The modern day story told in these [tag]Sunday school lessons for children[/tag] goes with the Bible reading of [tag]Deborah and Jael[/tag]. The story of Deborah and Jael causing the defeat of [tag]Sissera[/tag] provides great fodder for a lesson on how to face peer pressure and choosing friends wisely.
Our [tag]Sunday School[/tag] kids need to brace up as early as possible to face peer pressure, and they need to begin picking their friends wisely at the earliest age possible.
(TEACHER WORDS IN BOLD)
We all make mistakes, as Israel did once again. It’s never too late to fix mistakes. And when you need help, God provides people to help you – and sometimes it’s through the least likely person you would expect. THINGS ARE NEVER AS THEY APPEAR, SO DON’T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES.
In the story we heard, Deborah and Jael put their strength together and killed a violent man. Things are not always as they appear. Why is it surprising that two women would get the better of a huge military leader? Because they were women. Because Jael seemed sweet and helpless, offering him food.
Who killed Sissera? Jael, Haber’s wife.
How was she able to do this? He was exhausted and asked her for a place to sleep. She killed him while he was sleeping.
Why do you think Sissera trusted Jael, wife of an Israelite, who happened to live on the outskirts of Israeli territory? Because she was a woman. Because she trapped him with what sounded like kindness.
Did he “underestimate” her? Did he think she was weaker than she was? Yes.
Jesus said in John 7:24, “stop judging by appearances.” In other words, don’t be shallow. What does this teach you about how to pick your friends? Don’t judge by appearances.
You’ll find the best friends in strange places. You have to look beneath the skin to find people who are good.
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