📖

Joel's Locust Plague Warning

Joel and Amos: Judgment and Justice

Day 41of 180
Week 9of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how Joel's locust plague represents God's judgment

2

Identify the consequences of turning away from God

3

Develop compassion for God's desire to restore His people

📖 Scripture Connection

Joel 1:4

“What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten. What the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.”

— Joel 1:4 (WEB)

Illustrates the complete devastation of God's judgment and the importance of turning back to Him

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Locust pictures or drawings
  • White poster board
  • Colored markers
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse adventure! Last week, we learned about God's incredible love through Hosea. Today, we'll explore a powerful message from the prophet Joel about God's judgment and hope.

💭 Review Question: Can you remember how God showed love to Hosea's wife?
2Teaching (10 min)

Joel's prophecy shows us how God uses powerful images to speak to His people. Imagine a massive locust invasion that destroys everything in its path!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Joel describes a terrible locust plague that destroys crops and food
  • The locusts represent God's judgment on people who have turned away
  • God uses difficult experiences to call people back to Him
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think it would feel like to see all your food destroyed?
  • How might people respond when they lose everything?
3Activity: Locust Devastation Poster (12 min)
visual study

Create a visual representation of Joel's locust plague description

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw an empty field on the poster board
  2. Use markers to draw locusts eating everything
  3. Write key phrases from Joel 1:4 around the picture
  4. Discuss how the picture shows God's message
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn locust pictures to add to the poster

Challenge: Write a short narrative from a farmer's perspective during the locust plague

4Closing (3 min)

Wrap up our BibleMouse lesson by reflecting on God's messages

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did the locusts represent?
  • What does God want from His people?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us listen to Your messages and turn back to You when we stray.

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn more about the 'Day of the Lord' in Joel's prophecy

💎 Memory Verse

Amos 5:24

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

— Amos 5:24 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Justice River Memorization: Create a flowing 'river' poster where each word of the verse is written on a blue paper 'water drop', arranging them in order to create a visual memory aid

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Joel's prophecy uses the locust plague as a metaphor for spiritual devastation and the need for repentance

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle language when discussing judgment
  • Emphasize God's desire to restore, not punish
  • Encourage children to ask questions
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find the concept of judgment scary or confusing

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Signs of understanding God's love and desire for relationship

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research real locust plagues in history
  • Create a prayer journal about turning back to God
  • Use BibleMouse Printables Library for additional worksheets

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 42 →Back to Bible