In this lesson, children learn that God keeps His promises and that we can obey Him even when we don’t understand everything. Joshua 5 is a story for ages 5 to 11, and it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is faithful, and when we obey Him and worship Him, we stand on holy ground with Him. He is the one who makes new starts possible.
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)
Have children stand up, then slowly take one step forward as they say the verse. Then have them slide one foot back and forth on the floor, like they are taking off a shoe. Doing the motion together helps the words stick.
The Story: Joshua 5 for Kids
The people of Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, and God had made it happen. When the kings of the land heard about it, they were scared. Their hearts melted, and they had no courage left to fight.
Then God spoke to Joshua. He told him to make sharp knives out of flint stone. God wanted every boy among the Israelites to be circumcised again, as a sign that they belonged to Him. Joshua made the knives and did what God asked, at a hill that was later called the hill of the foreskins.
Many years before, the people had left Egypt, but they had not trusted God. So God let that generation wander in the wilderness for forty years until they all died. Their children grew up in the desert, and now it was their turn to obey. Once everyone had healed, they stayed in the camp for a little while.
God said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from you.” So the place was named Gilgal, which sounds like the word for rolling. The Israelites camped there, and they celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month.
The next day, something new happened. The manna that had fallen from heaven every morning stopped. The people ate food grown right there in the land of Canaan, because God had brought them home.
One day, Joshua saw a man standing near Jericho with a sword in his hand. Joshua asked him, “Are you on our side, or on the side of our enemies?” The man answered that he was the commander of the Lord’s army. Joshua fell to the ground and worshiped. The man said, “Take off your shoes, for the place where you stand is holy.”
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 enemy kings were scared because they had heard what God had done. Ask children how news of God’s power might make people feel, and remind them that God is always in control.
Joshua 5:6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice. The LORD swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
(WEB)
Explain that God promised the land to His people, and He kept His promise even when the people were slow to trust Him. Show children that God’s promises do not depend on our being perfect.
Joshua 5:12
The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
(WEB)
Point out that the manna stopped right when the people started eating food from the land. Talk about how God provides for us in new ways as we grow and move forward with Him.
Talk About It
- What did the kings in the land feel when they heard about the Israelites crossing the river?
- Why do you think God wanted the people to be circumcised again before they went into the land?
- What was special about the place called Gilgal, and why do you think God named it that way?
- Why did the manna stop, and how did the people keep trusting God for their food?
- What does it mean that the place where Joshua stood was holy, and how can we show God respect today?
Activity Ideas
Draw a River Path
You will need paper, crayons, and a pencil. Have children draw a wavy blue line across the page for the Jordan River, then draw a dry path through the middle. Ask them to draw a small tent on the other side and write or draw one thing God did for the people. Let them show their picture to the class and explain it in their own words.
Take Off Your Shoes Game
You will need a small open space and a few pairs of shoes. Call out “holy ground” and have children take off one shoe and place it beside them. Then call out “walk on,” and they step forward one step. Repeat a few times, reminding them that God’s presence makes a place special, and that we can honor Him wherever we are.
Stone Reminder at Home
You will need a smooth stone for each child and a marker. Have children write the word “Gilgal” or draw a small shoe on the stone. Explain that this stone is a reminder that God rolls away shame and keeps His promises. Let them keep the stone on a windowsill or in their pocket to remind them of the story at home during the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God renews His people and keeps His covenant across generations. The circumcision at Gilgal marks a fresh start after the wilderness years, and the stopping of the manna signals that the people had entered a new season of life in the promised land. The appearance of the commander of the Lord’s army reminds us that God’s presence is holy and that worship begins with humility.
When teaching children, avoid implying that God only blesses people who follow every rule perfectly. The story is about God’s faithfulness and His grace to a new generation, not about earning His favor. Keep the focus on trusting God and honoring Him, rather than on fear or harsh consequences.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You always keep Your promises to us. Help us to trust You, even when we don’t understand everything, and help us to honor You wherever we go. Thank You for being with us every day. Amen.
