The Wilderness

Lesson 1

You may have experienced a scary moment as you entered the class today. Who is or has been scared of spiders? What about snakes? What other things might children be afraid of?

As we go through each of these images. Give them a scary rating out of ten by holding up your fingers. 1 for not scary 10 for terrifying.
Did you know that the phrase "Do not be afraid," or variations of it, appears 365 times in the Bible? That's one for every day of the year!

Have a look at the Epic Timeline you have displayed on your classroom wall. Of what might Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses have been afraid of? God said to them "Do not be afraid..."

When might it be good to feel fear?
When might it be bad?

Fear can keep you safe, but too much fear or fear of the wrong things can stop you from having or trying new experiences.

Read together and add this verse to your Treasure Verse ring.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Moses all had good reasons to be afraid, but they chose not to fear but rather to trust God. That is why God made them great and gave them a land to live in and call their own. It was time for the nation of Israel to return to this land God had given them, but to do that they would need to learn to trust him and not be afraid like their ancestors before them.

Either talk through as a class on the screen or you will get a copy of the images on the left.

Briefly review the Israelites' situation in each of the four illustrations.

What did God do for the people in each of those images?

Teaching Point: In every situation where the people were in need and afraid, God protected them and provided for them, so that they would trust Him and not be afraid.

Lesson 2

Your teacher will read you a story while you look at the pictures. Listen carefully and see if you can work out what God wanted to do for His people and what their response was.

The Great Rebellion PART ONE pictures:

PART TWO Pictures

Canaan - The Promised Land

Teaching Points:

The cloud/fire symbolising God's presence was leading them.
It was only a short distance to travel to the border of Canaan.
The people did not feel confident and wanted more information.
A man from each tribe was chosen, including Caleb and Joshua.
They were gone for 40 days and saw great things produced in the land.
The community believed the 10 rather than the two - Joshua and Caleb.
It was a rebellion against God Himself after all He had done for them already.
Moses asked God to forgive the people
God sent them back to the wilderness, one year for each of the 40 days.
God would use this time to teach Israel not to be afraid - to trust Him.
Those who were fearful would die in the desert and their children would enter the Promised Land.

Lesson 3

Why did the Israelite people refuse to go into the Promised Land?

Your teacher will read the following Bible texts. You will listen closely to find out what word is used over and over again to understand why they refused:

Numbers 14:9

Deuteronomy 1:2, 29, 39

In your Bible books, rule a line down the middle of a page and across the top of the page to make a T chart. On one side write the title Yes and on the other side write the title No:

In pairs or threes, look up the following Bible verses and record under Yes - the reasons given FOR going.

Record under No - the reasons given for NOT going.

Deuteronomy 1:19-33
Numbers 13
Numbers 14:1-12

Share what you found with the class.

Teaching point:

If you had balancing scales, which side would have the most weight - Yes or No?

It doesn't matter how many reasons are given for one side, if God is with you and tells you to do something, it will outweigh everything else!

The faith factor outweighs the fear factor every time.

Believing one side (human) will lead to fear, but believing God leads to faith!

Together as a class, come up with a sentence summarising the reasons why the Israelites and we have NOTHING to fear.

Write it in your Bible books.

Lessons 4 and 5

The teacher will divide the class into groups. Each group will be given one of the Faith vs. Fear Story Cards. Each group will explore a different story by reading their Bibles, and watching the video clip.

You need to read the story together, discuss the questions on the card and prepare a presentation for the class using one of the following options:

A dramatic reading of the story with different voices
Mime with narration
News report with interviews
Illustrate the story as a series of pictures with captions, etc.
Make a PowerPoint with pictures and commentary

This will continue on to Tuesday next week

Lesson 6

Complete presenting your "Faith versus Fear" stories.

You may like to play the game below which is called "Faith versus Fear":

Teaching Point:

The Israelites were being caught by doubts and fears, and God was showing them that faith (belief/trust) could rescue them. They just needed to believe and stay holding on to Him.

Say Isaiah 41:13 together again (you have already added this to your ring).

Discussion:

What have I learned so far about faith and fear?

Why is faith important?

What could be a solution for the Israelites' fear problem?

Lesson 7

After almost 40 years, God brought Israel back to the border of Canaan. There were kings on that side of the Jordan River who made war with them, but God kept them safe and gave them victory, promising to do the same with their enemies in their new land/home.

Read the following Treasure Verse together and add it to your Treasure Verse ring:

Israel was again on the border of the Promised Land. Find ways God looked after Israel, showing them that He was greater than all of their fears and problems.

Get into groups of 2 or 3.

Your teacher will give your group one of the Bible verses to look up.

When you get your verse, do the following:

Find and read your Bible verse together
Write the verse name and number (where to find it - don't write the whole verse) in your Bible books
Write down how God protected and looked after the Israelites underneath your verse name and number
Share what you found with the class

Bible verses:

Exodus 15:26
Deuteronomy 8:15 and 20
Exodus 15:3 and 6
Deuteronomy 31:7 and 8
Deuteronomy 34:9-12
Exodus 16:4
Deuteronomy 8:3
Deuteronomy 8:4

Lesson 8

Moses was getting old and it was nearly the end of the journey for him. The teacher will read Deuteronomy 31: 2-8

See if you can find Mt. Nebo on this map of Canaan.

As a class read;

Numbers 20: 9-12
Deuteronomy 3: 23-29
Deuteronomy 32: 48-52

Why was Moses not allowed to go into Canaan?

How did Moses feel?

How do you feel about that?

Do you think Moses was afraid? Why/why not?

What reward waited for Moses?

Listen to a story from:

Champions of Faith Book 2 Chapter 13.

A lot of people fear the thought of dying. But when we belong to God, we know that like Moses, we will just sleep a while and then God will wake us for our rewards - to live with Him in the promised land of Heaven forever. Moses trusted fully in God. He had no fears, so he was able to lie down on the ground and go to sleep in complete peace. He would wait for a much better Canaan. His faith was bigger than all his fears.

Lesson 9

Your teacher will read Psalm 56:3, 4 from the Bible.

Listen to the song: You Are My Hiding Place (start from 40 seconds)

Discuss why this song may have been helpful for the Israelites to sing.

Glue the words into your book and highlight your favourite line with a highlighter.

Discuss your favourite line with a partner or the class.

This song uses the words from verse 3.

Listen to the song again while reading the words:

Lesson 10

Your teacher will place the Fear Factor cards around the room.

While listening to "You are My Hiding Place", walk around and consider the different pictures that make you feel fearful.When the music stops, go and stand next to the card that shows the greatest fear you are facing now.

Get into a circle with the same people standing next to your card.

Talk together about how you feel facing this fear.

Do you have an experience to share about this fear?

Once you have finished talking, pray for each other - you may like to say:

"Dear Jesus, please help..........to have the courage to face their fear. Help...........to know that you are always with them. Amen"

Your teacher will give you an encouragement card.

Write your name at the top.

Get the rest of your fear circle to sign their name at the bottom.

Glue this card into your Bible books and feel blessed!

Lesson 11

In pairs make a list of things that could be found in the desert/wilderness.
The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert.
Look through the images in the powerpoint and check off things from your list or add more.

3.2_thewilderness _nad2.pptx

Brainstorm and record describing words for this environment.
If the wilderness was to be a picture-symbol of things that happen in our lives, what might it symbolise? (Danger, hard, sad, or frightening times - negative experiences.)

God wanted to change the Israelites' picture-symbol and make their desert experience positive: it was a place where God provided everything they needed.
In pairs review a list of all things the Israelites had to trust God to provide (food, warmth, shelter, water, sanctuary). They had to trust Him in all their challenges. They had 40 extra years to learn that they did not need to be afraid.

The Israelites didn't stay in one place in the wilderness. God led them while they were there. This means He led them to their places of challenge. He wanted to show them what it was like to completely depend on Him for everything. He then led them into the promised land. Read Deuteronomy 8:2

Can you think of any time when your life felt like a desert/wilderness? Share.
How could the wilderness lessons the Israelites were learning apply to you and me?

There are challenges and troubles (desert/wilderness times) for all of us along the journey that we walk with God. Discuss what is means to trust in God when we feel afraid.

As a class brainstorm a list of coping strategies when we are in hard times (pray, read promises, share your problem with someone for encouragement, listen to advice from wise people who have God as a Friend, ask someone to be with you, think and speak positively, recite a Scripture verse, sing an encouraging song, etc.)

Lesson 12

Look at these pictures about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years:

As a class, take 40 giant steps around the large or small oval.

Each step represents the 40 years the Israelites wandered through the Wilderness.

Count the steps together and stop after every 10 steps. Think of 4 different times God helped the Israelites overcome their fears as they wandered through the wilderness:

What did the people need?
What was the fear?
What did God do about it?
What did He want them to learn?

All form one circle. Say together:

"We are learning to trust God when we are afraid."

Finish by playing a trust and rescue game such as "stuck in the mud"!

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