Sunday School: 1/20/13

OPENING SONGS:

New Song: This Little Light of Mine

STORY TIME:

Exodus 14:5-31 (Escape from Egypt)

Introduction:
The Hebrew people had been forced to live and work in Egypt for a long time. God wanted to give the Hebrew people their own place to live. God had Moses tell the Egyptian leader, Pharaoh, to let His people go, but Pharaoh would not listen. God sent many plagues on the Egyptian people to convince Pharaoh to let God's people go.
Exodus 14:5-31 (Paraphrased)
After the last plague, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and told them to leave Egypt and to take all of God's people with them. The Egyptians asked God's people to leave Egypt as fast as possible. 
During the day, God went ahead of the people in a pillar of cloud. At night, He went ahead of them as a pillar of fire to give them light. This way, the people could travel during the day or at night. After the people had been walking for a long time God told Moses to have the people set up camp by the Red Sea. 

Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about letting God's people go and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and now they no longer work for us!" So, Pharaoh gathered his army and told them to go bring God's people back to Egypt. 

The Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptian army marching after them. They were very scared and began to cry out to God. Moses told the people not to be afraid and to stand firm, that God would fight for them. God told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites could walk through the sea on dry ground. 

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. All that night God drove the sea back with a strong wind. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Pharaoh's entire army continued to chase God's people. God looked down at the Egyptian army and threw them into confusion. God made the wheels of their chariots come off so that it was hard for them to drive. The Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites, God is fighting for them!" 

God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea again so that the walls of water would come back together and swallow up the Egyptian army. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the water went back to its place. The water rushed back and covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 

When the Israelites saw the great power God displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared God and put their trust in Him.

Discussion Question:

1. Pharaoh let God's people go, why did he change his mind. (God's people were doing all of the work for Pharaoh. If they left, no one would do all the work.)

2. When the Israelites saw Pharaoh's army chasing them what did they do? (They were very frightened and cried out to God) 

3. What did Moses tell the people? (Not to be afraid, God would fight for them.)

4. What did God do when Moses stretched out his hand over the sea? God parted the water so that the Israelites could walk across the sea on dry ground. 

5. Did Pharaoh's army continue to chase God's people? (Yes) 

6. What happened to Pharaoh's army? (The walls of water flowed back together and drowned the army.)

ACTIVITY:  Crossing the Red Sea
Two adults hold the four corners of a bed sheet as it rests on the floor in front of the children. The children line up single file at one side of the sheet. The first child in line will play the part of Moses and stretch out his hand. Once the first child in line has stretched out his hand, the adults will quickly raise the sheet high above their heads. As the sheet parachutes above them, the children will run under the sheet to the other side. If children are under the sheet when it comes down, they are out of the game. Have children take turns being the first one in line and playing the part of Moses.

SNACK: Ingredients:  Pretzel Rods (Moses' Staff)

CRAFT: Moses Parting Red Sea
Instructions and Clip Art

The Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, you heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

LORD'S PRAYER:

The children learn the Lord's prayer

SUMMARY:

1. Pharaoh let God's people go, why did he change his mind. (God's people were doing all of the work for Pharaoh. If they left, no one would do all the work.)
2. When the Israelites saw Pharaoh's army chasing them what did they do? (They were very frightened and cried out to God) 
3. What did Moses tell the people? (Not to be afraid, God would fight for them.)
4. What did God do when Moses stretched out his hand over the sea? God parted the water so that the Israelites could walk across the sea on dry ground. 
5. Did Pharaoh's army continue to chase God's people? (Yes) 
6. What happened to Pharaoh's army? (The walls of water flowed back together and drowned the army.)

  

CLOSING SONGS:

TAKE HOME SHEET:

Click  HERE to view or download the Take Home Sheet