YEA Lesson Library
Powerful and Mighty
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that we need to be intentional about remembering what God has done in our lives, just as Joshua set up a Stone of Remembrance to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan River dry-shod.
Scriptures
Joshua 3:1-17
Joshua 4:1-24
Joshua 4:24
Malachi 3:16
Words to Know
CONSECRATE - to devote oneself to the worship and service of God (in this case)
DRAMATIC - in a powerful way, stirring the imagination and emotions
EXALT - to raise in rank, power, or character
COINCIDENCE - to happen just by chance
The Lesson
“Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superman!" That's how the introduction went for the Superman TV show. He was truly a good superhero - one who plucked the innocent out of danger, put himself in danger to protect others, and brought the bad guys to justice. We like Superman because he did all of those things - and in such a dramatic way. Well, let me tell you about Someone who is greater than Superman. In this story, God kept His people from danger — while He stood in the place of danger until they were all safe. And God did it in a very dramatic way.
Joshua was getting ready to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River. He told the people two things. First, they were to get ready to follow the Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, but they were to keep about a thousand yards away from the Ark. Secondly, he told the people to consecrate themselves because God was going to do amazing things among them the next day.
The next day, God told Joshua that He would exalt him so that all the people would know that God was with Joshua, just as He had been with Moses. Then He directed Joshua to tell the priests to take the Ark of the Covenant and go stand in the Jordan River.
Now, this was the tenth day of the first month. That means the Jordan River would have been in flood stage. With all of the spring rains and the snow melting from Mount Hermon, it would have been a very dangerous and difficult crossing for all of the Israelites. But, when the feet of the priests carrying the Ark touched the waters of the Jordan River, a very dramatic thing happened! The water piled up in a heap — about 20 miles upstream. The people wouldn't have to cross through the flood waters! Oh, but the mud! No! God took care of that too! Joshua 3:17 says, "The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”
When all of the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River, Joshua told them to take one man from each of the 12 tribes. Each man would go back to where the priests stood with the Ark in the middle of the Jordan River, pick up a large stone from the bed of the river, and carry it back to Joshua. Joshua took the stones and set them up at Gilgal. He told the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God" (Joshua 4:21-24 NIV).
After the people crossed the Jordan River and the men had gathered the stones, God told Joshua to tell the priests to carry the Ark out of the river. No sooner had they stepped out of the river with the Ark than the Jordan River again ran at flood stage!
This is an amazing story! God showed that He was with Joshua and the Israelites. He would protect them from the dangers not only of crossing the Jordan River, but also of capturing the land that He had promised to give to them. There would be no doubt in the minds of the Israelites that it was God who had helped them cross the Jordan River. Not only did the waters stop just as the priests stepped into it, but the ground was dry! And as soon as they stepped out on the other side, the river was again very high at flood stage. That’s a very dramatic way to show that this was a miracle from God, not just a coincidence! But, God knew that people need to be reminded of His power and glory. So He told Joshua to build a pile of stones taken from the Jordan River. That way they, their children, and their grandchildren would see the pile of rocks and would remember what God had done.
It is important to remember what God has done for us. He is our great God. He is worthy of our praise and love. Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in our daily lives, and to forget that our focus should be on God. As Joshua did, let's build ourselves some reminders to give God the glory. He is powerful and mighty!
Activity
Teaching the Lesson:
Legacy Lesson: Student book/Teacher book - Teaching Time: 25 mins.
Lesson Prep - Teacher book - Time: 45 mins.
Activity (Teacher book): Mini Scrolls and Jigsaw Puzzles - Time: 40 mins.
Song: "My God is So Big”- page 14 of Kids Classic Collection - Time: 5 mins.
Activity (Student book): A Stone of Remembrance - Time: 20 mins.
Extending the Lesson - REACH Activities:
*Back to the Bible: Stones of Remembrance
*Journal Jot: Retelling God’s Might
*Word Study: powerful - châzâq
*Just Toolin’ Around: châzâq
*Did you Know? Jordan River
*Stretch It Out: Jordan River
*Music Notes: Eternal Father, Strong to Save
*Questions? - Writing Prompt - 10 mins.
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are so great and mighty! Thank You for the wonderful things You
have done in my life. I love You.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Joshua 4:1-7
Monday: Malachi 3:16
Tuesday: Joshua 4:8-9
Wednesday: Joshua 4:10-13
Thursday: Joshua 4:14-16
Friday: Joshua 4:17-18
Saturday: Joshua 4:19-24
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Retell the events of Israel crossing the Jordan River.
2. State the significance of the priests holding the Ark in the midst of the river during the crossing.
3. Explain the reason a man from each tribe picked up a stone from the middle of the river.
4. Share some personal experiences where God's power has been displayed.
5. Brainstorm ideas for remembering God's involvement in his or her life.
Topics & Themes
Ark of the Covenant
Flood
God’s Omnipotence
Jordan River
Joshua
Miracles
Remember/Remembrance
Stone of Remembrance
Materials Needed
Bibles, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, pencils and pens, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, songbook, music player, CD or cassette, chalkboard and chalk, poster board, jigsaw puzzles, markers and crayons, ziplock bags with the students' jigsaw puzzle pieces, popsicle sticks, 18" x 5.5" strips of paper, glue
Preparation
Think about ways God has manifested Himself in your life. Share encouraging examples with the students. Some people talk about God as if He audibly speaks to them. Often their retelling comes across as religiosity. Many have prayed for healing and have received that healing. Their faith has been encouraged, and they want to share it. But the manner in which they share has a profound effect. Be careful to give God the glory. Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of things not seen. Juniors are quick to spot things that don't ring true and this can negatively affect their faith.
A memorial to what God has done is a good idea. My family began making a scroll of remembrance (based on Malachi 3:16) for the Feast of Tabernacles. One page was for everyone's memories of that Feast; the opposite page was a collage of photos taken at that Feast. Copies were made so each family member had a copy of everyone’s memories. Now that some members have died, it is precious to get out the scroll of remembrance and read their thoughts of some of the wonderful times our family had worshiping God.
There are almost limitless ways to make visual reminders of God's blessings: hand prints in plaster or concrete, a painting, a poster, a poem, a homemade book with photos or drawings, a song, a homemade candle, a bush planted in the yard, a flower garden, a pile of rocks, bookmarks, etc.
How to Teach This Lesson
Open the class with prayer and begin the discussion.
Object lesson - Bring a collection of memorable things (photos, drawings, books, knick-knacks, scrapbooks, wall hangings, a baby's first toy, whatever) for students to see when they enter. After they are seated, explain how each object brings back memories. Share your memories about a couple of the objects.
Gilgal - Explain that for a longtime after the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land, there was a pile of rocks at Gilgal. Ask: Who knows why those rocks were there?
Crossing the Jordan - Discuss how Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves the day before they crossed the river. Ask: What does it mean to consecrate yourself? Why would Joshua ask the people to devote themselves to God?
The Ark of the Covenant - The Ark symbolized the presence of God. Where did Joshua tell the priests who were carrying the ark to stand? As soon as their feet touched the water what happened ? Why were the people told to keep away from the Ark? God is never to be treated lightly. Honor and respect that is due Him must always be given.
Dry Ground - Discuss how incredible it was that, at the exact moment the priests stepped into the water, it piled up in a heap 20 miles up stream. Ask: Why did the water "pile up" so far upstream? Discuss the number of people who made the crossing. They might have spread out several miles in order for everyone to cross that day. The second incredible miracle was how the people crossed on dry ground without wading through mud. Then once the priests stepped out of the water, the river returned to flood stage! The third miracle!
Rocks of remembrance - God told Joshua to instruct one man from each tribe to pick up a rock from the middle of the Jordan River, where the priests had stood. Then Joshua set them up in a pile in Gilgal. It was to be a continual reminder of what God had done for them. Why? As the students learned in their memory verse, God's power would be displayed for all nations and so that Israel would fear Him always. Discuss how the pile of stones would be a monument reminding other people of what God had done for His people, and how it would remind God's people to fear Him. What does that mean? Should we be afraid of God? We should fear to disobey God and should have the proper respect for Him. But we don't need to be afraid of God who shows us His love in so many ways. This word fear is used in the sense of "to worship and to serve God."
Faith-builder - Discuss how having the physical reminder of God's power and deliverance strengthens our faith and encourages us, especially during difficult times when it is a blessing to know that God is with us.
Personal reminders - Brainstorm ways of reminding ourselves of God's involvement in our lives. (See Preparation.) We want those reminders of God's goodness: they make a good witness of God to people around us, they remind us to worship and serve our great God, and they encourage us when we need it.
Review Questions
1. What happened when the Israelites were ready to cross the Jordan River?
2. Why did the priests hold the Ark in the middle of the river until everyone had crossed?
3. Why did the water pile up 20 miles upstream?
4. Did the people cross in the mud?
5. What did God tell one man from each tribe to get out of the middle of the river?
6. What happened as soon as the priests carrying the Ark stepped out of the water?
7. What did Joshua do with the stones? Why?
8. How has God been involved in your life?
9. What things can you do to make physical reminders of God’s goodness?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Using popsicle sticks and strips of paper, make simple scrolls. On the paper, print in large letters the memory verse: Joshua 4:24 - “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God." Encourage students to hang scrolls in their rooms where they can be seen every day.
Continue working on your jigsaw puzzle, using the piece for Lesson Six. On one side, write "God." On the other, write "mighty and powerful." Give the students their ziplock bags so they can continue with their jigsaw puzzle pieces too.
REACH Activity
Back to the Bible: Stones of Remembrance
Read these passages which talk about memorial stones. Make a chart displaying who, where, what, why, when, and the scripture reference. Genesis 28:10-22; Joshua 4:1-8; Joshua 7:26; Joshua 8:28-29; Joshua 8:30-32; Joshua 10:27; Joshua 22:34; Joshua 24:26-27; 1 Samuel 7:7-12
Journal Jot: Retelling God’s Might
One of my favorite stories of God’s intervention is when my parents were traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains several years ago. They stopped to hike to the top of a waterfall. They heard someone scream; a person had fallen over the edge of the falls. Dad hurried up the steps of the path to see if he could help. Mom was behind him when she lost her balance and started to fall backwards. There was nothing she could do to prevent falling when she was suddenly set back on her feet - almost as if two hands caught her and pushed her back upright. There is no other explanation than that God intervened and rescued Mom from being badly hurt. Did anyone else see it? No. Can I prove that it happened? No. But that’s where faith comes in - believing despite not being able to see the evidence.
Write about an experience you have had or a family member. If you don’t have a story, ask someone at church to share an experience they had where God’s hand was so obviously at work in their life.
Word Study: powerful - châzâq
The word translated “powerful” in Joshua 4:24 is the Hebrew word which means “strong, firm, valiant; wound, powerful, violent, hard. It means powerful . . . and can have the connotation of being unyielding.” (Source: Zodhiates’ NAS Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, 1990, H#2389) Even this definition does not do the power of God justice. He is all-powerful. The One who called the world into existence is able to do all things.
Write this word, its definition, and the scripture reference in your Bible notebook.
Just Toolin’ Around: châzâq
Using a concordance, look up this Hebrew word (Strong’s #2389). Find five other places where it is used. Are you surprised at the context? Write down the verses and the slight variance in definition dependent on the context.
Did you Know? Jordan River
The headwaters of the Jordan River are near the slopes of Mount Hermon. It flows from there into the Sea of Galilee. Then it runs through the Plain of Zor and the Ghor Valley. It wanders close to the Mount of Olives and finally empties into the Dead Sea. Find a map Israel today and trace the route of the Jordan River. Make a copy to put into your Bible notebook.
Stretch It Out: The Jordan River
The Jordan River is important in Biblical history. Look up these passages to see who was involved with the river and how. Make a chart, delineating the events. These are just a few; there are lots more. Find 3 more instances to add to your chart, other than these: Joshua 3:14-4:18; 1 Kings 17:3-5; 2 Kings 5:1-15; 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matthew 3:6; Matthew 3:13-17
Music Notes: Eternal Father, Strong to Save
This hymn is on page 10 of the CEM Hymnal.
It is called the Traveler’s Hymn or the Navy Hymn. It was written in 1860 by William Whiting, an Anglican churchman and the headmaster of the Winchester College Choristers’ School for 35 years. He published a book of poems and wrote several other hymns, which are no longer in use. The composer, John Dykes, specifically wrote the music for the text. John Dykes is best known for composing the music for hymns like “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Lead, Kindly Light” and “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” In 1937 the second and third verses were added by editor Robert Nelson Spencer “to include a plea for God’s protection for those who travel by land and air as well as those on the high sea.” “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” was played at both Franklin Roosevelt’s funeral in 1945 and John F. Kennedy’s funeral in 1963. (Source: Near to the Heart of God, Robert Morgan, 2010, November 1st and 101 More Hymn Stories, Kenneth Osbeck, 1985, pg. 80-81)
In what locations does this hymn plea for God’s protection? Where do you ask for God’s protection? When God provides that protection, do you remember to thank Him? Write your favorite line from the hymn. Then sing it.
Note: If you look at the REACH activities for Junior book, Mission Possible, Life of Christ Series, lesson eight, there are notes for the song “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” This hymn refers to an Ebenezer, which would fit very well with this lesson.
Questions?
Write down any questions you have in your Bible notebook so that you can remember to ask your parents or your pastor.
Song
"My God is So Big" is on page 14 of the Kids Classic Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead students in prayer thanking God for His goodness to them, and asking for His help in thinking of ways to remember that goodness.
Printable Pages
