Children’s Lesson for March 20, 2020
Joshua 1
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or scared? Have you ever felt alone? Of course you have! All
of us have felt scared or alone from time to time, but the Bible tells us that God will be with us
always. He will always help us when we are scared or feeling alone.
In the Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1, we learn of the story of Joshua.
The Lord called to a young Joshua to follow Moses as leader of his people. Moses had
been leading the Israelites out of Egypt and to the promised land, Canaan. After almost
40 years of travel, Moses was a lot older. The Bible says that Moses was 120 years old
when he died. God needed someone younger to take over the leadership of this huge
nation of people and to lead the people into the land of Canaan. Can you imagine the
pressure Joshua must have felt? He was to follow one of the greatest prophets and
leaders of the Bible - a man who had seen God face to face - Moses! Those are big
shoes to fill! Joshua would be leading a HUGE nation of people to their new home, and
I’m sure Joshua was afraid and doubtful. Joshua was encouraged seven times within
these chapters of the Bible to "be strong and courageous." This was spoken to him
over and over again as he became the leader of a group of people who were tired and
discouraged. Imagine, traveling through the desert for 40 years, living in tents, eating
quail and manna each and every day. Imagine never having a home to go to. For
years, the Israelites had traveled through the desert with hopes of reaching the land
God had promised them. They traveled with their families having only what they could
carry with them. Can you imagine how the Israelites felt as they traveled in the desert
for 40 years? What would you be thinking? The Israelites had yet to see that promised
land when their faithful leader, Moses, died and a new, young man, Joshua, took his
place. Joshua was strong and he was definitely courageous. He obeyed the calling and
leading of the Lord and saw the people enter the promised land.
"Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all of Israel, 'Be strong
and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn
to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord
who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not
fear or be dismayed.'" Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Just as God was with Joshua and the Israelites, God is with us! We need only to pray
to Him and ask Him for his help, love, and guidance.
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I
will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Sometimes, we see things on the news that are scary. Sometimes, we hear adults
talking about things that are scary. We need to remember that God is with us and is
watching everything. God will never leave us. He will help us - always - just as He
once helped Joshua and the Israelites.
You are loved,
Ms. Shantelle
Ask a parent to help you print off the activity sheets for this lesson. You can find them here.
