Leviticus 4
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Long, long ago, God's people lived in tents. Hundreds of tents in the sand. And in the middle stood one very big tent. That was God's tent. God lived there, close to His people.
In front of the tent was a fire on a stone table. It burned all day. You could smell the smoke from far away.
Now listen. There was a man in one of those tents. And suddenly he thought: oh no. I did something God said not to do. I did not even know it. But I did it.
The man felt sad inside. Heavy, like a stone in his tummy.
So he took his little lamb. A soft, white lamb, without one spot. He walked with it through the sand. All the way to God's big tent.
There the priest was waiting for him. The man laid his hand on the lamb's warm head. He stood still. Very still.
And then the lamb died. It died instead of the man.
The priest took some of the blood. He put it on the corners of the stone table. And the fire burned, and the smoke went up, up, up into the sky.
What Does This Mean?
And do you know what God said then? God said: it is over now. You are forgiven.
Forgiven means: God is not angry anymore. The heavy stone in your tummy is gone. You may come close to God again.
That was for everyone. For the priest. For the king. For the mother, the father, the shepherd. And even for a whole big crowd of people together. Everybody could come. Nobody had to stay outside.
The Common Thread
Many, many years later, God sent Someone. His own Son. His name is Jesus.
And do you know what people called Jesus? The Lamb. God's Lamb.
Jesus was good, all the way through. No spot, nothing wrong. And Jesus went to the cross. He did that for you. Just like the little lamb, long ago in the sand.
So now you do not need a lamb anymore. You do not need to walk to a big tent. Jesus already did it.
For You
Sometimes you do something wrong. Maybe you pushed. Maybe you shouted. Maybe you did something and you did not even know it was wrong.
Then your tummy feels heavy. Like a stone.
You can just tell God. You can say it out loud, or very softly. God hears you. He never walks away.
And God says the same thing He said long ago, next to the fire and the smoke. It is over now. You are forgiven. Come close to Me.
You may sit on God's lap, sort of. Because Jesus, the Lamb, made everything good again.
Talk About It
Have you ever done something wrong without knowing it? What was it?
Jesus is called the Lamb. What does a lamb look like? Can you show me?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Sometimes I do things wrong.
Thank You that I may tell You.
Thank You for Jesus, Your Lamb.
Thank You that You are not angry.
I may come close to You.
Amen.
Questions about Leviticus 4
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Leviticus 4 about?
What does Leviticus 4 say?
What does Leviticus 4 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Leviticus 4?
Why is Leviticus 4 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Notice the tender detail: "the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh." A sin offering, of all things, called pleasant. Your quiet confession, brought with a humble heart, rises to God not as stench but as fragrance. He is not repelled by your coming clean. He delights in it.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
Philippines
Nigeria
Zimbabwe
India
Zambia
South Africa
Malawi
Kenya
Indonesia
DR Congo
Ghana
Nepal
Cameroon
Mozambique
Benin
