Joshua 5 teaches children that God is with His people and that we should respect Him, even when we don’t understand what He is doing. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is with His people, and when we meet Him we should honor Him, because the place where He is present is holy.
Memory Verse
Joshua 5:15
The prince of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your shoes; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
(WEB)
Ask the children to stand up and take one step back, as if they were stepping away from something special. Then have them slowly put both hands together in front of their chest. Say the verse together while the children keep their hands folded, then sit down quietly.
The Story: Joshua 5 for Kids
The people of Israel had crossed the Jordan River, and God had dried up the water so they could walk across on dry ground. When the kings of the land heard what God had done, they were very scared. Their hearts melted, and they did not feel brave anymore.
God told Joshua to make flint knives and to circumcise all the boys in Israel again. Circumcision was the sign of God’s promise to Abraham, so this was an important way for the people to remember that they belonged to God. Joshua made the knives from sharp stones and did what God asked at a hill called Gibeah-haaraloth, which means the hill of the foreskins.
The people stayed in the camp until they were healed. Then God said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from you.” That place was called Gilgal, which sounds like the word for rolling. The people set up their camp there and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the plains near Jericho.
The next day, the people ate bread made without yeast and roasted grain from the land. God’s special food, the manna, stopped falling from the sky that morning. The people now had food from the fields of Canaan, the land God had promised them.
Joshua was near the city of Jericho when he looked up and saw a man standing with a sword in his hand. Joshua asked him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” The man answered that he had come as commander of the army of the LORD. Joshua fell on his face to the ground and worshiped.
The commander told Joshua, “Take off your shoes, for the place where you stand is holy.” Joshua did what he was told. The ground was holy because God was there, and Joshua showed respect by taking off his shoes.
Read It Together
Joshua 5:1
When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.
(WEB)
Point out that the kings were afraid because they knew God was with the people of Israel. Ask the children what makes them feel safe when they are scared. Help them see that the people of Israel had God on their side.
Joshua 5:9
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day.
(WEB)
Show the children how God took away the shame the people had carried in Egypt. Explain that God forgives and makes His people new. Point out that the name Gilgal reminded everyone of what God had done.
Joshua 5:13-14
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” 14 He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of the LORD’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
(WEB)
Point out that Joshua did not know who the man was at first, but he asked a good question and then bowed down. Show the children how Joshua worshiped God by falling to the ground. Explain that when we meet God, we respond with respect.
Talk About It
- What did the kings of the land feel when they heard about God parting the Jordan River?
- Why do you think God wanted the people to remember the sign of circumcision?
- What does it mean that the ground was holy when God was there?
- How did Joshua show respect when he met the commander of the LORD’s army?
- Where is a place you go where you can remember that God is with you?
Activity Ideas
Holy Ground Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw the Jordan River with the water pulled back on both sides and the people walking across on dry land. Have them draw a small sign of God’s presence in the middle, such as a bright light or a cloud. Let the children explain their picture to the group.
Take Off Your Shoes Game
You will need a small open space and a few objects that children can carry, such as a sock or a toy. Have the children walk around the room while you call out “holy ground,” and they must stop and take off one shoe. Then call out “Gilgal,” and they must roll their shoulders like rolling a stone away. Keep the movements simple and fun.
Rolled Away Stone Take-Home
You will need a smooth stone or a paper cutout of a stone for each child, and a marker. Ask each child to write or draw one thing they want God to take away from them, such as worry or unkind words. Encourage them to keep the stone in a pocket or on a desk as a reminder that God forgives and makes us new. Send the stone home with the children as a reminder of the lesson.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God keeps His promises, even after a generation has passed in the wilderness. It also reminds us that worship begins with humility, as Joshua fell on his face before the commander of the LORD’s army. Adults can take comfort that God’s presence makes ordinary ground holy.
Avoid telling children that they must take off their shoes every time they pray or enter a church, since the text describes a specific moment with Joshua. Focus instead on the attitude of respect and reverence that the story teaches, not on a rule about shoes.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You are with us wherever we go. Help us to remember that You are holy, and to show You respect when we come to You. Take away the things that weigh us down, and make us new. Help us trust You like Joshua did. Amen.
