This lesson teaches children that they should ask God for help before making important choices, because the Israelites made a serious mistake when they did not. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Before we make a big decision, we should stop and ask God what He wants us to do. Looking carefully at a situation is not the same as asking God for wisdom.
Memory Verse
Joshua 9:14
The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the LORD’s mouth.
(WEB)
Have children cup their hands together like they are holding a question, then lift them up toward the ceiling. Say the words “They didn’t ask the LORD” slowly as you lift, so children connect the motion with the reminder to pray first.
The Story: Joshua 9 for Kids
The kings of many nations heard how God had helped Israel win battles at Jericho and Ai. They were scared, and they got ready to fight Joshua and his people together. But the people of Gibeon had a different plan. They were nearby, and they had heard about God too.
The Gibeonites dressed up as travelers from a faraway country. They wore old, patched clothes and shoes. They carried dry, moldy bread and torn wineskins, and they told a story about a long journey. They walked into the Israelite camp at Gilgal and said, “We have come from a far country. Please make a promise of peace with us.”
The Israelite leaders looked at the bread and the worn-out clothes. They believed the story. Joshua and the leaders made a peace agreement with them and promised not to hurt them. But they did not ask the LORD what to do first.
Three days later, the Israelites learned the truth. These people lived close by, in towns like Gibeon. Some of the people were angry about the promise, but the leaders said, “We made a promise to them in the LORD’s name, so we will keep it.”
So the Gibeonites were allowed to live, but they had to work for Israel. They cut wood and carried water for the whole community and for the altar of God. Joshua told them, “Why did you trick us?” The Gibeonites answered that they had been afraid, and they were now in Joshua’s hands.
Read It Together
Joshua 9:3-6
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wine skins, 5 and old and patched shoes on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
(WEB)
Point out how the Gibeonites came up with a clever plan and acted like travelers. Ask children whether a clever story is the same as a true one, and how we can tell the difference.
Joshua 9:7-8
7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us? How could we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
(WEB)
Notice that the Israelites asked a question, “Who are you?”, but they did not ask God. Explain that asking people is good, but asking God is important too.
Joshua 9:18-19
18 The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes. 19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
(WEB)
Show children that the leaders kept their word even when it was hard. Talk about how a promise made in God’s name matters, and how we should think carefully before we make promises.
Talk About It
- What did the Gibeonites do to make the Israelites believe them?
- Why do you think the Israelites did not ask God before they made the promise?
- What is something you might need to ask God about this week?
- How can you tell if someone is telling you the truth?
- What did the leaders do when they found out the truth, and why was that hard?
Activity Ideas
Patched Clothes Craft
You will need paper, crayons, scissors, and glue. Have each child draw a simple outline of a traveler’s robe or sandal on paper. Then have them cut small patches from colored paper and glue them on, reminding children that the Gibeonites wore patched clothes to trick Israel. Talk about how the patches made the travelers look like they came from far away.
Stop and Ask Game
You will need a small bell or a clap signal. Have children walk around the room as if they are making decisions. When you ring the bell, they must freeze and say, “Lord, what should I do?” before they move again. Play a few rounds and talk about how pausing to pray is a helpful habit.
Ask First Card
You will need an index card, a marker, and a small craft stick. Have children write “Ask God First” on the card and tape or glue it to the craft stick to make a bookmark or a reminder sign. Encourage them to place it somewhere they will see it each morning, like on a bedroom mirror or a backpack zipper. Explain that it can help them remember to pray before making choices.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s people can be deceived when they act on appearances and do not seek the LORD’s counsel first. The leaders were not wicked, but they were careless, and they had to live with the results of their decision. The story also shows that God’s people honored their word even when a mistake had been made.
Avoid suggesting to children that the Gibeonites were simply bad people who deserved punishment. The text presents them as people who were afraid and acted out of fear, and the lesson is mainly about the Israelites’ failure to ask God. Keep the focus on the importance of prayer and wisdom.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You for always being ready to help us. Help us remember to ask You before we make big choices, and help us tell the truth and keep our promises. Show us what is right, and make us wise. Amen.
