In this lesson, children learn that God gave the family of Joseph a special land, and that God keeps every promise He makes. This lesson is for children aged 5 to 11, and it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God keeps His promises, and He gives each family a place of their own. When God makes a promise, He always does what He says.
Memory Verse
Joshua 16:1
The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.
(WEB)
Say the verse out loud together, and as you say the word “Jordan,” stretch your arms wide like a river flowing. Then hold your hands together in front of you and say “God gave.” Repeat it three times, growing a little faster each time.
The Story: Joshua 16 for Kids
A long time ago, the people of Israel had finally entered the land that God promised them. Joshua was their leader, and he was helping every family find their own piece of land. Joseph had two sons, named Manasseh and Ephraim, and their families were going to receive land too. Joshua and the leaders drew lots, which was a way of letting God choose the place for each family.
The lot for the family of Joseph went up from the Jordan River, near the city of Jericho. From there, the land climbed up through the hills toward a town called Bethel. The border ran past many towns and villages, all the way down to the big sea on the west side of the land. Ephraim’s family received a strong and beautiful piece of ground to live on.
The land was not always easy to win. Some of the people already living in the area were not sent away. One of the towns, called Gezer, was still home to the Canaanites, and they stayed there for a long time. The children of Ephraim did not drive them all out, and this caused trouble for many years to come.
Even so, God had kept His promise. The families of Joseph had their land, and God had brought them into it. The story reminds us that God was faithful, even when His people were not always faithful in return.
Read It Together
Joshua 16:4
The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
(WEB)
Point out that the children of Joseph each received an inheritance. Explain that an inheritance is a gift that a family receives, and that God wanted every family to have a place to belong.
Joshua 16:5-6
5 This was the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families. The border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth Addar, to Beth Horon the upper. 6 The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah.
(WEB)
Show the children the words that describe the borders of the land. Help them see that God planned the land carefully, with a clear edge for each family.
Joshua 16:10
They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.
(WEB)
Explain that some people did not obey God fully and let the Canaanites stay in Gezer. Ask the children why it matters to finish what God asks us to do, even when it is hard.
Talk About It
- What did God give the family of Joseph in this chapter?
- Why do you think the leaders used lots to choose the land for each family?
- How did God show that He kept His promise to His people?
- What is one promise God has made that you are thankful for?
- What can we do when we find something hard to finish, like the people of Ephraim did?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Map of the Land
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a simple map with a river along one side and a big sea on the other. Mark the places named in the story, such as Jericho and Bethel, and let the children draw a path that the border might follow. Talk about how God planned each family’s place.
Walk the Border Game
You will need masking tape or a piece of string and a open space in your home or classroom. Lay out a long line on the floor to show the border of the land. Have the children walk the line slowly, one at a time, and say a word of thanks each time they reach a new “town.” Remind them that God gave a clear place for every family.
Promise Keeper Card
You will need a sheet of card stock or paper, scissors, and crayons. Fold the paper in half and have each child write “God keeps His promises” on the front. Inside, the child can draw a picture of their own home or a place where they feel safe. Encourage them to take the card home and place it where they will see it each day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s promises are always reliable, even when the details of the story are complicated. The land was divided by God’s direction, and each family received a real place to live. It also shows that God’s people are called to trust Him fully and to finish the work He gives them.
With children, avoid overstating the story’s lessons about the Canaanites in Gezer. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and His care for each family, and gently explain that some people in the story did not fully obey God.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for keeping Your promises to Your people. Help us remember that You always do what You say. Help us trust You when things are hard, and help us finish the work You give us to do. We love You and thank You for our homes and our families. Amen.
