SUB-JUNIOR
AGE: 8 - 9 YEARS
STANDARD/GRADE: III & IV
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LESSON – 12
STALE BREAD AND CRACKED WINESKINS
Joshua, the leader of the Israelites
led them in a series of battles against various Canaanite tribes ruling over
these cities. Soon Joshua captured the cities of Jericho and Ai. God helped the
Israelites and performed many miracles, so they could easily win these battles.
The kings of the neighbouring Canaanite cities were worried. Gibeon was one of
the Canaanite cities nearby. It was a big city like one of the royal cities and
its men were good fighters.
(Saddlebags are pouches hanging across the back of a horse or a donkey behind the saddle; A wineskin is a container made of animal skin, usually from goats or sheep, used to store or transport wine during olden days).
The Gibeonites arrived at the camp of
Israel at Gilgal, and they told Joshua and the men of Israel that they had come
from a distant land to make a peace treaty with them. Initially the Israelites
were suspicious and they refused to make any treaty with them. But the Gibeonites
deceived the Israelites by showing their stale bread and cracked wineskin and
convinced them that they had travelled a large distance to reach them.
The Israelites examined the stale bread,
but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty or
covenant with the Gibeonites and guaranteed their safety, and promised not to
harm them in any way. Three days after making the treaty, Joshua and the
Israelites learned that the Gibeonites actually lived nearby!
The Israelite people were not very
happy with their leaders. They complained to them that the Gibeonites
should not be allowed to get away with this, but the leaders said that they had
to keep their promise not to hurt them. Despite the Gibeonite’s deception, the leaders
of Israel honored the covenant made, because they understood that God takes
promises very seriously. Finally, they decided that they would keep their
promise not to hurt the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites, however, would have to
do work for the Israelites. From then on, the Gibeonites worked as water carriers
and woodcutters for the Israelites.
Bible Reference:
Joshua 9
Memory Verse:
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands (Psalm 119:66
NIV).
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Answer the following questions:
1. Name the two cities captured by Joshua?
.......................................................................
2. Who wanted to make peace with the Israelites and
protect themselves? …………………...........................
3. What kind of bread and wineskins did the Gibeonites bring to deceive Joshua?
........................................................................
4. Why did the leaders of the Israelites honor the
covenant they made with the Gibeonites?
........................................................................
5. What work did the Gibeonites have to do for the Israelites? …………………………………….………….
1. The Israelites
could make Canaan their homeland as soon as they entered it ( )
2. Gibeon was a small and weak city ( )
3. The
Gibeonites told Joshua that they had come from a faraway land ( )
4. The
Gibeonites visited Joshua wearing fancy clothes and new sandals ( )
5. The Israelites did not consult the Lord before making the peace treaty with the Gibeonites ( )
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