God and Animals: Summer Bible Lessons for Children
Summer can be a good time for some "light" and fun instruction time. It's so hot where we live that summer instruction includes primarily quiet reading time. For a more "active" lesson, the following are some sample lesson plans for use in home or in a parish setting. These can be used for almost any age child.
This theme of this lesson plan set is "God's Animal Kingdom," and points can be made how God made animals for us, how we are to treat animals responsibly, and how God can use animals to carry out His will. I like to say that God is the real "King of the Jungle" and this lesson plan set has two lion stories. The four lesson titles are The Talking Donkey, Samson Kills a Lion, Eats Honey and Makes Up a Riddle, Daniel in the Lions' Den, and Bible Lessons About Sheep. I have also included a page of instructions for Puppets for Children to Make.
The first three stories are stories that the Lord would have heard during his religious education. The last lesson consists of stories that the Lord told himself.
Lesson Plan 1
The Talking Donkey
Numbers 22 through 24
Background Information
The donkey in eastern countries is different from donkeys in western countries. The most noble and honorable amongst the Jews of old wanted to ride on donkeys. While in western culture the donkey is a symbol of stubbornness and stupidity, in the Middle East, the donkey is noted for its patience, gentleness, intelligence, meek submission and endurance.
The color is usually reddish brown, but there are white donkeys, which are more prized. The donkey was the animal of peace, as the horse was the animal of war. The fleetness of the wild donkey rivals that of the gazelle, and to overtake a wild donkey is a feat which only a few horses have been able to accomplish.
The Book of Numbers covers about 39 years (c. 1444-1405 B.C.). It covers Israel's wanderings under Moses.
The theme of divine judgment on unbelief is prominent in Numbers. But the book also testifies to the guidance of God - the pillar of fire and cloud (10:11), manna for food, the rock which provided water, and the provision of the bronze serpents as a means of healing snake-bitten people.
While not specifically mentioned in this story it is generally agreed by commentators that Balaam wanted to go with the second group of messengers because of temptation by the riches that they promised. God shows that while he allows us to follow our impulses, He is still ultimately in control.
Before their meeting with the Moabites the Israelites had conquered both Canaan and the land of the Amorites.
The Story
Adapted from the NIV
Balaam is Called
After the Israelites took possession of the land of the Amorites, they traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan River across from Jericho.
Now Balak, king of the Moabites, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and all Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
The Moabites, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field."
So Balak send messengers to summon Balaam, a famous prophet in Mesopotamia. Balak's message was: "A people have come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse on these people. because they are too powerful for me. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."
The messengers went to Balaam with the fee for his services. When they came to Balaam, they gave me Balak's message.
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." Balaam said to Balak's messengers, "Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."
Later Balak sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first group. The came to Balaam and said, "This is what Balak son of Zippor says; Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."
That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you."
The Donkey Talks
Balaam go up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was angry when he went and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
Then the angel of the Lord stook in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was not room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?"
"No," he said.
Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
Then angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back. The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the border of his territory. Balaam said, "I have come to you now. But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."
Balaam Delivers Messages from God
Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." Bakak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went to a barren place. The Lord put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this message." So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering with the princes of Moab.
Then Balaam uttered his oracle: "Balak brought me from Aram, 'Come,' he said, 'Curse Jacob for me; come denounce Israel.' How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced? Let me die the death of the righteous and let my end be like theirs!"
Balak persuaded Balaam to go to other places, saying, "Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there." But Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel. Before he left to return to his people, Balaam had received this prophecy for Balak: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel." Then Balaam returned home.
Questions for discussion
1. What should Balaam have done when his donkey left the road?
(Possible answer - instead of hitting the donkey, he could have asked, "What's the matter? Why have you left the road?" God had promised to guide him. He could have prayed for that guidance instead of acting in anger.)
2. Sometimes, do animals sense danger when humans don't?
(Yes. Do you know any stories to illustrate?)
3. What do you think the other travelers thought about any part of this story? Do you think the other travelers heard the donkey speak? Or the angel?
(No correct answer.)
4. What did Balaam do right?
(Balaam confesses his sin. And he was willing to tell the truth even though it would the king angry. Balaam wanted to please God)
5. Re-read Balaam's last prophecy. Who did it predict?
(Jesus)
Unscramble these Words
1. labama
2. blaka
3. gelan
4. abom
5. bumners
6. nyekod
7. drol
8. klat
9. realis
10. throppe
The Scripture story based on the translation of the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Go to:
Samson Kills a Lion, Eats Honey and Makes up a Riddle
Daniel in the Lions' Den
Bible Lessons About Sheep
Puppets for Children to Make
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