Joel 3
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen carefully. God is talking. God sees everything. He sees when people are sad. He sees when people are hurt.
Long ago, bad people took God's children away. They were mean. They stole. They hurt the little boys and girls. God saw it all. And God said: "I see it. I will help my children."
God is like a big, strong lion. When his children are in trouble, God roars! His voice is loud. His voice makes the mountains shake. Boom! But listen, listen well. God does not roar at his children. He roars at the bad people who hurt them.
For his own children, God is a safe house. A hiding place. A strong wall. There they can rest. There they are safe.
What Does This Mean?
God sees you too. God knows when you are scared. God knows when someone is mean to you. God is not far away. God is close.
And God is strong. So very strong. Stronger than the biggest giant. Stronger than the loudest thunder. When you hide with God, no one can pull you away.
The Common Thread
Do you know what God promises at the end? Something wonderful. Sweet wine will drip from the mountains. Milk will flow down the hills. And a river of water will bubble up from God's house. Splash, splash! Fresh, clean water. Enough for everyone.
That river points to Jesus. Jesus said: "I give you living water." With Jesus you never stay thirsty. With Jesus everything becomes new. One day the whole earth will be beautiful again. No more crying. No more mean people. Only sweet wine and milk and water and God's smile.
God lives with his people. Forever. That is his promise.
For You
Can you close your eyes for a moment? Imagine a big, strong castle. Thick walls. A heavy door. Inside it is warm. Inside it is safe.
That castle is God. When you are scared, you may run to him. Not with your feet, but with your heart. You can whisper: "God, I am here." And then God whispers back: "I see you. I am with you."
When you feel little, God is big. When you feel scared, God is strong. When you feel alone, God is close. Every day. Even at night. Even when it is dark.
And later, one day, we will drink from God's river. Together with Jesus. Together with all his children. Won't that be lovely?
Talk About It
Where do you hide when you are scared? Did you know that God is also a hiding place?
What do you think God's river will taste like, later, when everything is new?
Praying Together
Dear God,
You see me. You are big. You are strong.
Thank you that you are my safe house.
When I am scared, I come to you.
Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for your river.
I love you, God.
Amen.
Questions about Joel 3
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Joel 3 about?
What does Joel 3 say?
What does Joel 3 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Joel 3?
Why is Joel 3 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people." The same voice that makes the world tremble is the shelter you run into. Notice where safety is: not away from that roar, but inside it. What are you hiding from that God is not?
Tyre and Sidon thought they were trading in somebody else's children, a small nation nobody would miss. God answers, "Will you repay me?" What they did to his people, he counts as done to him. When you feel sold off and forgotten by someone stronger, hear that. Your wound is on his account, and he settles accounts.
They sold God's children far away, to places no one would bother to look. But God says, "Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them." He knows the address. He knows the market where you were handed over, the room where you were written off. Nothing about you got lost in the transaction. He comes to that exact place.
Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations." Notice that God sits. No pacing, no scrambling. The nations rouse themselves for war and arrive at a courtroom. What was done to you in the dark has an address, and He is already seated there.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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