Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.
Does this passage in Exodus make you wonder how you would behave under similar circumstances. Have you or your family suffered loss after loss? Did you complain about God’s provision like the Israelites? or did you choose to be still and watch the hand of God move in your favor? I think you would be surprised at how many families have suffered great losses that live in your neighborhood, go to the same schools or attend church with you.
Years ago my family suffered a great loss and it continued. It’s still crashing over us like hurricane force waves. After we had done everything we could do the only thing left was to stand firm. Even though we could not see a conclusion to our situation we learned to shift our focus to God and His character. Psalms 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. There is peace in knowing that “God is Good All the Time.” “The goodness of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, Great is your faithfulness oh Lord!” Circumstance don’t always change the way you would want them to. But the more you know God’s Word the more you know Him.
When you know God you know that He is Good! God does not change he is the same yesterday, today and forever! But the world does change and the people in it. Don’t be conformed to this world. Stand firm on God’s character! Matthew 24:13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved!
Worship
Judges 5:3
Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.
Supplies:
- TV or a music account and a speaker
- worship scarves
- instruments
Everyone needs to be up, standing on their feet, including teachers and helpers. Children naturally look to the adults in the room and mimic their behavior. Place the bucket of instruments and scarves in the middle of the room and have the children and adults pick an instrument. Start the music and encourage the children to worship the Lord with dance, instruments and song.
NOTE: Sometimes the pink scarves can cause trouble with the girls in your class. Lots of tears 😦 trying to keep a worship filled environment is difficult at this point. Either hide the offensive pink scarf or buy enough pick scarfs for each little girl.
Here are songs that your children will enjoy!
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Crafts
Moses Crossing the Red Sea
Supplies:
- Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- One Moses Crossing the Red Sea worksheet, here
Directions:
- Print one Moses Crossing the Red Sea worksheet for each child, here
- Cut out the people strip and the Red Sea picture from the worksheet.
- Have the children color the Red Sea picture and the people strip.
- Cut 2 slits on the lines in the Red Sea picture and weave the people strip through the slits.
God Led the Israelites
Supplies:
- Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Cotton Balls
- Red and Orange Tissue Paper
- Yellow Construction Paper
- Popsicle sticks
Directions:
- Draw a flame on yellow construction paper. You should be able to fit at least 4 flames on each piece of construction paper.
- Cut out a flame for each student.
- Attach the flame to the popsicle stick with glue.
- Rip the orange and red tissue paper into 1″ pieces.
- Glue the tissue paper to the flame side.
- On the other side glue on the cotton balls.
Little Steps 