Children's Sunday School Summary March 17, 2019

God’s people, the Israelites, were in the wilderness. They had arrived at the promisedland decades earlier, but the people had rebelled—refusing to trust God to give them theland. They believed it would be better to die in the wilderness than follow God (Num.14:2), so God sent them into the wilderness for 40 years (vv. 28-29). In time, all of theadults died except for Joshua, Caleb, and Moses. The children grew up and morechildren were born. The Israelites disobeyed God time and again, but God still providedfor them. He planned to keep His promise to give Israel the promised land.

As the Israelites traveled, God gave them victory over attacking armies like theCanaanites and Amorites. Not surprisingly, when Israel set up camp in the plains ofMoab, on the east side of the Jordan River, Balak—the king of Moab—was terrified. Theking knew he could not defeat the Israelites on his own, so he called on Balaam, apagan prophet, to put a curse on them.

Though Balaam did not follow God, he knew of God and God spoke to him. God toldBalaam, “You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” God’s plan all alongwas to bless humanity (Gen. 1:28), specifically through the nation of Israel (Gen. 12:3).So each time Balaam spoke over Israel, God did not allow him to curse the Israelites.Instead, Balaam spoke in four clear messages, insisting that God would bless theIsraelites.

One of the ways God would bless the Israelites is found in Numbers 24:17: “A star willcome from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel.” Balaam told of a powerful future king who would be victorious over his enemies. This prophecy referred to and wasultimately fulfilled by Jesus.

Teach your kids that God protects His people. His promises are sure. Balaam could notcurse God’s people. God had blessed the Israelites, so Balaam blessed them too.Fourteen hundred years after Balaam announced God’s promise, Jesus was born.God sent Jesus to bless the whole world by rescuing people from sin.