samuel joshua was chosen joshua the leader joshua and jericho
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: During this unit, your child will learn to be a leader. By studying Joshua, Deborah, Hannah, and Samuel, they can learn biblical examples of leadership. Use the APPLY questions at the end of each story to help your child apply what he or she has learned. ®
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JOSHUA AND JERICHO JOSHUA THE LEADER JOSHUA WAS CHOSEN Moses had been a great leader of the Israelites, and Joshua had stood by his side helping and serving Moses. Now Moses had died, and Joshua was the leader. One day, Joshua heard God speak to him. God said, “You and all the people with you, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am giving to the Israelites. Everywhere you walk will be yours, just as I promised Moses. You will have a great amount of land from the south to the north, from the east to the west. Armies will not be able to stand against you. And I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you.” God went on to say, “Be strong and have courage, because you will lead these people to claim the land I am giving them. Be strong and have courage, but be careful to do everything My servant Moses told you. Don’t turn to the right or the left, so you will be successful wherever you go. Don’t forget My words, but repeat them day and night so you will be able to do everything I have written. Then you will do well in whatever you do. I give you this command: Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because I am with you wherever you go.” LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God’s plan for my life is that I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord and obey Him.
APPLY: Help your child make a list of things he would like to do when he is grown. Remind him that God has a definite plan for his life.
The Israelites camped beside the Jordan River three days. The land God promised them was across the river. The officers gave these instructions, “When you see the ark of the covenant carried by the priests, follow it. But don’t get too near the ark!” Joshua said, “The Lord will do wonders tomorrow.” He instructed the priests to take the ark of the covenant and move ahead of the people. God spoke to Joshua. “I will exalt you before the people so they will know I am with you just as I was with Moses when he was their leader.” Joshua told the people, “Today you will know that God is here with us. The water in the river will be cut off so we can cross.” When the priests stepped into the edge of the river, the water stood still and was cut off. The priests stood on dry ground in the middle of the river while all the people crossed on dry land. Then God gave Joshua instructions: “Choose one man from each tribe to take a rock from the riverbed. Tell your children, ‘This is a memorial of the time God cut off the waters of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the covenant so the people could cross the river on dry ground.’ ” LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: I can learn about and recognize God’s authority.
APPLY: What are the qualities of a leader? Help your child research Joshua and what made him a great leader. Help your child to understand that Joshua was a great leader because he listened to God.
After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into Canaan, the promised land. God told Joshua that He would help the Israelites take over Jericho. Jericho was a well-protected city. There was a great wall surrounding the city to protect the people from enemy attacks. God told Joshua, “Lead the Israelites to march around the city one time each day for six days. Instruct seven priests to carry ram’s horn trumpets, followed by the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times while the priests blow the trumpets. When you hear a long blast on the trumpet, tell all the people to shout. Then the city walls will collapse, and each soldier will go in straight ahead.” The people marched six days in a row. On the seventh day, the Israelites marched around Jericho seven times. After the seventh trip around the city, the priests blew their trumpets loudly. “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city,” said Joshua. The trumpets sounded and the people shouted. The walls around Jericho collapsed. The Israelites were able to walk right in and capture the city. LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God is almighty.
DEBORAH The Israelites disobeyed God, so God allowed them to be ruled by Jabin, the king of Canaan. For 20 years, Jabin treated the Israelites poorly. The Israelites cried out to God, and God heard their cries. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge, a spiritual leader of the Israelites. Deborah helped the people understand God’s laws. Each day, Deborah held court under the palm tree of Deborah. One day, Deborah gave Barak this message: “God has commanded you to take 10,000 men to Mount Tabor. He will bring Sisera, the commander of King Jabin’s army, and his troops to fight against you. With God’s help, you will win the battle.” Barak said to Deborah, “I will do it only if you go with me.” Deborah followed Barak. Barak went with 10,000 men and Deborah to Mount Tabor. When Sisera heard this, he gathered all his men and chariots. That day, God helped the Israelites defeat King Jabin and his army. LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13
APPLY: Talk with your child about ways she has seen God’s power. Remind her that sometimes God’s power is shown in the small things. Challenge her to express her ideas in a drawing, poem, or other artful way.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: I am responsible for my choices.
APPLY: Talk about some choices your child has made lately. How do these choices match up with what God wants us to do? Remind your child that God always forgives wrong choices when we ask Him for forgiveness.
© 2015 LifeWay
HANNAH
SAMUEL
Every year, Hannah and her husband Elkanah traveled to Shiloh to worship God and to offer sacrifices. Eli and his sons were priests in the tabernacle. Hannah was sad that she and Elkanah had no children together. Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray. She wept before God and made a vow, saying, “Lord, if You will give me a son, I will give him back to You for all the days of his life.” Eli was watching as Hannah prayed. He saw her lips moving but didn’t hear anything. He thought something was wrong with her. She told Eli that she was praying to God in her sorrow. Eli responded, “Go in peace. May God give you what you’ve asked from Him.” After Hannah and Elkanah returned home, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. They named the baby boy Samuel, meaning “I requested him from the Lord.” God heard and answered Hannah’s prayer. LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13
After Samuel was born and when he was old enough, Hannah took Samuel to Eli at the tabernacle. Every year, she brought Samuel a new robe to wear. Samuel became one of Eli’s helpers. He lived in the tabernacle with Eli. One night as Samuel was lying down, he heard a voice call his name. He ran to Eli. “Here I am; you called me,” he said. Eli told the boy, “I didn’t call you. Go and lie down.” Two more times Samuel heard the voice call him. Eli replied again that he did not call Samuel. The third time, Eli understood what was happening. He said to Samuel, “If He calls you again, say ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel heard the voice and answered, the Lord spoke to Samuel. He said the time for the ministry of Eli and his sons was ending. In the morning, Samuel told Eli the message God had spoken to him. Eli replied, “He is the Lord. He will do what He thinks is good.” Samuel grew and God was with him.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: Each person is unique and of value to God.
LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13 APPLY: Ask your child to make a list of people who are important to her and then pray for each of them. Comment that each of these people is more important to God.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God wants people to be involved in His work in their communities and the world by participating in missions activities. APPLY: Help your child find opportunities to serve in church or school. Tell him that serving others with a good heart glorifies God.
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JOSHUA AND JERICHO JOSHUA THE LEADER JOSHUA WAS CHOSEN Moses had been a great leader of the Israelites, and Joshua had stood by his side helping and serving Moses. Now Moses had died, and Joshua was the leader. One day, Joshua heard God speak to him. God said, “You and all the people with you, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am giving to the Israelites. Everywhere you walk will be yours, just as I promised Moses. You will have a great amount of land from the south to the north, from the east to the west. Armies will not be able to stand against you. And I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you.” God went on to say, “Be strong and have courage, because you will lead these people to claim the land I am giving them. Be strong and have courage, but be careful to do everything My servant Moses told you. Don’t turn to the right or the left, so you will be successful wherever you go. Don’t forget My words, but repeat them day and night so you will be able to do everything I have written. Then you will do well in whatever you do. I give you this command: Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because I am with you wherever you go.” LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God’s plan for my life is that I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord and obey Him.
APPLY: Help your child make a list of things he would like to do when he is grown. Remind him that God has a definite plan for his life.
The Israelites camped beside the Jordan River three days. The land God promised them was across the river. The officers gave these instructions, “When you see the ark of the covenant carried by the priests, follow it. But don’t get too near the ark!” Joshua said, “The Lord will do wonders tomorrow.” He instructed the priests to take the ark of the covenant and move ahead of the people. God spoke to Joshua. “I will exalt you before the people so they will know I am with you just as I was with Moses when he was their leader.” Joshua told the people, “Today you will know that God is here with us. The water in the river will be cut off so we can cross.” When the priests stepped into the edge of the river, the water stood still and was cut off. The priests stood on dry ground in the middle of the river while all the people crossed on dry land. Then God gave Joshua instructions: “Choose one man from each tribe to take a rock from the riverbed. Tell your children, ‘This is a memorial of the time God cut off the waters of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the covenant so the people could cross the river on dry ground.’ ” LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: I can learn about and recognize God’s authority.
APPLY: What are the qualities of a leader? Help your child research Joshua and what made him a great leader. Help your child to understand that Joshua was a great leader because he listened to God.
After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into Canaan, the promised land. God told Joshua that He would help the Israelites take over Jericho. Jericho was a well-protected city. There was a great wall surrounding the city to protect the people from enemy attacks. God told Joshua, “Lead the Israelites to march around the city one time each day for six days. Instruct seven priests to carry ram’s horn trumpets, followed by the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times while the priests blow the trumpets. When you hear a long blast on the trumpet, tell all the people to shout. Then the city walls will collapse, and each soldier will go in straight ahead.” The people marched six days in a row. On the seventh day, the Israelites marched around Jericho seven times. After the seventh trip around the city, the priests blew their trumpets loudly. “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city,” said Joshua. The trumpets sounded and the people shouted. The walls around Jericho collapsed. The Israelites were able to walk right in and capture the city. LIFE VERSE: Deuteronomy 5:32 LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God is almighty.
DEBORAH The Israelites disobeyed God, so God allowed them to be ruled by Jabin, the king of Canaan. For 20 years, Jabin treated the Israelites poorly. The Israelites cried out to God, and God heard their cries. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge, a spiritual leader of the Israelites. Deborah helped the people understand God’s laws. Each day, Deborah held court under the palm tree of Deborah. One day, Deborah gave Barak this message: “God has commanded you to take 10,000 men to Mount Tabor. He will bring Sisera, the commander of King Jabin’s army, and his troops to fight against you. With God’s help, you will win the battle.” Barak said to Deborah, “I will do it only if you go with me.” Deborah followed Barak. Barak went with 10,000 men and Deborah to Mount Tabor. When Sisera heard this, he gathered all his men and chariots. That day, God helped the Israelites defeat King Jabin and his army. LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13
APPLY: Talk with your child about ways she has seen God’s power. Remind her that sometimes God’s power is shown in the small things. Challenge her to express her ideas in a drawing, poem, or other artful way.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: I am responsible for my choices.
APPLY: Talk about some choices your child has made lately. How do these choices match up with what God wants us to do? Remind your child that God always forgives wrong choices when we ask Him for forgiveness.
© 2015 LifeWay
HANNAH
SAMUEL
Every year, Hannah and her husband Elkanah traveled to Shiloh to worship God and to offer sacrifices. Eli and his sons were priests in the tabernacle. Hannah was sad that she and Elkanah had no children together. Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray. She wept before God and made a vow, saying, “Lord, if You will give me a son, I will give him back to You for all the days of his life.” Eli was watching as Hannah prayed. He saw her lips moving but didn’t hear anything. He thought something was wrong with her. She told Eli that she was praying to God in her sorrow. Eli responded, “Go in peace. May God give you what you’ve asked from Him.” After Hannah and Elkanah returned home, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. They named the baby boy Samuel, meaning “I requested him from the Lord.” God heard and answered Hannah’s prayer. LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13
After Samuel was born and when he was old enough, Hannah took Samuel to Eli at the tabernacle. Every year, she brought Samuel a new robe to wear. Samuel became one of Eli’s helpers. He lived in the tabernacle with Eli. One night as Samuel was lying down, he heard a voice call his name. He ran to Eli. “Here I am; you called me,” he said. Eli told the boy, “I didn’t call you. Go and lie down.” Two more times Samuel heard the voice call him. Eli replied again that he did not call Samuel. The third time, Eli understood what was happening. He said to Samuel, “If He calls you again, say ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel heard the voice and answered, the Lord spoke to Samuel. He said the time for the ministry of Eli and his sons was ending. In the morning, Samuel told Eli the message God had spoken to him. Eli replied, “He is the Lord. He will do what He thinks is good.” Samuel grew and God was with him.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: Each person is unique and of value to God.
LIFE VERSE: Philippians 4:13 APPLY: Ask your child to make a list of people who are important to her and then pray for each of them. Comment that each of these people is more important to God.
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING: God wants people to be involved in His work in their communities and the world by participating in missions activities. APPLY: Help your child find opportunities to serve in church or school. Tell him that serving others with a good heart glorifies God.
