The Twelve Spies

12 Spies Bookmark.

Central Truth: Always trust in God. His promises are always true.

Scriptures: Numbers 13-14

God commanded Moses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to Canaan to spy out the land. Moses obeyed God and sent the men into the land of Canaan. For forty days, the men explored the land and returned with fruit - pomegranates, clusters of grapes, and figs. Ten of the spies reported to Moses that the land was rich and plentiful but the cities were fortified and the people were strong as giants. Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, insisted that they should immediately invade and possess the land. 

The Israelites believed the negative report of the ten spies and were afraid. They began to turn on Moses and Aaron and planned to return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb urged the people not to rebel against God because God will help them to take the land. God heard the Israelites complain and murmur and was so angry with the people that he wanted to destroy them, but Moses prayed for God to forgive their lack of faith. As punishment, God condemned the congregation to wander for forty years - one year for each day the spies were in Canaan. All of those who were twenty years old and older, except for Joshua and Caleb, would never enter the Promised Land. Only their descendants would obtain the promise God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Joshua 1:9 coloring page.

Miriam Becomes Leprous

Central Truth: Be careful with your words because once spoken, they can never be taken back.

Scriptures: Numbers 12

Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses, accusing him of too much authority. They further spoke against Moses marrying an Ethiopian woman, which was just an excuse because the real motive was that they were jealous of Moses and his authority and relationship with God. Aaron and Miriam each held authoritative positions, but they wanted to exalt themselves above Moses. When God had heard Miriam and Aaron gossiping and murmuring against Moses, he called the three of them to the Tabernacle. God told Aaron and Miriam that he speaks to his prophets in dreams and visions but this is not so with Moses because they have a special relationship: God speaks to Moses “mouth to mouth” (Numbers 12:8). When God departed, Miriam was struck with leprosy. Aaron humbled himself and asked Moses to help Miriam. Moses prayed to God who tells him to shut Miriam out of the camp for seven days and then she will be healed. While Miriam was exiled from the camp, the Israelites did not journey until she was well again.

As Miriam and Aaron learned, words can either do good or they can do harm. Once words are spoken, there is no way to take them back. In a way, words are like a tube of toothpaste. When used correctly, toothpaste cleans our teeth and mouth. When used incorrectly, there is a mess and the toothpaste cannot be returned to its tube.  

Words are like toothpaste.

Nadab & Abihu

Central Truth: We must honor God by obeying his commands.

Scriptures: Leviticus 10:1-11

When God gave Moses the laws and the pattern for the Tabernacle, he also gave him instructions for establishing the priesthood. Aaron was appointed as High Priest and his sons and their descendants were given the responsibility for the priesthood. All other Levites were in charge of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The priests were anointed by God.

Nadab and Abihu were the sons of Aaron. They put fire and incense in their censor and offered before the God, but it was strange fire which God did not command. As a result, God devoured Nadab and Abihu with fire and they died. God told Moses that those who came before him must be holy or they cannot come near.

Interactive Display

To help the story to come alive for the children, I put together an interactive display for the story of Moses. Each week, something new is either revealed or added or taken away. This time, I took away two of Aaron's sons from the Tabernacle complex and discussed the Priestly garments.

We also had a little fun playing jeopardy:

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle

Central Truth: God wants to dwell among his people.

Scriptures: Exodus 25-30

When Moses was on Mount Sinai, God gave him many laws in addition to the Ten Commandments and instructions for building a Tabernacle (a place for worship). The Tabernacle was to be a temporary place for the Israelites to worship during their wanderings through the wilderness and the early years of their time in the Promised Land. The Tabernacle included a courtyard constructed with boards that could easily be taken apart for transportation. The boards were covered with animal skins and curtains. The furniture for the Tabernacle was also portable. Eventually, the Tabernacle was replaced by the magnificent Temple built by King Solomon many centuries later.

The Outer Court
The Outer Court was the area within the fenced courtyard and can only be accessed from one gate located at the eastern end. Anyone could enter the courtyard. It contained a bronze altar for sacrifices and a bronze laver where the priests washed their hands and feet before entering the tent of Tabernacle.

The Outer Court with the Bronze Altar at the entrance followed by the Bronze Laver.

The Holy Place

The tent of Tabernacle had two sections. The first section was the Holy Place where only the priests were allowed to enter. Inside the Holy Place was the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread, and the Altar of Incense. 

The Menorah was lit from dusk to dawn with fire from the Brazen Altar and provided light for the priests in the Holy Place. It symbolized how the Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding of the things of God.

The High Priest before the Menorah in the Holy Place within the Tabernacle.

The Table of Shewbread was a golden plated table with twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The bread was left on the table for seven days and sprinkled with incense before eaten by the priest's family. The shewbread represented Jesus as the Bread of Life.

The Altar of Incense was located directly in front of the veil that divided the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. At morning and at twilight the priests burned incense with fire from the Brazen Altar. The priests would pray for the people before the altar.

The Holy Place with the Table of Shewbread and the High Priest before the Altar of Incense.

Holy of Holies

The second of the tent of Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies and was the most sacred part of the Tabernacle. Within this room was only one piece of furniture, the Ark of the Covenant.  Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the tablets with the Ten Commandments, a golden pot filled with manna, and Aaron's Rod that budded - all items of rebellion and symbolizes God's delivering power. 

Inside the Ark of the Covenant

Interactive Display

To help the story to come alive for the children, I put together an interactive display for the story of Moses. Each week, something new is either revealed or added or taken away. Today the children got a thorough look at the Tabernacle and its furniture and how they all point to Jesus. When God gave Moses the plans for creating the Tabernacle with its sacred objects, the Israelites were still camped at Mount Sinai. A year to the day that they left Egypt, the Tabernacle was completed and the cloud of God rested in the Holy of Holies. When God wanted the Israelites to move their camp, the cloud withdrew and was a flaming fire that led them to their next destination. With the number 10, the children marked the location where the Tabernacle was created at Mount Sinai:

Interactive map of the Wandering of the Israelites in the Wilderness.