Unit 7 • Session 3

Use Week of: Unit 7 • Session 3 Balaam and Balak

BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 22–24

STORY POINT: Balaam blessed God’s people.

KEY PASSAGE: Proverbs 3:5

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.

INTRODUCE THE STORY TEACH THE STORY EXPERIENCE THE STORY (15–20 MINUTES) (10–15 MINUTES) (20–25 MINUTES) PAGE 34 PAGE 36 PAGE 38

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Preschool Leader Guide 30 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay LEADER Bible Study God’s people, the Israelites, were in the wilderness. They had arrived at the promised land decades earlier, but the people had rebelled—refusing to trust God to give them the land. They believed it would be better to die in the wilderness than follow God (Num. 14:2), so God sent them into the wilderness for 40 years (vv. 28-29). In time, all of the adults died except for Joshua, Caleb, and Moses. The children grew up and more children were born. The Israelites disobeyed God time and again, but God still provided for them. He planned to keep His promise to give Israel the promised land.

As the Israelites traveled, God gave them victory over attacking armies like the Canaanites and Amorites. Not surprisingly, when Israel set up camp in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan River, Balak—the king 3 of Moab—was terrified. The king knew he could not defeat the Israelites on his own, so he called on Balaam, a pagan prophet, to put a curse on them.

Though Balaam did not follow God, he knew of God and God spoke to him. God told Balaam, “You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” God’s plan all along was to bless humanity (Gen. 1:28), specifically through the nation of Israel (Gen. 12:3). So each time Balaam spoke over Israel, God did not allow him to curse the Israelites. Instead, Balaam spoke in four clear messages, insisting that God would bless the Israelites.

One of the ways God would bless the Israelites is found in Numbers 24:17: “A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel.” Balaam told of a powerful future king who would be victorious over his enemies. This prophecy referred to and was ultimately fulfilled by Jesus.

Teach the preschoolers in your group that God protects His people. His promises are sure. In Jesus, God fulfilled His promise of bringing blessing to the whole world.

The BIBLE Story

Balaam and Balak Bible Storytelling Tips Numbers 22–24 • Camp out: Set God’s people were finally at the edge of the promised land. They up a camping area camped near the river in the plains of a land called Moab (MOH ab). with blankets and pillows. Mention that Now Balak (BAY lak), the king of Moab, saw the Israelites, and he the Israelites were was afraid. If the Israelites moved into Moab, they would close to the promised take over! So King Balak sent messengers to land. They camped close to a river in a man named Balaam. The messengers a land called Moab. said, “Come and curse the Israelites Invite preschoolers so that I might be able to win to relax as if they against them.” are camping as they listen to the Bible As Balaam traveled, the story. angel of the LORD came to stop him. Balaam could not • Make a puppet: Using a paper lunch see the angel, but his donkey sack, create a simple could. donkey puppet or Three times the angel prepare a donkey puppet from the stood in the way, and three “Experience the times the donkey stopped. Story” activity. Turn First the donkey went off the the sack upside down. Draw eyes, nostrils, road. Then she ran into a wall and a wide mouth. and hurt Balaam’s foot. Finally, Cut donkey ear she crouched down on the ground. shapes from brown Balaam didn’t know why the donkey construction paper. Attach the shapes to was stopping. He hit the donkey with the top of the sack. his stick, so God made the donkey able While telling the Bible to talk. story, use the donkey puppet when sharing “What have I done to you that you have hit me what the donkey said three times?” the donkey asked. to Baalam. “You made me look like a fool!” Balaam said. Then God allowed Balaam to see the angel. Balaam bowed in

Preschool Leader Guide 32 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay Balaam and Balak worship and said, “I have sinned! I will go back if you Bible Storytelling Tips Numbers 22–24 want me to.” The angel said, “Go with these men. But only say what I tell you to say.” • Camp out: Set God’s people were finally at the edge of the promised land. They When Balaam reached Balak, the king, he said, “I can up a camping area camped near the river in the plains of a land called Moab (MOH ab). only say what God tells me to say.” with blankets and pillows. Mention that Now Balak (BAY lak), the king of Moab, saw the Israelites, and he God had blessed the Israelites, so Balaam could not curse the Israelites were was afraid. If the Israelites moved into Moab, they would them. Instead, Balaam blessed the Israelites three times. close to the promised take over! So King Balak sent messengers to King Balak said, “I brought you here to curse the land. They camped Israelites, but you have blessed them! Go home!” close to a river in a man named Balaam. The messengers a land called Moab. said, “Come and curse the Israelites Before he left, Balaam gave the king a special message. Invite preschoolers so that I might be able to win He said that one day a mighty king would be born to to relax as if they against them.” the people of Israel. The message was a special promise: “I are camping as they listen to the Bible As Balaam traveled, the see him, but not now … a star will come from Jacob, and a story. angel of the LORD came to scepter will come out of Israel.” Then Balaam went home. stop him. Balaam could not • Make a puppet: Using a paper lunch see the angel, but his donkey Christ Connection: Balaam could not curse God’s people. sack, create a simple could. God had blessed the Israelites, so Balaam blessed them too. Long donkey puppet or Three times the angel after Balaam announced the coming king, Jesus was born. God prepare a donkey sent Jesus to bless the world. Jesus rescues people from sin. puppet from the stood in the way, and three “Experience the times the donkey stopped. Story” activity. Turn First the donkey went off the the sack upside down. Draw eyes, nostrils, road. Then she ran into a wall and a wide mouth. and hurt Balaam’s foot. Finally, Cut donkey ear she crouched down on the ground. shapes from brown Balaam didn’t know why the donkey construction paper. Attach the shapes to was stopping. He hit the donkey with the top of the sack. his stick, so God made the donkey able While telling the Bible to talk. story, use the donkey puppet when sharing “What have I done to you that you have hit me what the donkey said three times?” the donkey asked. to Baalam. “You made me look like a fool!” Balaam said. Then God allowed Balaam to see the angel. Balaam bowed in

SESSION TITLE: Balaam and Balak BIBLE PASSAGE: Numbers 22–24 STORY POINT: Balaam blessed God’s people. KEY PASSAGE: Proverbs 3:5 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.

Welcome time • “Onward, Christian Play the theme song in the background as you greet Soldiers” song preschoolers, and follow your church’s security procedures. • offering basket • Allergy Alert Set an offering basket near the door to collect at an • favorite toys related appropriate time. Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Set out a to the Bible story few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks. theme Activity page • “Balaam’s Trip” Give an activity page and a crayon or marker to a child. activity page, 1 per Point to Balaam and his donkey at the beginning of their child • crayons or markers journey to visit King Balak. Guide children to work through the maze. Introduce the story when the donkey’s path is blocked by the angel. SAY • In today’s Bible story, we will hear about a man named Balaam. Balaam was riding his donkey when something stopped them. Can you guess what stopped Balaam and his donkey from the picture?

Speak blessings Demonstrate how to use a digital recording device on a smart phone or tablet. Record and play back kind words • digital recording device and blessings about each of the children. Ask a volunteer to • Bible, marked at the speak a kind thought about a classmate. Give suggestions. key passage Record and play back spoken blessings. Open the Bible and

Preschool Leader Guide 34 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay record a child saying the key passage. SAY • You gave your friends such kind blessings! A blessing is a word for a person’s good. In Bible times, when someone spoke a blessing over another person, they were speaking God’s favor on that person. In today’s Bible story, a king wanted a man named Balaam to curse the Israelites. A curse is a word for a person’s harm. Balaam could not curse the Israelites. Listen to our story to find out why.

Play with farm animals Arrange farm animals and blocks on the floor. Guide • toy farm animals preschoolers to construct fences and paths with blocks. (especially a donkey) Point out a donkey or an animal that resembles a donkey. • blocks SAY • Have you ever seen a donkey? Have you ever heard a donkey? Have you ever heard a donkey talk? Donkeys don’t talk, but in today’s Bible story, God made a donkey talk! Listen to hear what the donkey said.

Transition to tell the story To gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them • countdown video to Bible study, show the countdown video, turn the lights (optional) off and on, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. As boys and girls gather, make the sound of a farm animal or play farm animal sounds from an electronic device. Ask children to identify the animal. End with the braying of a donkey before Bible study.

Introduce the Bible story • Bible Place a bookmark at Numbers 22 in your Bible. Invite a • bookmark preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible. • Giant Timeline SAY • God gave us this special book, the Bible, to help us understand what He is like. Today’s story is about Balaam, his donkey, and King Balak, but it is also about Jesus. Listen to the story to hear what Balaam told the king about a mighty King who would be born. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline. Remind children that all the stories in the Bible fit together to tell an even bigger story. The Bible tells us the big story of how God rescues sinners through His Son, Jesus.

Tell or watch the Bible story • Story Point Poster Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided • “Balaam and Balak” storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story video (optional) • Bible Story Picture for young preschoolers. Poster SAY • When Balak, king of Moab, saw the Israelites, he was afraid. He asked Balaam to curse them. After the angel of the Lord stopped him, Balaam knew he could only speak good things about the Israelites, so Balaam blessed God’s people. He even told King Balak about the time when Jesus would be born.

Preschool Leader Guide 36 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay Practice the key passage Place the key passage marker at Proverbs 3:5. Invite a child • Key Passage Marker to open your Bible to the key passage. Read the key passage • Key Passage Poster • “Trust in the Lord” aloud. Say the verse again, pausing at important words. song Invite preschoolers to take turns holding the Bible and • “Onward, Christian filling in the missing words. Soldiers” song SAY • When the angel of the Lord told Balaam to say only what He told him, Balaam trusted God. Balaam may not have understood everything God told him to say, but he blessed God’s people like God told him to do. Sing the key passage song, “Trust in the Lord,” and the theme song, “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”

Learn the big picture question SAY • When Balaam saw the angel, Balaam said that he • Big Picture Question had sinned. What does it mean to sin? To sin is to Poster go against God and His commands. Later, Balaam obeyed God and gave King Balak the message from God about the coming King, Jesus.

Missions moment Explain that you will read a scenario. If a child • “East Asia Scenarios” thinks she would do what is described, she should stand up. printable If she would not do what is described, she should remain seated. Read the “East Asia Scenarios.” SAY • Morgan Grace and her team actually did each of those things during their trip to East Asia. Our key passage tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. We can trust God to help us when He asks us to do something so people will hear the gospel!

Pray and transition to experience the story

Follow an obstacle course Create an obstacle course using existing items in the room. • existing classroom At the end of the course, open a Bible, point to the key items passage, and read it aloud. Look at the Bible story picture • Bible • Bible Story Picture and recall the story. Poster SAY • Balaam’s donkey ran into a serious obstacle—the angel of the Lord! After stopping three times, God let Balaam see the angel too. God would not let Balaam curse His people. God had blessed the Israelites, so Balaam blessed God’s people too. Long after Balaam announced the coming King, Jesus was born. God sent Jesus to bless the world. Jesus rescues people from sin.

Explore animal habitats Set out books about animals and their habitats for • “Where Would You preschoolers to browse. Talk about different habitats and Find It?” printable the animals who live in them. • books about animals • bag or basket Cut apart the “Where Would You Find It?” printable. Place the animal cards in a bag or basket. Lay the habitat page on a table. Ask a child to select an animal card, and match the animal to its habitat. When the donkey card is selected, mention that Balaam’s donkey surprised Balaam by talking.

Preschool Leader Guide 38 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay SAY • How surprised Balaam must have been when the donkey talked! Balaam worshiped God when he saw the angel. He confessed his sin and said he would do what God wanted. What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands. Balaam told the king that God had blessed the Israelites, and many years later, a new King, Jesus, would be born to bless the world.

Make a blessings stand-up book Fold a legal-sized sheet of paper fan-style, into fourths, • legal-sized paper, 1 to create a stand-up book for each preschooler. Print My per child • washable markers Blessings on the cover. Talk about good things for which a • non-fantasy stickers child can thank God. Guide preschoolers to draw pictures • Bible of these blessings on each page. Allow them to add stickers. • index cards Open a Bible to the key passage, and read it aloud. Print Option: Provide the key passage on an index card, and challenge an older cutout images preschooler to copy it. of friends, food, homes, SAY • God told Balaam what to tell King Balak. Balaam transportation, could only say what God wanted him to say. Balaam and so forth for blessed God’s people. He also told the king that children who prefer God’s people, the Israelites, would be a blessing to glue instead of draw. to everyone because one day Jesus would be born from their people. God sent Jesus to bless the world because He rescues people from their sin.

Create a donkey puppet • “Donkey Puppet” Print the “Donkey Puppet” onto heavyweight paper for printable • heavyweight paper each preschooler. Invite children to use crayons, markers, • scissors (adult use) yarn, and googly eyes to decorate their puppets. Cut along • stapler the dotted lines and assemble the puppets as directed. • crayons • yarn Demonstrate how to hold the puppet and pretend to talk • wiggly eyes (optional)

Wandering in the Wilderness 39 © 2018 LifeWay like Balaam’s donkey did. Have fun playing out the Bible story. SAY • Balaam was angry with his donkey, and he hit her with his stick when she stopped walking down the path. Then God made the donkey able to talk, and Balaam saw the angel in the path. The angel told Balaam that he could only say what God told him to, so Balaam blessed God’s people, the Israelites. Balaam also told the king that a mighty King would be born to the people of Israel; that King would be Jesus. Jesus would bless the world and rescue people from sin.

Traverse a path Invite preschoolers to form a line behind you. Preschoolers must follow you and copy your actions. Advise preschoolers to listen carefully to your instructions. Zig-zag and walk in circles around the room, occasionally stopping to call out and act out a command: Climb a mountain, jump over a ditch, cross a road, catch a ride in a jeep, run through a valley, and take a break. SAY • When Morgan Grace and her team went to East Asia, they had to drive, hike, and walk up and down winding mountainsides to reach villages. Getting where God was leading them was not always easy, but they trusted Him all along the way. They knew that there were people in those villages who needed to hear that God sent Jesus to bless the world. Let’s pray that people in East Asia will trust Jesus to rescue them from sin.

Preschool Leader Guide 40 Unit 7 • Session 3 © 2018 LifeWay Snack and review Play the countdown video to signal the end of activities. • countdown video Wash hands, and gather preschoolers for snack time. Pray, (optional) • Allergy Alert thanking God for the snack. • paper cups and Serve frosted wheat squares for snack. Mention that the napkins snack looks like a hay bale, and donkeys eat hay. Remind • Bible Story Picture Poster children that when Balaam blessed God’s people, he said a • Big Picture Question mighty King would be born to the people of Israel—Jesus! Poster God sent Jesus to bless the world. Jesus rescues us from sin. • frosted wheat Show the Bible story picture as you ask the following squares (optional) questions. Retell parts of the Bible story as needed. 1. Why did the donkey stop? (The angel of the ordL was blocking the path.) 2. What did God make the donkey able to do? (talk) 3. What did the angel tell Balaam? (“Go with these men. But only say what I tell you to say.”) 4. Did Balaam bless or curse God’s people? (bless) 5. Who is the mighty King that would be born to the people of Israel? (Jesus) 6. What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands. • Bible Story Coloring Transition Page When preschoolers finish their snack, they may color the • crayons • Key Passage Poster Bible story coloring page, play a simple game to practice the • Big Picture Question key passage or big picture question, or sing along to the key Poster passage or theme song. • “Trust in the Lord” song If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell • “Onward, Christian them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well Soldiers” song during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture • Big Picture Cards cards for families. for Families: Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers