Balaam Before the King Numbers 22:36 – 31:9

Nov. 22, 2015

The kids will understand:

• The account of Balaam associating with King Balak. • That Balaam was enticed by the things of this world and

disobeyed God. • That Satan tries to entice us with things to trip us up, so we

disobey God.

Parker Woods SkitSupplies:crushed pop can

Parker Woods is a character who will be carried through the quarter, so you’ll need the same actor playing him any time he appears (if you choose to open your lessons this way). The skits have an outdoors setting where Parker battles the elements while introducing and/or demonstrating the park element in some way. Parker should be dressed in outdoor gear to the hilt with plenty of camping supplies around him. He is well meaning and serious in wanting to “show the kids the ropes” about safe and enjoyable camping in the park, but he often runs into some kind of humorous difficulty.

Place a crushed pop can off to the side of the trail. Parker is hiking up to Lookout Point.

Parker: (looks off to the side of the path) Hey, I wonder what that is over there. It’s all shiny. It could be valuable! (Distracted, he trips over some branches and falls in a heap on the ground.) Well, I’ll be! I’ve been on this trail probably 100 times before and never fell! I didn’t see that coming! I guess I got distracted by this shiny object here. It could be … I wonder what … (picks up can) Oh, now don’t that beat all! I got tripped up by a dog gone pop can! And it’s empty, too! Can you imagine falling for that … literally! (laughs at self)

Oh well, I’m glad everyone got a chuckle out of ol’ Parker being tripped up over a shiny can! (reaches Lookout Point, looks out and takes in the view below)

Just look at that! This is my favorite place to come in the park! I like to come out here and clear my head. I like to pray and just remind myself how awesome God is! You know, sometimes … like with that pop can … we get distracted and deceived by things in this world. They look all shiny and cool and we waste a lot of time trying to get them. When I come out here, I’m just reminded again that nothing in this world is worth taking my eyes off of God!

Remember Parker’s tip for today—Always take time each day to stop and look at the beauty of God’s creation! It will take your breath away! Be thankful for what you have and (laughs) always keep an eye out for things in your path. Just keep your eyes on God’s stuff and you won’t get tripped up!

All this talk about Lookout Point and tripping over things reminds me of the Bible story today. Yeah, Ol’ King Balak took Balaam to the top of a mountain and promised him a bunch of things if he did what He wanted him too. Balaam tried to please God and King Balak. But, in the end he got all tripped up on the shiny things King Balak enticed him with.

Object Lesson Supplies: fishing lures Bibles

Hold up one fishing lure. Have any of you seen one of these or maybe even used one? This is called a fishing lure. A fish sees this and is enticed or tempted by it. The fish thinks it’s a tasty meal to eat! The purpose of the lure is to use movement, vibration, and color to catch the fish's attention so it bites the hook.

The lure is made so it covers up the dangerous hook attached to it! (show the hook) When the fish tries to attack the lure, the hook gets caught in its mouth.

When you lure someone, you tempt, entice or trick them into doing something they probably shouldn’t do. You place something shiny or attractive before them to catch their interest. Did you know there is someone who is walking around, actually on the prowl, trying to lure

you and me, trying to trick and deceive us into doing things that might bring us pleasure but will cause us to disobey God? Show the other fishing lures. Look at all of these. They’re all different, but they all have the same purpose. Satan has more than one lure. He has all kinds of ways to trick us into “biting the bait” so that we disobey God.

Look up and read 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

Just like a fisherman patrols around in the boat looking for fish to catch, Satan prowls around and dangles shiny things before our eyes to attract us. Like the fishing lure is dangerous for the fish, the things that Satan tries to catch our attention with are also dangerous!

Bible Account

As you tell the story, the kids will say “NOT” each time they are signaled with a thumbs-down.

The devil tempted Balaam with riches and fame. Balaam loved the things the devil was offering him. He wanted them a lot! He did NOT want to please God and obey Him. But, Balaam met with King Balak and DID say the words God told him to speak. He blessed Israel. He did NOT curse them like King Balak hired him to do. King Balak was NOT happy and refused to pay Balaam for a job NOT well done! Drats! Balaam wanted that money!

Balaam didn’t give up easily, though. He came up with another plan to weaken the Israelite army and he would NOT have to curse them out loud. He would NOT directly disobey God’s command. He believed this was the loophole he needed to please King Balak so his people—the Moabites—would win and NOT the Israelites—God’s people!

Balaam used the Moabite women to entice the Israelite men into marrying them and coming to their idol worship feasts. The Israelite men were NOT worshipping God. God was angry at the Israelites for marrying the Moabite women and worshipping fake gods. God ordered Moses, the leader of the Israelites, to kill all of the men who had sinned by following Balaam’s suggestions. Israel lost thousands of men but God still easily won the battle against the Moabites. God did NOT lose! Balaam’s sin and deception caught up with him. He did NOT live through the battle because of what he did.

Science Experiment Supplies:quarter3”-4” square of poster boardclear glass

Place a 3”-4” square of poster board on top of a clear glass, covering the open end of the glass. Then, place a quarter in the middle of the piece of poster board. Flick the edge of the poster board with a brisk firm flick. The poster board should shoot out and the quarter fall into the glass. Be careful not to get your finger underneath the poster board. You want to hit the edge straight on.

Balaam was enticed by money, wasn’t he? He wanted money and fame so much that he was willing to disobey God AND deceive His people into disobeying God! Balaam wanted to get God and God’s message out of the way (flick the poster board) so he could get the money. Balaam knew that King Balak would give him plenty of money for cursing the Israelites … the money was within reach. Balaam just needed to figure out how to get it to “drop into” his hands … just like the quarter dropped into the glass.

Game Supplies: nickelsclear glassespieces of poster board Divide the kids into groups of 4 or 5. Each group will need 5 nickels, a clear glass and a piece of poster board 3”-4” square. They are going to use the science experiment in the previous element in this game.

Each team should set up a glass, covered by the piece of poster board, with a nickel in the middle of the poster board. One player from each team will try to get 2 nickels to fall into their team’s glass by flicking the edge of the poster board so that the poster board flies out and the nickel drops into the glass. Each team should have a glass set up and one player ready to flick when the leader gives the signal. After that initial flick, the player will have to set up the glass for each attempt.

The first player to get 2 coins in their glass will shout, “Don’t be lured!” Then, they will be given one of the “Who Am I?” questions that follow.

Questions and Answers

• We defeated the Amorite, Moabite and Midianite armies. Who are we? (the Israelites, with God’s help)

• I was deceived and thought I could please God and King Balak. Who am I? (Balaam)

• I was only able to bless the Israelites and not curse them. Who am I? (Balaam)

• I tricked the Israelites into worshiping the Moabites’ idols. Who am I? (Balaam)

• I sent for Balaam to put a curse on the Israelite army. Who am I? (King Balak)

• I was told by God to put to death all of the Israelite men who were deceived by Balaam and worshiped the Moabite idols. Who am I? (Moses)

• I told Balaam to only speak the words I put in his mouth. Who am I? (God)

• We were tricked by Balaam to worship the Moabites’ idols. Who are we? (Israelite men)

• I died in the battle with the Israelites. Who am I?(Balaam)

• I was afraid of the Israelite army. Who am I? (King Balak)

• I loved riches more than being obedient to God. Who am I? (Balaam)

• I try to deceive and entice you with shiny things and fame like I did with Balaam so you will disobey God. Who am I? (the devil/Satan)

Puppets Supplies:2 generic puppets

1 ripe cherry

Note: these puppets will be used in several lessons throughout the quarter. Make or locate 2 small hats that look like ranger hats and 2 badges for them to wear.

Range: (holding cherry) Good morning, trainee. Are you ready to learn a lot of helpful things today?

Trainee: Yes sir! I’m ready to go. I see you have a cherry in your hand.

Ranger: Yes, exactly. Cherries are one of my favorite fruits.

Trainee: Mine too! They always look so good hanging on the tree!

Ranger: Yes, they do. I can almost hear them enticing me to eat them! “Pick me. Pick me now. Eat me! Eat me!”

Trainee: (laughs) I don’t think I’ve ever heard them talk like that, sir.

Ranger: Well, your ranger training lesson today is about the different fruits and berries in Agape National Park. Some fruits and berries look really scrumptious, but they might be poisonous! You have to be careful … like with this cherry! (hold up the cherry)

Trainee: Oh my! I had no idea that cherries were poisonous!

Ranger: The fruit isn’t, but the leaves and the pit is! The pit is what you call a cherry seed. You can eat the fruit … and my, oh my, it’s delicious … but always spit out the pit! It can make you sick if it splits open!

Trainee: Wow, I didn’t know that.

Ranger: Just remember to be on guard. You have to be alert! Just like in life, sometimes things look all shiny and good, but there might be something about them that can hurt you!

Trainee: Thank you sir. I will most certainly remember that! By the way, where did you find that cherry?

Message SuppliesPowerPoint slides energy drink to-go coffee cup live wormspiece of bread cube of cheese

You will need a couple of earthworms in a transparent container with dirt. Earthworms can be purchased in containers at a tackle shop or at a discount department store in the sporting goods department. You can substitute rubber worms, but the impact on the kids won’t be as significant. You lose the “yuck” factor.

(show slide #2) The devil entices and baits us. The devil used fame and riches to lure Balaam into disobeying God. The devil is crafty and tricky. He used Balaam’s weakness to hook him and trap him. Riches aren’t the only thing the devil lures us with, though. The devil uses different “bait” for different people and situations.

Hold up the worms. Pour them out on the plate if you can’t see through the container. Earthworms are the most common bait for fish. How many of you like to hold worms and bait the hook? For other types of fish and in different environments and areas of the country, fishermen also use other bait. They could use insects or tiny fish called minnows.

You can also use bread that’s rolled up in a ball and placed on the hook. Hold up a piece of bread. Sometimes even cheese cubes are placed on a hook. Hold up a cheese cube. Some bait works well for some types of fish and another kind of bait for other types of fish.

It’s the same with the devil. The devil will entice different people with different things. We all are different with different desires, tastes, and weaknesses.

(show slide #3) Stay alert and fight back!

No one’s going to win against Satan’s tricks and enticements if you’re lazy and half asleep! You must be on the lookout and alert for his tricks! If you’re careless and not willing to fight back against Satan’s tricks you’ll get hooked just like a fish swallowing a lure! You’ll swallow

the bait he dangles before you and be reeled in!

Don’t be caught asleep! Don’t be tripped up by carelessness. Remember how ol’ Parker got distracted by the shiny can? He tripped and fell because he was careless. You have to be alert and on guard against the devil’s deceit and temptations that he lays before you! Hold up the energy drink. If you have an older brother or sister, you’ve probably seen a drink like this. Your parents may even drink energy drinks. Why do they drink them? To stay alert. Some of these drinks have vitamins, minerals, caffeine, and other ingredients to wake you up!

Hold up the coffee cup. Who has seen their parents and other adults with one of these in the morning? Yeah, I bet you have. The hot coffee and the caffeine it contains wake you up and help you to be alert!

Those drinks work well for a short period of time to keep you alert physically, but what about spiritually? They won’t help you be alert to the devil’s tricks.

(show slide #4) Ephesians 6:11 (CEV), “Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks.”

What is this armor of God that God gives us to put on? Simply put, it’s faith in God’s Word and His power, prayer, His Gospel, and standing on His truth. When we have those things in us we can defend ourselves against the devil’s tricks and prevent ourselves from sinning against God!

There’s no quick solution like drinking an energy drink to stay alert spiritually against the devil’s tactics. Our defense and our victory come through faith in God, His Word, and through prayer! When we have God’s Word in us, we can tell the difference between the truth and Satan’s deceit and tricks.

(show slide #5) James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Submit means to hand yourself over to God—give yourself over to Him. Then, the verse says to resist the devil.

Choose one child to come up front with you. Tell them to pull on your arm. Offer no resistance and easily be pulled off balance. Did I offer

resistance? No! I just let ________ (name) drag me and pull me anywhere ______ wanted me to go! Tell the volunteer to pull your arm again. This time offer resistance, so you don’t move. That had a different result, didn’t it? Yes! _________ didn’t have much success pulling me away! That’s what this verse is telling us to do! Look at what happens when we do resist. The devil runs away! That’s how you win against the devil’s tricks and enticements!

Prayer Supplies:Biblesself-sticking nametagsfine tip markets

Kids look up and read Colossians 4:2 (NLT), “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Devote means to set apart or dedicate regular time to prayer. If we want to win the fight against the devil and what he deceives and entices us with we must stay alert. We can’t be sloppy and hit and miss with prayer.

What do you think being thankful in this verse has to do with being enticed?

We are enticed with things that we would like to have—things that would bring pleasure to us. When we want something really badly the devil can use it to try to get us to disobey God in some way. He might tempt and deceive us to steal something or to covet and be jealous. He can tempt us to place that thing above the things of God. We become unhappy with what we have. But, when we pray and have a thankful heart for what Jesus has done for us and for the blessings we have, then the devil loses a lot of his power to lure us with things.

We can win against Satan’s tricks when we remember who we are. When you trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are a Christ-believer. You are a child of God. Give each child a nametag. Using a fine tip marker, they should write their first name, followed by “Child of God.” Example: Melody, Child of God. Once they’ve completed their nametag, they should stick it to the front of their shirt.

As you lead the kids in prayer, they should place their hand on their nametag, much like putting your hand over your heart for the national pledge. After each statement that the leader prays, the kids will respond out loud with “I am” and then their name and “Child of God.” Example: “I am Zoey, Child of God.”

Dear God, When Satan’s voice is loud, help me to remember that … (Example: I am Zoey, Child of God).When I want to do something, even though I know it’s wrong, help me remember that …When I am feeling weak against Satan’s tricks, help me remember that …When I make things more important than they should be, help me remember that …When Satan is trying to mess with my head, help me remember that …

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be Your child and giving me the power to stand up against anything Satan wants to entice and tempt me with. Help me to remember that …Amen.

Blessing May you always stay alert to the devil’s tricks!