Old Testament 2022
May 9–15. Numbers 11–14; 20–24: “Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear”


“May 9–15. Numbers 11–14; 20–24: ‘Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear,’” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 (2021)

“May 9–15. Numbers 11–14; 20–24,” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: 2022

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desert valley

May 9–15

Numbers 11–14; 20–24

“Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear”

This outline isn’t meant to be a script. Instead, use it to get ideas and inspiration for learning activities that will bless the children in your class.

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Show the children one of the pictures in this outline or in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Let them share with you anything they know about what is happening in the picture.

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Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Numbers 11:4–10

I can be thankful for what God has given me.

Even though the Lord had done wonderful things for the children of Israel, they often focused instead on what they didn’t have. Help the children learn to be thankful for what God has given them.

Possible Activities

  • Ask the children if they remember some of the miracles the Lord performed to bless the Israelites in the wilderness. (If the children need help, show them pictures from the April 4–10 outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families; see also Exodus 14:21–22; 15:23–25; 16:4.) Then summarize for them Numbers 11:4–10, emphasizing that the Lord was unhappy because the Israelites were complaining. Help the children think of ways they can show gratitude to the Lord.

  • Sing together a song about gratitude, such as “Count Your Blessings” (Hymns, no. 241). Invite each child to draw pictures of blessings the Lord has given them or their families. Encourage them to think about or look at their picture whenever they are tempted to complain about something they don’t have.

Numbers 13:17–33; 14:6–9

Faith can help me not be afraid.

When Moses sent 12 men to find out about the promised land, 10 of them came back afraid because of the mighty people who lived there. Two of them, Caleb and Joshua, were not afraid, because they had faith in the Lord.

Possible Activities

  • Use pictures or drawings of grapes, honey, giants, and grasshoppers to briefly tell the children about the 12 men Moses sent to explore the promised land (see Numbers 13:17–33). Explain that they found a lot of fruit and other foods (invite the children to pretend to eat the food), but they also were afraid because the people there were large and strong (invite the children to pretend to be afraid). Show a picture of Jesus, and point out that two Israelites, Caleb and Joshua, were not afraid because they had faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Read Numbers 14:9 to the children, and talk about a time when you were afraid but your faith in Jesus Christ helped you have courage. Help the children think of any similar experiences they’ve had.

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    men showing fruits to Moses

    Ten of the Israelite spies were afraid; Joshua and Caleb had faith. © Lifeway Collection/licensed from goodsalt.com

Numbers 21:6–9

I can look to Jesus Christ.

Just as the children of Israel were healed by looking at the serpent of brass, the children in your class receive salvation by looking to the Savior.

Possible Activities

  • Using this week’s activity page or the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, tell the children what happened when “fiery serpents” came into the Israelites’ camp (see Numbers 21:6–9). Help them see how the brass serpent is like Jesus Christ (see John 3:14–15). Then let the children take turns using the picture to tell the story to each other.

  • Ask the children to close their eyes while you place a picture of the Savior somewhere in the room. Then invite the children to open their eyes, find the picture, and look at it. Let them take turns being the one to place the picture. Each time the children find the picture, help them think of something they can do to look to the Savior.

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Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Numbers 12

The Lord wants me to follow His prophet.

Numbers 12 contains some valuable lessons that can help the children when they hear people saying unkind things about the Lord’s prophet or other Church leaders.

Possible Activities

  • Tell the children that on one occasion, the Lord was unhappy with Aaron and Miriam, Moses’s brother and sister. Invite them to read Numbers 12:1–2 to find out why. According to verses 5–8, how did the Lord feel about Aaron and Miriam speaking against His prophet?

  • Help the children think of examples of people in the scriptures who did follow the prophet and were blessed (for example, see Genesis 7:7; 1 Nephi 3:7). What are some of the things our living prophet has taught us? How are we blessed when we follow his teachings?

Numbers 21:4–9

Jesus Christ has the power to heal me spiritually.

Many Israelites died because they did not have faith that the Lord would heal them if they looked at the brass serpent (see Alma 33:18–20). How can you help the children you teach have faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ?

Possible Activities

  • Invite the children to draw pictures of what they read in Numbers 21:4–9. Let them use their pictures to tell the story. Ask each child to choose one of the following scriptures and share what it adds to our understanding of the story: John 3:14–15; 1 Nephi 17:41; Alma 33:18–20; Helaman 8:13–15; Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.

  • Write on the board a question like What can we do to “look upon the Son of God with faith”? (Helaman 8:15). Give each of the children a piece of paper, and invite them to write as many answers to the question as they can think of. Collect the papers, read a few answers aloud, and invite the children to talk about how doing these things can help us when we need the Savior’s healing power.

Numbers 22–24

I can follow God’s will, even if others try to persuade me not to.

Balak tried to persuade Balaam to curse the Israelites, but Balaam knew that this was against God’s will. Balaam’s example could help the children when they face pressure to disobey God.

Possible Activities

  • Summarize Numbers 22:1–18 for the children, emphasizing how Balaam refused to curse God’s people, even though Balak, the king of Moab, offered him honor and riches. Ask the children to search the following verses for phrases that they feel show Balaam’s determination to follow God: Numbers 22:18; 23:26; 24:13. Invite the children to pick one phrase they like and write it on a card to help them remember to obey the Lord.

  • Talk with the children about situations when friends or others might try to persuade them to do something wrong, as Balak did to Balaam. How did Balaam’s commitment to the Lord help him resist pressure from Balak? Invite the children to practice responding to these situations using words like Balaam’s.

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Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to share something with their families, such as a picture, a scripture, or a song, that shows what they learned in Primary.

Improving Our Teaching

Be open to promptings from the Spirit. “Often the best teaching moments are unexpected—for example, when someone shares an experience or asks a question that leads to a meaningful discussion. … Be willing to change your plans if necessary to follow the promptings you receive” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 10).