Inspection Game

Read Nehemiah 2:11–15:

So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.

Nehemiah and a few select people secretly went out at night to inspect the gates and walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah needed to see the challenge he was up against before revealing to the leaders and people in Jerusalem the work God called him to do. Inspecting the walls and gates was one way that he prepared himself for the challenge. The Bible passage we read lists three gates. For our game, we will add one more gate of Jerusalem that Nehemiah repaired, to give us four gates. Read the Gate Signs on the wall aloud in order: 1. Valley Gate 2. Dung Gate 3. Fountain Gate 4. Water Gate.

Have a sixth grade helper or another older child play a Jerusalem guard. Have the guard stand in the center of the room as you explain the game.

Have you ever played a game called Four Corners? The game we are about to play is very similar. All of you are people who accompanied Nehemiah as he secretly inspected the walls and gates at night. Your goal is to avoid being caught by a guard who is watching the city. The guard will close his/her eyes and slowly count aloud to 10. As the guard counts, you will quietly move to the Gate Sign of your choice. Now, remember to move very quietly so the guard doesn’t hear you! When the guard is finished counting to 10, he/she with eyes still closed will say “I think someone is hiding at Gate number 1, 2, 3, or 4.” You never know which number the guard will pick! Everyone who is caught hiding by that sign is arrested and must sit down in the middle of the room near the guard. The game continues until only one player remains and is the winner. Let’s play two practice rounds to make sure everyone understands the game. If you’re caught in the first two rounds, you don’t need to sit down.

To shorten the game, once a gate is named, you may announce that the gate is closed for repairs so players may no longer hide there. This limits play to three turns per round, after which there will probably be a group of winners in the fourth gate. You can say that Nehemiah and this group of inspectors successfully accomplished their mission and now are ready for their next challenge. Choose another guard for Round 2. Children who were “arrested” are freed to play again.

Conclusion: That looked like a lot of fun. Was it hard to be quiet as you moved around?

Imagine walking around with Nehemiah and discovering how much needed to be done to complete God’s work!