Bringing it Home: Week 4: God is Powerful

This weekend your child will be learning that God is Powerful as they look at how He helped them cross the Red Sea. This is also our last weekend for our memory verse: The 10 Fingered Prayer.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

This week read the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. As you do talk about how the Israelites must have felt.

• Joy as they were finally free.
• Excitement at what lay ahead.
• Nervous about where they would go and how they would live.
• Scared because they could not cross the Red Sea and the Egyptian army was right behind them.
• Angry at Moses and God because it looked like they were going to die or have to return to Egypt and be slaves.
• Amazed at what God did.
• Shocked that God could part the Sea.
• Anxious as they crossed and tried to hurry before the army got there.
• Relieved as they saw they were safely across and the army couldn't get them and was destroyed.
• Thankful that God had saved them.
• Special because God had saved them.

Talk with your child about how the Israelites wanted to just give in and stop. They wanted to go back. That was easier. But Moses wouldn't let them. And God provided a way for them to keep going.

This is a great lesson about how even when we don't want to do something or feel we can't or are scared to remember that God is with us. He has promised to always be with us. He didn't promise we would never have harm or a problem (the Red Sea was a real problem) but He promised He would help us.

Have your child list things they feel they can't do, things they don't want to do, things that are hard, things they are scared of. Then pray with them asking God to not only help them but to help them remember that no matter what God is with them.

End by practicing the memory verse together.

Bringing it Home: Plagues

Here are some fun ways to make the story come alive for the kids.

• Rivers, streams, creeks, even water in the buckets turns to blood killing all the fish and the water will stink.

Hold out a stick/rod/staff over the pretend river. "Watch" it turn to blood. Ask your child what color would it be. Ask them what color should it be. Have them hold their noses b/c the smell is so awful.

• Frogs everywhere

Now jump around like frogs. Talk about where they Egyptians might have found frogs - on their tables, in their seats, in their dishes, in their ovens, etc.

• Gnats everywhere

Now strike your stick/rod/staff on the ground. Explain that when Aaron (Moses' helper) did this the dust became gnats. Help your child understand what a gnat is and how they fly in your face, they get up by your eyes, they just pester your skin and how you have to swat them. Have them swat them everywhere.

• Flies everywhere

Continue with swatting the gnats but explain now there was flies everywhere. Buzzing here and there. Buzz with your child. But explain that God did not send flies where the Israelites where; He kept them safe. Make a "safe" zone in your house and fly there, buzzing as you go and then stop buzzing and moving once in the safe zone.

• Animals die

Act like different animals. Cows. Donkeys. Camels. Then explain that God caused all the animals to die. Fall down on the ground dead. But remember that God protected the Israelites' animals and move to the safe zone where you begin acting like animals again.

• Boils/sores on their skins

Now hold your arm or leg like it is hurting, like it is burning. Explain that God sent boils and sores on all of the men and any animals left.

• Hail

Describe what it is to them: hard ice that falls from the ground. God send hail all over the land. God warned everyone that they should find shelter and bring all their animals because the hail would be so bad that anyone or any animal left outside when be hurt and die. Run around the try to "hide" and find shelter before the storm comes.

• Locusts everywhere who eat everything

Explain what locusts.. Animals that fly and make noise and they fly in great groups - sometimes there are so many they look like one big giant black cloud. They like to eat up crops. So the locusts came and ate up all the crops - corn, wheat, fruit and all the trees. Pretend to duck as you make the noise of the locusts- humming softly at first and then louder as they come closer.

• Darkness all over

Then God made it dark outside for three whole days. None of the Egyptians could leave their house because they couldn't see any thing. It was so dark. But the Israelites had light where they lived. Stand on one side of your room and close your eyes and pretend to find an object or make your way to the other side of the room where there is light.

• Death of the first-born child of all Egyptian families

Have the kids sit down and explain that the last plague is a very sad plague. The Pharaoh wouldn't let the Israelites go and be free. He wouldn't obey God so God said that the first child of every family, of every animal would die. Talk about how sad the Egyptians must have been, even the Pharaoh. Explain because of this the Pharaoh decided to listen and let the Israelites go.

End this discussion of the plagues by discussing how powerful God is - He control everything - animals, the water, the sun, even life. And God was powerful enough to protect the Israelites.

Word of Caution - when telling the last plague, remember the focus is that God is powerful and can do anything. At this age do not stay too long on this last plague b/c you do not want your child being scared or thinking if they disobey God He will strike them dead. The focus should be on the fact that God controls everything - even life and that He was able to protect the Israelites and even Moses and Aaron while they talked to the Pharaoh.

Bringing it Home: What we can learn from Moses

We've been learning that God has a plan for us just like He had a plan for Moses and the people of Israel. We've also learned that God loves us and He cares about us and listens to us when we are sad, mad, happy, excited, scared and all sorts of feelings.

This weekend we will be learning that part of God's plan and love for us means that we need to obey Him. God came to Moses in a burning bush and told him to go to Pharaoh and tell Pharaoh to free His people. We often think of Moses as this great man of God who did mighty things for Him like parting the Red Sea, making water come from a rock, and convincing God to not wipe out the disobedient children of God. Yet, here we find Moses, whose life had been miraculously saved as a baby, trying to come up with every excuse he could to avoid obeying God. Bottom line: Moses didn't want to go. He didn't want to do what God commanded.

And you and I, even as adults, are many times no different. It can be hard to love others like Christ told us to. It can be hard to not be selfish and open up our wallet and give to others. It's hard to surrender your wants for the needs of another. But this part of Moses' story should be an encouragement to us all. God didn't leave Moses when Moses balked at God's command to go to Pharaoh. God gave him tools, helps in the form of a staff and the form of a brother.

Yes we are called to obey God. Yes this is His desire for us as His followers. But He doesn't leave us alone to do it on our own. He is there to help us carry through with what He asks.

This week spend some time with your child reviewing their memory verse: Philippians 4:13.

We call it the 10 Fingered Prayer.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!

There is a word for every finger and we can pray this anywhere, anytime. Christ came not only to save us but to give us the power to live a life that shows His love and purpose for the world.

As you go over this verse with your child, talk about some real life situations that they encounter where it's hard to do the right thing. Walk through ways they can do the right thing and how God might help them. Be willing to share with your child some things you sometimes struggle with such as being nice to grandma or saying kind words to dad or being tired and not wanting to cook dinner, or getting mad at the man who cut you off in traffic. Talk about what you could do, both the right thing and the wrong thing. Ask your child how God can help you do do the right thing.

Parenting Tips

Also for some fun ideas that you can try to get the wiggles out of your child before bedtime, before story time, before dinner, before a family activity, before going on an errand check out this post at our leader blog. You'll also find a fun way to help your child learn to pray and thank God through their sense of touch.