Hello there, children! My name is Teacher Sarah, and today I'm going to tell you an exciting story from the Bible about "Joshua and Caleb Entered the Promised Land."

NIV, Ultimate Bible for Girls, Faithgirlz Edition, Hardcover

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The Nicene Creed: Illustrated for Families

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This is the story of Joshua and Caleb, two brave men who trusted God completely and eventually entered the Promised Land when others were too afraid. Their journey shows us that when God makes a promise, He always keeps it—even if we have to wait patiently. So gather around and listen closely as we journey through this remarkable tale!

The entire story of Joshua and Caleb entering the promised land can be found in Numbers 13–14 and Joshua 1–24.

For more stories, see also: Abraham and the Three Visitors

Joshua and Caleb Enter the Promised Land

Chapter 1: The Twelve Spies

The Israelites had been traveling through the desert for many days. They had left Egypt behind and were getting closer to the land God had promised them—a land "flowing with milk and honey."

Moses, their leader, called twelve men together. "Go explore Canaan," he told them. "See what the land is like. Are the people strong or weak? Are there many of them? What are their cities like? Is the soil good for growing food? Bring back some of the fruit that grows there."

Among these twelve spies were two brave men named Joshua and Caleb. They all journeyed into Canaan for forty days, exploring everything. They saw beautiful valleys, hills covered with trees, and fields perfect for growing crops. They found a single cluster of grapes so large it took two men to carry it on a pole between them! There were also figs and pomegranates—delicious fruits that showed how wonderful the land was.

But they also saw something that made most of them afraid—the cities had high walls, and the people living there were very strong.

"See the land, whether it is good or bad, and whether the cities they dwell in are camps or strongholds" (Numbers 13:19).

After forty days, the twelve spies returned to Moses and all the Israelites waiting in the desert. Everyone gathered around, eager to hear what they had discovered about their future home.

Chapter 2: A Report of Fear

The spies showed everyone the amazing fruit they had brought back. "It truly is a land flowing with milk and honey!" they exclaimed. The Israelites' eyes widened with excitement. But then, ten of the spies began to speak with fear in their voices.

"The people who live there are powerful," they said, trembling. "Their cities have walls that reach to the sky! We even saw giants there—the descendants of Anak! Compared to them, we felt as small as grasshoppers!"

As the people listened, their excitement turned to dread. Whispers of worry spread through the crowd. Soon, many were crying and complaining to Moses and Aaron.

"We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are... The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size!" (Numbers 13:31-32)

But Joshua and Caleb saw things differently. They had seen the same land, the same cities, and the same people as the other spies. But they remembered God's promise. They tore their clothes in distress over the people's lack of faith.

"The land we explored is exceedingly good!" Caleb shouted above the noise. "If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land and give it to us!"

Joshua stood beside him, nodding in agreement. Their hearts were filled with trust in God's power, not fear of man's strength.

Chapter 3: The Consequence of Doubt

The Israelites wouldn't listen to Joshua and Caleb. They were so afraid that they even talked about choosing a new leader and returning to Egypt—back to slavery!

God was very disappointed. He had performed many miracles to rescue His people from Egypt. He had parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven, and given them water from a rock. Yet they still didn't trust Him.

"How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?" (Numbers 14:11)

God told Moses that because of their lack of faith, the Israelites would have to wander in the desert for forty years—one year for each day the spies had explored the land. Everyone twenty years old and older would die in the desert and never see the Promised Land.

But there were two exceptions: "Only Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun, who were among those who explored the land, will live to enter it."

When the people heard this punishment, they were very sad. Some tried to enter Canaan anyway, against Moses' warning, but they were defeated because they went without God's blessing.

"Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you" (Numbers 14:43).

Chapter 4: Forty Years of Waiting

For forty long years, the Israelites wandered in the desert. During this time, Moses led them according to God's instructions. Joshua served as Moses' helper, learning from him and growing in wisdom and leadership.

Caleb remained faithful through all these years. Even though he had to wait because of others' lack of faith, he never complained or lost his trust in God's promise.

One by one, the generation that had refused to enter the Promised Land died, just as God had said. A new generation grew up—one that would have the opportunity to trust God and receive His promise.

Moses himself would not enter the Promised Land because of a mistake he made. Before he died, he appointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel.

"Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them" (Deuteronomy 31:7).

The Lord spoke directly to Joshua: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them."

Joshua, once a faithful spy, was now the chosen leader to fulfill God's promise.

Chapter 5: Crossing into the Promised Land

Finally, the day came! The Israelites stood at the edge of the Jordan River, ready to cross into the Promised Land. The river was flowing at flood stage, making it impossible to cross normally.

Joshua told the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant—the special chest that represented God's presence—into the river. As soon as their feet touched the water, a miracle happened!

"The water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away... The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground" (Joshua 3:16-17).

The entire nation of Israel crossed over on dry ground! Once again, God parted the waters for His people, just like He had done at the Red Sea forty years earlier.

After everyone crossed, Joshua set up twelve stones from the riverbed as a memorial, so future generations would remember God's power and faithfulness.

Caleb, now eighty-five years old, was finally in the land God had promised! His patient endurance had been rewarded. Despite his age, he was still strong and ready to claim his inheritance.

"So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day" (Joshua 14:10-12).

Chapter 6: Claiming Their Inheritance

Joshua led the people to conquer the land, city by city. The first city was Jericho, with its tall walls that had once frightened the ten spies. But God gave Joshua a strange battle plan: march around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, blow trumpets, and shout!

The people obeyed God's unusual instructions, and the walls of Jericho came crashing down! This victory showed everyone that with God, nothing is impossible.

Caleb asked Joshua for the hill country of Hebron as his special inheritance. This area was home to the descendants of Anak—the very giants that had terrified the other spies forty years before!

"Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance" (Joshua 14:13).

Despite being eighty-five years old, Caleb drove out the three Anakite leaders and claimed the land God had promised him. His courage and faith were as strong as ever.

The land was divided among all the tribes of Israel, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham from centuries before. Joshua and Caleb received their special portions because they had trusted God completely.

"Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45).

Joshua and Caleb's story teaches us that God always keeps His promises, even when we have to wait. Their faith and courage show us how to trust God, even when things seem impossible. Remember, children, with God on our side, we can face any giant in our lives!

What Can We Learn from This Story?

1. God always keeps His promises – Even though the Israelites had to wait 40 years, God still gave them the Promised Land just as He said He would.
2. Faith is stronger than fear – Joshua and Caleb weren't afraid of the giants because they trusted God's power more than they feared man's strength.
3. Patience brings rewards – Joshua and Caleb had to wait 40 years because of others' unbelief, but they remained faithful and received their inheritance.
4. Obedience leads to victory – When the Israelites followed God's unusual battle plan at Jericho, they won a great victory that seemed impossible.
5. Age is not a barrier to God's work – Caleb was 85 years old when he conquered the hill country and drove out the giants!

Activities for Kids

1. Grape Cluster Craft: Use purple fingerprints or thumbprints to create a large cluster of grapes on paper. Attach it to a popsicle stick "pole" that two paper doll spies can carry.
2. Memory Stone Collection: Like Joshua's memorial stones from the Jordan River, collect 12 smooth stones and write or paint one word from the memory verse (Joshua 21:45) on each stone.
3. Jericho Wall Game: Build a wall with blocks or paper cups, then march around it seven times before carefully knocking it down while shouting "Praise the Lord!"
4. Giant Comparison: Trace each child's outline on a large piece of paper, then compare their size to a "giant" you draw on the wall. Talk about how with God's help, we can overcome things that seem too big for us.
5. Promised Land Map: Draw a simple map of Canaan and have children color or decorate the different tribal territories. Mark special spots like Jericho and Hebron (Caleb's inheritance).
6. Trust Walk: Create an obstacle course and have children pair up. One child is blindfolded while the other gives verbal directions to guide them through. This helps demonstrate trust in God's guidance even when we can't see the way.