The Twelve Spies Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Free, Ages 3–6)
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Who is bigger than the giants? God is!”
God’s people were close to the land God had promised them. It was called Canaan. So Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land. A spy looks around carefully and then comes back to tell. Let’s count the spies! One, two, three, four, five, six. Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve!
Two of the spies were named Caleb and Joshua. Remember those two names!
Moses said, “See the land, what it is.” Were the people strong or weak? Was the land good or bad? Were there trees? “Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land,” Moses said. Courageous means brave.
It was the time when the first grapes were ripe. The spies walked all through the land for forty days. They saw big cities. They saw hills and valleys.
In one valley they found grapes. One bunch was so big, two men had to carry it on a pole! They brought figs and pomegranates too. A pomegranate is a round red fruit full of juicy seeds. Can you carry a heavy pole with a friend?
The spies came back. “Surely it flows with milk and honey,” they said. That means it was a very good land. “But the people there are strong. The cities are very large. And we saw giants! We were like grasshoppers next to them.” Hop, hop! Who is bigger than the giants? God is!
But one spy was brave. It was Caleb. He said, “Let’s go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!” But ten of the spies said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people.”
Then all the people cried that night. They were afraid. They wanted to go back to Egypt.
Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes. That is what people did when they were very sad. They said, “The land is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then he will bring us into this land. The LORD is with us. Don’t fear them.” Delights in us means he is happy with us. Who is bigger than the giants? God is!
But the people did not listen. They wanted to throw stones at Joshua and Caleb. Then God’s glory appeared at the tent where God met with Moses. God’s glory is his bright, holy light.
Moses prayed for the people. “Please pardon this people,” he said. Pardon means forgive. And the LORD said, “I have pardoned according to your word.”
But the people had not trusted God. So they had to stay in the wilderness for forty years. One year for every day the spies had looked at the land. Their children would go into the good land one day.
And God said Joshua and Caleb would go in too. God said Caleb “has followed me fully.” That means he trusted God all the way. Who is bigger than the giants? God is!
Big cities, big walls, big giants. But Joshua and Caleb knew someone even bigger. Who is bigger than the giants? God is!
The LORD kept his promise to Joshua and Caleb, and to the children. Who is bigger than the giants? God is!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think Joshua and Caleb were not afraid of the giants?
- How do you think it felt to carry those giant grapes?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 12 spies and the 1 giant bunch of grapes. Circle the 2 brave spies.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The LORD is with us. Don’t fear them” — Numbers 14:9 (the LORD is with us → point up, then hug yourself; Don’t fear them → shake your head and stand tall)
Dear God, you are bigger than anything that scares me. Thank you that you are with us. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Be Brave and Trust God
Memory verse: “The LORD is with us. Don't fear them.” — Numbers 14:9 · WEB
The Bible story
Twelve spies creep into a land of giant grapes and towering giants — but only two believe God's promise, and their brave trust changes everything.
Talk about it
- Where had God's people arrived after their long journey? — Near the Promised Land
- How many spies did Moses send to explore the land? — Twelve
- What amazing fruit did the spies bring back? — A giant bunch of grapes
- What did the land of Canaan turn out to be like? — Rich, green and good
- What made ten of the spies so afraid? — Big people and tall walls
- How small did the frightened spies say they felt? — As small as grasshoppers
Where is Jesus in this story?
Long after the spies, God sent a new leader named Jesus. In fact, the name Joshua means 'the Lord saves' — and that is exactly what Jesus came to do. Just as God led His people toward the good land He had promised, Jesus leads us safely into God's forever home. When we feel afraid, Jesus says, "I am with you always." We can trust Him to keep every promise and to bring us home.
What God wants to tell us
God does not want us to be ruled by our fears. The land looked scary, but God had already promised to help His people. Joshua and Caleb teach us that when something feels too big, we can hold God's hand and be brave anyway. God is always bigger than the things that frighten us, and He always, always keeps His promises.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for always keeping Your promises. When things feel too big and I start to feel afraid, help me to be brave like Joshua and Caleb. Remind me that You are always right beside me, holding my hand. I want to trust You every day. Amen.
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