July 20
Pre K-1 | Lesson 67

God Gives the Victory

God gave the Israelites victories when they were obedient.

Lesson Sections

Overview

Prepare

Come On In

Memory Verse

Studying God’s Word

Story Time

Song Time

Group Prayer

Lesson Media

God Is Faithful

God Told Joshua

Joshua 1:9

Bryan Osborne Lesson 67 Teacher Video

Overview

Prepare

Come On In

Memory Verse

Studying God’s Word

Story Time

Song Time

Group Prayer

Lesson Resources

Additional Memory Verses list

Additional Songs list

Books of the Bible Flashcards

Books of the Bible Poster

Bop and Pop Cards

Flip Chart Prayer Page

Flip Chart Song Time Lyrics Page

Follow the Leader Cards

Funny Voices Strips

Game Board

Hiding Sins Object Lesson

Joshua 1:9 Flip Chart Memory Verse Page

Justin and Jessie Coloring Sheet

Justin & Jessie Story

Lesson 66 Flip Chart

Lesson Flip Chart

Lesson Illustrations

Question Cards

Review Activity Sheet

Review Questions

Student Take Home Sheets

Sunshine Cookies

Highlight

Overview

Lesson Focus

God let the Israelites lose the first battle at Ai to point out Achan’s sin and show them that victory could come only through complete obedience. God gave the Israelites victory over Ai and then over five Amorite kings, making the sun stand still until they defeated their enemies.

Key Passages

Joshua 7:4, 7:11, 10:11

Memory Verse

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Prepare to Share

Scriptural Background

Prepare to teach by preparing your heart. Read the key passages for this lesson along with this background.

God gave Joshua and the Israelites a great victory at the battle of Jericho. They saw God deliver the city into their hands by collapsing fortified walls. Joshua commanded the men entering the city to destroy everything except Rahab and her family and certain precious metals, which the men were to bring to the Lord’s treasury (Joshua 6:17–19). The gold, silver, bronze, and iron objects were to be taken to the priests. One man, Achan of the tribe of Judah, disobeyed Joshua’s command and took items from the spoil of Jericho, causing God’s judgment to fall on all the people (Joshua 7:1). Joshua sent only 3,000 fighting men to the small city of Ai, but his men were defeated and 36 were killed (Joshua 7:4–5). The people were terrified, and Joshua and the Israelite elders mourned before the Lord. They knew that without the Lord on their side they would soon be destroyed.

God called Joshua to root out the sin in the camp, for that was why they had suffered a defeat. Using lots controlled by God, Joshua identified the guilty man among them as Achan. Achan confessed to taking a valuable cloak, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold from Jericho (Joshua 7:16–21). Joshua sent men to find the items, which were buried in Achan’s tent. With his sin exposed, Achan, his family, and all his possessions were taken to the Valley of Achor (trouble) and destroyed by the people.

God turned from his anger and commanded Joshua to attack Ai again, this time with the whole fighting force and an ambush. God promised to deliver the city into Joshua’s hands (Joshua 8:7). God gave the victory, and Joshua followed God’s commands to destroy the city and its people. He burned the city and hanged the king of Ai.

News of Israel’s victories reached the surrounding cities. Men in the city of Gibeon feared Israel and devised a way to trick them. They pretended to be from a distant land and came to the Israelites’ camp at Gilgal. Joshua and the leaders failed to pray for guidance, and they were fooled by the Gibeonites’ dry bread and worn clothing. They promised to let them live (Joshua 9:8–15). The Israelites were angry with their leaders when the deception was discovered, but Joshua refused to let them destroy the Gibeonites. Instead, he made them Israel’s slaves (Joshua 9:23–27). But God used even this failure for his glory. Five Amorite kings surrounded Gibeon to attack them, forcing Israel to come to their aid. God again promised to deliver these enemies over to Joshua, and God threw them into a panic and then hurled hailstones down on them (Joshua 10:10–11). The Amorites fled. Not wanting any to escape when night fell, Joshua prayed and asked God to give him more daylight to pursue his enemies. God answered in a miraculous display of power over creation—the sun stood still and did not set for about another day (Joshua 10: 12–14). The coalition of kings was destroyed, and Israel took over their lands and cities in the southern area of Canaan. God fought for Israel and kept his promises of victory.

Historical/Apologetics Background

For many years, archaeologists excavated a site called et-Tell, which they believed was the Ai of Joshua. But evidence from this site did not line up well with details in Joshua 7–8, so they concluded the Bible was wrong. As is often the case, further investigation revealed that these scholars were in error. They were digging at the wrong site! A team of biblical archaeologists and researchers found an alternative site 9 miles north of Jerusalem called Khirbet el-Maqatir. The geography here fit the biblical account well, so they began excavations. Their findings revealed many reasons to believe this location was the lost city of Ai:

A hill lies north of Ai, which matches Joshua’s force camping on the north side with a ravine between them and Ai (Joshua 8:11, 8:13).
A fortress gate faces north, which matches Joshua’s description as he “drew near before the city” from the north (Joshua 8:11).
A spot for the ambush, which is a valley west of Maqatir that could easily hide Joshua’s ambush troops (Joshua 8:9, 8:12).
The pottery and walls match Joshua’s time period.
There is evidence of fire in the form of ash layers, heated bedrock, and burned stones and pottery (Joshua 8:19–20).

These evidences and more confirm what we already know—that the Bible can be trusted in every detail. Man’s ideas change, but the Word of the living God stands firm.

Another miracle under attack and often misunderstood is Joshua’s long day, when God made the sun stand still during his battle against the Amorites (Joshua 10:12–14). One false story that has circulated for decades is that NASA computers have “found” Joshua’s missing day. The story began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the space program was in full swing. Supposedly, a computer at NASA calculated the positions of the earth, moon, and other solar system bodies far into the past and the future. A glitch was found in the fifteenth century BC, indicating that a day was missing from time. But this missing day could be explained by the biblical account of Joshua. As exciting as this story may sound, it is just that—a story. The main problem is that a computer can’t find a glitch in the positions of solar system bodies because we must know exactly where things were at some time in the past prior to Joshua’s day so the calculated positions can be compared. Today, computers can be used to determine how much the earth’s rotation has slowed over time due to the tidal interaction between the earth and the moon. They can also calculate into the past when and where total solar eclipses should have occurred on the earth. But locations and rotation speed can’t be compared when we don’t know locations of solar bodies from before Joshua’s time.

Despite the fact that NASA computers have not proven the account of Joshua's long day, that does not mean the miracle didn't occur. We have the inspired Word of God, which tells us this day happened: “There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel” (Joshua 10:14). We serve a mighty God!

Highlight

Prepare

Lesson Preparation

Come On In

Choose one of the following activities and print/gather necessary items.

Come On In Game:

Bible Book Match

Flashcard Take Away

I Have You Have

Popcorn

Bible Book Match

Teams flip over flashcards to make matches.

Materials

Books of the Bible Flashcards
Tape or poster putty

Instructions

Print two sets of flashcards. Lay the flashcards out on the floor facedown or attach them to the wall. Divide the class into two teams. Teams will take turns choosing two flashcards, turning them over to see if they match. If they do not match, flip the flashcards back over. Teammates can help each other decide which flashcards to choose. You may want to have the whole class play this game together.

You can make it more challenging by printing four sets of flashcards and playing the game with twice as many flashcards to choose from. As students find matches, discuss each Bible book (give a few details from the back of the color Flashcards if you have those).

Flashcard Take Away

Start with all of the flashcards—but wait! What happens when flashcards are taken away? Can students still say them in order?

Materials

Books of the Bible Flashcards
Tape or poster putty

Instructions

Print one set of flashcards. Put them in order on the wall or board as you recite them together. Choose a student to remove one card. Recite the books again. Continue to choose students to remove flashcards one at time, reciting the whole list of books between each one. When all of the flashcards are gone, see if they can say the whole set together!

I Have You Have

Students will respond to each other with the name of the book on their flashcard in the correct order. See if they can get through the whole set without starting over!

Materials

Books of the Bible Flashcards

Instructions

Print any set of 10 flashcards for an easy amount to remember. But if you have a larger class, add enough flashcards so every student has one or divide into groups. Have students sit around a table or in a circle. Pass the flashcards out to the students. The student with the first book in order will say the name of the book on his card and the next student will respond, for example, “I have Genesis, who has Exodus?” The student with the next card will respond with “I have Exodus, who has Leviticus?” You could play a variation of this by having the whole class ask the question. For example, the student says, “I have Genesis.” Then the whole class can ask, “Who has Exodus?” Continue through the set.

Each student will respond and repeat until everyone has said their card. Allow students to help each other and to use the poster.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Popcorn

Students “pop” up as they say the name of the book on their flashcard. Start out slowly and see how fast you can go!

Materials

Books of the Bible Flashcards

Instructions

Print enough flashcards for each student to have at least one. Have students sit around a table or squat down in a circle. Pass out the flashcards in order to the students. Have the student with the first book on his card begin by popping up and saying the name of the book. As you go around the circle, have each student take turns “popping” up as they say the next book.

Once you get to the end of the set of flashcards you are working on, go around again and have the students sit back down when they say their book.

After the students have practiced the order of the books, you could also mix it up by having students sit out of order and see how well they remember the order, popping up when it’s their turn to say the name of their book.

Review Activity Sheet*

Turn on some lesson/memory verse songs for students to listen to while they play with play dough, puzzles, blocks, etc.*

Lesson Time

You will need the following items:

Lesson Flip Chart
Books of the Bible Poster
Bible
Stuffed animal for prayer time
Print one set of Lesson Illustrations

Lesson Review

Print one copy of the Review Questions.

Choose a Lesson Review Game and print/gather necessary items

Basket Toss

Board Game

Bible Baseball

Bowling

Goofy Golf

Racetrack

Toss for It

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Basket Toss

Students give the correct answer and toss the beanbags to see how many points they can collect for their team. Each basket has greater points.

Materials

Review Questions
Two beanbags
Three laundry baskets or boxes
Masking tape

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Use masking tape to make a tossing line. Bring in three laundry baskets or boxes. Set the baskets in a line, making each one a little farther away from the tossing line. Label the baskets with 5, 10, and 25 points so the farther away it is the higher the score.

Divide the class into two or more teams depending on size. Have the teams line up at the tossing line. Take turns asking the first students in line from each team a review question. When a student answers correctly, he will have a chance to toss a beanbag into a basket then go to the end of the line. If the beanbag misses, there are no points scored. If someone does not answer correctly, he may ask his teammates for help. Keep track of the scores for each team on the board. Continue until all the questions have been answered. Repeat questions if necessary.

Board Game

Teams will answer questions and make their way to the finish on the Game Board.

Materials

Review Questions
Game Board (provided in the Teacher Kit)
Dice, numbered cards, or spinner
Buttons or other small items as game pieces for each team

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Divide the class into teams.

Team members will take turns answering the review questions. If they answer correctly, they will roll the dice, spin, or draw a numbered card and move that number of spaces on the Game Board. Follow the directions on the spaces to move ahead, fall back, or switch places with another team. If someone does not know or does not answer correctly, he may ask his teammates for help. Alternate between teams as long as time permits, repeating questions if necessary. The first team to make it all the way to the Finish wins.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Bible Baseball

Students will answer questions and run the bases!

Materials

Review Questions
Three chairs set out for bases
Optional: gift wrap tube and a large balloon

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Set out chairs as bases. Have the students line up by the home base area facing you (at the pitcher’s mound). Each student up to “bat” will have a chance to answer a review question. If he can answer it correctly, let him run the bases. If he can’t answer correctly, give the answer and ask him to go to the end of the line and try again.

You may want the students to sit on the chair at each base while they wait to run to the next base or have them run all the way around and return to the line. Repeat the questions until all the students have run around the bases.

For some added fun, you can use a gift wrap tube as a bat and toss a large balloon for students to hit after they answer each question.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Bowling

What do you do with extra water bottles and softballs? Go bowling, of course. Students will answer questions then bowl for points.

Materials

Review Questions
Six to ten empty water bottles
Softball or other small playground ball
Masking tape
Optional: dried corn or beans

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. If available, pour a small amount of dried corn or beans into the bottom of each water bottle (to add weight) and tighten the lid. Set out the bottles on one end of the room. Use masking tape to form a “lane” from the bottles to where the students will line up across the room.

Divide students into teams. Have students line up. Ask the first student a review question. If he answers correctly, let him roll the ball down the lane toward the bottles. Each bottle that is knocked down is worth 1 point. A strike (knocking down all the bottles) is worth 20 points. Take turns asking questions of each team. If a student gives an incorrect answer or does not know the answer, he can ask his teammates for help. Keep track of scores.

Goofy Golf

Hit the sock with the noodle? Teams must work together to answer the questions and putt to get a hole-in-one in this crazy golf game!

Materials

Review Questions
Swimming noodles or rolled up newspapers
Rolled up socks
Masking tape
Ten sheets of paper
Markers

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Use the markers to number sheets of paper 1–10 (use more or less depending on class size and time). Tape down the sheets of paper around the room in a random pattern to form a golf course. You may want to add chairs as obstacles in the path.

Divide the class into teams. Give each team a rolled up sock and a swimming noodle. Ask the first student a review question from the lesson. If he answers correctly, allow him to use the noodle to drive the rolled up sock toward the first sheet of paper labeled #1. Continue with the next team. Take turns allowing team members to answer questions and continue putting the socks along the course to each hole, continuing from where the last teammate left off. The sock must touch or roll over the sheet of paper to consider it in the hole. The first team to reach the tenth hole wins.

Racetrack

Who will reach the checkered flag first? Teams will race to the finish by answering review questions.

Materials

Review Questions
White board or chalkboard
Markers/chalk
Optional: paper cutouts for each team (cars, animals, circles, etc.), tape/poster putty

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Draw a racetrack on the board. It may be as simple as a straight horizontal path or a curvy circle. Label “Start” and “Finish” (with a checkered flag) at either end of the track. Add numbers along the track (e.g., 1–10) at equal intervals between Start and Finish. The numbers will be used as placement points for the racers as they progress along the track.

Divide the class into teams. You may draw a different symbol (e.g., stick figure, circle, X or O) to represent each team at the Start, or use paper cutouts as team markers and stick them to the board with tape/poster putty.

Ask the first team a review question. If they answer correctly, move their marker or redraw their symbol along the track at #1. If they answer incorrectly, give the next team a chance to answer and move to the first number. If they do not know, give the answer and ask that question again later. Continue to alternate asking review questions and moving teams’ markers along the racetrack according to the numbers along the track. The first team to reach the Finish wins!

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Toss for It

How many points? Toss for it! Students answer the questions and toss the beanbag to earn points for their team.

Materials

Review Questions
A deck of numbered cards, or numbers and “wild” written on index cards
One beanbag
Masking tape
Two baskets or containers for cards

Instructions

Print one copy of the Review Questions for your use. Place several rows of numbered cards facedown with a few inches between them to form a grid pattern (make sure to put several wild cards or Jokers down, too). Use the masking tape to make a tossing line several feet from the cards.

Divide students into teams and have them line up behind the tossing line. Ask the first student a review question. If he gives the correct answer, have him toss the beanbag onto a card. Turn the card over to reveal the points he receives for his team. Face cards or word cards are 10 points each. Wild or Jokers are also 10—plus another turn. All other cards are face value.

Have the student pick up his card and put it in the team’s basket to be counted at the end of the game. Next team’s turn. If a student gives an incorrect answer, he should go to the end of the line. Give the answer and repeat that question later. Continue taking turns until all the questions have been answered. Add more cards to the grid if necessary.

Story Time

Read the Justin & Jessie Story on the back of the poster provided in the Teacher Kit or print a copy.

Justin and Jessie Coloring Sheet

Memory Verse

Choose a Memory Verse Game and print/gather necessary items:

Balloon Bop and Pop

Egg Hunt

Echo Echo

Follow the Leader

Freeze

Funny Voices

Popcorn

Balloon Bop and Pop

Each balloon has a word from the memory verse on it, but what happens when you pop one? You have to say the verse without that word!

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page
Bop and Pop Cards
One balloon for every word in the memory verse
Container
One piece of yarn or rope for each balloon
Clothespins or other clips to attach the balloons
One large safety pin

Instructions

Inflate the balloons. Write one or more words from the memory verse on each balloon. Attach the balloons to the yarn or rope with the clothespins in the proper order. Hang the balloon rope low enough for students to reach the balloons. Print and cut out one set of Bop and Pop Cards. Put the cards into the container. Have a safety pin available during the game.

Practice the verse with the students by gently “bopping” (or tapping) each balloon as you recite the verse. Refer to the words on the balloons. Choose a student to draw a Bop and Pop Card from the container.

If the card says “Bop!” the student will recite the verse while gently bopping each balloon. If the card says “Pop!” the student will choose a balloon to pop with the pin. After popping a balloon, have the students recite the memory verse including the missing word. Continue play until all students have had a turn or until all balloons are popped.

Egg Hunt

Hunt for all the parts of the memory verse hidden in the eggs! This game can be played all year round. The plastic eggs just happen to be great little containers that can be hidden easily.

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page (Pre-K-1) or Memory Verse Poster (included in lesson)
Strips of paper
Plastic Easter eggs

Instructions

Write the memory verse on strips of paper with one or two words on each strip. Put one strip inside of each plastic Easter egg. Hide all the eggs around the room.

Have the students search for the eggs and bring them back to the table. They will open the eggs and work together to put the verse in the proper order.

For a larger class, prepare more than one set of eggs (sorted by colors for different teams). Students can work in teams to collect and construct the verse.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Echo Echo

Do what I do—say what I say! Groups will echo each other as they recite the memory verse together.

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page

Instructions

Divide the class into two groups. You will say a word or phrase of the memory verse while doing some sort of action—sit down, stand up, spin in a circle, touch your toes, etc. The groups will take turns “echoing” what you say and do as you recite the verse. Repeat several times. You can whisper, shout, squeak, etc. Switch around and let older students take turns leading.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Follow the Leader

Follow the leader around the room. Say the verse and do the motion before moving on.

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page
Follow the Leader Cards
Tape

Instructions

Print and cut out the Follow the Leader Cards. Tape each one to walls or funiture randomly around the room. You will lead the students around the room and stop at each card. Read the card and lead the children to do what the card says while reciting the memory verse. Then move to the next one. You may want to repeat this activity or have students take turns leading.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Freeze

Stomp like a dinosaur or spin in circles, but when it’s time to freeze, get ready to say the memory verse.

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page

Instructions

Students will move around the room in a specified action you give, such as crawling, skipping, turning in circles, galloping, walking in giant steps, etc. Then when you say, “Freeze!” the students will stop and freeze in position. Recite the memory verse, then begin again with a different action. You may need to show them how to freeze and hold a position.

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Funny Voices

Recite the memory verse together using different voices. Be squeaky like a mouse or whisper as quietly as you can. How many can you do?

Materials

Flip Chart Memory Verse Page
Funny Voice Strips

Container

Instructions

Print and cut out one set of the Funny Voice Strips and put them into a container. Choose a student to draw out a strip and lead the whole class in reciting the memory verse using that kind of voice. Have fun with it and repeat several times choosing a new voice each time!

This activity is recommended for Pre-K.

Popcorn

Students “pop” up as they say their part of the memory verse. Start out slowly and see how fast you can go!

Materials

None

Instructions

Have students squat down in a circle. Begin by saying the first word in the memory verse. As you go around the circle, have each student take turns “popping” up as they say the next word then squat back down. Repeat.

You may want to divide the class into two groups. Have the first group pop up and say the first word then squat back down. Then the second group pops up saying the next word and squats back down and so on until the verse is completed. Repeat—going faster and faster!

Find extra verses to practice in the Additional Memory Verses list

Song Time

Practice the following songs using the lyrics on the Song Sheet at the end of this lesson.

Find extra songs to the tunes of favorite nursery rhymes in the Additional Songs list.

Go to Prayer

Lord, your miracles are beyond human understanding, but I believe them. You made the sun stand still so Joshua and the Israelites could defeat their enemies. You also let them suffer a defeat to root out sin in the camp. May my students see that victory is related to obedience to you and your commands. May they never try to hide sin, like Achan, but may they be quick to confess it and turn from it.

Optional Supplements

Hands-On Activities

Do these activities when you think best—before, during, or after the lesson.

Sunshine Cookies

Students will decorate a sugar cookie to look like the sun.

Hiding Sins Object Lesson*

Students will watch a demonstration using cola and buttons to remind them that they can’t hide their sins.

Highlight

Come On In

As students arrive, direct them to the activity you chose for today.

Highlight

Memory Verse

Use the Joshua 1:9 Flip Chart Memory Verse Page as you play a memory verse game. Explain the verse to your students as you review it together.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Highlight

Studying God’s Word

Lesson Time

Don’t forget! Review the Optional Supplements and determine where you can use them.

Have the students assemble in a circle away from the tables—either on the floor or in their chairs.

Bring your stuffed animal, Bible, Lesson Flip Chart, and any items you brought or prepared for this lesson.

Prayer

This prayer time is designed to help the students begin to understand some simple concepts about prayer and to encourage them to pray.

We start our Bible lesson with prayer. Turn to the Flip Chart Prayer Page. Briefly review the different types of prayer presented there.

Today let’s say prayers of thanksgiving and say thank you to God.

I’ll start. Dear God, thank you so much for . . . (insert personal prayer here).

Pass a special stuffed animal—prayer bear—around the circle, giving all the students an opportunity to pray or choose a volunteer to stand beside you and pray.

Very good! Now let’s put our stuffed animal away, and we’ll answer our Bible Truth questions.

I love you prayers—Adoration
I’m sorry prayers—Confession
I’m thankful prayers—Thanksgiving
Please prayers—Supplication

Bible Truths

These four questions will be repeated each week to help the students learn foundational truths.

What word means God will always keep his promises? Faithful.
What special laws did God give to Moses and the Israelites? The Ten Commandments.
What people (or nation) did God promise to give the land of Canaan to? The Israelites.
Who were the Israelites? The descendants of Israel (Jacob).

Bible Treasure Hunt

Before Bible Treasure Hunt, place a sticky note in your Bible to mark the first passage to be read.

Each week before class, hide your Bible somewhere in the room. You can use different methods each week to keep the students excited about finding the Bible. For example, you might set a timer, play music while the students search, tell students when they are getting warmer and colder, or choose a student to hide the Bible and let you or classmates find it.

We are going to start out today by looking into God’s Word, the Bible. God’s Word is true, and we can always trust what it says. It’s like a great treasure that tells us about who God is and what he has done for us. But where is this treasure? You will have to help me with that. We’re going to go on a Bible Treasure Hunt. Somewhere in this room, I’ve hidden the Bible. When I say “Go,” you will need to look for it. Whoever finds the Bible must bring it back to their seat and hold it very carefully until it is time to look in it. When it is time to read, you can bring it to me, and we’ll open it to see what we are going to talk about today! Explain the method you chose for today. Ready? Set! Go!

K–1st Lesson continues next. Pre-K Lesson follows.

Pre-K Lesson

Review

Refer to the Lesson 66 Flip Chart. In our last lesson, Joshua and his army attacked the city of Jericho.

Who remembers what the Israelites had to do for six days? March around the city of Jericho.
On the seventh day, the people gave a shout, and the priests blew their trumpets. Then what happened to the walls around Jericho? They fell down.
That’s right! God helped the Israelites win the battle at Jericho, but they had to obey even if they didn’t understand.
The Israelites were probably very excited to see that God would help them. But in their next battle, they learned a hard lesson about being completely obedient.

Achan’s Sin Affects Israel

You see, there was a problem. The trouble began back in Jericho. Before the army ran up into the city, Joshua commanded the men to destroy everything in the city except for things like gold and silver. These were supposed to be given to the priests as an offering to God.

Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. There was one man who tried to be sneaky. This man’s name was Achan. He disobeyed God’s command and took a beautiful cloak, like a robe a king would wear, and some silver and gold from the city of Jericho.

Look at the Lesson Flip Chart. What did Achan do with the things he took? Hid them.
Right! Achan went to his tent and dug a hole in the ground. He hid the cloak and the silver and gold under his tent. He thought no one knew about his sin and didn’t think it would hurt anyone. But we’ll find out today that God always knows when we sin and that our sin can affect others, too.
What does that mean that our sin can affect others? Let’s play a game to help us understand this.
Have students stand in a circle with you and hold hands. Explain that you will squeeze the hand of the student on your right or left. When that student feels the squeeze, he must immediately squeeze the next student’s hand and so on all the way around the circle. Play one or two rounds then have students sit back down.
When I squeezed your hand, it affected you. You felt it and then squeezed the next person’s hand. It went all the way around the circle, didn’t it? I only squeezed one person’s hand, but you were all affected. So, how did Achan’s sneaky sin affect the other Israelites? Let’s find out.
God is omniscient; he knows everything. And God saw what Achan did. He was very angry with all the Israelites because of Achan’s sin. But Joshua didn’t know about it.
The next battle was at a city named Ai. Joshua sent just 3,000 fighting men, not the whole army, to take this city.

Joshua 7:4

Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster. Let’s find out what happened. We’re going to read from Joshua chapter 7. Who has the Bible? Will you bring it up, please? Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. Read Joshua 7:4.
What does it mean that the Israelites fled? They ran away.
Did they win or lose the battle? They lost.
That’s right. The Israelites lost the battle. And 36 of their men were killed! What happened? Why didn’t God help them win this time? Joshua didn’t know, so he prayed and asked God why.
What do you suppose God said to Joshua? Any guesses? Allow guesses.
God said that the Israelites had sinned. Someone had taken things from Jericho that were supposed to be offered to God. That was why they lost the battle. God told Joshua that if they wanted his help in their battles, they had to find the one who took those things and punish him.
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Who was that? Who stole things from Jericho and hid them in a hole under his tent? Achan.
The next morning, God showed Joshua that Achan was the guilty man. Joshua asked Achan what he had done, and Achan confessed and told Joshua about his sin. Achan should have destroyed the cloak and given the silver and gold to the priests.
Show Lesson Illustration #1 from Lesson Illustrations. Achan disobeyed the tenth commandment. Does anyone remember what the tenth commandment is? Be content (happy) with what you have. Do not covet.
When we are no longer happy with what we have and want what belongs to someone else, it’s called coveting. Achan wanted that beautiful robe and the money he found in Jericho for himself.
Show Lesson Illustration #2 from Lesson Illustrations. Achan also broke the eighth commandment. Do you remember what that one says? Respect other people’s things. Do not steal.
Achan stole from God. He kept the gold and silver when he should have given them to the priests as an offering to God.
This was terrible! Achan’s sin affected all the Israelites. Because of Achan’s sin, God did not help the Israelites, and they lost the battle at Ai. Thirty-six of their men died. Now Joshua and the people had to punish Achan and his family for his disobedience.
After Achan was punished, God turned from his anger and said he would bless and protect the Israelites again. God told Joshua to take all the fighting men back to Ai. So they went back and tricked the king of Ai—and this time they won!

The Victory during the Long Day

The news about the Israelites spread through the land of Canaan. Five kings marched together against a city called Gibeon. God told Joshua not to be afraid of the kings and their enormous armies. So Joshua and his men left camp and marched all night and surprised the kings.

Then God did some amazing things to help in the battle. First, God made the enemy get really scared. Then God threw down hailstones from the sky at the enemy!

The kings and their armies were terrified and began to run away from the battle. Joshua knew that when nighttime came the enemy could escape and hide. So Joshua prayed and asked God to make the sun stand still. And that’s exactly what happened. The sun stayed in the same place for about a day!

Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Instead of going down and setting at night, the sun stayed high in the sky for a day longer until Joshua and his men chased down all the enemy. Isn’t that amazing? God kept the sun up so Joshua could win the battle. God is the omnipotent Creator. He controls everything in the universe, including the sun.

After they won this fight against the five kings, Joshua and the Israelites took over a big part of the promised land. They went from city to city taking the land and obeying what God commanded. They had learned the lesson from Achan’s sin at Jericho. They knew that as long as they obeyed completely, God would fight for them, and they didn’t have to be afraid!

Continue with the Lesson Review Game below.

K-1st Lesson

Review

Refer to the Lesson 66 Flip Chart. In our last lesson, Joshua and his army attacked the city of Jericho.

Who remembers what the Israelites had to do for six days? March around the city of Jericho.
On the seventh day, the people gave a shout, and the priests blew their trumpets. Then what happened to the walls around Jericho? They fell down.
That’s right! God’s plan was different than the normal ways to attack a city. God helped the Israelites win the battle at Jericho, but they had to obey even if they didn’t understand.
After God made the walls fall down at Jericho, the Israelites were probably very excited to see that God would help them. But in their next battle, they learned a hard lesson about being completely obedient.

Achan’s Sin Affects Israel

You see, there was a problem. The trouble began back in Jericho. Before the army ran up into the city, Joshua commanded the men to destroy everything except for things like gold and silver. These were supposed to be given to the priests as an offering to God.

Look at the Lesson Flip Chart. What did Achan do with the things he took? Hid them.
Right! Achan went to his tent and dug a hole in the ground. He hid the cloak and the silver and gold under his tent. He thought no one knew about his sin and didn’t think it would hurt anyone. But we’ll find out today that God always knows when we sin and that our sin can affect others, too.
What does it mean that our sin can affect others? Let’s play a game to help us understand this.
Have students stand in a circle with you and hold hands. Explain that you will squeeze the hand of the student on your right or left. When that student feels the squeeze, he must immediately squeeze the next student’s hand and so on all the way around the circle. Play one or two rounds then have students sit back down.
When I squeezed your hand, it affected you. You felt it and then squeezed the next person’s hand. It went all the way around the circle, didn’t it? I only squeezed one person’s hand, but you were all affected by it. So, how did Achan’s sneaky sin affect the other Israelites? Let’s find out.
God is omniscient; he knows everything. And God saw what Achan did, and he was very angry with all the Israelites because of Achan’s sin. But Joshua didn’t know about it.
The next battle was at a city named Ai. Joshua sent just 3,000 fighting men, not the whole army, to take this city.

Joshua 7:4

Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster. We’re going to read from Joshua chapter 7. Who has the Bible? Will you bring it up, please? Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. Read Joshua 7:4.
What does it mean that the Israelites fled? They ran away.
Did they win or lose the battle? They lost.
That’s right. The Israelites lost the battle at Ai. And 36 of their men were killed! What happened? Why didn’t God help them win this time? Joshua didn’t know, so he prayed and asked God why.
What do you suppose God said to Joshua? Any guesses? Allow guesses.

Joshua 7:11

Listen to what God told Joshua in verse 11. Read the verse.

What was the problem in the camp? What did Israel do? Israel sinned.
God said that Israel had sinned. Someone had taken things from Jericho that were supposed to be offered to God. That was why they lost the battle at Ai and 36 men were killed in the battle. God told Joshua that if they wanted his help in their battles, they had to find the one who took those things and punish him.
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Who was that? Who stole things from Jericho and hid them in a hole under his tent? Achan.
The next morning, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together. God showed Joshua that Achan was the guilty man. Joshua asked Achan what he had done, and Achan confessed that he had stolen silver and gold and a beautiful cloak—like a robe a king would wear. Achan should have destroyed the robe and given the silver and gold to the priests. But he wanted these items so badly for himself that he took them.
Show Lesson Illustration #1 from Lesson Illustrations. Achan disobeyed the tenth commandment. Does anyone remember what the tenth commandment is? Be content (happy) with what you have. Do not covet.
When we are no longer happy with what we have and want what belongs to someone else, it’s called coveting. Achan wanted that beautiful robe and the money he found in Jericho for himself.
Show Lesson Illustration #2 from Lesson Illustrations. Achan also broke the eighth commandment. Do you remember what that one says? Respect other people’s things. Do not steal.
Achan stole from God. He kept the gold and silver for himself when he should have given them to the priests as an offering to God.
This was terrible! Achan’s sin affected all the Israelites. Because of Achan’s sin, God did not help the Israelites, and they lost the battle at Ai. Thirty-six of their men died. Now Joshua and the people had to punish Achan and his family for his disobedience.
After Achan was punished, God turned from his anger and said he would bless and protect the Israelites again. God told Joshua to take all the fighting men back to Ai. So they went back and tricked the king of Ai—and this time they won!

The Victory during the Long Day

The news about the Israelites spread through the land of Canaan. Five kings marched together against a city called Gibeon. God told Joshua not to be afraid of them and their enormous armies. So Joshua and his men left camp and marched all night and surprised the kings.

Joshua 10:11

Then God did some amazing things to help in the battle. Listen to what he did this time. Read the verse.

First, God made the enemy get really scared. Then what did God throw down from heaven at the enemy? He threw large hailstones.
Yes! God sent big hailstones down from the sky. The kings and their armies were terrified and began to run away from the battle. Joshua knew that when nighttime came the enemy could escape and hide.
So Joshua prayed for God to work another miracle for them. Can you guess what God did? I’ll give you a hint: it has to do with the sun. Allow guesses.
Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still. And that’s exactly what happened. The sun stayed in the same place for about a day!
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Instead of setting at its usual time in the evening, the sun stayed high in the sky for a day longer until Joshua and his men chased down the enemy. Isn’t that amazing? God kept the sun up so Joshua could win the battle. God is the omnipotent Creator. He controls everything in the universe, including the sun.
After they won this fight against the five kings, Joshua and the Israelites took over a big part of the promised land. They went from city to city taking the land and obeying what God commanded. They had learned the lesson from Achan’s disobedience at Jericho. They knew that as long as they obeyed completely, God would fight for them, and they didn’t have to be afraid!

Continue with the Lesson Review Game below.

Lesson Review

We all learn best with review and repetition! We encourage you to play a lesson review game.

Highlight

Story Time

Do you remember what happened in our last Justin and Jessie story? Allow discussion.
Justin’s parents kept asking him to do things that he thought were kind of strange, until he was surprised by a big birthday party in the backyard. It was a good thing he obeyed even when he didn’t understand.
What will happen in today’s story? Let’s find out! Show the picture on the poster as you read the Justin & Jessie Story.
Oh no! The beautiful vase got broken, and Ellie’s finger got poked with a piece of it. Breaking the vase was an accident, but when the kids decided not to tell what they had done, it became a lie. Their sin affected both of their families, didn’t it? Justin's mom was sad about the vase, Ellie hurt her finger, and none of them could go to the fair like they had planned.
In our lesson, we saw how Achan’s sin affected all the Israelites. He tried to hide it, too, but God knew all about it. God is omniscient—he knows all things, even what we do in secret. We should never try to hide our sin. We should say we're sorry right away, and God will forgive us.

Highlight

Song Time

Use the downloaded music to practice the songs. Find the lyrics on the Song Sheet at the end of this lesson or on the Flip Chart Song Time Lyrics Page.

You may want to add stomping, clapping, and musical instruments, or make up hand motions to any of the songs!

Joshua 1:9

Turn to the Flip Chart Memory Verse Page. Let’s sing the memory verse song now. Review the words then sing the song together once or twice.

God Told Joshua

Let’s sing about the battle of Jericho. Review the words then sing the song together once or twice.

God Is Faithful

God is always faithful, but he wants us to be faithful to obey him, too. Let’s sing about God’s faithfulness. Review the words then sing the song together once or twice.

Sing other class favorites or songs from the Additional Songs list as time allows.

Song Sheet

Joshua 1:9 Joshua 1:9 Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Joshua 1:9 God Told Joshua God told Joshua, “March around the walls.” “March around the walls.” “March around the walls.” Round and round, And round and round and round— And Joshua did what he was told. God told Joshua, “The priests should blow their horns.” “The priests should blow their horns.” “The priests should blow their horns.” Too-ta-too, Ta-too-to-too-ta-too— And Joshua did what he was told. God told Joshua, “I will fight for you.” “I will fight for you.” “I will fight for you.” Jericho’s walls came tumbling down. A mighty God! Look what he can do! Jericho’s walls came tumbling down, Tumbling down, tu-tumbling down. Jericho’s walls came tumbling down. A mighty God! Look what he can do! God Is Faithful God is faithful always and forever. Every single promise he will keep. When I seek to do what he’s commanded, God is always ready to help me. God is faithful always and forever. Every single promise he will keep. When I seek to do what he’s commanded, God is always ready to help me. He is faithful, always faithful— Even when we’re not. I can trust, you can trust, we can all trust God. God is faithful always and forever. Every single promise he will keep. When I seek to do what he’s commanded, God is always ready to help me. He is faithful, always faithful— Even when we’re not. I can trust, you can trust, we can all trust God. He is faithful, always faithful— Even when we’re not. I can trust, you can trust, we can all trust God. God is faithful always and forever.

Highlight

Group Prayer

Pass out the Student Take Home Sheets and remind students to practice the memory verse this week.

Be sure to pray with your students before you dismiss them.

Thank God that we can pray to him, the Creator who even controls the sun.

Ask God to help us be obedient and quick to confess our sins.

God Gives the Victory

God gave the Israelites victories when they were obedient.

Lesson Sections

Lesson Media

Overview

Prepare

Come On In

Memory Verse

Studying God’s Word

Story Time

Song Time

Group Prayer

Lesson Resources

Overview

Lesson Focus

Key Passages

Memory Verse

Prepare to Share

Scriptural Background

Historical/Apologetics Background

Prepare

Lesson Preparation

CCome On In

Come On In

Bible Book Match

Materials

Instructions

Flashcard Take Away

Materials

Instructions

I Have You Have

Materials

Instructions

Popcorn

Materials

Instructions

SLesson Time

Lesson Time

LLesson Review Game

Lesson Review

Basket Toss

Materials

Instructions

Board Game

Materials

Instructions

Bible Baseball

Materials

Instructions

Bowling

Materials

Instructions

Goofy Golf

Materials

Instructions

Racetrack

Materials

Instructions

Toss for It

Materials

Instructions

AStory Time

Story Time

MMemory Verse Game

Memory Verse

Balloon Bop and Pop

Materials

Instructions

Egg Hunt

Materials

Instructions

Echo Echo

Materials

Instructions

Follow the Leader

Materials

Instructions

Freeze

Materials

Instructions