The Exodus
Key Verse: “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” – (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Our hope is for our kids to know that: God helps us when we’re afraid
Read:
(Open the bible and read to your child Exodus 13:17 – 14:31) Approximately 200 million Israelites had just been freed from slavery, and God led them into the wilderness as they left the bondage of the Egyptians. God decided to take them the long way to the land He promised them, but that was so they could avoid the mighty Philistines. God knew that they were not ready to fight a massive army, so they were led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When Pharaoh heard they went the long route, he assumed they were simply wandering aimlessly and decided to pursue them to bring them back. God had something else planned and protected the Israelites by dividing the Red Sea so they could safely walk to safety. In each instance they were afraid, but God protected them in every way.
Share:
(This is an opportunity for you to ask some questions and to share your thoughts) Parents: Talk about a time your family faced a scary situation. Maybe you were trapped in a car during a violent storm or perhaps your house was broken into. Have each family member share what they remember about the situation and talk about how they felt before, during, and after. Then ask each person to share a time they’ve been afraid in the past week. Encourage everyone to think of ways God can help when we’re afraid.
Activity/Challenge for Families:
As a family take time to discuss the things that you are most afraid of and how to overcome those fears. For example, if one family member is afraid of the house catching on fire, point out the smoke detectors in the house and have a family fire drill. Write out emergency phone numbers and put them in a special place. Look up verses in the bible in which God promises to take care of us. Also make a promise to one another not to tease one another about his or her fears. That means if mom is afraid of mice, no toy mice are to be left under the kitchen cabinet!
YakPak 