1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 2: Deborah and Barak TEACHER BIBLE STUDY The time of the judges continued after the death of Ehud. The Israelites fell into a continuous cycle of sin, bondage, deliverance, and peace. The people of Israel were oppressed by the king of Canaan. At this time, Deborah was the judge of Israel. Deborah sent for Barak and encouraged him to take up an army and fight the army of Canaan and its leader, Sisera. Deborah reminded Barak that God would hand Sisera and his troops over to him. (Judges 4:6-7) Barak agreed to go under one condition: that Deborah would go with him. Deborah went, but she informed Barak that he would get no glory for the battle; God was going to use a woman to defeat Sisera. When Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men, “The LORD threw Sisera and all his army into confusion with the sword before Barak” (Judges 4:15). Everyone in the army died, but Sisera escaped on foot. Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, who invited him inside and gave him a drink. While Sisera slept, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple and he died. Judges 5 records a victory song Deborah and Barak sang on that day, praising God for defeating the Canaanites. The land had rest for 40 years. The Israelites’ sin had resulted in 20 years of defeat. God fought for the Israelites and used Deborah, Barak, and Jael to accomplish the Israelites’ victory over Canaan. As you teach kids this week, use Psalm 115:3 and Romans 8:28 to help kids understand that God does whatever He pleases, and His purposes are for His glory and our good. Use the Christ Connection to emphasize that God uses people and events to save us not only from our enemies, but to bring about our ultimate good: salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Deborah and Barak Bible Passage: Judges 4–5 Big Picture Question: What is the goal of God’s plan? God’s plan is to bring about His glory and our good. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 2: Deborah and Barak Transition Time Welcome time Activity sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Table Time Timeline map (1 minute) Bible story review (10 minutes) Large Group Review / Activities Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Deborah and Barak Judges 4–5 Ehud and Shamgar had been judges over Israel. After they died, the Israelites forgot about God. So God allowed the king of Canaan to overtake them. The commander of the king’s army was named Sisera (SIS uh ruh). Sisera was cruel to the Israelites for 20 years. God’s people remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to God, “Save us!” Deborah was the judge over Israel at this time. One day, Deborah called for Barak and said, “God wants you to gather 10,000 men. Lead them to Mount Tabor. God will help you defeat Sisera there.” Barak said to Deborah, “I will go if you will come with me. If you won’t come, I’m not going.” “I’ll go,” Deborah said. “But you will receive no honor for the battle.” So Deborah, Barak, and 10,000 men went to Mount Tabor. Sisera heard that Barak was at Mount Tabor, and he took 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 2: Deborah and Barak his 900 chariots and all his men to fight. “Barak, go! God will help you defeat Sisera today,” Deborah said. Barak and his 10,000 men moved down the mountain toward Sisera and his army. The LORD confused Sisera and all of the army. Barak chased the chariots and the army, and everyone in the army was killed by the sword. None of them survived, but Sisera had escaped! Sisera went to the tent of Jael (JAY uhl) because he and Jael’s husband were friends. Jael said, “Come in. Don’t be afraid.” Jael gave Sisera something to drink and covered him with a rug. Sisera was so exhausted that he fell into a deep sleep. Jael knew that Sisera was an evil man, an enemy of God. She took a tent peg and a hammer, and she drove the tent peg through Sisera’s head, killing him while he slept. Barak arrived, looking for Sisera. Jael greeted him and said, “I will show you the man you are looking for.” Barak went into her tent and saw Sisera lying dead with a tent peg through his head. That day, God allowed the Israelites to defeat the king of Canaan. The Israelites had won the battle! Deborah and Barak sang a victory song. They praised God for helping them beat the Canaanites. The land was peaceful for 40 more years. Christ Connection: God does what is for His glory and our good. (Psalm 115:3; Romans 8:28) God fought for the Israelites and used Deborah, Barak, and Jael to defeat Canaan. In a similar way, God uses people and events to not only save us from our enemies, but to bring about our ultimate good: salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Deborah and Barak Bible Passage: Judges 4–5 Big Picture Question: What is the goal of God’s plan? God’s plan is to bring about His glory and our good. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Arriving Activity: Milk cups milk snack (optional) allergy alert As kids arrive, offer them a drink of milk. If you would like, add a snack of your choice. Say • Today, we will talk about why a woman gave milk to an enemy of the Israelites. 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 2: Deborah and Barak Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “Matching Pictures” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid markers, colored pencils, crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • The items you matched up are all part of today’s Bible story. See if you can spot them as we go along. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Floor Maze sheets of paper (multiple colors) tape Create a maze on the floor with a grid of colored paper. Use tape to secure the paper to the floor. Choose a pattern for the kids to correctly cross over the grid. Form two groups. Invite a volunteer from one group to try to step on the right color. If correct, he may step to another color. If incorrect, the other team gets a turn. In the second round, another kid from each team gets a chance to choose. Continue using the pattern you first chose. The kids must pay attention to remember the correct colors. The first team to complete the grid wins. Say • Your goal was to be the first group to get across the grid. Have you ever thought about the goal of God’s plan? That’s what we are going to talk about in just a moment Option 2: Hidden in the Tent 20 small items bell, game piece, dice, pom-pom, coin, sticker, bead, button, safety pin, small ball, cotton ball, q-tip, small rock, small piece of yarn, paper clip, clothespin, glue stick, crayon, bean, macaroni list of small items bucket piece of fabric to cover bucket Place the 20 items in a bucket and cover the bucket with piece of fabric. Be sure that the items cannot be seen through the sides of the bucket. A list of all the items has been provided. Choose and announce which three items the first group of kids should try to find. Form small groups and allow groups to take turns searching “under the tent” for the three items. Do not repeat which items kids are searching for. Invite the other groups to count aloud to see how long it takes the group to search. Once the first group has completed its search, instruct the kids to put the three items back “in the tent.” Play again with the next group and three more items from your list. Continue to see which group can find the three items the fastest. Say • Someone tried to hide inside a tent from the Israelite army. In a few moments, we will learn if God’s army found him. Transition to large group 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 2: Deborah and Barak LESSON Session Title: Deborah and Barak Bible Passage: Judges 4–5 Big Picture Question: What is the goal of God’s plan? God’s plan is to bring about His glory and our good.