In this lesson, children learn that God keeps his promises even when a problem looks too big to handle. Numbers 13 tells how twelve spies explored the land God promised Israel, and how ten of them focused on the giants instead of God. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is bigger than any giant, so we can trust him when a task feels too hard. When we remember who is on our side, we can be brave even when we feel small.
Memory Verse
Numbers 13:30
Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”
(WEB)
Have children stand tall with their hands on their hips, then raise both arms over their heads like they are saying “we can do it.” Practice this motion together while saying the verse out loud, and let each child show their own strong pose.
The Story: Numbers 13 for Kids
God told Moses to send some men to look over the land of Canaan. God had promised this land to the people of Israel. Moses chose twelve leaders, one from each tribe, and sent them off to explore. Among them were Caleb and Joshua, two men who would later show great courage.
The spies walked through the land for forty days. They saw rich, green fields and big bunches of grapes so heavy that two men had to carry one on a pole between them. They also brought back pomegranates and figs. The land was everything God had said it would be.
But the spies also saw tall, strong people living in walled cities. Ten of the spies got scared. One of them said, “We were like grasshoppers next to them!” They forgot that God was with them.
Caleb stood up in front of everyone and said, “Let us go up at once and take the land, because we can do it!” But the other men would not listen. They told the people that the land was too hard to conquer, and the people began to cry and complain.
Caleb and Joshua trusted God, even though the giants looked big. They knew that the promise came from God, and God always keeps his word. Their faith was different from the faith of the others.
Read It Together
Numbers 13:2
“Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.”
(WEB)
Point out that God gave this land to the people of Israel before anyone went to look at it. Explain that God was the one who started this plan, and he was already faithful to his people before they ever set foot in Canaan.
Numbers 13:27-28
27 They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.
(WEB)
Show children that the spies told the truth about the giants and the big cities, but they left out the truth about God’s promise. Ask them to notice how we can tell the facts without remembering who is in charge.
Talk About It
- What do you think the spies felt when they saw the giants in the land?
- How did Caleb’s words show that he trusted God?
- What is something that feels too big for you right now, and how can God help with it?
- Why do you think the other spies forgot about God’s promise?
- How can we remind each other to be brave when we feel small?
Activity Ideas
Giant Grasshopper Drawing
You will need paper, crayons, and green construction paper. Have each child draw a picture of themselves standing next to a big giant, then add a small grasshopper for the spies’ fear. On the back, have them write or draw one thing God can help them do bravely. Display the pictures to show that God is bigger than any giant.
Brave Explorer Walk
Set up a short obstacle course with pillows, chairs, and a rope using items you already have at home or in class. One child at a time walks the course while the others cheer, “God is with you!” Pause at the middle and ask them to stand tall like Caleb before finishing. Talk about how the cheering helped them feel braver.
Grape Cluster Reminder
Give each child a paper plate, a few cotton balls, and a marker. Ask them to glue the cotton balls in a cluster to look like grapes, then write “God keeps his promises” on the plate. Let them take it home to put on the fridge or by their bed. This helps them remember the good land God gave and that God always comes through.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows how fear can cloud faith when we focus on the size of our problems instead of the size of God. The ten spies saw real danger, and their report was not entirely false, but they left God out of the picture. Caleb and Joshua saw the same things and drew a different conclusion because they trusted the Lord’s word.
Avoid suggesting to children that God will always make their problems disappear or that trusting him means they will never be afraid. The people of Israel still wandered in the wilderness for many years after this moment. Focus on God’s faithfulness and presence, not on promises of easy outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you that you are bigger than any giant we face. Help us to remember your promises when things look scary, and give us courage like Caleb’s. Help us trust you every day, even when we feel small. Amen.
