LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Numbers 22–24, a king named Balak became afraid of the Israelites because God had helped them win many battles. Balak hired a man named Balaam to curse God’s people. Balaam wanted the money, but God told him not to say bad things about the Israelites. When Balaam traveled on his donkey toward the Israelites, God sent an angel to block the road. Balaam could not see the angel, but the donkey could. The donkey tried three times to stop Balaam from danger, but Balaam became angry and hit the donkey.
God then allowed the donkey to speak. The donkey asked Balaam why he had been hitting her. Balaam’s eyes were opened, and he saw the angel. Balaam learned he must only say what God wanted him to say. Instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam blessed them. This story reminds us God loves His people and wants them to be blessed. It also reminds us our words should encourage and help others.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00–6:15 | Talking Donkey Puppet
Items Needed:
- Donkey Printout
- Paper Bags (lunch size)
- Gray, brown, and pink crayons
- Glue sticks
Have the children color their donkey pieces and glue them to a paper bag. Explain that in today’s story we are going to learn about a talking donkey.
BIBLE STORY 6:15–6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Numbers
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament.
Today we have a story from the Bible about a man, a donkey, and something very surprising that God did. Are you ready? Let’s go!
[Cup your hands around your mouth like you are telling a big secret.]
Can you say “Balaam”? [Wait for response.] Good! Balaam was a man who was supposed to listen to God.
[Stand up tall and march in place.]
Can you march with me? March, march, march! There was a king named Balak, and he was worried. He had heard about God’s people, and he did NOT want them nearby.
[Make a worried face and scrunch up your shoulders.]
Can you make a worried face? [Wait for response.] Just like that! King Balak was very, very worried.
So King Balak sent messengers to find Balaam. He said, I need you to come and say bad things about God’s people. Can you say “bad things”? [Wait for response.]
[Wag your finger back and forth.]
But God said, No, no, no! Balaam, you will NOT go with those men. You will NOT say bad things about my people. I love them!
[Have kids wag their finger and say “no, no, no” with you.]
Balaam told the king, Sorry, I cannot come. God said no! But the king sent even more messengers. He really, really wanted Balaam to come.
[Hold up two fingers, then four fingers.]
This time, God said, Okay, you can go. But you must only say what I tell you to say. Can you point to your mouth? [Wait for response.] That is right. Only say what God says!
[Pretend to climb up on an animal like you are riding.]
So Balaam got on his donkey and started riding down the road. Can you pretend to ride a donkey? Clip clop, clip clop! [Bounce up and down.]
But then something happened! God sent an angel to stand in the road. The donkey could SEE the angel, but Balaam could NOT see the angel!
[Make big surprised eyes and cover your mouth.]
Can you make surprised eyes? [Wait for response.] The donkey saw the big angel and stopped. She would NOT move!
[Freeze completely still.]
Freeze like the donkey! [Wait a moment.] The donkey would not move one bit because she was trying to keep Balaam safe!
Balaam was frustrated. He said, Move, donkey, move! [Gently tap your knee like patting a donkey.]
Can you say “move, donkey, move”? [Wait for response.]
But the donkey sat right down on the ground. [Have kids slowly sit down.]
Balaam was very upset. He yelled at the donkey. And then, do you know what happened?
[Lean in close and use a big, dramatic whisper.]
The donkey… TALKED. The donkey talked!
[Make a surprised face and then pretend to be a talking donkey.]
Can you make a silly donkey face? [Wait for response.] The donkey said, What did I do wrong? Why are you hitting me? I have always carried you and taken care of you!
[Hold up fingers and count.]
One, two, three times the donkey sat down. And one, two, three times the donkey tried to protect Balaam!
Then God opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel standing right there in the road! The angel had a big sword!
[Jump up if kids are sitting, or stand up tall.]
Can you stand up tall like the angel? [Wait for response.] Balaam was scared. He bowed all the way down to the ground.
[Have kids slowly bow or touch their hands to the ground.]
The angel said, Your donkey saved you! She saw me and stopped. She was trying to protect you!
Balaam said, I am so sorry. I was wrong to be mean to my donkey!
[Gently pat an imaginary donkey beside you.]
Let’s say thank you to the donkey! Say, “Thank you, donkey!” [Wait for response.]
Then God told Balaam again, You may go, but you must only say what I tell you to say.
[Point to your mouth again.]
Only say what? What God says! [Wait for response.]
And so Balaam went to the king. The king wanted Balaam to say bad things about God’s people. But every single time Balaam opened his mouth, God put good words in it instead!
[Pretend to open your mouth wide and look surprised.]
The king was so upset! He said, Why do you keep blessing them? I wanted you to say bad things! But Balaam said, I can only say what God tells me to say!
[Cup your hands around your mouth.]
Can everyone say that with me? I can only say what God tells me to say! [Wait for response.]
God is so powerful that even when people tried to do something wrong, God used it for good. God ALWAYS keeps his promises. He protected his people, and he used a little donkey to do it!
[Sit down criss-cross and get quiet.]
Let’s all sit down and get quiet like we are thinking about that.
Is God more powerful than any king? [Wait for response.] Yes, he is! Can anyone stop what God wants to do? [Wait for response.] No way!
Theological Questions
- Who sent the angel to stop Balaam? (God)
- Who helped save Balaam from danger? (The donkey)
Life Application Questions
- Should we say mean words or kind words to people? (Kind words)
- Who wants to bless and help His people? (God)
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving Your people and protecting them. Help us use kind words that bless others. Amen.
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25–6:35
PRAYER 6:35–6:45 p.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for God to help us use kind and encouraging words with our friends and family.
BIBLE STORY GAME 6:45–6:55 | Pin the Tale on the Donkey
Items Needed
Place the poster on a smooth wall. Blindfold players and let them try to stick the tail closest to the correct position. Whoever sticks the tail the closest wins the game. (Give them a medal from the prize box). Remind them that in the Bible story, Balaam hit the donkey several times to try and get it to move before learning from God that they donkey was protecting him.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55–7:10 | “Kind Words” Speech Bubble Craft
Items Needed
- Construction paper
- Crayons
- Glue
- Printed donkey picture & thought bubbles
- Plastic bags (with though bubbles separated by thought inside)
- Tape
Description of Craft
Children glue a donkey picture onto a sheet of paper and color it. They take turns picking kind word through bubbles off the wall to put around the donkey with glue. This connects to the lesson about using words that bless others.
Note: Tape the kind word thought bubbles on the wall. When children pick one, they hand out the thought bubble to each friend around the table to glue.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10–7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while they watch the Bible story video.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Numbers 22:28–31 (ESV)
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway
Kind Words
What I Learned Today
Today we learned about Balaam and his donkey. God stopped Balaam from saying bad things about His people. God wants us to use kind words that bless others.
Questions to Ask Me
Theological Questions
- Who wanted Balaam to curse God’s people? (King Balak)
- What animal did Balaam ride? (A donkey)
- Who stood in the road with a sword? (An angel)
- What amazing thing did God allow the donkey to do? (Talk)
- Did Balaam curse or bless God’s people? (Bless)
Life Application Questions
- What kind of words should we say to people? (Kind words)
- How do you feel when someone says kind things to you? (Happy, loved)
- What should we do if we feel like saying something mean? (Choose kind words instead)
- Who wants to bless His people? (God)
- How can you bless someone this week? (Say kind words, help someone)