This lesson teaches children that God is fair and that he made cities of refuge so a person who hurt someone by accident could be kept safe. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is fair, and he takes care of people who make mistakes. He wants every life protected and every wrong handled with justice and mercy.
Memory Verse
Numbers 35:15
For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out flat, then bring them together slowly in front of your chest, as if you are closing a door to keep someone safe. Say the verse while you do it, and let the motion remind you that God makes safe places for people.
The Story: Numbers 35 for Kids
God spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab, near the Jordan River, just before the people of Israel were going to enter the land God promised them. God gave Moses a special job to pass on to the people. The Levites were the family of priests who helped with God’s worship, and they did not get a large piece of land like the other families. God told Moses to give them cities to live in, with open fields around each city for their animals.
Then God talked about a very serious thing. Sometimes a person would hurt someone by accident, and the other person would die. In those days, a family member of the person who died might want to take revenge. God did not want innocent people to be hurt in anger, so he told Moses to set up six special cities. These were called cities of refuge, which means safe places.
God said that anyone who hurt someone by accident, without hate in his heart, could run to one of these cities and stay safe there. A person who had done a bad thing on purpose could not hide there. Judges would look carefully at what happened, so that everyone was treated fairly. God wanted his people to tell the truth and to protect the innocent.
God also said that a person who stayed in the city of refuge would be safe until the high priest died. After that, he could go home. Then God gave a reason for all these rules. He said, “Do not make the land unclean with blood.” God lives among his people, so they must care about every life and keep their land holy.
Read It Together
Numbers 35:9-11
9 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
(WEB)
Point out that God spoke to Moses and then gave clear instructions about the cities. Ask the children why God would plan a safe place before the people ever needed one, and what that tells them about God’s care.
Numbers 35:24-25
24 Then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. 25 The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
(WEB)
Show the children that the people were supposed to judge carefully and protect the one who had made a mistake. Explain that God wants fairness, and that every person’s situation deserves to be looked at honestly.
Numbers 35:33-34
33 “‘So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the middle of which I dwell; for I, the LORD, dwell in the middle of the children of Israel.’”
(WEB)
Point out that God says the land must not be made unclean by blood, and that he lives among his people. Help the children see that God cares about how we treat life and that he is always present with his people.
Talk About It
- Why do you think God made special cities where people could be safe?
- What does it mean to be fair to someone, even when they make a mistake?
- How can you show that you care about keeping people safe at home or at school?
- Why do you think God wanted the judges to look carefully at what really happened?
- What is one way you can remember that God is always with you?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Safe City
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a city with walls, houses, a gate, and a sign that says “Safe Place.” Talk about what makes a place feel safe, and let the children add their own details, like a garden, a well, or a friendly neighbor standing at the gate.
Refuge Run
You will need masking tape or chairs to mark a starting line and a safe zone across the room. Explain that the safe zone is like a city of refuge. Let the children run from the start to the safe zone, and when they get there, have them stand still and say the memory verse together. Keep it lively, and remind them that the safe zone is a place of peace.
Safe Place Card
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a small envelope for each child. Have each child write or draw one thing that helps them feel safe, such as a parent’s hug or a night light. Slip the card in the envelope and encourage them to keep it on a shelf or in a backpack. Explain that God is our safe place at all times.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God cares deeply about justice and about protecting life. The cities of refuge reveal a God who distinguishes between accidents and intentional harm, who requires fair judgment, and who protects the innocent from cycles of revenge. The chapter also shows that God dwells among his people, which makes the way they treat the land and each other a serious matter.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the details of the legal system or the role of the high priest, since those ideas are complex and not the main point for young learners. Keep the focus on God’s care for people who make mistakes and his desire for fairness and safety in the community.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for being fair and kind to all of us. Thank you for making safe places and for caring about every life. Help us to be honest and gentle with the people around us. Help us to remember that you are always with us. Amen.
