THINK TOGETHER
Is there some place that you’ve been that you would love to go back to again?
READ TOGETHER
In the Bible, the book of Numbers tells the story of the Hebrews making it to the edge of the Promised Land (do you remember what the Promised Land is?). But before going in, the Hebrews sent in twelve spies to check if the land was safe. All twelve of those spies came back saying that the land was beautiful and full of good things. But ten of the twelve spies also said that the land was full of bad people. Scary people. Giant people with giant walls around their giant cities. They said that the land was unsafe. Listen to how the Hebrew people responded:
Numbers 14:3. Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
Instead of trusting God and going into the land, they wanted to go back to Egypt. Back to being slaves? Yes, back to being slaves. Why would they want to do that? Because they were afraid. They were afraid of not being in control. Do you know what the word “control” means? We all want to control our own lives. Which means we all want to do what we want to do. We want to be in charge. But God is asking us to give him control of our lives. God wants us to do what he wants us to do. God wants us to trust that he loves us. Even when things seem scary.
But there was one spy named Joshua who wasn’t afraid. Joshua said, “Let’s trust God and go live in the land that he promised to us.” And many years later there was another Joshua: Jesus (Jesus and Joshua are the same word – savior) who spied out the earth and said, “I will trust God, and fight the giants of sin, and death.” Jesus was the greatest spy ever. He always trusted God’s love for him. He didn’t want to control his own life; he always let God take control. He was never a slave to his selfishness or fear; he was our hero that saved us from our giant sins.
Because of Jesus I can trust everything God says and does.
With Jesus I can let God be in control of my life.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Play a video game together, one where you have to control a character. Talk about how because God is so good, we should not be afraid to give him control.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, I want you to control my life and teach me how to show God’s love to others. Thank you for still loving me even when I fail to trust you. Amen.
TLICfamily 