GOD SENDS MANNA AND QUAIL Exodus 16

Transcription

1 GOD SENDS MANNA AND QUAIL Exodus 16 The Israelites left Elim and headed toward Mount Sinai. There in the wilderness the people complained about Moses and Aaron. "We had plenty to eat in Egypt," they said. "Here we are starving! You have brought us out here to die!" The Lord heard these complaints. "I will rain food from heaven," He told Moses. "But you must warn the people to obey me. Each day the people can gather the food they need for that day." Moses and Aaron said to the people, "You are not complaining about us. You are complaining about the Lord. But He will give you food." That evening swarms of quail flew down. In the morning, when the dew left, there were thin, white flakes on the ground that tasted like honey bread. "Gather about two quarts for each person," Moses said. There was just enough for everyone before it melted in the sun. This food was called manna. "Don't leave any overnight," Moses warned. But some people did. Their food rotted and smelled. Moses told the people to gather twice as much on the sixth day. "The seventh day is the Sabbath, a holy day of rest," Moses said. The extra food gathered on the sixth day did not rot. The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, until they came to the Promised Land. There God gave them other food to eat. DISCUSSION: When the people had no food, did they pray or complain? What food did God send? How did He send it? Did God give the people just enough food, not enough, or too much? All of our food comes from God. We would have no food if He did not make it grow. Since all your food comes from God - shouldn't you thank Him for it? Don't forget to do that before each meal!

2 Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

3 water from a rock exodus 17:1-7 It was time for the Israelites to move on. God gave them the marching orders. The next stop was a place called Rephidim. But when the people got there, they found it had no water. So they began to whine again. "Give us water!" they complained. "Are you testing God again?" Moses demanded. But the people kept on whining and complaining. "Why did you take us away from Egypt?" they grumbled. "Why did you bring us here with our children and cattle? We are all going to die!" While the people whined, Moses prayed. That was the way it often happened. "What shall I do?" Moses begged. "These people are ready to kill me." "Take the elders of Israel with you to Mount Sinai," the Lord said. "I will show you a rock there. Strike it with your rod. Water will come gushing out. There will be plenty of water for everyone." Moses obeyed the Lord. Things happened the way the Lord said. When Moses struck the rock, water poured out from it. Moses named the place Massah, which means "the place of testing." He also called it Meribah, which means "the place of arguing." That is because the Israelite people argued with Moses there. And they tested the Lord by asking if He would take care of them or not. DISCUSSION: When the people needed water, what did they do? Did they pray or complain? What did Moses do? Did he pray or complain? How did God give the people water this time? What would you have liked to tell the people about praying or complaining? God gives us good gifts even when we don't deserve them. Make a list of some good gifts that God has given you this week. Don't forget to thank Him for those gifts!

4 Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

5 AARON AND HUR HELP MOSES EXODUS 17:8-16 After the Israelites left Egypt and went into the wilderness, their only problems at first were finding food and water. But now they had a bigger problem. The warriors of Amalek had come to fight them. So Moses appointed Joshua to be the army leader. Joshua had to call together the Israelite men of fighting age. He had to show them how to become warriors. "I will stand at the top of the hill tomorrow," Moses said. "I will hold God's rod in my hand." So while Joshua led the warriors into battle, Moses held the rod of God out toward the fighting men. As long as he held out the rod, the Israelites won. But when his arms grew tired and he put the rod down, the warriors of Amalek won. Moses was too tired to keep holding out his arms. Aaron and Hur had come up the hill with him. When they saw that Moses was tired, they rolled a rock over to him so he could sit on it. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his arms until sunset. That's how Joshua and his warriors won the battle over the warriors of Amalek. "Remember this day and write it down," the Lord told Moses. "I will fight against Amalek until there is no one left." So Moses put up an altar to worship God there. He named it "The Lord Is My Flag." "Raise the flag of the Lord," Moses said. "He will keep fighting against Amalek forever." DISCUSSION: Which warriors came to fight the Israelites? Who led the Israelite warriors? What did Moses hold in his hand? How did Joshua help win the battle? How did Moses help win the battle? How did Aaron and Hur help win the battle? There are some things that we cannot do alone. We need others to help us. But even when other people help us, we still need God to help us! If you are trying to do something alone, but can't seem to do it, who can help you? Ask God to help you today! Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

6 god talks with moses on a Mountain -- exodus 19 The Israelites arrived in the region of Mount Sinai exactly two months after leaving Egypt. They set up camp at the bottom of the mountain. Then Moses climbed up the mountain to talk with God. "Remind the people of what I have done for them," God said. "Tell them they will be my special people if they obey me. They will be a holy nation." When Moses came down from the mountain, he called the leaders together. He told them what God had said to him. "We will do everything God asks," the leaders said. So Moses told the Lord what the leaders had said. "I will come to you as a thick cloud," God told Moses. "The people will hear me. They will trust you then. Have them wash and be clean. I will come the day after tomorrow. Set boundaries so that the people will not come too close to me. If they do, they will die." So Moses passed these instructions on to the people. On the appointed day, there was a terrible storm with thunder and lightening. A great cloud came down upon the mountain. Then there was a mighty blast like the sound of a trumpet made from a ram's horn. Moses led the people to the bottom of the mountain. There they could hear God but could not see Him. The mountain was covered with smoke that rose up into the sky. The mountain shook as if an earthquake had come. Moses spoke. God replied in a voice like thunder. God called Moses to the top of the mountain for more instructions. "Warn the people not to cross that boundary," God said. "If they do, they will die." So Moses went down and told the people what God had said. DISCUSSION: Where was Moses when God talked with him? What would God do for the people if they obeyed Him? God wants to help us. But we must do what He says. Our parents want to help us. But we must do what they say. Think of three ways God can help you. Will you let Him? Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

7 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EXODUS 20:1-21 God reminded the Israelite people that He was God. He was the one who had freed them from slavery in Egypt. Then He gave these special laws or commandments to the people through Moses: You must not worship any other god. You must not make any idols. Never bow down to worship an idol. I will not let you share your love for me with an idol. You must not use my name in a bad way, such as cursing. Don't swear! You will be punished if you do. Keep the Sabbath as a holy day. Work six days each week. Rest on the seventh. Honor your father and your mother. Don't murder. Don't pretend someone else's husband or wife is your own. Don't steal. Don't lie. You must not be jealous of your neighbor. You must not want what your neighbor has for your own. The people heard thunder and saw lightning. They heard a trumpet blast. They were so afraid. "Tell us what God says and we will obey Him," they said to Moses. "Don't be afraid," Moses told them. "God has come to show you His awesome power. Remember this, and you won't want to sin against Him." While the people stood quietly, Moses climbed up Mount Sinai to the place where God was waiting for him.

8 DISCUSSION: Who gave ten special rules? How many of these can you remember? God actually wrote these on stone with His own finger. He must think they are very important, don't you think? God gave His Ten Commandments to help us, not hurt us. Is that because He loves us so much? Do you want to obey God? Ask Him today to help you obey Him and do what He says in the Ten Commandments. Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

9 the b-i-b-l-e... god's book! What would make God angry? Sometimes the things you do make God angry. But does He still love you then? His anger lasts for a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Psalm 30:5 DISCUSSION: God gets angry at the bad things we do, but He loves us too much to stay angry. He loves us so much that His love lasts throughout our lifetime! He loves us because of who we are. Can you tell God how much you love Him today? You are sorry when you do something wrong. You want to hide it from God. You want to keep Him from seeing it. Can you? Is it better not to try and hide our sins from God? Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5 DISCUSSION: God forgives our sins when we stop hiding them and ask Him to forgive us. Are you trying to hide something from God? Can you really hide anything from Him? Why not? Would you like God to forgive you? That's easy! Bring it out and tell Him about it. Ask Him to forgive you. And He will!

10 Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert

11 THE GOLDEN CALF EXODUS 24:13; 31:18; 32 Moses and his helper Joshua had gone up on Mount Sinai to meet with God. But Moses did not come back when the people expected. Many days went by. It took a long time because God was giving Moses many laws for living in the new land. God also explained how to make a tent where the people could worship Him. Then He gave Moses two tablets of stone. God had written all the Ten Commandments with His own finger on these stones. While all this was happening, the Israelites became impatient. "Moses has disappeared," some of them said to Aaron. "Make a god to lead us." Aaron thought he had to do something. "Give me your gold earrings," he said. Aaron melted the earrings and made a golden calf. "This is the god that brought us from Egypt" the people shouted. "We will have a feast tomorrow," Aaron promised. The next day there was a wild, wicked party. "Go back down the mountain," the Lord told Moses. "The people have made a golden calf to worship. I will destroy all these wicked people." But Moses begged the Lord not to do it. So the Lord listened to Moses. Joshua and Moses started down the mountain. "It sounds like the people are preparing for war down there," Joshua said. "No, they are singing," Moses answered. Soon he saw the wild party and the golden calf. He was so angry he threw down the stones with the Ten Commandments on them and broke them. Then he melted the golden calf. He ground it into powder, mixed it with water and made the people drink it. Moses shouted, "If you are on the Lord's side, come here with me." All the Levites gathered around Moses. Then Moses sent them out to execute the wicked people. Moses went back up Mount Sinai and begged God, "Please forgive these people." The Lord told Moses to keep leading the people to the new land. "My angel will go ahead of you," the Lord promised. "But I will punish the people who turned against me." So God sent a terrible plague to the people who had worshiped the golden calf. DISCUSSION: What did Aaron melt to make the golden calf? What did the people say the calf had done for them? Why do you think God chose Moses instead of Aaron to lead His people? Don't let others tempt you to do something that you know is wrong. If you do, don't blame others when God punishes you, blame yourself for making a wrong choice. Then ask God to forgive you and help you do better. Some content taken from the One Year Bible for Children, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. and V. Gilbert