In this lesson, children learn that God keeps every promise He makes, even the ones that take a long time to come true. Joshua 21 tells how the Levite families received their homes in the land of Israel, just as God had said. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God always does what He says. When God makes a promise, He keeps it, and we can trust Him completely, every single time.
Memory Verse
Joshua 21:45
Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out flat, then slowly bring them together and clap once, as if sealing a promise. Say “God keeps His word” each time you clap, and children will remember the verse with their hands as well as their voices.
The Story: Joshua 21 for Kids
Long ago, the people of Israel had finally come into the land God promised them. Each family group had received its own piece of land. But the Levites were different. God had chosen them to serve in His tent and to teach His people, so they did not get one big area of land like the others. Instead, they needed towns to live in.
The leaders of the Levite families walked to the priest Eleazar and to Joshua, the leader of Israel. They spoke to them at Shiloh, and they said, “The LORD told Moses to give us towns to live in, with fields around them for our animals.” Joshua and the other leaders listened carefully to these words.
The people of Israel obeyed what God had commanded. They gave the Levites many towns from their own shares of the land. The Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the Merarites each received their own towns. Some towns came from the tribe of Judah, some from Simeon, and some from other tribes. Forty-eight towns in all were given to the Levites.
Some of the towns were special places of refuge. If a person accidentally caused someone’s death, he could run to one of these towns and be safe while the matter was judged. God set up these towns to protect people who had made an honest mistake.
At the end of the chapter, God gave Israel rest from their enemies. Not one of their enemies could stand against them. God had kept every good promise He spoke to His people, and not one had failed.
Read It Together
Joshua 21:43
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it.
(WEB)
Point out that God gave Israel the land He had promised to their ancestors. Ask children to notice the words “they possessed it, and lived in it,” and explain that God’s promises were not just words but were carried out.
Joshua 21:44
The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that he swore to their fathers. Not a man of all their enemies stood before them. The LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
(WEB)
Show children that God gave His people rest on every side. Explain that God fought for His people and kept them safe from their enemies, just as He had said He would.
Joshua 21:8
The children of Israel gave these cities with their suburbs by lot to the Levites, as the LORD commanded by Moses.
(WEB)
Point out that the people obeyed God’s command to give the Levites their towns. Help children see that God’s people shared what they had because God told them to, and that obedience is part of trusting Him.
Talk About It
- What is a promise that someone has made to you, and how did it feel when they kept it?
- Why do you think God gave the Levites towns instead of a large piece of land like the other families?
- How did the people of Israel show that they trusted God in this chapter?
- What does it tell you about God that He kept every promise He made?
- Is there a promise from God in the Bible that you are glad He kept? Tell us about it.
Activity Ideas
Promise Keeper Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child draw a simple picture of a town with a house, a tree, and a path. On the back, they can write or draw one promise God has kept. Hang the drawings on the wall as a reminder that God keeps His word in every generation.
Towns for the Levites Game
You will need about twelve paper cups or small boxes and a bean bag or soft ball. Place the cups in a row and label some with the words “Levite town.” Children take turns tossing the bean bag into a cup. Each time they land one, they say a word that describes God’s faithfulness, such as “faithful,” “true,” or “strong.” Keep the game moving so children stay engaged.
Promise Card to Take Home
You will need index cards, a pen, and a rubber band. Write “God keeps every promise” on one side of each card, and let children decorate the other side. Encourage them to take the card home and place it somewhere they will see it each day, such as on a bedroom mirror or by the front door. Ask them to tell someone in their family what the card means.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s faithfulness reaches into ordinary details of life, such as where a family will live and how a people will be housed and cared for. The Levites served God’s people in special ways, and God provided for them through the generosity of the whole nation. The chapter closes by stating that not one good promise of God failed, which is a comforting truth for every generation.
Avoid overstating to children that every promise in the Bible applies to them in the same way it applied to Israel. Some promises were given to a particular people at a particular time. Help children understand that God’s character is always trustworthy, while also teaching the specific context of each passage.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You always keep Your promises. Help us to trust You when we wait, and to remember that You never forget what You have said. Help us to be faithful and kind, just like You are. Amen.
