In this lesson, children learn that God knows every person and every family by name, even when they are counted as a large crowd. The lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short activity.
Big Idea
God knows each of his people by name. Nobody is forgotten, not even the smallest family in the crowd.
Memory Verse
Psalm 147:4
He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
(WEB)
Have children hold up one finger for each star they can name in the air, then open their arms wide as if they are counting a whole sky full of them. Say the verse together while the arms stay open, then fold them gently on the word “name.”
The Story: Numbers 26 for Kids
After a terrible sickness had swept through the camp, God told Moses and the priest Eleazar to count the people again. The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for a long time, and they were now standing on the plains of Moab, close to the river Jordan and the city of Jericho. God wanted to know how many grown men were ready to go out and fight for the land he had promised them.
So Moses and Eleazar gathered the whole crowd and began to count them, tribe by tribe and family by family. The Reubenites came first, and Moses named each family one by one. Then came the Simeonites, the Gadites, and the tribe of Judah, and each group was counted with care.
Some of the names in this chapter come with sad stories. Korah and his followers had rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and God had judged them. The chapter remembers that rebellion, but it also says that the sons of Korah did not die. God kept track of them, even in the middle of a hard story.
When the counting was done, God spoke to Moses and said that the land would be shared out among the tribes. Bigger families would receive a bigger piece, and smaller families would receive a smaller piece. Every family was counted, and every family had a place in God’s plan.
The Levites were counted too, and their families were named as well. Among them were Moses, Aaron, and their sister Miriam, whose family line is written down with care. Nothing was left out. God saw each person and remembered each one.
Read It Together
Numbers 26:1-2
1 After the plague, the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go out to war in Israel.”
(WEB)
Point out that God begins by speaking to Moses and asking for a count of the people. Ask children to notice that God is the one who starts the counting, which shows that he is paying attention to his people.
Numbers 26:53-54
53 “To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.
(WEB)
Explain that God promised to give each tribe land that matched its size. Point out the word “according,” which means God treats each family fairly and in a way that fits who they are.
Numbers 26:59
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
(WEB)
Show children that the names of Amram, Jochebed, Aaron, Moses, and Miriam appear here. Explain that God remembers whole families, including the people who would later lead his people.
Talk About It
- Why do you think God wanted the Israelites to be counted one family at a time?
- What does it feel like to be remembered by someone, and how do you think God remembers you?
- Even though Korah rebelled, God did not forget his sons. What does that tell us about God?
- Why do you think God gave the bigger tribes more land and the smaller tribes less?
- Who is one person in your family whose name you want to remember this week, and why?
Activity Ideas
Family Name Tree Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a large tree and write the names of their family members on the branches, one name per branch. Talk about how God knows each name on the tree, from the oldest grandparent to the youngest baby. Let children add a small heart next to each name to show that God loves them.
Counting Steps Game
You will need a open space and a few friends or family members. Ask players to line up, then have the leader call out family groups, such as “Judah, step forward” or “Reuben, step forward.” As each group steps out, the leader says the name of each member aloud and counts them together. Let children take turns being the leader so everyone has a chance to call out a family.
Take-Home Name Card
You will need index cards, a marker, and a small ribbon or string. Write each child’s name on a card and tie the ribbon through a hole at the top so it can hang from a bedpost or doorknob. Encourage children to read their name each night before bed and remember that God knows them by name. Send the card home with a short note reminding the family of this lesson.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s careful counting is more than a list of numbers. Each name stands for a real family with a real place in God’s plan. The story of Korah’s rebellion and the survival of his sons also reminds us that God’s faithfulness reaches beyond human failure, and that he keeps track of people even when their history is complicated.
Avoid overstating the idea that God gives everyone exactly what they deserve based on size or strength. The land was divided by lot, and the chapter does not present the size of a tribe as a reward for good behavior. Keep the focus on God knowing and remembering each person, rather than on who received more.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for knowing each of us by name. Thank you for remembering our families and for paying attention to every one of us, big or small. Help us to remember that we are never forgotten by you. Amen.
