June 29
Pre K-1 | Lesson 64

Rahab Helps the Spies

Rahab believed in God and helped the Israelite spies in Jericho.

Lesson Sections

Overview

Prepare

Come On In

Memory Verse

Studying God’s Word

Story Time

Song Time

Group Prayer

Lesson Media

God Is Faithful

Joshua 1:9

Bryan Osborne Lesson 64 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

Hidden Spies

Joshua 1:9 Flip Chart Memory Verse Page

Justin and Jessie Coloring Sheet

Justin & Jessie Story

Lesson 63 Flip Chart

Lesson Flip Chart

Question Cards

Rahab Skit

Review Activity Sheet

Review Questions

Spy Laser Course

Student Take Home Sheets

Highlight

Overview

Lesson Focus

God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death. Joshua sent spies into Jericho, but they were discovered. A woman named Rahab hid the spies and helped them escape because she had faith in God. God rewarded her faith by sparing her and her family, and she was included in the genealogy of Jesus.

Key Passages

Joshua 1:5–6, 1:9, 2:11

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.

The Amorites on the east side of the Jordan River were defeated, and the time came for Moses to die. God called him up to a mountain and let him see the Promised Land before he died at age 120 (Deuteronomy 34:1, 34:5–8). God chose Joshua to lead the people and promised to be with him just as he had been with Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9; Joshua 1:5). The Israelites under Joshua’s leadership were to begin the conquest of the Promised Land. The generation of Moses’ day had died for its lack of faith and obedience to God. The new generation of Israelites had many nations to conquer, yet God would provide the strength and courage needed for success as long as the Israelites remained obedient.

Joshua, as the new leader, sent two men on a spying mission to view the land, especially Jericho (Joshua 2:1). The two spies entered Jericho and found lodging with Rahab, the prostitute. Although this may seem odd at first, upon further consideration, Rahab’s home on the wall could offer a safe and inconspicuous haven for the men. However, in God’s divine providence, the men were found out. When Rahab realized who the spies were, she was introduced firsthand to the God of Israel whom she had heard of and feared. Rahab demonstrated her faith by declaring the Lord to be the true God and offering protection to the spies (Joshua 2:3–6, 2:8–12, 2:15–16).

The question we might ask is how could this woman, a prostitute, know about the God of Israel? She was well aware, as apparently all in Jericho were, that Israel was a nation whose God had delivered his people in a dramatic, miraculous fashion from Egypt. This God had also provided victory for his people over the most notorious kings on the other side of the Jordan, including King Og of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:4; Joshua 2:10).

Rahab was willing to stake her life and her family members’ lives on the ability of God to defeat her own people and yet deliver her! She misled the pursuers who were sent by the king of Jericho to capture the spies, and she concealed the spies until she helped them escape back to Joshua (Joshua 2:2–6, 2:15–16). Rahab acted on her belief that the God of Israel would carry out his promises to give the land to his people, and by doing so, she showed an utter dependence upon him. This faith was remarkable enough to be held up to all future believers as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).

The fact that God would bring to saving faith and use a Gentile woman to fulfill his purpose foreshadowed his intention to break down the “dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles in Christ and to make Gentiles “fellow heirs, members of the same body” with Jews in Christ (Ephesians 3:6). This grand scheme of Christ’s salvation of sinners from every nation was in the background when God used Rahab to help deliver Israel’s spies in return for protection for her and her family during Jericho’s destruction (Joshua 6:25). Rahab and her family lived with the Israelites, and Rahab married a man from the tribe of Judah.

Historical/Apologetics Background

Many raise the question as to whether God blessed Rahab’s lie to the king’s men when they came for the Israelite spies. If so, is it okay to lie in some circumstances? The answer is no—it is never okay to lie. Lying is a sin against a holy, perfect God (Proverbs 12:22). However, God frequently uses the sinful acts of both the righteous and unrighteous to execute his purposes.

God wanted to show his amazing grace and sovereignty in this situation. Rahab had been a deliberate sinner, and likely an idolater, given that she had lived an immoral life in a pagan city. Her knowledge of the true God was no doubt incomplete, being based on what was discussed among her people and not on a principled or careful instruction from Scripture. Her people had not been given the Ten Commandments or the other laws that God gave his people. Thus, it was from this incomplete knowledge of God that she chose to lie on behalf of the spies. And in God’s mercy, he covered the sin, acknowledged her faith, and redeemed the situation.

To focus on the lie instead of the reward that our holy, sovereign, merciful God granted her does not give God the glory due his name. One lesson to be learned from Rahab is not about Rahab at all, but about God—how he did not judge her or reward her according to her sin but saved her by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). God does the same for all those who repent and believe in Jesus.

Rahab’s imperfect actions of faith and courage resulted not only in her salvation from destruction but also in a place in history as an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). If we wonder why God would use a woman like Rahab to fulfill his purposes, perhaps we have not fully faced the effect our own sin has against a holy God. Only then can we recognize the greatness of God’s mercy in offering forgiveness to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

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

Bring the following for the Rahab Skit:

Print two copies of the Rahab Skit for you and an assistant
Sheet or tablecloth
Red party streamer or yarn
Optional costumes or props (see skit for details)

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

Heavenly Father, thank you for your sovereignty and mercy. Rahab had faith in you, and she fulfilled your will by helping the spies. Please help me present your truth in a way my students will understand. May this account give the students hope, courage, and strength as they see how you can use them to accomplish your perfect plan.

Optional Supplements

Hands-On Activities

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

Spy Laser Course

Students will sneak through a crepe paper “laser” course.

Hidden Spies*

Students will take turns finding the hidden “spies” under the “flax.”

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 supplication and ask God for help.

I’ll start. Dear God, thank you for answering our prayers. Would you please . . . (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 Lesson 63 Flip Chart. In our last lesson, a powerful king named Og attacked the Israelites.

What was different about King Og? He was a giant. Og slept in a huge bed. He was probably 9–12 feet tall, taller than any basketball player!
King Og was a giant man. And there were tall walls around his cities, too. But God helped the Israelites win the battle against Og.
Then there was King Balak. He was afraid that the Israelites would attack him next. So he hired Balaam, a false prophet, to curse the Israelites.
What kind of animal did Balaam ride on his way to see King Balak? A donkey.
As Balaam rode his donkey, who blocked the way and scared the donkey? The angel of the Lord.
What did God cause the donkey to do? Talk to Balaam.
God made the donkey speak to Balaam. Then God let Balaam see the angel and reminded him to obey and only say words of blessing for the Israelites and not to curse them.
The Israelites were God’s chosen people. He promised to bless them as they came into the promised land. Today, we’re going to see how God used a lady named Rahab to help the Israelites get ready to go into the land.

Joshua Becomes the Leader

The time had come for Joshua to lead all the people! Moses had died when he was 120 years old. Now Joshua had to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. This was a scary job! They would have to fight many battles against the enemies who lived there.

But God spoke to Joshua and promised to be with him just like he had been with Moses. God reminded Joshua to obey him and told Joshua he would bring the Israelites into the land so they could have it for their own.

Joshua 1:9

Now let’s read what else God told Joshua. We’re going to read from the book of Joshua. Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. This verse is also our memory verse. Read the verse.

Joshua would need God’s strength and courage to lead the people in the fight against their enemies.

Do you think this would be a scary thing to do? Allow answers.
God told Joshua not to be frightened or dismayed. What does it mean to be dismayed? Do you know? Allow discussion.
Being dismayed is when you’re so scared that you lose your courage and feel like you can’t do the job. Joshua and the Israelites had a huge job ahead of them. They would have to fight for their land against giant men, strong armies, and walled cities.
But who would be with Joshua and give him strength and courage to lead the people? God.

Rahab Helps the Spies

The first city in the land was the city of Jericho. It was a huge city with walls around it. Joshua wanted to know more about this place, so he sent two spies to sneak into Jericho and look around. Let’s act out what happened to them. Watch and listen carefully so you can answer some questions.

Rahab Skit

Have two copies of the Rahab Skit (for you and an assistant), props, and costumes ready.

Choose 6 students for the parts. Set out props and help actors put on any costumes you brought. As you read the Narrator’s part, tell the students what to say and have an assistant direct them as they act out the skit.

Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Rahab’s house was a good place for the spies to hide. They could find out a lot about the city there—and it was built right into one of the city walls! It would be a safe place with an easy escape out the window.

It didn’t take long before the king found out there were spies in his city. What did he do? He sent men to Rahab’s house to look for the spies.
How did Rahab hide the spies? In our skit we pretended the blanket was something else. What was it supposed to be? Flax
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Flax is a plant with long stalks that was used to make material for clothes. Rahab took the spies to the roof of her house where she had laid the flax out to dry. This was a flat rooftop where she could go to sit or work. Rahab told the spies to lie down, and she piled the flax on top of them to hide them.
Since she helped the spies, Rahab asked them to do something for her. What did she ask them to do? Save her and her family when they took over the city.
The spies said she would be safe if she kept their secret and didn’t tell anyone about their plans. They also told her to make sure her family was with her in her house when the battle began.
The spies told Rahab to hang something from her window. Do you remember what that was? A scarlet (red) cord.
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Scarlet is a bright red color that the Israelites would be able to see easily so they would know which house Rahab was in and keep her safe during the battle.
How did Rahab help the spies get away from the city and back to Joshua without being caught? She let them climb down the wall with a rope from her window.

Rahab Shows Faith

Rahab would have been in big trouble if the king’s men had found the spies on her roof or found out that she helped them escape! But Rahab had faith in God, so she chose to help the spies because she knew that God was with them.

The people in Jericho were wicked and worshipped false gods. But Rahab believed in the God of the Israelites. She told the spies that all the people in Jericho were afraid when they heard about how God parted the Red Sea and helped the Israelites win the battle against King Og.

Joshua 2:11

Then she told them what she believed about God. Listen to Joshua 2:11. Read the second part of the verse.

He is the God in what? God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
Yes! Rahab believed in the one true God—the only one who has control over all the heavens and the earth. Rahab put her faith in God, and he showed her mercy and kept her and her family safe during the battle of Jericho. Even though Rahab was a sinner—like all of us—she was saved by faith and used by God to help the Israelite spies.

Continue with the Lesson Review Game below.

K-1st Lesson

Review

Refer to Lesson 63 Flip Chart. God led Moses and the Israelites to the place where they were just outside the promised land. On the way there, a king named Og attacked the Israelites.

What was different about King Og? He was a giant. Og slept in a huge bed. He was probably 9–12 feet tall, taller than any basketball player!
King Og was a giant man. And there were tall walls around his cities, too. But God helped the Israelites win against Og.
Then there was King Balak. He was afraid that the Israelites would attack him next. So he hired Balaam, a false prophet, to curse the Israelites.
What kind of animal did Balaam ride on his way to see King Balak? A donkey.
As Balaam rode his donkey, who blocked the way and scared the donkey? The angel of the Lord.
What did God cause the donkey to do? Talk to Balaam.
God made the donkey speak to Balaam! Then God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel and reminded him to obey and only say words of blessing for the Israelites and not to curse them.
The Israelites were God’s chosen people. He promised to bless them as they came into the promised land. Today, we’re going to see how God used a lady named Rahab to help the Israelites get ready to go into the land.

Joshua Becomes the Leader

The time had come for Joshua to lead all the people! Moses had died when he was 120 years old. Now it was Joshua’s job to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. This was a scary task! They would have to fight many battles against the enemies who lived there. Let’s find out what God had to say to Joshua.

Joshua 1:5–6

Refer to the Books of the Bible Poster. We’re going to read from the first chapter of the book of Joshua. Have the student bring up the Bible and open it to the sticky note. Listen to what God told Joshua. Read Joshua 1:5–6.

Would God leave Joshua? No.
God promised to be with Joshua just like he had been with Moses. He reminded Joshua to make sure he obeyed God and his laws and said that Joshua would bring the Israelites into the land so they could have it for their own.

Joshua 1:9

Now let’s read what else God told Joshua from our memory verse. Turn to the Joshua 1:9 Flip Chart Memory Verse Page and recite the verse together.

Joshua would need God’s strength and courage to lead the people in the fight against their enemies.

Do you think this would be a scary thing to do? Allow answers.
God reminded Joshua that he didn’t need to be frightened. But what does it mean to be dismayed? Do you know? Allow discussion.
Being dismayed is when you’re so scared that you lose your courage and feel like you can’t do the job. Joshua and the Israelites had a huge job ahead of them. They would have to fight for their land against giant men, strong armies, and walled cities.
But who would give Joshua strength and courage to lead the people? God.

Rahab Helps the Spies

The first city they would come to in the land was a huge, walled city called Jericho. Joshua wanted to know more about this place, so he sent two spies to sneak into Jericho and look around. Let’s act out what happened to them. Watch and listen carefully so you can answer some questions.

Rahab Skit

Have two copies of the Rahab Skit (for you and an assistant), props, and costumes ready.

It didn’t take long before the king found out there were spies in his city. What did he do? He sent men to Rahab’s house to look for the spies.
How did Rahab hide the spies? In our skit we pretended the blanket was something else. What was it supposed to be? Flax
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Flax is a plant with long stalks that was used to make material for clothes. Rahab took the spies to the roof of her house where she had laid the flax out to dry. This was a flat rooftop where she could go to sit or work on projects. She told the spies to lie down, and then she piled the flax on top of them so they couldn’t be seen.
When the king’s men knocked on her door, Rahab lied to them and said the spies had already left the city.
Was it okay for Rahab to lie? Allow discussion.
God hates all sin, and lying is a sin. God commanded his people not to lie. It was the ninth commandment. At this time, God had just given these commandments to the Israelites, so Rahab didn’t know them yet.
The Israelites were planning to attack and take over her city, so Rahab asked the spies to do something for her. What did she ask? Save her and her family.
The spies said she must keep their secret and not tell about their plans. They told her to make sure her family was with her when the battle began.
She was also told to hang something from her window. What was that? A scarlet (red) cord.
Refer to the Lesson Flip Chart. Scarlet is a bright red color that the Israelites would be able to see easily so they would know which house she was in during the battle.
How did Rahab help the spies get away from the city and back to Joshua without being caught? She let them climb down the wall with a rope from her window.
Remember that Rahab’s house was built into the wall. When she let the men climb out her window, they were outside the city walls and didn’t have to go through the gate, which was closed at night.

Rahab Shows Faith

Joshua 2:11

Let’s see what she said about God. Listen to Joshua 2:11. Read the second part of the verse.

- Reread the verses as necessary so the students can hear the answers straight from God’s Word.
What did Rahab say? He is the God in what? God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
Yes! Rahab believed that the God of the Israelites was the one true God—the only one who had control over all the heavens and the earth. She put her faith in God, and he showed her mercy and kept her and her family safe during the battle of Jericho.
After the battle, Rahab and her family went to live with the Israelites! She married a man named Salmon and later became the great-great-grandmother of King David! And many years after that, Jesus was born into King David’s family line! That means that Rahab was part of Jesus’ family line! What an honor God gave her! Like all of us, Rahab was A sinner, but she was saved by faith and used by God to help the Israelite spies.

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 story? Allow discussion.
Matt wanted to go to church so he could hear about the talking donkey, but his mom didn't want him to go. Then when Justin and Jessie prayed that God would intervene, he worked it out so Matt could go to church with them.
What happened so Matt had to go to church with Justin? Matt’s mom was called in to work Sunday morning and asked Justin’s mom to take care of him for the day.
What will happen in today’s story? Let’s find out! Show the picture on the poster as you read the Justin & Jessie Story.
Wow! That sounds like a fun water fight. How many of you have ever been in a water fight with squirt guns or water balloons? Show of hands. Allow discussion.
The kids were pretending to be spies on a mission. What were they after? What did Emily have to get? The treasure box.
We saw in our lesson how two spies had to go into the city of Jericho. Their mission was to find out all about the city so they could tell Joshua, their leader. They found out that the people were scared of the Israelites and their God. So Joshua knew it would be time for the battle very soon. This would be the first battle in the promised land. He had faith that God would help him lead the Israelites as they fought their enemies to take the land.
When Rahab hid the spies, she had faith that gave her the courage to help them even though she knew she could have gotten into big trouble. God can make our faith grow as we learn to obey him. We may feel afraid sometimes, but if God gives us something to do, he will also give us the courage and help we need to get the job done.

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 Is Faithful

Let’s sing about our faithful God. 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 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.

Praise God for his power and mercy.

Ask God to help our faith grow as we learn to obey him.

Rahab Helps the Spies

Rahab believed in God and helped the Israelite spies in Jericho.

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