Deborah trusts in God’s help
key words
bible reference
Judges 4:1-16
lesson objective
To help the children learn to trust in God’s power.
memory verse
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
The stories of Deborah and Gideon are found in the book of Judges. This book summarizes the history of the people of Israel from the time of Joshua’s death until the beginning of the monarchy. When the book of Joshua finishes, the people of Israel have entered and reclaimed the land as God had promised. At this time, the Israelites entered the period of the Judges.
The Israelites had the responsibility of occupying the land, and clearing it of its old traditions and practices. However, they forgot their commitment to God and decided to join the people of Canaan. They began to move away from the God of their ancestors, adopting the Canaanite traditions and worshiping false gods.
In Judges 4:1-16, we read about the consequences that disobedience brought upon the people of Israel. The Canaanites, under the leadership of King Jabin, wanted to oppress and subdue them. For 20 years, six of the tribes of Israel endured cruel oppression and great hunger, until in their despair, when their strength was gone, they remembered God. It was then that they turned their faces to the Lord and begged for his help.
God heard their prayers, designating a leader for his people. This leader was a woman, a judge, a wife, and a prophetess. Deborah knew God and trusted him. Following God’s divine direction, this prophetess called on Barak to lead an army against the Canaanites. Barak’s response was quick. He would do it, but only if Deborah was present. Deborah had no doubts about the result. Together they led the Israelites in battle, obtaining a powerful victory. This victory was not achieved by their strength - their enemies were superior in number. It was thanks to the power of God.
When the Israelites decided to turn to God and trust in his power, they were delivered from oppression and despair. Is there a situation that oppresses you or makes you feel hopeless? Pray that God will help you, and put your trust in Him. In the midst of the strongest oppression, we find relief when we learn to trust in the power of God.
adaptation
Through this story, preschoolers will learn that no matter what, it is always better to trust in God. Sometimes they face difficult situations. They may not be in a war or be greatly oppressed, but some children know very well what it is to feel hopeless.
In this story, the Israelites did not have the capacity to fight against the Canaanites, but they learned an important lesson: God is greater and more powerful. When they decided to trust in the power of God, he delivered them. Help your children understand that God is powerful and that we can trust Him.
Many preschoolers are taught to pray by repeating after others; however, they can learn to pray at a deeper level. Let them take the lead. Encourage them to talk with God about the important events of their lives. As they express their requests to one another, pray that God will help you and allow you to be an instrument that impacts the lives of your children.
introduce the lesson
Use these activities to focus the attention of the children on listening to the Bible story. Modify or add activities that fit your class’ particular needs.
Coins of trust
For this activity, you will need a coin for each child in your class and a container to put the offering in.
At the beginning of the class, welcome the children. Then, as you show them the coins, say: “These coins are part of my offering. I will trust you to keep them and return them to me at the time of the offering. Do you promise me that you will return them to me?” (Allow them to respond.) Give a coin to each child. Before the story, ask them to deposit the coins in the offering container. While they are doing this, explain that you trusted them by giving them the coins because you knew they would keep their word. In the Bible story, we will learn about someone who trusted God.
Who do you trust?
Talk with children about people they can trust. Explain that trust means believing someone will not fail us.
Explain that sometimes people fail and make mistakes. However, we can trust God because he is not wrong and is always willing to help us.
teach the lesson
These activities will help children have a better understanding of the Biblical truth.
A special guest
Invite a lady to visit who will be dressed up as Deborah by wearing a long tunic and a shawl or blanket over her head. Give the material to your guest in advance so she has time to prepare. Ask her to tell the story as if she were really Deborah, the prophetess.
Gather the children to hear the Bible story and tell them: “Today we have a special guest who is dressed up as the Bible character we are going to study. She will tell us a story of how God helped the Israelites.” Introduce the guest and give time for the children to welcome her.
Deborah trusts in God
God loved the people of Israel because they was very special to Him.
God wanted the people to worship him alone and live happily and safely in the land he had given them.
Sometimes the Israelites loved God and obeyed Him, so he took care of them and protected them from their enemies. But in other times, they forgot the goodness of God and did wrong, so they had many problems.
For 20 years, King Jabin had invaded Israel, whose army could not compete against the enemy’s iron chariots. The Israelites had done their best to achieve victory, but they had never asked God to help them.
In the midst of their suffering, the people of Israel remembered God and cried out for help.
Deborah loved and trusted God. She was a prophetess and leader of the Israelites. She usually sat under a palm tree and listened to the people who would ask her questions. Then she helped them know what the will of the Lord was.
One day God told Deborah, “I have a special job for Captain Barak.”
Deborah sent a messenger to look for Barak. After a while, he arrived to speak with Deborah.
“God wants you to fight against the army of Jabin,” the prophetess said. “Take your army to Mount Tabor and wait… because God is going to take the enemy army to the river and deliver it into your hands.”
Barak replied, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you do not go with me, I will not go.”
“I will go with you,” Deborah said, “but you must trust God.”
Deborah, Barak, and his army went to the river as God had told them. “Now!” Deborah said when she saw King Jabin’s army. Then the Israelites attacked and did what God had commanded them. King Jabin and his army were scared and ran to hide. The Israelites won the battle!
Deborah and Barak trusted that God would help them, and he did, giving victory to his people.
connect the lesson
Near the river
Help the children cut out the three pictures Student Activity Sheet #74-A and give a set to each child. Hand out Student Activity Sheet #74-B and #74-C and allow time for your children to trace the word of faith and write their name. As they do so, tell them: “To trust is to believe that God will do what he has promised us. We can trust that God loves us and cares for us.”
Ask them to color Student Activity Sheet #74-C and place the pictures in activity sheet #74-B as you review what they learned during the Bible story.
Encourage the children to take home the activity sheets and share the lesson with their families and friends.
practice the memory verse
As everyone holds hands, form a circle. Turn as a circle together and repeating the memory verse (Proverbs 3:5). Stop occasionally. Each time you stop, have one of the children say the verse individually. Then keep turning and repeating the verse together, until you stop for another child to say the text. Keep playing until the majority have participated.
wrap-up
Pray
Sing a song that talks about trusting God and them to tell you their prayer requests. Then pray for your children.
Encourage
Encourage the children to trust God and pray for one another during the week.
Invite
Invite the group to return to the next session and hand them the work they completed before they depart.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™