03 - Crossing The Jordan
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen
Lesson No. ( 3 )
References
Joshua 3, 4.
Notes for Servants
I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage. This is God's voice to all the servants.
i “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then, He will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success." This is what God told Joshua and still is telling to us today.
i How many obstacles occur in our way like the Jordan river? (Sins, friendship problems, circumstances and environment). God can award us with success.
Objectives
General: God's power and His care for us.
Specific:
The children will be able to...
- Know God takes care of His nation
- Know that with God everything is possible.
Bible Verse
"Bless The Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits."
( psalm 103:2 )
Teaching Aids
Servant should prepare his own.
Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(3) What is the river that the nation previously passed after getting out of Egypt? (4) Who led the people after Moses?
Story Time
After the death of Moses, God talked to Joshua saying, “I chose you to lead the nation to Canaan
and cross the Jordan river with them and divide the land for them.” Joshua told God, “God, I do not deserve it and I am young. God answered him, “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid. As I was with Mosesso I'll be with you I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage. Joshua gathered the people and told them, “Today, I am your servant. I will lead you to Canaan, so obey me so that God would be satisfied with me and you and give us this land and drive out our enemies before us.”
Very early one morning Joshua gathered the people and told them, “Be ready and he arranged them into groups and started walking and their walking progressed day by day. Sometimes, they sang, and sometimes they prayed. When they felt hungry they ate and when they felt thirsty they searched for a place where they can find water and drink. If one got tired the others encouraged him and all sang to God together.
They reached the Jordan river and it was full. The nation stood in front of this wide river which was full of water in surprise asking each other, “How could we cross that huge river with our army, our wives, our kids and our cattle?” Expecting a miracle to happen, Joshua on the third day ordered the people to sanctify themselves that is to say not to do a sin and clean their bodies and wear clean clothes telling them that God will make with us a great miracle. And after the third day Joshua ordered the priests to carry the ark of the covenant and to cross over before the people.
He ordered the people to follow the ark yet there shall be a space between you and it. The priests took the ark with care from the holy hollies and carried on their shoulders and they walked in front of the people and when they reached Jordan river the miracle happened. When the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord rest in the waters of the Jordan that the waters were cut off from both sides and in the middle of the river was dry ground. The priests walked followed by the rest of the people praising and singing to God. When they reached the middle of Jordan the priests stood firmly and all the people crossed over saying, "Bless The Lord, O my soul."
While they were walking Joshua chose twelve men from the twelve tribes to pick up twelve stones from the bottom of the river where the priest's feet stood to take them as a remembrance of God's care. Joshua set up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan and they are in the same place to this day as a memory of the great miracle. Then, it came to pass when all the people had completely crossed, following the priests bearing the ark. Joshua ordered the priests to come up from the Jordan and when they reached the shore the waters of the Jordan returned to its place and flowed over the Jordan river which was full with water. In this way, God led the nation which loved him and obeyed him with peace and in a strange way.
Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet
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