Dear Parents,
Your kids have been learning about the Israelites—former slaves in Egypt—as they moved toward the promised land. 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 before. (Ex. 3:8) From Egypt, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and traveled toward Mount Sinai. When they were hungry and thirsty, God provided food and water. (See Ex. 16–17.) Israel spent one year at Mount Sinai, where Moses received God’s law, including the Ten Commandments.
Time
and again, the Israelites rebelled against God, Moses interceded, and God
pardoned the people. When Israel arrived at the edge of the promised land, God
instructed Moses to send scouts into the land. Moses sent out a leader from
each tribe. Twelve men, including Joshua and Caleb, traveled through the
promised land of Canaan for 40 days. They returned with fruit—grapes,
pomegranates, and figs—and gave a report on the land.
The
scouts described the land’s abundance, as “flowing with milk and honey.” They
gave an account of the people, various tribes who were physically strong and
whose cities were fortified. Caleb’s immediate imperative—“Let’s go up now!”—was
met with resistance by most of the group. Assessing their own strength against
the strength of the inhabitants, they concluded that to move forward would mean
certain defeat.
The
Israelites complained: “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we
had died in this wilderness!” Joshua and Caleb tried to persuade the people of
God’s presence and protection, but the people would not trust God. So God gave
them what they thought was better. He sent them into the wilderness to wander
for 40 years. They would die there. Only Joshua, Caleb, and the Israelites’
children would enter the promised land.
Help your kids contemplate the punishment Israel faced for their rebellion. The Israelites rebelled against God because they did not trust Him. Jesus trusted God perfectly. He took the punishment we deserve for our sin, or rebellion against God. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us eternal life.
FAMILY STARTING POINTS
- Babies and Toddlers
- We can trust God.
- Twelve men went to look at the promised land.
- Joshua and Caleb trusted God to give His people the land.
- God forgives us when we trust in Jesus.
- Preschool
- What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.
- Joshua and Caleb trusted God.
- Kids
- What does it mean to sin? To sin is to think, speak, or behave in any
way that goes against God and His commands.
- Joshua and Caleb trusted God to give His people the promised land.
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