Session 6 Fall 2018 Multiage Moses accepts God s call EXODUS 4 prepare PRAYER Open my eyes, O God, as I continue my journey of faith. Reveal to me all that I need to see and hear along the way. Help me to hear your call and answer. Amen. PURPOSE STATEMENT To imagine responding to God s call STORY SUMMARY God gave Moses three signs so that the people would believe he was sent by God. Moses still asked God to send someone else. God promised that Moses brother Aaron would do the talking. With staff in hand, Moses and his family returned to Egypt. Moses and Aaron assembled the elders of the Israelites; they explained God s message and showed God s signs of power. The people believed and worshiped God. teaching tips for multiage This is the second session in a nine-week series from the book of Exodus. Moses is still at the burning bush, trying to convince God that he is not ready or capable of doing what God wants him to do. Children can identify with Moses concerns. They are developing many new skills, and are often reluctant or afraid to use those skills in a public setting. Some children in your group may share Moses fear of public speaking! Be sensitive to this, offering opportunities to respond chorally or with a raised hand rather than requiring every person to speak aloud to the large group. You could also have children talk in smaller groups at times. Decide which Explore options to offer, and check Supplies and To do throughout this session to see what needs to be prepared. The Create option requires the use of sticks, such as craft sticks, chopsticks, or sticks found outdoors. You may want to prepare for this early in the week. 36 / 6 Moses accepts God s call October 7, 2018
dig deeper by Andrea Saner A reluctant prophet Exodus 4:1 20 continues the call of Moses story from chapter 3. Moses has two more questions for God before relinquishing his resistance and heading out to Egypt. The story invites us to reflect on what God is calling us to do and how we can overcome our resistance through trust in God. It also suggests a criterion for discerning between true and false prophets: true prophets do not speak their own perspective, nor are they in the work of prophecy for their own gain. Rather, the humility of prophets is demonstrated in their reluctance to take on the job (Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1:4 10). Points of resistance Moses third question (Exodus 4:1) suggests his belief that the Israelites may not do three things: they may not trust him, listen to him, or believe that the Lord has appeared to him. That Moses imagines the Hebrews might not believe him is surely understandable: God has never defeated an imperial power before; why should the Israelites believe someone who says God is about to do that now? At the same time, Moses questions the assurance that God has given him. God has declared that the Israelites will heed Moses (3:18), but still Moses doubts that they will. Moses does not yet trust God as he will need to in order to accomplish God s mission in Egypt. Though Moses question has to do with the Israelites, God directs the answer to the messenger, not the people. God gives Moses several signs, which serve to convince Moses and to persuade the Egyptians and Pharaoh, who will resist God s deliverance of his people: the staff that becomes a snake, the leprous (and subsequently healed) hand, and the water turning to blood; the first and third of these anticipate the start of the plague narratives (7:8 24). Moses fourth point of resistance is not a question but a statement about his lack of speaking ability. Again, God seeks to reorient Moses focus away from his own abilities to God s power and presence with him: Who gives GENESIS EXODUS 34 speech to mortals?... Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak (4:11 12). A timid start The book of Deuteronomy heralds Moses as the greatest prophet that ever lived, because he spoke with God face to face and accomplished God s wonders among the people in bringing them out from Egypt (Deuteronomy 34:10 12). However, this prophet s career has a timid start. After assurances that God will be with Moses and will equip Moses with the words to say, after God s declaration of God s name and nature to Moses, and after the three signs, Moses finally simply pleads for God to send someone else (Exodus 4:13). These are the last words of Moses in the scene. Moses final resistance provides the context for God to offer yet more support to Moses, in the form of Aaron. God will speak to Moses, who will speak to Aaron, who will relay the word of God to the people. As one who receives the word of another and relays it to the people, Aaron will function as a kind of prophet for Moses (4:16; 7:1). God will provide We learn as we read beyond Exodus 4:17 that Moses does go to Egypt, but we are not given an account of Moses change of mind from hoping God will send another to, finally, beginning the journey himself. What is he thinking? Does Aaron reassure him? Does he finally learn to trust God, or does he simply feel that he has no choice? Is he still reluctant, upon arriving in Egypt, or has he enthusiastically embraced God s call? The text leaves open these questions and more. But the story is clear that God has truly called Moses and that God will be with him and will give him the words to speak. God will provide everything that Moses needs. www.shinecurriculum.com Exodus 4 / 37
Shine Songbook and CD Annual Shine Songbooks CD player Candle and matches (or battery-operated candle) One or two balls resource pack Bible memory poster (Exodus 20) media connections You Are Special by Max Lucado Burning bush scene from the movie The Prince of Egypt Be Bold, Be Strong song for children (YouTube) Keep These Words by Bryan Moyer Suderman on A New Heart album gather BUILD COMMUNITY Being called by our names is an important part of belonging to a community. When children have gathered, play a game of Name toss. Gather in a circle. Toss a ball to one of the children as you call out his or her name. That child will toss to another child while calling out the name of the receiver, and so on. Add an additional ball to make the activity more challenging. WORSHIP TOGETHER Light a candle and invite the children to take a few breaths. Sing We Are Called (track 13, page 21). Ask the group to stand and join in praying this litany. Pray: Leader: God, we hear you calling. Leader: We hear you calling when we are strong. Leader: We hear you calling when we are weak. Leader: We hear you calling, and know you ll give us the courage we need. Leader: Amen. SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Lead children in a silent prayer activity. Children will use one finger to draw letters, symbols, or pictures on their opposite palm. Don t rush. Give children time to think, draw, and pray. Say: Draw the first letter of your name on your palm. Silently say a prayer for yourself. (Pause.) Draw a picture of something you love on your palm. Silently thank God for what you drew. (Pause.) Draw a face that shows how you feel today. Tell God about it. (Pause.) Amen. Bible memory Read the entire passage together from the Bible memory poster. Point out that the first five lines are powerful instructions about how we are to honor God. Ask the children to imagine God saying these words. Is God commanding, encouraging, comforting? Speak the words together in these different tones. I am the Lord your G od, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. Excerpts from Exodus 20:2 7 38 / 6 Moses accepts God s call October 7, 2018
experience SHARE THE STORY Have children look up Exodus 4 in their Bibles. Explain that today s story covers part two of the burning bush episode in Moses life. Ask the children if they have ever done something they thought they didn t have the ability to do. Invite individual responses. Have the group sit in front of you in a semicircle. Tell them that when they hear Moses doubting, they should move backward, as if backing away from the challenge. When they hear God giving Moses a sign that he will have what he needs, they should move forward. Share the story from page 44 in Shine On. WONDER AND REFLECT Allow silent contemplation as you share these wondering questions: I wonder why Moses thought the Israelites might not believe him. I wonder why God used some scary signs to convince Moses. I wonder what Aaron thought when Moses told him about his talk with God. Imagine hearing God say, I will be with you and help you. PEACE NOTES God s first sign to Moses was to change the staff he was holding into a snake. God used what Moses was holding at that very moment to show him that he already had what he needed to answer the call and help the people of Israel. Highlight the call pin on the God is with us poster. Let the children know that this backpack reminder that God calls us and gives us what we need to answer the call is not just for the people of Israel; it s for us too. If your group uses Glow, look at What are you holding? on page 17 to explore how to answer God s call and participate in growing God s peace. teaching tip Using tablets and other devices can make it easy to connect to online media connections. Always check the website ahead of time to make sure the piece is available and suitable for the children in your group. Moses accepts God s call Exodus 4 Shine On, p. 44 Bibles Shine On: A Story Bible Glow magazines resource pack God is with us poster to do Practice telling the story from page 44 in Shine On. Notice where children might need to move backward or forward, since this may influence where you choose to sit when telling the story. www.shinecurriculum.com Exodus 4 / 39
explore CREATE God used the transformation of the staff to a snake to convince Moses that he had what he needed for his mission. Invite children to use their imaginations as they paint sticks to look like snakes. The stick can be a reminder that God is with them, even when a task feels difficult. Sticks (craft sticks, chopsticks, sticks from trees) Tempera or craft paints Paintbrushes DISCOVER Add new items to a desert box. (See Other ideas in session 5.) Hide a stick (staff), a rubber or paper snake, and blue and red rocks to represent the changing water. Use paintbrushes to gently sweep away the sand to reveal the hidden objects. Reflect on how Moses felt to see God s signs. Younger children can find hidden things on page 3 in the Primary leaflet. Primary leaflets, crayons (for younger children) Container of sand Paintbrushes Stick Plastic or paper snake Blue rocks Red rocks RETELL Retell the story in popcorn fashion. See page 88 in this guide for instructions on making ten paper popcorn balls. Place the balls in a bowl. Invite children to choose one or more balls from the bowl until the bowl is empty. Unwrap the balls and work together to put the story in order. Once the story is in order, number each paper from one to ten. Then have children have children crouch down as if they are popcorn balls. Call out the numbers in order. Children pop up and read the words on their paper when their number is called. Popcorn retelling (from Additional resources) Bowl Pencil other ideas Discover some helpful tools for Moses. Go to www.shinecurriculum.com/ Extras for a free word search. Use a variety of wooden staffs to make music: rhythm sticks, unsharpened pencils, craft sticks, chopsticks, and so on. LEAFLET AND GLOW God called Moses to a challenging task. Have younger children look at the church jobs on page 2 in the Primary leaflet. Use crayons to show whether something would be hard or easy to do. Complete the word puzzle on page 4. Solution: 1. staff, 2. look, 3. throw, 4. snake, 5. Israelites. Solution on bush: SHOW and TELL. (God wanted Moses to show the signs to Pharaoh and tell him to let the people go.) Have older children check out pages 18 19 in Glow to explore Excuses, excuses and Everyday attention grabbers. Children can explore how they can be like Moses and do good things in the world. Primary leaflets Glow magazines Crayons Pencils 40 / 6 Moses accepts God s call October 7, 2018
bless PRAY Gather the children and invite them to stand confidently with one arm outstretched, as if holding a staff. Pray: Thank you, God, for calling each of us and giving us what we need to answer your call. Amen. Sing Go Now in Peace (track 20, page 30). SEND Send the children individually as you say these words: (name), go in peace as you follow God s call. Make sure to send leaflets home with the younger children. leader s closing prayer Primary leaflets Shine Songbook and CD Annual Shine Songbooks CD player Spend a moment thinking about God s call in your life, including the honor of nurturing children in faith. Consider the ways that God has equipped you to respond. God, like Moses, there are times when I doubt that I have what it takes to answer your call. Remind me each day that you are with me and will guide me. Amen. Show how excited you want the kids to be by how excited you are. Holly Boyne Elmira, Ontario looking ahead Session 7 Share the story uses a stone and a walking stick or staff, which you may want to seek out ahead of time. www.shinecurriculum.com Exodus 4 / 41