Nothing is too difficult for God.

Praise Jesus! God s People Cross the Red Sea Lesson 5 Bible Point Nothing is too difficult for God. Bible Verse Everything is possible with God (Mark 10:27). Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n set out on a journey, n camp along the way, n cross the Red Sea, and n praise God for his great power. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n God s people cross the Red Sea. Exodus 13:17 14:31 The pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night must have been awesome and terrifying. But eventually they became symbols of God s presence that must have been extremely reassuring to the newly freed slaves traveling in unknown territory! Now caught in a seemingly hopeless position, God s people were terrified. But God s presence, in the form of a flaming pillar, stood between the Egyptian army and the Israelites all night. Then God instructed Moses to raise his staff over the Red Sea, and God divided the waters to provide a path of dry land an escape from Pharoah s army. How deep the sea was where the Israelites crossed is uncertain, but a dry path across a seabed is miraculous at any depth and nothing else could have made possible the escape of God s people except God s power. God s people were clear about the source of their deliverance, and awestruck by how God delivered them. Their response: hearfelt worship. Prayer Read Mark 9:27. Have you ever experienced God doing the impossible in your life? Reflect on that time. Pray: God, everything is possible with you. Help me encourage my students to understand that nothing is impossible for you as they 51

Lesson 5 Before the Lesson n Collect items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed in the chart. n Make photocopies of the Growing Together handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for your students and for God s direction in teaching the lesson. This Lesson at a Glance What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies Welcome Welcome! Receive a warm welcome from the teacher, and make name tags. Pyramid Name Tags (p. 21), scissors, markers or crayons, tape or safety pins Attention Grabber Bible Exploration & Application Closing Module Review Discuss how this module s Bible Points apply to their lives. Pop Together Try to pop bubbles on cue with a partner, and talk about things that are difficult. The Escape Build bricks for the Egyptian pharaoh, be led out of Egypt by a pillar of cloud and fire, and learn from Exodus 6:6-7; 13:17 14:31; and Mark 10:27 that God can do miraculous things to take care of his people. Camping Out Set up camp, talk about what might have scared the Israelites, and learn from Exodus 19:4 that God carried the Israelites as if on eagles wings. Red Sea Run Play a game in which the Egyptians chase the Israelites to the Red Sea, and learn from Proverbs 30:4 that God has enough power to control everything in nature. Everything Is Possible With God Sing a song of praise to God, and talk about why God is great. CD player, scissors Bible; newspaper strips; red, orange, and yellow markers; tape; pitcher of water; small cups Bible, CD player, pitcher of water, small cups Bible CD player 52

Welcome SUPPLIES: Pyramid Name Tags (p. 21), scissors, markers or crayons, safety pins or tape Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. Thank each child for coming to class today. As children arrive, ask them about last week s Growing Together discussion. Use questions such as How did your family trust God to help them last week? and In what ways did your Passover meal remind you to trust God last week? Say: Today we re going to learn that nothing is too difficult for God. Hand out the name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help kids attach the name tags to their clothing. If some of the name tags were damaged, or if children weren t in class that week, have them make new name tags using the photocopiable handout. Tell children you ll raise your hand to get their attention. They should respond by raising their hands and focusing their attention on you. Rehearse this signal, and encourage children to respond quickly so you ll have time for all the fun activities in this lesson. n Module Review Use the casual interaction time at the beginning of class to ask kids the following module-review questions: When did God give you courage recently? (When I had my tonsils out; when I had to talk in front of my class.) How did God help you with a difficult task? (I prayed and asked God to help me pass my math test, and I did; I asked God to help me be brave and tell my friends about Jesus, and they listened to me.) In what situations did you trust God during the last few weeks? (In moving to a new neighborhood; when my mom told me Daddy was leaving us.) How is your life different as a result of what we ve learned in class this month? (I pray to God more; I learned two new Bible verses by heart.) God s People Cross the Red Sea It s important to say the Bible Point just as it s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help children remember it and apply it to their lives. Attention Grabber n Pop Together SUPPLIES: CD player, scissors track 7 Cut the bubble wrap into three pieces. Keep one piece out for this activity. One piece will be used in The Escape to set up for the Camping Out activity later in this lesson. The third piece will be used in a subsequent lesson. Cue the CD to track 7, Pop! Goes the Weasel. Have kids form pairs. Have children sit in two lines with partners facing each other. Give the first pair the bubble wrap. Say: Listen to the song Pop! Goes the Weasel. When the music gets to the pop sound, try to pop a bubble at the same time as your partner. Then 53

Lesson 5 pass the bubble wrap so the next pair can have a turn. Keep passing the bubble wrap down the line until everyone has had a turn. Start the music. The song has four opportunities for children to pop bubbles. If you have more than four pairs, play the song again so everyone gets a turn. When everyone has had a turn, turn off the CD player, put the bubble wrap away, and ask: Was it easy to pop a bubble at the same time as your partner? Why or why not? (It was easy because we knew when the pop was coming in the song; it was hard because I couldn t get my bubble to pop when I wanted it to.) What are other things that are difficult for you to do? (Spelling big words; playing soccer; math.) Say: Some things may be hard for us to do, such as solving difficult math problems. Some things may be impossible for us to do, such as always popping bubbles at the same time as our partners. Today we re going to talk about someone who has lots more power than we do God! Nothing is too difficult for God. Bible Exploration & Application n The Escape SUPPLIES: Bible; newspaper strips; red, orange, and yellow markers; tape; pitcher of water; small cups Before class, set up the following three areas in separate corners of your room. The first area will be Egypt. You ll need newspaper strips; the rain poncho; tape; and red, orange, and yellow markers. The second area will be a campsite. Put several classroom tables at the campsite to serve as tents for the Israelites to sleep in. Put one piece of bubble wrap on top of a table. You ll also need a pitcher of water and small cups. The third area will be the Red Sea. Put the shiny ribbons, the floating animals, and the flying discs in the Red Sea area. During class, take children to Egypt, and say: We ve been learning about the time God s people spent in Egypt. They had to work very hard in Egypt. Right now, we re going to work very hard. Pharaoh has decided that we must make bricks for a brick building. We d better get busy so Pharaoh doesn t get mad. Have children color the newspaper strips red, orange, and yellow. While they re working, talk about the work the Israelites did. Say: Let s pretend our newspaper strips are bricks. We ll tape them to the front of the rain poncho to look like we re building a brick building. The Israelites worked hard to do a good job, but Pharaoh wasn t satisfied. He wanted them to work harder and faster. He punished the Israelites to make them work harder. Spread out the rain poncho on the floor, and have children hurry to finish taping the strips to one side of the rain poncho to look like bricks. Make sure one side of the poncho is left without strips. 54

God s People Cross the Red Sea Say: Last week we learned that Pharaoh finally decided to let God s people go. Today we re going to go on a journey to find out what happened when God s people left Egypt. The story of this journey is in the Bible in Exodus 13:17 14:31. Show children the passage in the Bible. Let s pack up our things and get started on the journey. We ll never have to make bricks for Pharaoh again. Help children pretend to pack. Ask: How long do you think our journey could take? (A long, long time; maybe even overnight.) What would you take on your journey? (Clothes; food; all my toys.) Say: The Israelites were afraid they d have to fight wars against the people who lived in the countryside outside of Egypt, so they put on clothes for fighting. Ask: What do you think they wore? (Shields; armor; I think they carried spears.) What would you want to have with you? (My water gun; a baseball bat.) Say: God knew that if the Israelites had to fight, they might get scared and decide to go back to Egypt. God wanted them to trust him, so God led the Israelites the long way through the desert so they wouldn t meet any people they had to fight. God led the people in an amazing way. During the day, God went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. At night he led them in a pillar of fire. Now let s pretend that the rain poncho is the pillar of cloud and fire. The side with the paper strips will be the fire side. The other side of the poncho will be the cloud side. Choose a volunteer to put on the rain poncho and lead the class out of Egypt in a game of Follow the Leader around the room. Have the children do whatever actions the leader does. After two or three trips around the room, have children sit down in the middle of the floor. Raise your hand to get their attention. Wait for children to raise their hands and stop talking. Ask: What would you think if a pillar of cloud and fire appeared to lead you around today? (I d be scared; I d be surprised; I d want all my friends to see it.) Would you follow it? Why or why not? (I would follow it because I would wonder where it was going; I wouldn t follow it because it looked too funny.) Say: God knew the Israelites were worried, so God provided a miracle to lead the Israelites to safety. Listen to what the Bible says. Read Exodus 6:6-7 aloud. God freed the people with his great power. Nothing is too difficult for God. God can make miracles happen, such as when he appeared in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. God reminded the people that he would lead them and be with them all the time. That seems impossible, doesn t it? But listen to what our Bible verse for today says. It comes from Mark 10:27, and it s Jesus speaking: Everything is possible with God. So the Israelites could trust God and follow him, couldn t they? Let s experience more of what their journey might have felt like. 55

Lesson 5 Bible Insight Through the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh s army, the Israelites witnessed the great power of God, and they finally feared and believed him. In us, as well as ancient Israel, this fear of the Lord is the beginning of obedience. If your room can t be darkened effectively, consider bringing in old sheets or blankets for children to lie on to lend a nighttime atmosphere. The bubble wrap will sound like approaching horses if you pop several bubbles at once. Wring the bubble wrap as if it were a wet cloth. n Camping Out SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player, pitcher of water, small cups track 8 Cue the CD to track 8, Night Sounds. Lead children to the campsite. Say: We ve been traveling in the desert for a while now. Ask: What is a desert like? (Dry; hot; people ride on camels in the desert; there s lots of cactus.) What do you think it would be like to walk across a desert all day? (Hot; tiring; I d get really thirsty.) Say: When God s people left Egypt, they camped on the edge of the desert. Show me what you d look like after walking and camping in the desert. Pause to allow children to display tired, hot expressions, and then offer them water. Say: You all look very hot and tired. Let s all drink some cool, refreshing water while we re stopped here to camp. Pour water into cups for children, and then say: So far, so good we haven t seen any Egyptians following us yet. This looks like a good place to camp for the night. We re on the edge of the desert and by the shores of a sea. We can set up camp near the shore. Ask: What should we do to set up camp? (Put up tents; build a fire; cook some dinner.) Let children help you set up camp. Have several children pretend to put up tents, several children pretend to build a fire, and several children pretend to cook food to eat. Say: Everyone gather around. Let s tell stories around the campfire. Ask: What do you think the Israelites might have been scared about? (That the Egyptians would follow them; that they d get in a war; that they wouldn t have food to eat; that they d get lost; that wild animals would attack them.) What might have scared you? (Going hungry; getting lost; falling down in the dark.) Say: Turn to a friend, and tell him or her about a time you were scared. Give children a minute to exchange stories. Then raise your hand to get their attention. Wait for them to stop talking and focus their attention on you. Then say: God takes care of us, even when we re afraid. Listen to what the Bible says. Read Exodus 19:4 aloud. It s getting dark now. I guess that means it s time to go to bed. We can go to sleep even if we re scared because God promises to carry us as if on eagles wings. Ask: What would it be like to be carried on eagles wings? (You d fly above the enemies; you d be away from all the scary things; it would be fun to fly.) Have children get under the tent tables and lie down, and then turn off the lights. Play Night Sounds on the CD. This segment has crickets chirping, frogs croaking, waves lapping on the shore, and other sounds like those the Israelites might have heard as they camped by the sea. When the segment ends, begin popping the bubbles on the bubble wrap. After you ve popped a few bubbles, set the bubble wrap aside, and say: Oh no! Oh no! It s Pharaoh of Egypt! He s changed his mind again, and he s chasing us with his horses and chariots! He wants to make us go back to Egypt and be slaves again! It s a good thing that nothing is too difficult for God because 56

God s People Cross the Red Sea those Egyptians are coming fast. We d better hurry! Follow me! Walk quickly around the room a couple of times. Then stop and stand still with the children. Say: I don t know what we re going to do. The Egyptians are coming behind us, and we can t go forward into the sea. But I do know that God has the power to take care of us. n Red Sea Run SUPPLIES: Bible Form two groups: the Israelites and the Egyptians. The child wearing the rain poncho should stay with the Israelites. Say: When the people of Israel saw the Egyptians coming behind them, they were really scared. Israelites, show me what you look like when you re scared. Let the Israelites demonstrate fearful expressions, and then continue: The people started to complain to Moses. They said, Why did you bring us out of Egypt so we could die in the desert? We should have stayed as slaves at least then we d be alive. But Moses said to the people, Nothing is too difficult for God. The Lord will save us, you ll see. Just then, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the people and got behind them. Pause for the child wearing the rain poncho to move between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The cloud went between God s people and the Egyptians. Remind the Egyptians that they can t get past the pillar of cloud. The Egyptians wanted to attack God s people, but the pillar of cloud kept them away. The Israelites had no place to escape, except into the sea. But they didn t have any boats, so they thought they d drown if they went into the sea. Ask: What would you do if you had to cross the sea without a boat? (I d find some stuff to build a boat; I d try to swim close to the shore; I d give up.) Say: Moses knew that nothing is too difficult for God. So when God asked him to hold out his hand over the sea, Moses knew something amazing was about to happen. Gather the Israelites around the shiny ribbons. Choose a volunteer to be Moses and to hold his or her hand over the shiny ribbons. Say: All night God blew back the water with a strong wind until there was a path of dry ground through the sea. Have the rest of the Israelites blow the shiny ribbons apart until they ve made enough dry land to walk on. Say: The Israelites walked right through the sea on dry land, with walls of water on both sides. Have the Israelites walk between the shiny ribbons. Then say: But when the Egyptians followed with their chariots, the water began to fall back into place. The Egyptians tried to run, but the water swept them away and covered all their chariots. Have the Israelites shower the Egyptians with the shiny ribbons. God s great power is again evident in Exodus 13:17 14:31 as he parted the Red Sea. Help kids understand that God s miracles don t need rational explanations, such as how a natural phenomenon could have parted the sea or how the people might have crossed on a ledge. Help them understand that because he is God, this was possible. 57

Lesson 5 Try to keep the newspaper strips from Lesson 5 attached to the rain poncho. You will be using the poncho with the strips again in Lessons 7 and 9. Say: When God s people saw they were safe and all the Egyptian chariots were underwater, they knew that nothing is too difficult for God. Listen to what the Bible says about God s power. Read Proverbs 30:4 aloud. Ask: Who is the only one who can hold the wind in his fists? (God.) Who created the whole wide world? (God.) What is his name and his Son s name? (God and his Son, Jesus.) Say: God is more powerful than anyone or anything else. When God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth to die on the cross, things looked hopeless for Jesus. And then Jesus died! That makes me sad to think that Jesus died. But after three days, Jesus came back to life again. Jesus is alive! That makes me glad! Jesus lives in heaven, and if we believe in Jesus, we will live in heaven one day, too. Let s thank God for helping the Israelites escape from Egypt and for sending us Jesus! After a short prayer, gather all the Learning Lab items and put them out of sight. HANDS-ON BIBLE For this activity, you ll need one of each of the following for each student: a sheet of paper, a piece of sandpaper about one-third the size of the paper, and a piece of Velcro or tape. You ll also need glue, scissors, blue tissue paper, paper fish or fish crackers, and shells (real or paper) for children to share. Say: Today we are learning the incredible story of how God did the impossible and parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape from the Egyptians. Nothing is too difficult for God. If God could help the Israelites, he can help us, too! Let s make our own Red Sea to remind us that everything is possible with God. Have the children open their Hands-On Bibles to Exodus 15 and find the activity called Run! I Mean, Swim! I Mean, Run! Read the activity to the class, and then work with your students to help them build their own Red Seas. When everyone has finished his or her craft, ask: Why was God able to help the Israelites escape from the Egyptians? (Because nothing is too difficult for God; because he was stronger than the Egyptians; because he s God, and he can do anything.) What can God help you with this week? (Learning how to swim; helping me obey my aunt while my parents are out of town.) Close in prayer, praising God that nothing is too difficult for him. 58

Closing n Everything Is Possible With God SUPPLIES: CD player track 9 Cue the CD to track 9, Everything Is Possible With God (Mark 10:27). Ask: What did you learn today? (That the Israelites traveled a long time; that God helped them escape; that God can do anything.) What part of our journey did you like best? Why? (I liked camping by the sea because I didn t know what was going to happen next; I liked showering the Egyptians with the shiny ribbons.) If you had been at the Red Sea, what would you have thought when you saw the water parting? (I would have been amazed; I would have thought it was a tidal wave; I would have believed that God was helping the people.) What would you have said to God after you got through the sea safely? (Thanks, God; God, you re great; wow, God, you can do anything!) Say: The people of Israel learned that nothing is too difficult for God. God is more powerful than anyone or anything, and God is always willing to help his people. When God helps us, he likes us to thank him. Let s sing a song that talks about how great God is. Sing Everything Is Possible With God (Mark 10:27) with the CD. You can find the lyrics at the back of your teacher guide. When the song ends, turn off the CD player, and say: Let s tell God how great he is. We ll go around the circle, and we ll each say a word that describes God. We can use words such as strong, loving, or powerful. It s OK if we use the same words more than once. When everyone has said a word, we ll all say together, Nothing is too difficult for God. Go around the circle, and then close in prayer, thanking God for his great power and love. God s People Cross the Red Sea Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Growing Together handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your children. Encourage children and parents to use the handout to plan meaningful activities on this week s topic. Follow up the Growing Together activities next week by asking children what their families did together. 59

A Leader for God s People 5: Nothing is too difficult for God. Bible Story God s people cross the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17 14:31). Bible Verse Everything is possible with God (Mark 10:27). This week your child learned that nothing is too difficult for God. The children went on an exciting journey to learn about a great miracle God did for the Israelites as they left Egypt. They listened to a song of praise, and then offered their own praises to God. Ice Power Cool off with this fun game. Give family members each an ice cube, and challenge them to hold the cubes on their tongues until they melt. Talk about how some tasks are too hard for humans to do, but God can do anything. Have your family brainstorm things that God can do that humans can t. Encourage your family to think of silly answers such as holding ice cubes on their tongues and serious answers such as making flowers grow in the summer. God s Garden Power From your pantry, choose a potato that s growing eyes. Cut large chunks with eyes on them, and plant the chunks 6 inches deep in several large pots of rich soil. Water the pots regularly, and watch until potato plants sprout. Praise God while you watch the plants grow. When the plants have grown 18 inches tall, pull out the plants and harvest the potatoes that are attached to the roots. Wash and slice the potatoes along with an onion. Bake the vegetables with butter until tender. As you eat the potatoes, praise God for making things grow and for providing us with healthy foods to eat. Family Fun Set up a tent in your backyard, and spend the night or several hours in it together. Each time you hear a noise, thank God for his protection. If you don t have space in your yard, set up the tent inside. If you don t have a tent, you can rent one inexpensively at many recreational supply stores, or you can make your own by draping sheets over a clothesline and weighting the bottom edges with rocks. Bedtime Moments Untuck the blankets and sheets from the end of your child s bed, and then pursue him or her through the sea of bedclothes. Tuck your child in when you catch him or her, and then talk about how God protected the Israelites as the Egyptian army pursued them. Say a simple prayer of thanks to God for always taking care of your child. 60 Permission to photocopy this page from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com