Game

The Spies Return: Play a game to possess God’s promised blessings.

In Large Group you were asked to notice what the spies carried on a pole when they returned to camp. What is the answer? Grapes or grape clusters. 

The Israelites had finally arrived at the land of Canaan that God promised many years before to Abraham and his descendants. (See Deuteronomy 1:8.) Now it was time for the Israelites to possess the land that God promised. The spies returned with samples to show Moses. It was truly a land abundantly filled with blessings as God had promised.    

Let’s say today’s SuperTruth together: “God is faithful to keep His promises.” 

Deuteronomy 8:7–8, names several of the items found in the Promised Land:

1. Grains such as wheat and barley.

2. Fruits such as grapes, figs, pomegranates, and olives.    

3. Dates and honey made from bees.   

Stand near the plates and turn over a few to show the children. These plates represent the Promised Land. We will play a relay game to bring back samples from the Promised Land like the spies did, as evidence that the land was just as God had promised.

Hold up a pool noodle. This represents the pole the spies needed to carry the clusters of grapes. You will use it to carry every type of fruit and grain—not just grapes. Each pair of spies will find two items assigned from the list. Hold up a bag and demonstrate how to carry it on the pole with a volunteer. Place the items in the bag, insert the pole though the handles, and carry it back with one spy in front and one in back. Each pair of spies must decide whether to skip, jump, or hop on one foot back to camp. The first team to have all of their spies return with the correct samples wins! As Caleb said, “Let’s go!” (See Numbers 13:30.)

• Divide children into two equal teams—if unequal, one child on a team may play twice.
• Have teams stand in single-file lines at the end of the room opposite the “Promised Land.”
• Appoint an older child from each team to be a captain: Joshua and Caleb. 
• Give each leader a Sample List and a pencil to check off the assignments given.   
• Children will work in pairs of two from each team.
• Start the game by shouting, “Let’s Go!”
• The team captains begin at the top of the list and assign two items to the first pair of players on their team to find and bring back to camp.
• Those pairs take a bag and a “pole” and sneak like spies to the “Promised Land” (the opposite end of the room where the plates are face down). Then they must skip, jump, or hop on one foot as they happily return, carrying the bag with the two plates between them on the pole.
• Repeat this process until all pairs on a team have returned with the correct items. This first team to do this wins.
• If time permits, scatter the plates and play again.       

Conclusion: God kept His promise and brought His people to the land of milk and honey. As we trust God, He will keep His promises in our lives too, every single one! Now, let’s learn more about God’s promises that we receive through Christ.