LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Judges 4:1-3, the people of Israel had once again turned away from God after the death of their previous leader. Because of their disobedience, God allowed a Canaanite king named Jabin and his powerful military commander, Sisera, to oppress the Israelites for 20 years. Sisera’s army was fearsome, equipped with 900 iron chariots that gave them a significant advantage over Israel. The people cried out to God for help, and true to His faithful character, God responded with compassion. He raised up a woman named Deborah, who served as both a prophet and a judge over Israel. She was known for her wisdom and her ability to hear from God, and the people trusted her so deeply that they came to her daily to have their disputes settled as she sat beneath a palm tree in the hill country of Ephraim.
In Judges 4:4-24, Deborah received a word from God and summoned the military commander Barak, instructing him to gather 10,000 men and lead them into battle against Sisera. Barak agreed to go only if Deborah would accompany him, and she did, though she told him the honor of defeating Sisera would belong to a woman. When the battle began, God sent a powerful rainstorm that flooded the valley and caused Sisera’s iron chariots to sink into the mud, stripping away his greatest military advantage. Sisera fled on foot and sought refuge in the tent of a woman named Jael, who welcomed him, gave him milk, and covered him with a blanket. While he slept, Jael drove a tent peg through his head, ending the battle entirely. Just as Deborah had promised, it was women who received the credit for the great victory God had given to His people. Deborah and Barak then composed a song of praise celebrating what God had done through the courage and faithfulness of women like Deborah and Jael.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Man in a Chariot
Items Needed
- Chariot Template (Cardstock)
- Peg People
- Crayons
- Paint Markers
Precut the Chariot Templates. Let kids color them and then help them assemble them. While you’re assembling their chariots, let them decorage a peg person to ride inside of it.
This activity is designed to introduce the word chariot for the Bible story. Ask them questions about what it would be like to ride in a chariot. Do they think it would ride good on a road? What about in the mud?
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Judges
Question 2: Is Judges in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Old Testament
Today we are going to hear a story about a very brave and wise woman named Deborah. Can you say Deborah?
[Wait for response]
OBJECT LESSON: Before the story, hold up a small toy hammer or a rubber mallet. Say: I brought something with me today. What is this? [Wait for response] It is a hammer! Hammers are tools. They help us do big jobs. Today we are going to hear about a woman who was brave enough to use a tool like this to help God’s people. Let’s find out more!
[Set the hammer where kids can see it throughout the story]
A long time ago, God had a special group of people called the Israelites. Can you say Israelites?
[Wait for response]
The Israelites were God’s people, and God loved them very much. But sometimes God’s people made a bad choice. They stopped listening to God.
When the people stopped obeying God, some mean enemies came and started hurting them. The people were scared. But then they remembered something. They remembered they could pray! What do we do when we need help?
[Wait for response]
We pray! Let’s put our hands together like we are praying. [Fold hands together] The people prayed to God and asked Him to help them.
God answered and sent someone special to help His people. A woman, and her name was Deborah.
Deborah was very wise. That means she was really, really smart, and she listened to God. She used to sit under a big palm tree and help people. Can you reach your arms up tall like a big palm tree?
[Stretch arms up high]
That’s a great palm tree! Deborah sat right under a tree and helped people every single day because she listened to God.
One day, God told Deborah something important. God said there was going to be a big battle. A battle is like a big fight between armies. God told Deborah to find a man named Barak and tell him to go fight the bad army. Can you say Barak?
[Wait for response]
Barak said, “I will only go if YOU go with me, Deborah!”
Deborah said, “Okay, I will go with you! But a WOMAN is going to be the one who wins this fight!”
Now the bad army had something really scary. They had BIG chariots made of iron. Chariots are like wagons pulled by horses, but these were made of hard, hard metal. Let’s stomp our feet like a big chariot rolling along!
[Stomp feet on the floor]
900 big iron chariots! That is SO many. Do you think God could stop them?
[Wait for response]
YES! God can do ANYTHING! Do you know what God did? He sent RAIN! Let’s make rain sounds with our fingers on our legs.
[Tap fingers on legs, starting slow and getting faster]
The rain came down and down and down. So much rain fell that the ground turned to MUD. Can you say mud?
[Wait for response]
And those great big iron chariots? They got stuck! They could not move! Let’s all try to walk like we are stuck in the mud. [Stand up and walk in slow, heavy steps] Uh oh! Stuck in the mud! Sisera’s army could not fight anymore. God had done something amazing!
[Sit back down]
Sisera, the bad general, ran away as fast as he could. He came to the tent of a woman named Jael. Can you say Jael?
[Wait for response]
Jael said, “Come inside my tent and rest.” She gave him some warm milk and covered him with a blanket. Can you pretend you are drinking something warm and cozy?
[Pretend to drink from a cup]
Sisera fell fast asleep. And while he was sleeping, Jael used a hammer, just like this one [hold up the hammer] to stop him for good. The battle was over! God’s people were safe!
And do you know who got the credit? WOMEN! Deborah and Jael, two brave women, had helped God save His people. God can use anyone to do big things. He can even use YOU!
Theological Questions:
- Who sent Deborah to help God’s people? (God did. God chose Deborah because she listened to Him.)
- Why did the rain stop Sisera’s chariots? (God was in control of everything, even the weather, and He used the rain to protect His people.)
Life Application Questions:
- Deborah was brave even when things were scary. When is a time you had to be brave?
- Deborah listened to God. How can we listen to God?
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for being in control of everything, even storms and battles. Help us to be brave and listen to You just like Deborah did. Amen!
[Have all the kids say Amen together]
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Have children sit in a circle and bow their heads. Pray for the brave women in our lives who love God and lead others, just like Deborah did. Pray that God would help each child grow up to be brave and listen to God the way Deborah did.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | Pin the Coconut on the Palm Tree
Items Needed
Kids will take turns tryin to Pin the coconut on the Palm Tree. Whoever gets it closely to the center wins.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Deborah’s Palm Tree
Items Needed:
- Deborah’s Palm Tree Template
- Brown and Green Crayons
- Glue
- ZipLock Bags or Paper Clips
Children will color the palm tree and Deborah. Then they will take turns picking coconuts (precut and either put in stacks with paperclips or taped to the wall in Ziplock bags) to glue to the palm tree. Talk about the words on each coconut as they glue them down. This craft connects to Deborah holding court under the palm tree and listening to God and teaches preschool kids that God can use them, too.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while watching the Bible Story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Mud Dough Making
Items Needed:
- 2 Cups Cornstarch
- 1 Cup water
- 2-3 tbs cocoa powder
- Water
- Cookie sheet with edges
How to make it:
- Pour the cornstarch into a bowl.
- Slowly add the water a little at a time, stirring as you go.
- Add the cocoa powder and stir until the color is mixed in.
- The mixture will feel hard when you press it and liquid when you let it rest. That is normal and that is the fun part!
Tip: Place the mixture in a shallow bin or cookie sheet with edges so it does not spill. Put a plastic tablecloth or trash bag under the bin for easy cleanup.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Judges 4:4-9 (ESV)
“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, ‘Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.’ Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.’ And she said, ‘I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God Uses Me
What I learned today: Today we learned about a brave woman named Deborah who listened to God and helped His people. God chose Deborah to be a leader and a judge, and she was not afraid to do what God asked her to do. We learned that God can use anyone, including kids like us, to do big things when we listen and obey Him.
Questions to ask me:
- Who was Deborah? (She was a wise woman and a judge in Israel who listened to God and helped His people.)
- Where did Deborah sit when she helped people? (Under a palm tree.)
- How did God stop Sisera’s chariots? (He sent a big rainstorm that flooded the valley and made the chariots get stuck in the mud.)
- What is a judge? (A judge was someone God sent to help His people follow Him and make good decisions.)
- Who else was brave in this story besides Deborah? (A woman named Jael, who helped end the battle.)
- When have you felt scared like the Israelites did? What did you do? (Answers will vary. Encourage talking about praying and trusting God.)
- What does it mean to be brave? (Answers will vary. It means doing the right thing even when we are scared.)
- How can you listen to God this week? (Answers will vary. Through prayer, reading the Bible, going to church, and being still.)
- Who is a brave woman in your life who loves God? (Answers will vary. Encourage children to think of moms, grandmothers, teachers, or women at church.)
- What is one big thing you think God might want you to do someday? (Answers will vary. Encourage children to dream big and trust that God has a plan for them.)