This lesson teaches children that God chose Aaron and his sons to serve Him as priests and made them holy for that important work. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God makes His people holy and sets them apart to serve Him. He does the work of making us special, and we get to serve Him with our whole hearts.
Memory Verse
Exodus 29:45
I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
(WEB)
Hold both hands over your heart, then cross your arms and tap your shoulders gently as you say the words. Doing the same motion each time helps children remember that God lives with His people.
The Story: Exodus 29 for Kids
God gave Moses a special job for his brother Aaron and Aaron’s sons. These men would be priests, which means they would serve God in His tent and help the people come close to Him. God told Moses exactly how to get them ready for this holy work.
First, Moses brought Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting. He washed them with water to make them clean. Then he dressed Aaron in special clothes, a coat, a robe, a fancy vest, and a beautiful breastplate. He put a turban and a holy crown on Aaron’s head.
Next, Moses poured special oil on Aaron’s head to show that God had chosen him. He also dressed Aaron’s sons in coats and belts and tied headbands on them. Each of them became a priest in this way.
Then came the offerings. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the heads of a young bull and two rams. These animals were offered to God, and blood was put on the altar to show that the people needed to be made right with Him. God said, “I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.”
Finally, God gave the people a rule to remember. Every morning and every evening, a lamb would be offered on the altar. This was a daily reminder that God wanted to meet with His people all the time.
Read It Together
Exodus 29:1-3
1 “This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest’s office: take one young bull and two rams without defect, 2 unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil: you shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bull and the two rams.
(WEB)
Point out that God told Moses to prepare everything carefully. Ask children what they think it means to get ready for something very special, like a birthday party or a big game.
Exodus 29:9
You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them: and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute: and you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.
(WEB)
Show children the phrase about the priesthood belonging to Aaron and his sons forever. Explain that God was giving them a special job that would be passed down to their families.
Exodus 29:43-44
43 There I will meet with the children of Israel; and the place shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar: Aaron also and his sons I will sanctify, to minister to me in the priest’s office.
(WEB)
Point out that God says He will meet with His people and make the place holy. Explain that God Himself does the making holy, and His people belong to Him.
Talk About It
- What did Moses do to get Aaron and his sons ready to serve God?
- Why do you think God wanted the priests to wear special clothes?
- What does it mean that God wanted to dwell among His people?
- How can we show God that we belong to Him in our everyday lives?
- Why do you think God wanted His people to remember Him every morning and evening?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Priest’s Breastplate
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and gems or colored stickers if you have them. Ask each child to draw a large square on the paper and decorate it with colors and shapes. Explain that the priests wore a breastplate with stones on it, and each stone reminded them of God’s people. Let children talk about what they would put on their own breastplate to remind them of God.
Priest Dress-Up Relay
You will need a few old shirts, scarves, and belts, plus a bowl of water and a cup. Divide the children into two teams and have them race to put on the clothes one piece at a time. Between turns, pretend to wash their hands with the water. Talk about how God made the priests clean and ready for holy work.
Take-Home Morning Prayer Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a rubber band. Write “God is with me” on one side and “I belong to God” on the other. Give each child a card to keep by their bed or in their backpack. Encourage them to read it each morning and evening, just as God’s people remembered Him every day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that holiness is God’s gift and His work. Aaron and his sons did not make themselves holy. God set them apart, and the sacrifices pointed to the need for cleansing and a relationship with a holy God. Christians see in these offerings a foreshadowing of Jesus, who is the perfect priest and the final sacrifice.
Avoid overstating the animal sacrifices to children. Keep the focus on God’s desire to dwell with His people and make them His own. Be careful not to make the lesson sound frightening, and do not spend long on the details of blood or the parts of the animals.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for making us Your special people. Help us remember that You are with us every day, morning and evening. Show us how to serve You with our hearts and live as people who belong to You. Amen.
