This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises, even when people are scared or unsure. It is designed for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God keeps His promises. When we trust Him, He takes care of us, and He can use anyone who believes in Him, even someone others didn’t expect.
Memory Verse
Joshua 2:11
As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted, and there wasn’t any more spirit in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.
(WEB)
Put your hands on your heart while you say the verse slowly. Then lift both hands up toward the ceiling on the words “God in heaven above,” and point down to the floor on “earth beneath.” Let the children copy you each time.
The Story: Joshua 2 for Kids
A long time ago, the people of Israel were camped near a river, waiting to enter a land God had promised them. Their leader was a man named Joshua. Joshua wanted to know what the city of Jericho was like, so he secretly sent two men to look around. The two spies went into the city and came to a house where a woman named Rahab lived. Many people in the city did not think well of Rahab, but she was kind to these visitors.
Soon, the king of Jericho heard that Israelite men had come into the city. He sent messengers to Rahab and told her to bring the men out. But Rahab had hidden the two spies on her roof under some stalks of flax. She told the king’s men that the visitors had already left and that they should hurry after them. The king’s men ran off toward the river, and the city gate was closed behind them.
Then Rahab climbed up to the roof and talked with the spies. She said, “I know that the LORD has given you this land, and we are very afraid of you.” She told them how she had heard about the way God dried up the water of the Red Sea for His people. She said that everyone in the city felt their hearts melt with fear, because the God of Israel is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.
Rahab asked the men to make a promise. She wanted them to save her family when they came back to conquer the city. The men promised to keep her and her family safe if she did not tell anyone about their plan. Then they said, “When we come into the land, tie a scarlet cord in the window.” Rahab had already let them down through the window with a rope, because her house was built right into the city wall.
The spies hid in the mountains for three days until the searchers gave up. Then they came down, crossed the river, and went back to Joshua. They told him that the LORD had given the whole land into their hands, and that the people were already very frightened. The spies had kept their promise, and God had kept His promise too.
Read It Together
Joshua 2:9
She said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
(WEB)
Point out that Rahab says she knows God has given the land to Israel. Ask the children to notice that she believed what God was doing before the city was even taken. Explain that her words show she had already decided to trust the God of the Israelites.
Joshua 2:12-13
12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a true sign; 13 and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.”
(WEB)
Show the children that Rahab asked the spies for a promise. Explain that she wanted them to save her family, not just herself. Let the children know that making a promise and keeping one are both important.
Joshua 2:24
They said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt away before us.”
(WEB)
Help the children see that the spies came back and reported that God had already done great things. Point out that Joshua’s men were encouraged because God had gone before them. Remind the class that God is faithful even when we cannot yet see the whole plan.
Talk About It
- What did Rahab do to help the two men, even though she was taking a big risk?
- Why do you think Rahab was not afraid of the God of Israel the way the others were?
- What promise did the spies make to Rahab, and how did they show they meant it?
- Can you think of a time when someone kept a promise to you? How did that feel?
- How can we show God that we trust Him to keep His promises to us?
Activity Ideas
Scarlet Cord Window Craft
You will need a sheet of construction paper, scissors, markers, glue, and a piece of red yarn or string about 12 inches long. Have each child draw a simple window on the paper and cut it out. Glue the window to a second sheet to make a frame, then tape or glue the red yarn hanging down from the top of the window. Talk about how the scarlet cord was a sign of the promise between Rahab and the spies.
Spies and Searchers Game
Mark a “city” area and a “mountain” area in a room or outside, using chairs or tape. Choose two children to be the spies and let the rest of the group be the searchers. The spies try to reach the mountain without being tagged by searchers. Once they arrive, they hide until the teacher says the searchers have gone home. Afterward, talk about how God helped the spies stay safe.
Promise Card to Take Home
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a marker for each child. Ask each child to write or draw one promise they want to keep this week, such as helping a sibling or being kind at school. Give each child a small piece of red ribbon to tape to the card. Encourage families to talk about the card during the week and to remember that God always keeps His promises to us.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God works through people others might overlook. Rahab was a woman with a difficult past, yet she recognized what God was doing and chose to act on that faith. The passage also reminds us that God’s promises are reliable, and that He invites us to trust Him even when the outcome is not yet clear.
Be careful not to suggest to children that every good choice automatically leads to safety or reward, as the story does not promise that. Focus instead on God’s faithfulness and on the simple truth that He keeps His word.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for keeping every promise You make to us. Help us be brave like Rahab and trust You even when we feel scared. Help us keep our own promises too, and show others how faithful You are. Amen.
