Grace Team UniversityStudy to shew thyself approved unto God2 Timothy 2:15
SCRIBE’S TREASURECHRISTIAN LIBRARYTHY WORD IS TRUTHKJV BIBLE WITH GREEKPRAISE YE THE LORDWORSHIP MUSIC
For Children · Lesson 31 · E. Joshua and the Judges

Joshua and the River Jordan

Read together in your Bible: Joshua 1; 3–4 (King James Version)

The priests carry the ark into the dry River Jordan
Memory Verse — Hide It in Your Heart
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 · KJV

Say it together morning and night until you know it by heart — these are the very words of God.

The Story

Moses, God's great leader, had died, and now Joshua stood in his place. God spoke to Joshua and told him the time had come: "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan" — the wide river Jordan — and take all the people into the promised land. God promised Joshua the same wonderful promise He had given Moses: "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee". And then God gave him the words of our memory verse: be strong, be brave, and do not be afraid, for the LORD thy God is with thee wherever thou goest.

Joshua told the people to get their food ready, for in three days they would cross the river. The camp moved down to the edge of Jordan. It was harvest time, when the river runs full and deep, right up over its banks — no one could swim that rushing water, and there were no bridges. But God had a plan.

Joshua sent the officers through the camp with God's orders: when the people saw the ark of the covenant — God's special golden box — carried by the priests, they were to follow it at a distance. Joshua told the people, "Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

In the morning the priests lifted the ark onto their shoulders and walked ahead of all the people, straight toward the deep, rushing river. The moment the soles of their feet touched the edge of the water, God did the wonder! The water coming down from above stopped and stood up in a great heap, far away, and the water below flowed off toward the sea — and there, in the middle of Jordan, was dry ground. The priests carrying the ark "stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan" while the whole nation walked across on dry land, every family, every child, every animal — nobody even got their feet wet.

When everyone was safely over, God told Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Each man went back into the middle of the river and lifted a big stone onto his shoulder from the very place where the priests had stood. They carried the twelve stones to the camp at Gilgal and set them up in a pile. Joshua said that when children in years to come asked what the stones meant, their fathers were to tell them the story: "the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you". Then the priests came up out of the river, and the moment their feet reached the dry bank, the waters of Jordan came rushing back and filled the river again, just as full as before. God had dried up the river for His people — exactly as He promised Joshua.

The Big Truth

God dried up the river for His people, just as He promised Joshua.

What We Learn

  1. God kept His promise: He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses, and He is with us wherever we go.
  2. The priests had to step toward the deep water before it parted — trusting God sometimes means taking the first step.
  3. God set up the twelve stones so children would always hear what He had done — He wants us to remember and tell His mighty works.

Talk About It

  1. What did God promise Joshua before the people came to the river?
  2. What happened when the priests' feet touched the water, and what were the twelve stones for?
  3. What is something big or hard in front of you, where you need to remember that God is with you and will not fail you?

Fun to Do

Build a Stone Memorial! Collect twelve stones (or twelve paper stones cut from card) and stack them in a pile or lay them in a row. On each stone, write or draw one thing God has done for your family. Keep your memorial where you can see it, and tell the story of the river Jordan whenever someone asks about it.

Let’s Pray

Dear God, thank You that You are with me wherever I go, and that You will never fail me or forsake me. Help me to be strong and brave, trusting You. Amen.

← Moses Says Goodbye All Children's Lessons The Walls of Jericho →
DONATIONCONTACT USPRIVACY
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Grace Team University Online · Preaching to the Lost at Any Cost