In this lesson, children learn that God made a special way for His people to come close to Him, through a holy altar, a washing basin, and a half-shekel offering. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Keep the pace easy, and let the children touch and handle the props as you go.
Big Idea
God is holy, and He gave His people special ways to come near to Him and worship Him. Everything we do to honor Him can be done with our whole heart.
Memory Verse
Exodus 30:7
Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.
(WEB)
Stand up tall with your arms stretched wide, then bring your hands together in front of your chest like a small fire. Slowly lift your hands up toward the ceiling, the way smoke rises from an altar. Do this each time you say the verse together.
The Story: Exodus 30 for Kids
God spoke to Moses on a mountain and gave him instructions for building a special place where God would meet with His people. This place was called the Tent of Meeting. God told Moses to build a small altar, about the size of a sturdy table, covered in shiny gold. On this altar, a sweet-smelling incense would be burned every morning and every evening.
God also wanted His people to be clean before they came near Him. So He told Moses to make a large bronze basin filled with water. Aaron and his sons, the priests, would wash their hands and feet in it before they went into the Tent. God said, “Wash, so that you will not die.” He wanted His people to come to Him carefully and with respect.
Next, God asked for something special to be made from sweet spices and oil. This holy oil was used to set apart the Tent, the altar, and all the special items inside it. Nobody was allowed to make a copy of this oil for their own use, because it belonged to God alone.
Finally, God explained how each man counted in the nation would give a half-shekel of silver as an offering. Rich people and poor people gave the same amount, because everyone is equal before God. This money was used to care for the Tent of Meeting, so the people could remember that God was among them.
Read It Together
Exodus 30:1-6
1 “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. 2 Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it. 4 You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you.
(WEB)
Point out the golden altar and how it was made to be close to God’s presence. Ask the children to notice that God Himself told Moses where to place it, showing that worship is something God invites us into.
Exodus 30:17-21
17 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “You shall also make a basin of brass, and its base of brass, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it. 20 When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they not die; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they not die: and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations.”
(WEB)
Show how the priests had to wash before serving God. Explain that this washing reminded the people that God is pure and that we should come to Him with clean hearts and respect.
Exodus 30:34-38
34 The LORD said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: there shall be an equal weight of each; 35 and you shall make incense of it, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy: 36 and you shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be to you most holy. 37 The incense which you shall make, according to its composition you shall not make for yourselves: it shall be to you holy for the LORD. 38 Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
(WEB)
Talk about how the special incense was reserved for God alone. Help the children see that some things are set apart just for God, and that we honor Him by treating what is holy with care.
Talk About It
- Why do you think God wanted His people to wash before they came near to Him?
- What does the sweet smoke from the altar remind you of when you pray?
- How can you show respect for God when you come to worship with your family or church?
- Why did God say the rich and the poor should give the same amount of money?
- What is one way you can come close to God each day, even when you are at home?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Golden Altar
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a gold crayon or yellow pencil if you have one. Ask each child to draw a small altar with four square corners and little horns on top, as God described. Let them color it gold and add a small smoke curl rising from the top. Talk together about how the altar was a place to meet God.
Wash Before You Worship
You will need a large bowl of water, a small towel, and a few paper cups. Let each child take a turn washing their hands in the bowl and drying them with the towel. As they wash, say together, “God is holy, and we come to Him with clean hearts.” This helps children connect the story to a simple, physical action.
Take Home a Half-Shekel Reminder
You will need a small paper coin shape or a real coin, a pencil, and a small envelope. Give each child a coin and ask them to write or draw one way they can give to God, such as helping at home or sharing a toy. Let them place the coin in the envelope and take it home. Encourage them to keep it on the kitchen table as a reminder that everyone gives to God the same way.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is holy and that He made a specific way for His people to approach Him with reverence. Under the old covenant, the altar, the washing, and the offerings all pointed forward to the greater way God would one day provide through Jesus Christ, who is the once-for-all sacrifice and the one mediator between God and people.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the connection between each object and a specific symbolic meaning. The text itself gives the purpose of each item, so keep your explanations close to what God says in Exodus 30 and let the children wonder at the holiness of God rather than trying to decode every detail.
A Prayer to Close
Holy God, thank You for making a way for us to come near to You. Help us come to You with clean hearts and respect, just as Your people did long ago. Teach us to give our best to You every day. Amen.
