S Is for Search It Out: ABC: Deuteronomy for Me!: Raising a Caleb Kid In a Disrupted World
What an amazing example is Caleb! Faithful and true all his life through, he honored, and wholly followed the Lord as many scriptures record. In our lesson through memory work, song, stories, rhymes, and crafts Caleb comes to life. Don't miss "The Twelve Spy Guys" action rhyme for the littlest kids. Read too about Georgi Vins, a missionary, who exhibited Caleb-like characteristics all the days of his life. Vins imprisoned for his faith had "another spirit" in him as Caleb of old. He stood out as an overcomer in spite of his circumstances. Even in prison he fully followed his Lord. He treasured his mini Bibles. Parents, grandparents, teachers, today vow to encourage the young folks in your life to become Caleb kids.
Caleb Did!
Caleb did obey.
He did what the Lord bid.
He wholly followed the Lord.
Caleb did! Do you?
Little Kids: Ages 4-7
S Is for Search It Out!
S is for search it out:
something twelve
spies did do,
when they the
Promised Land
all did view!
Learn It: A Caleb Bible Verse
Deuteronomy 1:36 "Caleb ... wholly followed the LORD."
Deuteronomy 1:36 says that Caleb, one of the twelve spies, wholly followed the Lord. Wholly means "totally" or "completely." That means Caleb loved, trusted, and obeyed the Lord with all his heart. Do you totally follow the Lord with all your heart? In Deuteronomy 4:29 it says seek or search for the Lord with all your heart and soul!
Have 1st./second graders write the verse in their journals and draw a picture of Caleb. After, say it changing the word to other words that mean the same as "wholly." e.g. "Caleb ... totally followed the LORD." Follow with: fully, entirely, completely.
Sing It: "Wholly Follow the Lord!" (Tune "Happy Birthday")
Wholly Follow the Lord!
Wholly* follow the Lord,
Wholly follow the Lord,
Trust Him now as your Savior,
Wholly follow the Lord!
*Insert: "fully" instead.
Define It: What Does "Search It Out" Mean?
Can you explain what the word "search" means? Have you ever searched for something, or gone some place to search it out? Yes, to search means look through in order to find something, or to look at or examine something carefully.
Hear It: The Twelve Spy Guys (Deuteronomy 1: 19-46)
In Deuteronomy chapter one, God told Moses to tell God's people to go into their special land. Moses, said, "God has set the land before you; go in and take it. Do not be afraid or discouraged!" The people answered, "Send men ahead of us so we can see which way to go and which cities we will see." So, Moses did. He chose one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve spy guys --one from each tribe.
Now Deuteronomy 1:24 tells us those twelve spy guys came to a valley called Eshcol. There they searched it out. There they took of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it back telling Moses it was a good land. But ten said they couldn't go into the land because the people were big and tall, and the cities were big with high walls. They cried and complained, and said they wished they could go back to Egypt again!
Once again Moses said, "Dread not, neither be afraid of them! God will go with you, just like he did in Egypt." But, the people didn't believe God! Did the Lord hear their complaining? Did the Lord know they didn't trust him? Yes, He did. And the Lord said, none of you will see that good land I promised to your fathers. Only Caleb and Joshua will. Also, your little ones that will grow up soon will see it too.
Why? The Bible tells us in verses 36-39 which say, "Caleb ... shall see it, and to him will I give it ... and to his children because he has wholly followed the Lord. Joshua ... shall go in .. encourage him. Your little ones...shall go in."
Act It Out: "The Twelve Spy Guys"
Action Rhyme
"Get ready, get set," Moses did say,
"Enter the land, do it today!"
(Wag finger; say forcefully.)
The people replied, "Make us a plan;
give us spy guys to search out the land!"
(Peek through finger circles.)
So Moses chose twelve
who searched to see,
what the land would turn out to be.
(Hold up ten fingers, then two fingers)
Back at home the ten did share the
land was good, but had giants there.
(Stand on tip toes; reach arms up.)
But Caleb n' Joshua both did say,
"We can do it. Let's go in today!"
(Say happily.)
Then the ten did murmur, and complain,
"We rather go back to Egypt again!"
(Say sadly.)
Provoked and angered God did reply,
"Because of your sin in this land,
you will die!"
(Raise voice.)
Only Caleb and Joshua the land will see,
because they have wholly followed me!"
(Point up.)
From Numbers 13,14; Deuteronomy 1
LEP
!Hint! Recite action rhymes over and over moving as you say them. Enjoy!
Sing It: Twelve Men Went to Spy Out Canaan
Color It: Pop-out Twelve Spies Color Page n' Game
Prep It: Print color page image; parents cut round Caleb Joshua; and around the ten sad-faced men. Pop out both. See example photo at end of lesson!
Find image page here:
Make It: Color page. Use the page to play a game with youngest children naming either the two courageous spies or the ten discouraged men. Hang up a copy allowing kids to place printed game strips behind the pictures, or glue them under the correct picture. If you wish, allow littlest ones to come up and move the correct picture.
Play It: "Which Spies?"
Strips or Phrases to Print/Read: Which Spies? The Two, The Ten, or Both?
Which spies? were courageous, wanted to go in to the land, said it's a good land, were rebellious, were complaining, were murmuring, provoked God, were afraid, were not afraid, did not believe God, said there's giants in the land, said take us back to Egypt, died in the wilderness, brought a bad report, searched the land, were good, were bad, brought fruit, said the people were tall, said the cities were big, said the walls were tall, followed the Lord, were scared, were brave, were crying, and so on.... Pick out simple ones for the youngest. !Hint! Let littlest ones hold up two or ten fingers.
Make It: Thumbs Up Pop-Up Page
Prep It: thumbs up page, small scissors, crayons, markers, thumbs up/down image, glue, ....
Print page. If you wish print thumbs up/down image. Parent cut round Caleb's hand so it pops up.
Make It: Color picture. May trace round own thumb; make fingernail. !Hint! May place thumb up/down on a popsicle stick, straw, etc. May also uses phrases above with thumbs up/down to play game.
Talk About It: Why did Caleb have his thumb up. Look inside the small story balloons. What do you think Caleb is saying about the land? Can you point to the grape cluster, and the figs, and pomegranates? If possible have some of each fruit to taste and experience. See photo of craft below!
Find pages here:
Spy It: Mini Magnifying Glass Books/Markers
Talk about or explore using a magnifying glass with your kids. Explain how a magnifying glass makes things easy to focus on making them even larger as one uses it. In our lesson some people to focus on were: the twelve spies. Caleb n' Joshua, the ten men, Moses, Aaron, ...; some things are: the grape cluster, the fruits, maps, etc.; and some words as wholly, fully, search it out, spy, possess it, fruit of the land, Eshcol, Hebron, and so on. Using the magnifying glass image, make it whatever size you might like;-kids can even draw pictures, and write words inside rather than glue on small images. Print off or just print words in the center. The mini magnifying glass "I Spy" cutouts make great book marks/ minibooks. For examples see photos at the end of the lesson.
Find magnifying glass images here:
Older Kids: Ages 8-12
Explore It: Hunt for "Search" Synonyms
Hunt for more words that mean the same as "search" or that are synonymous with search. List at least ten words; kids may print them on an oversized "S" you cut out of lined tablet or loose leaf paper. Suggestion: Second graders may do this as well. See sample "S" at end of lesson.
Find "search" synonyms here:
Memorize It: God's Servant Caleb Verse
Numbers 14:24 "But my servant Caleb, because he hath another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land ... and his seed shall possess it."
Discuss It: What did God call Caleb? Why? How did he follow the Lord? What would be the result? Who would get to live in the land?
Journal It! Copy Verses, Rhymes, n' Illustrate!
Caleb Was God's Servant
In Numbers 13:24 the Lord said, "But
my servant Caleb, because he hath
another spirit with him, and hath followed
me fully, him will I bring into the land ...
and his seed shall possess it."
The Lord said: "Caleb was God's servant,
Caleb was fervent. The Lord said.
Caleb said, "Enter in, go ahead!"
We'll win!" Caleb said.
In Numbers 13:30 Caleb said, "Let us go up
at once, and possess it; for we are well able
to overcome it."
The Lord said: " Caleb followed my command.
Him will I bring into the Land." The Lord said.
Notice It: A Greeting Card with "Wholly" Synonyms
As I looked over some online birthday cards recently, one stood out. All in caps it began: "Today's your day ... completely, entirely, absolutely, totally, utterly ... and effectively about you!" Here were synonyms for "wholly" or "fully" but this was all for a birthday recipient; however to be a Caleb kid or parent we must determine to make every day the day to completely, entirely, absolutely, totally, and utterly follow the Lord with all our heart!
Make It: Grape Cluster Bible Verse Marker
Prep It: light purple paper, two purple or white sticky notes, small pic of spies carrying the grape cluster, markers, tape, scissors. Print small image of two spies. Cut out 3 1/2"X6" light purple paper. Print out verse.
Make It: Let kids color tiny image with fine line markers. Give them light purple marker cut out. Use two darker purple or other color sticky notes. Glue to marker so top sticky note edge is uncovered, turn it down so you can place the top of your small image on the sticky part. Glue rest of the sticky note part to marker. Place marker over a page edge. Add the Caleb Bible verse(s). See Grape Cluster Marker photo below!
Find the image here:
Hear It: The Numbers' Twelve Spy Story
Moses, commanded by God to enter the Promised Land, chose twelve spies--one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to check out the land. Included were Caleb and Joshua as well as ten others. Once in the land they would see what the people and the land were like. Were the people strong or weak? few or many? What was the land like? good or bad? What did they live in? tents or forts? What type of land was it? fat or lean? Now, the Bible says, it was the time of the first ripe grapes when they began their search.
As they went up, they came to Hebron entering into the valley of Eshcol. There they cut down a large cluster of grapes that were so heavy it took two men to carry them back on a stick.. They also picked some pomegranates and figs as well. After being there forty days back to Kadesh they came. There they showed everyone the beautiful fruit declaring it was land that flowed with "milk and honey."
In spite of this, ten reported that its people were strong, living in cities with walls reaching to heaven. Right away Caleb "stilled" or calmed the people ... and said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." But, these ten immediately insisted, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. We saw giants there, and we're like grasshoppers compared to them!"
That night the people wept and cried all night long complaining and murmuring against Moses and Aaron. They said, "We should have died in Egypt! Why did God bring us to this land? It would be better to go back to Egypt."
When Moses and Aaron heard all this they fell on their faces before all the children of Israel, while Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes in sorrow. They said, "The land we went through to search it is an exceeding good land. Don't rebel! Don't be afraid of the people of the land! The Lord is with us. Fear them not!"
But, the people didn't listen wanting to throw stones at Caleb and Joshua .It was then that the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent door of the tabernacle and God said, "How long will these people provoke me? How long will it be before they believe me.?" God said he'd have to punish them.
Moses, hearing this, begged the Lord to forgive them. The Lord did, but declared that none of these men or those associated with them would ever get to see the land except for their young children. Only Caleb and Joshua and their families would live to see it and enter it. Why was that? Because, said God, his servant Caleb had another spirit in him and had followed him fully. Joshua too was named as one who would come into the land.
And because of the disobedience and unbelief of those who brought the evil report, everyone would wander and live in the wilderness for forty years--one for each day they searched out the land. Numbers 14:37 says that those men died by the plague before the the Lord, but Joshua and Caleb lived still. Numbers 13,14
Review It: After sharing the story read it aloud with the kids directly from the Bible. Talk about it.
Word Search It: "Twelve Spies" Word Search Page
Prep It: page, pencil, your sample, .... Print Bible Pathways Adventures: "Word Search Twelve Spies."
Search It: Let the kids search for words at the bottom of the puzzle. You may also use this with second graders too. !Hint! Always complete puzzle page yourself first; that way you can quickly correct a child's work."
Discuss It: Talk about terms listed; if needed search them out and mark them in your Bible!
Find page here:
Match It: "Twelve Spies" Page
Prep It: page, pencil, your sample, .... Print Bible Pathways Adventures "Twelve Spies Match It Puzzle."
Solve It: Have kids match up answers to questions.
Discuss It: Talk about the questions, and answers.
Find page here:
Read It: The Gospel in Bonds
The Gospel in Bonds is a book that uses the word "search" in it a lot. Now, in it no one is searching out a land, but the guards mentioned in the story were often searching out a prison cell or searching a person. Often, if you were a Christian they were searching to see if you had a little Bible hidden somewhere, or part of the Bible.
While there are parts of the book one would not share with younger children, there are parts of it that you can share. I found this book to be one of the most touching books I have read about some little mini Bibles that had been put in the heel of a boot, or sewn into a shirt. These mini Bibles were read over and over by many a prisoner. If you want a book that challenges you to love the Word, this would be it. Georgi Vins truly was someone that was sold out to the Lord Jesus wholly following Him. Find the book here:
Read a review of the book that I wrote several years ago here:
Here's a little poem I wrote in my review. I was reminded of these mini Bibles recently when my husband bought some miniature Bible key chains for our grandchildren. See photo of book, and key chain miniature Bibles below.
Mini-Mark-Gospel
Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark Gospel-
Fit in the palm book,
Sewn in the shirt book,
Hidden from sight book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel.
Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark-Gospel-
Hidden in nooks book,
Shared with murderers,
n' crooks book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel.
Vins' treasure book
Mini-Mark-Gospel-
Better than gold book,
Never grow old book,
Best story told book-
Mini-Mark-Gospel!
LEP
Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, YOU:
Read It Aloud: Caleb's Inheritance (Joshua 14)
Read more of Caleb's story aloud with your kids; talk about it afterwards. Be sure to notice the three verses that once again emphasize Caleb totally followed the Lord all the days of his life.
What a shining example Caleb was of someone who fully followed his Lord. Joshua 14 gives more of the story when eighty-five year old Caleb, still alive and strong, asked Joshua for the inheritance Moses had promised to him and his children. What was that inheritance? Hebron! Did Joshua give it to Caleb? Yes, indeed! And Caleb in turn was able, with the Lord's help. to drive out the Anakims.
Joshua 14:12-14 sums it up so beautifully where Caleb says to Joshua: "Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake unto me that day ... if so be the LORD will be with me then I shall be able to drive them out (the Anakims) as the LORD said." Joshua then blesses Caleb giving him the land. Joshua 14:14 declares, "Hebron ... became the inheritance of Caleb ... unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD of Israel." Wow! What a story! But, this isn't the end, jump ahead to Judges 1:12,13 to find out that Caleb gives his daughter some land as well--land with springs of water on it!
Search It Out: An Interlude In Jude
Teachers, parents, grandparents, YOU, and I would do well to pause and read Jude to help us discern those among us today who are leading us away from Scripture and our most holy faith.
Jude 5 says, "I will put you in remembrance how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."* So those who refused to believe (the ten spies) become an example in Jude's Apostate Hall of Shame list.
* Check out Deuteronomy 1:30,31 and Psalm 106:24 too!
Jude also gives us examples of other apostates who sinned or would be among them. Like then, today we too must be discerning and able to identify those that are walking not after the Lord but promoting their own ways. For there is but one who can keep us from being overtaken by apostasy and that is the Lord himself. Therefore, Jude tells us to build up ourselves up in the faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep ourselves in the love of God always. As did Caleb, we should seek to wholly and fully follow the Lord.
