Building the Tabernacle — God Moves In Preschool Lesson
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: “The LORD’s glory filled the tent.”
God’s people lived in tents in the wilderness. God wanted to live right among them. So he told Moses to make a special tent for him. It was called the tabernacle – God’s tent. It was also called the Tent of Meeting.
Everyone helped to make all the parts. At last the work was finished! They did everything just as the LORD had told Moses.
They brought it all to Moses. The tent with its boards and poles. The coverings for the roof. A golden box called the ark. A table, a lampstand, and two altars. A big bowl for water, and curtains to go all around.
They brought special clothes for Aaron the priest, and for his sons. A priest is someone who serves God for the people.
Moses looked at everything. They had done it just as the LORD had said! And Moses blessed them. To bless someone means to ask God to be good to them.
Then the LORD told Moses when to set it all up: “On the first day of the first month.” That was the first day of the new year. It was almost one year since they had left Egypt.
So Moses set up the tabernacle. Up went the boards and the poles! He spread the covering over the tent, like a roof. Can you make a tent roof with your arms over your head?
Inside, Moses put the ark – the special golden box. In it he put the stone tablets with God’s words. He hung up a curtain in front of it.
He put in the table, and he set out the bread on it before the LORD. He put in the lampstand and lit the lamps. Flicker, flicker! Can you wiggle your fingers like little flames?
He put in the golden altar. On it he burned incense of sweet spices. Incense smells sweet when it burns. Sniff, sniff!
Outside, Moses set up the big altar and a basin of water. A basin is a big bowl. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet there. Splish, splash!
Then Moses put up curtains all around, like a big fence. So Moses finished the work. He did everything just as the LORD commanded him. Then something wonderful happened. What do you think it was?
The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting. God’s glory – his great, bright presence – came down. The LORD’s glory filled the tent.
It was so great that Moses could not even go in! The cloud stayed on the tent. The LORD’s glory filled the tent.
From then on, the cloud showed God’s people the way. When the cloud went up, they packed up and traveled on. When the cloud stayed, they stayed.
By day there was a cloud over the tent. By night there was fire in the cloud. All the people could see it, all through their long journey. The LORD’s glory filled the tent.
At night, the people could look out from their tents and see the fire. God was there, in the middle of the camp.
God came to live in the middle of his people. Day and night, he was near them. The LORD’s glory filled the tent.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think the cloud of God’s glory looked like?
- How do you think the people felt when they saw the fire at night?
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)
Draw God’s tent with the cloud above it by day and the fire by night.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle” — Exodus 40:34 (the LORD’s glory → wiggle your fingers up high; filled the tabernacle → make a big tent shape with your arms)
Dear God, thank you that you want to be close to your people. Thank you that you are with me. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Giving God our best
Memory verse: “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD's glory filled the tabernacle.” — Exodus 40:34 · WEB
The Bible story
God's people build a beautiful tent so their loving God can live right beside them — and when it is finished, a shining cloud fills it with wonder!
Talk about it
- Why did God want the people to build a special tent? — So He could live among them
- What was the special tent called? — The Tabernacle
- How did God want the people to give their gifts? — Gladly, from their hearts
- What kinds of gifts did the people bring? — Gold, silver, and cloth
- What surprising thing happened with all the gifts? — More than enough came in
- Who did God choose to lead the building work? — Bezalel and Oholiab
Where is Jesus in this story?
The Tabernacle was God's way of coming to live close to His people. Many years later, God came even closer through Jesus, who left heaven to make His home right among us. The Bible says the Word became a person and lived with us — God with us, forever. Just as a cloud once filled the tent, God's love fills our hearts when we welcome Jesus, and one day we will live with Him always.
What God wants to tell us
God's people did not build the Tabernacle all alone — God gave them everything they needed and worked right alongside them. When they shared their gifts and their skills with joyful hearts, something beautiful was made. God shows us that He loves to be close to us, and He gives each of us special gifts to share. When we offer God our best with a happy heart, we help make the world a little more beautiful too.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for wanting to live close to me, just like You lived with Your people long ago. Help me to give You my best with a happy heart, and to share the gifts You have given me. Thank You for always staying near. Amen.
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