(All material is original to the author with the exception of songs and activities which have been borrowed from various sources. All studies are free for public use.)
God Provides
Scripture Reference: Exodus 3:12
Related Scripture References: Exodus 3-14; Philippians 4:19
(Compiled and written by Martin W. Wiles)
Objectives: To teach children that God always provides what we need. Have children repeat Philippians 4:19, And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Say: Today we continue our study on “Great Stories from the Bible” by looking at what the Bible says about Moses. You may have heard parts of his story, especially the part where it says God appeared to him in a burning bush or how God divided the Red Sea so he and the people he led could go across, but you might not be aware of some other ways God showed Moses he would provide for him.
Say: (Teacher needs to have this verse written on paper and displayed where children can easily see it.) Let’s say our memory verse together. God answered, “I will be with you. (Exodus 3:12 NLT)
Activity Break: (15 minutes)
Game: Musical Chairs
Musical chairs is a great game to use when teaching children the importance of sharing with one another. So start the music and watch as your students learn the importance of helping one another.
Place one chair for each child in a circle, and have kids sit in the chairs. Use a CD player to provide music. Each time you play music, remove one chair from the circle. Play until everyone is sharing a chair.
Say: When the music starts, everyone must get up and walk around the circle. When the music stops, everyone must find a seat. Anyone who can't find a seat must find someone who's willing to share his or her seat.
Afterward ask: How did it feel to be without a seat? To share a seat? How did it feel to have a seat when someone else didn't? Were you willing to share? Why or why not? How did it feel when someone was willing to share with you? What do you think God wants us to do when we see others in need? When we're in need?
Say: We don’t ever have to worry about God leaving us out or not sharing with us. He will always give us what we need to do what he asks.
Reflection: (Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes on this section prior to telling the story of Moses.) Children need to think about trusting God to provide for them even when others might not. Ask the children to share some ways other people provide for them now or have in the past. (Teacher can share a personal testimony of a time when God provided for them.)
Then talk about the following:
When we’re little, God gives us parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members to give us what we need.
God gives us friends to help us.
God gives us teachers at church and school who help us learn.
God gives us preachers to help us understand the Bible.
God gives other adults at church who love us.
Then discuss the following promises God makes to his children (some of these are a repetition from last week):
God promises to provide food, drink, clothes, and a place to stay. Read Matthew 6:31-33.
God promises to provide everything we need but not necessarily the things we want. (Philippians 4:19) Remind children of the difference between wants and needs.
God will provide talents and gifts to accomplish anything he asks us to do. Let children give examples of what they think are some talents and gifts God gives people.
God promises to provide his presence. (Matthew 28:20)
Bible Story Time:
Be prepared to tell the children the story of Moses.
God’s people were slaves in the country of Egypt. (Show the children where Egypt is on a map.) They had been there about 400 years, but God was getting ready to take them back to their homeland.
The king of Egypt was scared because God’s people were multiplying so quickly. He was afraid they would take over his kingdom, so he gave an order for all Hebrew baby boys to be killed. But Moses’ mom and dad didn’t obey the king. His mother made a little basket, placed Moses inside, and put him on the Nile River. She hoped somebody would find him and take care of him.
Sure enough, someone did find him. The king’s daughter. She thought he was such a pretty little baby boy and decided to raise him as her own. Since she was his daughter, the king of Egypt didn’t say anything even though he knew he was a Hebrew.
When Moses got older, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his friends. Moses got angry and did something terrible. He killed the Egyptian. After this, the king said he was going to put him to death, so Moses ran away. He lived in the desert for a number of years.
One day while he was tending his sheep, he saw a strange sight. A burning bush. But a bush that wasn’t burning up. He went closer to see this strange thing. Suddenly he heard a voice speaking to him from the bush. It was God, and God was telling him that he wanted him to lead his people out of slavery.
Moses didn’t want to do what God asked him to. After all, there were millions of people. How would he take care of them? And the king was mean and had sworn to kill Moses. Moses and his people were their slaves. He wasn’t about to let them go without a fight.
Finally, Moses agreed to do what God asked. When he told Pharaoh what God said, the king was angry. He told Moses he was not going to let the people go. God changed his mind, however, by sending plagues on the Egyptians. (These are recorded in Exodus 7-11 if the teacher wants to include them in the lesson at this point.) Finally after the last one—when all the firstborn children and animals died, Pharaoh told Moses to take his people and get out.
God provided for Moses and the people while they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. He parted the Red Sea so they could cross over and get away from Pharaoh and his army who had decided to chase them. He gave them food called manna every day to eat. He made quail fly down into the camp so they could have meat. He caused water to come from rocks so they’d have something to drink. He kept their clothes and shoes from wearing out. Imagine wearing the same clothes and shoes every day for 40 years without them getting holes or being torn. God provided for Moses and the people he led until they reached the Promised Land.
Ask: What does this story teach about God providing for us?
Transition
Let’s sing a song to remind ourselves that when we follow God and tell others about him he will take care of us.
Song:
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine
All around the neighborhood
I'm going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood
I'm going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.
Don't let Satan [blow] it out!
I'm going to let it shine
Don't let Satan [blow] it out!
I'm going to let it shine
Don't let Satan [blow] it out!
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine
Wrap Up:
Give children a blank sheet of paper and let them draw and color something that relates to the story of Moses. Then let them explain their drawing.
Take Away:
• Let each child tell one thing they learned from the story of Moses.
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