocked down the walls of Jericho. We can also obey God even when we don’t see how it will all work out. We can obey God by 

Obeying our parents

Listening to our teachers

Being kind to our enemies

Helping others in need

Telling others about Jesus even when we are uncomfortable

Sticking up for others who are being mistreated

Reaching out to another kid who might feel alone

God has called us, even though we are young, to follow Him even when it seems crazy! He will give us the strength, just as He did for Joshua, to complete the mission he has given us.

Materials: age appropriate puzzle that’s not too easy

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.