LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Joshua 9:1-10:15, the people of God were in the middle of taking possession of the land He had promised them. After great victories at Jericho and Ai, word spread throughout Canaan about the power of Israel’s God, and fear gripped every nation in the land. While some kings banded together to fight against Israel, the people of Gibeon took a different approach. Rather than attack, they crafted a clever deception. They dressed in worn-out clothing, packed old dried-out bread, and pretended to have traveled from a distant land. They came to Joshua asking for a peace treaty, and Joshua, without stopping to pray or seek God’s direction, agreed to their terms. Just three days later, the truth came out. Gibeon was not far away at all. It was right in the heart of the land God had told Israel to conquer. Israel had been tricked, and the treaty had to stand.
The story does not end there, however. When Gibeon’s neighboring kings discovered the treaty and launched an attack against Gibeon, Joshua honored the promise and brought his army to their defense. This time, Joshua sought the Lord, and God responded in a stunning way. He sent massive hailstones that defeated more enemies than the soldiers did with their swords. Then, when Joshua needed more daylight to finish the battle, he called on God and the sun stood still in the sky. The central lesson woven through this entire account is one that preschoolers can begin to grasp in the simplest terms. When we try to figure things out on our own without asking God, we can make big mistakes. But when we stop and ask God for help, He shows up in ways that are bigger than anything we could have imagined. God knows best, and He wants us to ask Him.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Tattered Traveler Vests
Items Needed:
- Large brown paper grocery bags (one per child)
- Paper Patchwork Patches
- Brown, tan, and gray crayons or markers
- Tissue paper torn into small pieces (brown, tan, and gray tones preferred)
- Glue sticks
- Optional: twine or yarn pieces
Teacher Prep Before Class: Cut the bottom out of each paper grocery bag. Then cut a straight line up the center front of the bag to create an opening. Cut a large half-circle at the top of the bag for the head to go through. Cut two half-circles on each side for the armholes. This creates a simple vest shape the child can wear.
Children will decorate their paper bag vest to look old, worn, and tattered just like the Gibeonites wore when they tricked Joshua. Encourage children to crumple their vest up several times and then smooth it back out to give it a worn and wrinkled look. They can then use crayons or markers to add dirt smudges, patches, and worn spots to the vest. Children can glue torn tissue paper pieces onto the vest to look like old patches sewn onto tattered clothing. Optional twine or yarn pieces can be glued on as stitching details. Once finished, children can wear their vests during the Bible story time as a fun visual connection to how the Gibeonites dressed to trick Joshua and his army.
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this story found in the Bible? Joshua
Question 2: Is Joshua in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Old Testament
Today we are going to hear a story about some very sneaky people, a very big mistake, and a very big miracle from God.
[Cup your hands around your mouth like you are telling a secret.]
Whisper with me. God. Knows. Best.
[Wait for response.]
Good! Now say it a little louder. God knows best!
[Wait for response.]
One more time, say it like you really mean it! GOD KNOWS BEST!
[Wait for response.]
God’s people, the Israelites, were moving into a brand new land. God had promised it to them, and He was helping them win every battle. The people all around were scared of Joshua and the Israelites, because everyone knew that GOD was on their side.
Now, there was a city not far away called Gibeon. Say it with me. Gibeon!
[Wait for response.]
The people of Gibeon were scared. They thought, “Joshua’s army is going to come get us!” So they came up with a sneaky plan.
[Wiggle your fingers like you are being sneaky.]
Can you make your sneaky fingers?
[Wait for response.]
They put on their oldest, rattiest, most worn-out clothes and shoes. Their clothes had holes in them and their shoes were falling apart!
They also packed some bread in their bags. But this was not yummy, soft bread. This was old, dry, crumbly bread.
They carried their old bread and their worn-out bags and they walked right up to Joshua and said, “Hello! We have traveled SO far away to come see you. We came from a place very far away.”
Joshua looked at their old clothes. He looked at their old shoes. He tasted their old bread. And do you know what he thought?
He thought they were telling the truth!
Now here is the most important part of our story. Before Joshua made a big decision, he should have prayed and asked God if it was the right decision. Joshua did not stop to pray. He did not ask God what to do. He just decided all by himself.
Joshua made a promise to the Gibeonites that he would never, ever hurt them, and a promise is a very big deal.
Three days later, Joshua found out the truth. Gibeon was not far away at all! It was right next door!
Joshua had made a promise, and now he had to keep it, even though he had been tricked. This was a big mistake, and it happened because Joshua did not ask God first.
[Hold up one finger.]
Number one lesson. Always ask God first!
Now let’s hear part two of our story.
[Rub your hands together with excitement.]
The other kings who lived nearby were very angry at Gibeon for making friends with Joshua. So they decided to attack Gibeon. The people of Gibeon were scared! They sent a message to Joshua. “Help us! Please come save us!”
This time, Joshua stopped and prayed. He asked God what to do. And God said, “Go, Joshua. I will help you win.”
Joshua and his army marched through the whole night.
[March in place with your feet.]
March with me! Left, right, left, right!
[March together for a few seconds.]
When morning came, they surprised the enemy army! Then something amazing happened from the sky.
GIANT hailstones! Like really, really big pieces of ice fell from the sky, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
[Stomp your feet on the floor three times. Encourage kids to stomp with you.]
Stomp with me! Boom! Boom! Boom!
[Wait for response.]
More enemies were stopped by the hailstones than by the swords of the soldiers. God was fighting for His people!
And then, something happened that had NEVER happened before and has NEVER happened since.
[Whisper the next part.]
Joshua looked up at the sun, and he told it to stand still.
And the sun stopped right there in the sky. God made the daylight last longer so Joshua’s army had enough time to win the battle.
God did something nobody had ever seen before. God is THAT powerful.
Theological Questions:
- Why is it important to ask God before we make big decisions?
- How did God show Joshua that He is more powerful than any army?
Life Application Questions:
- When you have to make a choice and you are not sure what to do, who can you ask for help?
- Can you think of something you could pray about today and ask God to help you with?
Prayer:
Lord, You know everything, and You always know what is best. Help us to stop and ask You before we make our choices, just like You want us to. Amen.
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for children to grow in the habit of asking God for wisdom before they make decisions, big or small, and that they would trust that God always knows what is best for them.
BIBLE STORY GAME 6:45-6:55 | Hailstone Toss
Items Needed:
- “Hail Balls”
(freeze hail balls in water ballons and store in cooler for game) - Alternative: White ping pong balls
- Bucket
Children stand a few feet away from the basket and try to toss “hailstones” in. Each successful toss earns a cheer of “God fights for us!” Move the basket farther back each round. Talk about how God sent real hailstones from the sky to help Joshua’s army and that God can do things we could never do ourselves.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Seek God’s Wisdom Sunshine
Items Needed:
- Sunshine Craft Printout
- Ziplock Bags
- Masking Tape
- Glue Sticks
- Yellow and Orange Crayons (or markers)
Give each child the sunshine circle to color. As they finish coloring it, let children take turns picking “rays” of sunshine off the wall and discuss ways we can seek God’s wisdom. Allow the kid to handout a ray to their friends to glue to the sunshine. Repeat until all rays have been discussed.
Teachers discuss while children work: “In our story today, God did something nobody had ever seen. He made the sun stop moving in the sky. God is that powerful!” It is important we always seek God for wisdom before we make decisions.
SNACK TIME AND BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while watching the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Optical Illusion Experiment
The Gibeonites tricked Joshua by making things look different than they really were. This experiment shows how our eyes and our own judgment can be fooled, which is why we need God’s wisdom instead of just relying on what we see.
Items Needed:
- Optical Illusions (printed)
Hold up printed optical illusion spages. Ask them what they see first. Then have them look again to see other things. Walk through two or three different illusions and discuss how our eyes told us one thing but the truth was something different.
Ask the kids, “Has your brain ever told you something was true and you found out later it was wrong?” Remind the kids that our eyes and our own thinking can be fooled, but God always sees the full truth. That is why we always ask God first.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Memory Verse: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5, ESV
Joshua 9:1-10:15, ESV
9 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9 They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”’ 12 Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21 And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.
22 Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell among us? 23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24 They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” 26 So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27 But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place that he should choose.
The Sun Stands Still
10 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction,[a] doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 he[b] feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who[c] struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 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.
15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET The Gibeonite Trick | Joshua 9:1-10:15
Today’s Key Takeaway: God Knows Best
What I Learned Today: Today we learned about a group of people called the Gibeonites who tricked Joshua into making a promise without asking God first. Joshua made a mistake because he did not stop and ask God for help before making a big decision. We learned that when we have a decision to make, big or small, we should always ask God first because He always knows best.
Questions to Ask Me:
- Who is the one person we should always ask for help when we have to make a decision? (God)
- Did Joshua ask God before he made his promise to the Gibeonites? (No, he did not ask God first)
- What did God do to help Joshua win the battle to protect the Gibeonites? (God made the sun stand still so they had more time to fight)
- Does God always know what is best for us? (Yes, God always knows best)
- Where can we find God’s wisdom to help us make good choices? (In the Bible and through prayer)
- Have you ever made a decision without asking for help and it did not turn out well? What happened?
- What is one decision you could ask God to help you with this week?
- How do you think it felt to be tricked like Joshua was? What would you do if someone tricked you?
- If God can make the sun stand still, what does that tell you about how powerful He is?
- How can you remember to ask God first before you make a decision today?