This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises, even when His people are scared and the odds look impossible. It is written for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God always keeps His promises. When we feel afraid, we can trust that He is with us and will help us win the battle.
Memory Verse
Judges 4:14
Deborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
(WEB)
Have the children stand up tall and point forward with one arm each time they say “Go.” Then have them fold their hands and nod slowly as they say “the LORD has gone out before you,” so they remember that God goes ahead of them.
The Story: Judges 4 for Kids
God’s people, the Israelites, had been doing wrong things for a long time. Because of this, God let a mean king named Jabin rule over them. Jabin had a captain named Sisera, and Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots. For twenty years, Sisera made life very hard for God’s people.
At that time, God gave the Israelites a judge named Deborah. She was a prophetess, which means God spoke His messages through her. Deborah sat under a palm tree, and the people came to her to ask for help and to hear what God wanted them to do.
Deborah called a man named Barak and told him that God had a plan. God would bring Sisera and his chariots to the river Kishon, and Barak would win the battle. Barak said, “If you will go with me, then I will go.” Deborah agreed to go with him, but she told him that a woman would be the one to win the victory over Sisera.
Barak led ten thousand men up Mount Tabor. When Sisera heard about it, he gathered his army to fight. Then Deborah told Barak, “Go, for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand.” God made Sisera’s army confused, and they ran away. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran on foot to find a place to hide.
Sisera hid in the tent of a woman named Jael. She gave him milk to drink and told him to rest. While he slept, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer, and Sisera died. That day, God defeated Jabin, and the Israelites grew stronger until Jabin was gone for good.
Read It Together
Judges 4:4-5
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5 She lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
(WEB)
Point out that Deborah was a woman whom God chose to lead His people. Ask the children what it means that the people came to her for help, and remind them that God can use anyone.
Judges 4:8-9
8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
(WEB)
Show the children how Barak was willing to go only if Deborah went with him. Talk about how God helps us when we need a friend to walk beside us through hard things.
Judges 4:23-24
23 So God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel on that day. 24 The hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
(WEB)
Explain that God won the victory, and that the Israelites grew stronger over time. Remind the children that God’s help does not always come all at once, but it always comes.
Talk About It
- What was the job that God gave Deborah, and how did she help the people?
- Why do you think Barak needed Deborah to go with him to the battle?
- What did God tell Barak would happen to Sisera?
- How do you feel when someone reminds you that God is with you?
- When is a time you were scared, and what helped you feel brave?
Activity Ideas
Chariot Drawing Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and cardboard circles for wheels if you have them. Have each child draw a simple chariot and glue on two cardboard circles as wheels. As they work, ask them to draw something that reminds them God is with them, such as a sun, a heart, or a person standing beside them.
Go Ahead Movement Game
Set up a path with chairs or pillows. One child is Barak and the others are the army. Call out “Go!” and have the children walk forward, and then call out “The LORD has gone out before you!” so everyone cheers and raises their hands. Repeat until everyone has had a turn leading.
Tent Peg Take-Home Card
You will need a sheet of paper, a pencil, and a bit of tape. Have each child write or draw a picture of God going ahead of them, then fold the paper into a small tent shape and tape it closed. Encourage them to open it at home each night and tell someone one place they feel brave because God is with them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God keeps His promises even through unlikely people, including a woman judge and a woman who stopped an enemy general. It also shows that God’s people sometimes need encouragement and companions to step out in faith, and that God works through every faithful step.
Be careful not to make the story about Jael’s violence as a model for children. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and His people’s courage, and let older children ask questions about the hard parts of the story with a trusted adult.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You always keep Your promises. Help us to be brave when we feel scared, and remind us that You go ahead of us everywhere we go. Thank You that we never have to face hard things alone. Amen.
