Balaam And The Donkey

Balaam and the Donkey To Remember: We must heed God's warnings Lesson Activity: Create a 3D version of Balaam's encounter with the angel. Cut out a road from brown construction paper and use green paper for grass. Print out the graphics below on heavy paper. Cut them out and make stand-up pieces by leaving a tab of white paper at the bottom to fold over. Use the cut-outs to recreate the story. Balaam, donkey, Moabite officials, Angel with a sword, walls-rocks-tree, cliffs Discussion Point: Where do we get our warnings? Bible Elders Laws of the Land Parents Teachers Activity: Print out and cut out the Warning and Example graphics. Place them both on the table. Have each student place a token (sticker, game piece, etc) on warning or example, depending on what person you name. Variation: Put Warning on one side of the room and Example on the other and have students stand near the appropriate sign. Some people's lives are given to us as warnings. Others are examples. When I name the situation, indicate whether it represents a warning or an example: 1) Pharaoh, who would not let the people go. W 2) Moses, who was chosen to be a leader of the people. E 3) The people who made a golden calf. W 4) Israelites, who complained about not having water. W 5) Aaron, who served God as the high priest. E 6) The army, who trusted in God and defeated the Amalekites. E 7) The people who donated treasure for the temple. E 8) Miriam, who was jealous of Moses. W 9) Joshua and Caleb, who told the people God would give them the land. E 10) Korah, who rebelled against Moses. W Craft: Have student cut a red octagon (like stop sign) and paste this verse on that side. Warning: Num 22:20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only what I bid you, that shall you do." On back, have students cut out a yellow starburst with this verse. Promise Num 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Memory Work: Numbers 23:26 But Balaam replied, "Didn't I tell you that I must do whatever the LORD tells me?"

True or False 1. Balak wanted to buy God's blessing. 2. God's blessing can be bought. F 3. Balaam was a bit greedy. T 4. God doesn't always accomplish His will. F 5. We should listen to God's warnings. T

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Review Questions for gameboard linguistic questions • • •

Name two characters in the lesson. Recite the memory verse. Make 2 words from the letters in "Balaam's donkey"

activity questions • • •

Act out the donkey talking to Balaam. Act out Balaam when the donkey stops. Assemble a small puzzle.

emotion questions • • •

How do you think Balaam responded when his donkey spoke to him? How do you think God felt when Balaam kept asking to go to Moab after he told him no? How did Balak feel when Balaam kept blessing Israel?

application questions • • •

How are we warned today? Should we ever do other than what God has said? Does God guide us to make us happy or sad?

fact questions • • •

What was Balaam's job? Why did Balak want Israel to be cursed? Who did Balaam end up cursing?

review questions • • •

Why did the angel appear to Balaam? Will we see God's warnings if we're looking elsewhere? What did Balak promise Balaam?