Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promised Land
Caleb’s Mountain
When Caleb was forty years old, he and Joshua were the two spies who trusted God when the others were afraid. Forty-five years later, at eighty-five, Caleb was still strong, and he asked Joshua, “Give me this mountain,” even though the mighty Anakims lived there. Joshua blessed him and gave him Hebron, because he wholly followed the LORD.
- Bible passage
- Joshua 14:6–15
- Big idea
- Follow the LORD with your whole heart, all your life long.
- Memory verse
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
Joshua 14:8 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
When Caleb was forty years old, Moses sent him from Kadeshbarnea to spy out the land (Joshua 14:7). The other spies made the people’s hearts melt with fear, but Caleb wholly followed the LORD his God (Joshua 14:8). So Moses promised that the land Caleb walked on would belong to him and his children for ever (Joshua 14:9).
Forty-five years later, Caleb came to Joshua at Gilgal with a request (Joshua 14:6, 10). He was eighty-five, but the LORD had kept him alive, just as He said, and he was still strong (Joshua 14:10–11). He said, “Now therefore give me this mountain,” even though the mighty Anakims lived there in great walled cities, for with the LORD’s help he would drive them out (Joshua 14:12). Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron, because he wholly followed the LORD (Joshua 14:13–14).
Read it in the Bible: Joshua 14:6–15 (KJV)
6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. 13And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. 15And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Questions to ask
How old was Caleb when Moses sent him to spy out the land?
Forty years old (Joshua 14:7).
How old was Caleb when he asked for his mountain?
Fourscore and five, which is eighty-five years old, and still strong (Joshua 14:10–11).
Why was Hebron given to Caleb?
Because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel (Joshua 14:14).
What this story teaches
- God keeps His promises, even after many years (Joshua 14:9–10).
- God wants us to follow Him with our whole heart (Joshua 14:8).
- Faith speaks up for God when others are afraid (Numbers 13:30).
- The LORD kept Caleb alive and strong, just as He said (Joshua 14:10–11).
- When the LORD is with us, we can face giants (Joshua 14:12).
Jesus Makes Us Strong
The LORD kept Caleb strong to face the giants. Christ gives strength to those who trust Him, so they can do all He asks.
Philippians 4:13
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us follow Him with our whole heart, whether we are young or old. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Follow the LORD with your whole heart, all your life long.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Joshua 14:8 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Crab Walk Mountain
You need: Cones
- The kids crab-walk from the bottom of the “mountain” to the top (across the room).
- At the top, they stand and shout, “Give me this mountain!”
- Race in heats.
At eighty-five, Caleb was still strong and still trusting God. He said, “Give me this mountain.”
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 120 minutes
Caleb’s Hike
You need: A trail, water, snacks, adult leaders, permission slips
- Take a real hike with a summit or lookout.
- At the top, read Joshua 14:10–12.
- Talk: what “mountain” do you want to take for God?
Caleb wholly followed the LORD his whole life. Start now, and keep going.
Pray
Ask God to help us follow Him with our whole heart, whether we are young or old.