This lesson teaches children that God invites His people to come near Him, and that He is holy and worth honoring with our very best. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God wants us to come close to Him, and because He is holy, we come to Him in the way He asked, with respect, gratitude, and a clean heart.
Memory Verse
Exodus 30:36
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.
(WEB)
Have the children cup their hands together in front of them, then slowly lift them up toward the ceiling as if offering something precious to God. Say the words together while you lift, and repeat it three times.
The Story: Exodus 30 for Kids
God spoke to Moses on a mountain and gave him a special set of instructions. The Israelites were traveling through the wilderness, and God wanted them to have a place where they could meet with Him. This place was called the Tent of Meeting, and God told Moses exactly how to build the things inside it.
The first thing God asked for was a small altar for burning incense. It was made of acacia wood and covered with shiny gold, and it sat right in front of a curtain that separated the most holy place from the rest of the tent. God said, “Every morning and every evening, Aaron shall burn sweet incense on this altar.” The sweet smell rose up like a prayer going up to God.
Next, God told Moses that every man counted in the people must give a half shekel of silver as a special offering. God said this offering would help the people remember that they belonged to Him. Rich people gave no more and poor people gave no less, because everyone was equal before God.
God also asked for a large bronze basin filled with water, placed between the tent and the altar. Before Aaron and his sons went into the tent or came near the altar, they had to wash their hands and feet. God said, “Wash, so that you do not die.” Washing showed that the priests needed to be clean before they came close to a holy God.
Finally, God gave Moses a recipe for holy anointing oil and a special incense that could never be copied for ordinary use. These things were set apart just for God. God wanted His people to understand that He is holy and that everything used in worshiping Him should be treated with care and honor.
Read It Together
Exodus 30:7-8
7 Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. 8 When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
(WEB)
Point out that the incense burned every morning and every evening, which means worship was meant to be a regular part of daily life. Ask the children when they might pray or thank God each day, such as before breakfast or at bedtime.
Exodus 30:18-19
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.
(WEB)
Explain that the priests washed before serving God, and show how washing hands is a simple way we prepare ourselves to do something special. Connect this to how we get ready for church by being respectful and quiet.
Exodus 30:15
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.
(WEB)
Point out that God did not favor the rich over the poor, since everyone gave the same amount. Remind the children that God loves every person in the same way, no matter how much money their family has.
Talk About It
- What do you think it would feel like to be in a tent where God Himself promised to meet with His people?
- Why do you think God wanted the priests to wash before they came near the altar?
- How is burning sweet incense every morning and evening like praying to God every day?
- Why did God want everyone to give the same amount, whether they were rich or poor?
- What is one way you can show God that you respect Him when you come to Him in prayer or at church?
Activity Ideas
Draw the Golden Altar
Give each child a sheet of paper, some crayons, and a yellow or gold marker if you have one. Ask them to draw a small square altar with four legs and little horns on each corner, then color it with bright gold. Let them add a curl of smoke rising from the top to show the sweet incense going up to God.
Wash-Up Relay Game
Set two bowls of water at one end of the room and two empty cups at the other end. Children take turns running to the bowl, dipping a sponge or cloth, and carrying water back to a bucket while walking carefully. The team with the most water left in its bucket wins, and you can talk about how washing before we serve God shows we are ready.
Take-Home Promise Card
Cut a small piece of cardstock for each child and let them write or draw one way they will come close to God this week, such as saying a morning prayer. Help them tape the card to their bathroom mirror or bedroom door as a daily reminder. Ask them to bring the card back next week and share what they remembered.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Exodus 30 shows that worship is both a daily rhythm and a holy privilege. The altar of incense, the washing basin, and the holy oil all remind us that approaching God requires reverence, preparation, and dependence on His grace. Christians often see in these instructions a picture of how Jesus makes access to God possible for His people.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the ritual details as something they must perform to earn God’s favor. Be clear that God’s love comes first and that the instructions were a way of showing respect for His holiness, not a list of rules that make them acceptable to Him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord God, thank You for inviting us to come close to You. Help us to honor You in our hearts and in our words, every morning and every evening. Make us clean and ready to worship You, and help us always to remember that You are holy and You love us. Amen.
