Judges 10
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. A long time ago, there lived a people. They were called Israel. God loved them very much. He was their God.
There was a man. His name was Tola. Tola helped the people for many years. He was kind. Then Tola died.
After him came Jair. Jair had thirty sons! Thirty! And every son had his own little donkey. Can you see them? Thirty donkeys, clip clop, clip clop, along the road. Jair helped the people too. Then Jair died.
And then something sad happened. The people of Israel forgot God. They did not want to listen to Him anymore. They made statues of stone and wood. They said, "You are our god now." But those statues could not see. Could not hear. Could not help.
God was sad. And God was angry too.
What Does This Mean?
Because the people forgot God, hard times came. Mean men came. They hurt the people. They took their things. For many, many years. The people cried.
Then, at last, they said, "Oh God! We did wrong. We are sorry. Please help us!"
But God said something surprising. God said, "You did not want Me. Go ask your stone gods. Let them help you."
Do you know what happened then? The people threw away all the stone statues. All of them! They said, "God, only You can help. We want You back."
And God, our good God, looked at His people. His heart hurt for them. He saw how sad they were. And He wanted to help again.
The Common Thread
Do you hear it? The people were sorry. They came back to God. And God's heart was soft, so soft, for His people.
That is what God is like. Always. Even when we do something wrong. Even when we forget Him for a while. When we say, "God, I am sorry," He listens. His heart hurts for us. He wants us close.
Later, God sent Jesus. Jesus came to save people forever. Not just for a little while, but forever and ever. Because God's heart is that big.
For You
Sometimes you do something you should not do. Maybe you hit. Maybe you said a mean word. Maybe you did not listen to Mommy or Daddy.
You know what you can do? You can say, "God, I am sorry." Just like the people in the story. God listens. Really listens. His heart is soft for you. He is not too far away. He is right here.
And you can also say, "God, help me." He loves that. He loves when you talk to Him.
Talk About It
What do you do when you have done something wrong?
Do you know that God's heart is soft for you? What do you feel when you hear that?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You that You listen. Thank You that Your heart is soft. When I do something wrong, I want to say sorry. Please stay close to me.
Amen.
Questions about Judges 10
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Judges 10 about?
What does Judges 10 say?
What does Judges 10 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Judges 10?
Why is Judges 10 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel." Eighteen years. A child born the year it began would be nearly grown before anyone cried out. That is how slowly we learn to call our chains by their real name. What have you quietly made peace with, telling yourself it is just how life is now?
God has just named every rescue, Egypt, the Amorites, the Philistines, and then says, "Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more." It sounds final. Yet when Israel puts the idols away, "his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." He was never cold toward them. He was wounded. What have you decided God is finished with you over, while he waits for you to loosen your grip?
After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years." That is the whole record. Twenty-two years of decisions, disputes, long days, and one sentence holds them all. Most of your life will be summed up that briefly too, and still be seen. God keeps the years no one writes down.
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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