Preschool May 19, 2013 8:45am
Teacher BIBLE STUDY The crossing of the Red Sea is an event in history that exudes God s grace. The event has been remembered for generations as God s mighty redemptive act. God had clearly shown His power in Egypt through the 10 plagues; at the Red Sea, God acted in an even mightier way. Instead of leading the Israelites into the wilderness, God instructed Moses to turn back so that the Egyptians would think they were lost. God purposefully hardened Pharaoh s heart so that he would pursue the Israelites. Why? Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh (Ex. 14:4). Imagine the fear the Israelites felt as they saw the Egyptians pursuing them. They expressed it in their complaints to Moses. (See Ex. 14:11.) Moses spoke up to calm them: The Lord will fight for you (Ex. 14:14). The Lord did fight for them. All night long, the Lord kept a pillar of a cloud between Egypt s chariots and the Israelites. Then He instructed Moses to stretch out his hand; God drove back the sea with a powerful east wind. By faith, the Israelites passed through on dry ground! (See Heb. 11:29.) When Pharaoh and the Egyptians followed after them, the waters came back and covered the entire army of Pharaoh. None of them survived. As you teach kids this week, help them understand that God helps people who love Him. He also punishes sin. God created a way to save His chosen people by parting the Red Sea. In the same way, God created the way for people to escape the penalty of sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. God didn t make the way of salvation for us because we deserve it, but because of who He is: a gracious and loving God who created us to be in relationship with Himself. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Preschool BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17 17:7 Big Picture Question: Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Key Passage: Exodus 6:7 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity. Small Group Opening Large Group Bible Study Small Group Activities Snack and Transition Each child will take home their Journal Page, a Family Journal Page and a Big Picture Card for families. 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
The BIBLE STORY The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Exodus 13:17 17:7 After the tenth plague, the Israelites quickly left Egypt. They traveled with their families and their animals. God was with them. During the day, God was in a cloud. He led them toward the Red Sea. At night, God was in a fire. One day, God told Moses to make a camp near the sea. God told Moses that the king of Egypt was coming! The Israelites were very scared, but God had a plan. The king of Egypt chased the Israelites and caught up with them near the sea where they were camping. We are going to die! The Israelites were afraid. We should have stayed in Egypt! Do not be afraid, said Moses. God brought you here, and He will fight for you. God told Moses what to do. He said, Stretch out your hand over the sea. Moses did, and the sea was divided in two. It was a miracle! The Israelites walked through on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides. But the Egyptians went after them! God made the wheels of their chariots swerve and wobble so they could not catch up to the Israelites. As soon as the Israelites were safely on the other side of the sea, Moses stretched out his hand again and the waters returned with a crash! The water covered the Egyptians, killing all the king s army. None of them survived. When the Israelites saw what had happened, they thanked God! They knew that God was real and that He had sent Moses to lead them. Moses and the Israelites sang a song to the Lord. The Lord is my strength and my song, they said. He has saved us! Moses led the people away from the Red Sea, and they came to the wilderness. They could not find good water to drink, and they complained to Moses. God would provide for them. The Israelites came to a place called Elim (EE lim) where there was plenty of food and water. They camped there. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
The Israelites left Elim and journeyed into the wilderness. They were hungry. They complained to Moses. We are starving! they said. You brought us out here to die! But Moses had not brought them out there to die. God knew what He was doing. God said, I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: You will eat meat for dinner, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God. So at evening, quail came into the camp. In the morning, fine flakes like frost were on the ground. What is it? the Israelites asked. Moses said, It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. The Israelites called it manna, which means what is it? The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, until they came to the border of the land of Canaan (KAY nuhn). God was with them. Christ Connection: God created a way for the Israelites to escape the Egyptians. In the same way, God created the way for people to escape the penalty of sin His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to get to God. 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group OPENING Session Title: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17 17:7 Big Picture Question: Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Key Passage: Exodus 6:7 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity. Prepare: Play the song You Lift Me Up in the background. Set an offering basket near the door. Set out a few favorite toys such as puzzles and blocks. Connect the Fish activity page, 1 per kid LOW PREP piece of play food to hide Welcome and Session Starter Activity Page: Connect the Fish Draw lines to connect matching fish. Say The Red Sea is full of fish and sea creatures. Could you imagine walking on the bottom of the sea? That sounds impossible! Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God! Find the bread At the end of the yearly Passover meal, children play a hide-and-seek game, looking for a piece of matzo, which is part of the dessert. Play a hide-and-seek game (with no rewards) by hiding something such as play food for kids to find. When it is found, hide it again. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 5 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Transition cue: Clap simple rhythm for children to copy to gain attention. Transition to Bible study Gather the kids and move to the Bible study area. Say In today s story, God once again showed the Israelites how powerful He is. Moses and the Israelites sang a song and danced to show how great God is. Let s sing the song You Lift Me Up as we go to large group time. 6 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Large Group BIBLE STUDY Session Title: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17 17:7 Big Picture Question: Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Key Passage: Exodus 6:7 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity. Large Group Bible Study Time Note: On Fridays, they gathered enough for two days so they would be able to rest on the Sabbath. Introduce the Bible story Say Today you will hear about more amazing things God did to save His people, the Israelites. He helped them escape from Pharaoh s army, and He gave them food in the wilderness. The food was like nothing they had ever seen before. They said, What is it? And that became its name: manna. The word manna means what is it? God told the people to gather as much manna each day as they needed, up to two quarts per person. Listen to the Bible story for the mighty acts God did for His people. Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Bible The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea picture Tell the Bible story Point to the Book of Exodus and ask what book the stories about Moses are in. Tell the Bible story, The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea, with your Bible open in your lap. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Visual Map Key Passage Poster Big Picture Question Poster I Am Yahweh Your God! song Tip: Do activities one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose Ask questions about the Bible story How did the Israelites know where to go in the wilderness? (cloud by day; pillar of fire by night) What scary thing happened when they camped by the Red Sea? (Pharaoh s army with horses and chariots were chasing them and nearly caught up with them.) Why did Moses tell them not to be afraid? ( God brought you here, and He will fight for you. ) What impossible thing did God do to save them? (He parted the Red Sea so they could walk across it with dry feet.) What happened to the Egyptian army? (The walls of water closed over them.) What did the Israelites complain about in the wilderness? (They were thirsty and hungry.) What delicious food did God give them to eat? (manna) Look at the timeline. Review the life of Moses to this point. Tell kids that Moses was 80 years old when he led his people out of Egypt, and he led them in the wilderness for 40 more years. Moses was a good leader, but he knew that the real leader was God. Show the key passage poster. Point to Exodus 6:7 in the Bible. Sing the song I Am Yahweh Your God! Transition to small groups One activity, Flee from Egypt, would work as a whole group activity. Limit how many kids can work on other activities at the same time. Introduce the activities and send kids to them a few at a time. 8 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group ACTIVITIES Session Title: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17 17:7 Big Picture Question: Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Key Passage: Exodus 6:7 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity. Small Group Activities Time LOW PREP cutout cloud sign pillar of fire sign Flee from Egypt Take boys and girls on a walk around the room or through the halls of the church with the leader holding a large cutout cloud. Stop to rest and show a sign representing a pillar of fire (red, orange, or yellow paper with flames sketched on it, for example). Talk about the word pillar (a column). Show one of the signs and ask whether it would show in the day or night. (cloud for day; fire for night) Ask who is leading the way. (God) Explain to the boys and girls that hundreds of thousands of people were on the journey; ask why they think God chose to lead in a cloud or pillar of fire. (Everyone could look up and see it. Accept other answers.) Say God led thousands of people away from Egypt. Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 9 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
towel shallow pan or box toy vehicles with wheels clean play sand spray bottle of water play dough play dough tools cookie cutters Drive through wet sand Spread a towel; place on it a shallow pan or plastic box filled with an inch or so of clean play sand. Add enough water to moisten all of the sand. Try finger walking through the sand; talk about how easy or difficult that is to do. Then try driving toy vehicles with wheels through the sand. Talk about how the chariots and horses would have had a hard time moving through the sea bed, but it was impossible anyway because God made the wheels wobbly, and then the walls of water crashed down on them. Say How many impossible things can you think of that God did to save His people from Egypt? saved Baby Moses; spoke from the burning bush; sent 10 plagues; led His people in a cloud and in a pillar of fire; let His people cross the Red Sea on dry ground; stopped the chariots that were following the Israelites; gave them food in the desert Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Make play dough bread Set out play dough with play dough tools and cookie cutters. Suggest that kids make things people needed as they traveled in the wilderness such as play dough bread, sandals, and bowls. Talk about other things they might have needed in the wilderness. 10 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
round stick-on labels construction paper marker color copies of 4 Teaching Pictures Make a manna picture Distribute small round stick-on labels and a sheet of construction paper to each preschooler. Sketch a large bucket on each sheet. Tell preschoolers they can fill the bucket with manna (stick-on labels). Read Exodus 16:16-18 to them as they work or tell them what the Bible said about the manna. Say God provided food in the desert for all of His people. Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. Place pictures in sequence Print the four teaching pictures of Moses. Ask kids to arrange them in order and recall the Bible stories that go with them. Show how to check against the timeline map for the correct order. If you have other puzzles showing Moses, set those out, too. Talk about the Bible stories they show. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 5 Session 4 11 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Snack Time and Transition Signal for cleanup time using whatever method you prefer. Take a bathroom break and wash hands before the snack. Remind kids not to begin eating until everyone has been served. Say God provided manna every morning for the Israelites as they traveled through the wilderness. The Bible says the flakes of manna would cover the ground like frost. The Bible also says that God provided just enough for the Israelites to eat each day. He showed the Israelites that He could take care of them. Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible with God! Thank God for the snack. Thank God for showing us in the Bible that He can do what is impossible for us to do. Journal Page crayons books and puzzles Transition When kids have finished their snacks and thrown away their trash, they can choose a quiet activity such as working a puzzle, reading a book, or drawing on a journal page. Suggest that they draw something that reminds them of part of the story, such as sandals or manna. They could trace around one of their hands, remembering that Moses held out his hand, as God told him to do, and the Red Sea parted. Follow church security procedures if parents are picking up their children. 12 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
TM Journal Page May 19, 2013 Key Passage: Exodus 6:7 Session 1: Moses Was Born and Called Exodus 1:8 2:10,23-25; 3:1 4:20 Session 2: Moses Confronted Pharaoh Exodus 5:1 6:13; 6:28 11:1 Session 3: The Passover Exodus 11:1 13:16 Session 4: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Exodus 13:17 17:7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print
TM You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:7 UNIT 5 Key Passage Poster (ESV) 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print
TM Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God. UNIT 5 Session 4 Big Picture Question 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print
TM Connect the Fish Instructions: Draw a line to connect matching fish. UNIT 5 Session 4 Preschool Activity Pages 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.
TM The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea Exodus 13:17 17:7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.
TM UNIT 5 Session 4 The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print
TM Pictures Instructions: Cut apart the pictures and use them for sequencing. UNIT 5 Session 4 Teaching Pictures 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print
TM UNIT 5 Session 4 Teaching Pictures 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print