Picture Time!
Items Needed: Pictures, photo albums, etc.
Students began new lessons on the life of Moses and Israel’s deliverance from slavery.
Drag out the baby pictures and talk about each child’s birth. (A few questions to jog your memory: How did you feel when they were born? How fast did you drive getting to the hospital? What did the doctor or other people say? How long did you stay in the hospital? What did you do on the day you brought them home?)
The Pharaoh in Egypt tried to kill all the baby boys, but Moses’ mother put him in a waterproof basket and hid him while Miriam, his sister, watched close by. God cared for Moses and kept him alive—even allowing Moses’ mother to take care of him until he went to live in the palace with Pharaoh’s daughter. God had a plan for Moses. He has a plan for you too!
What’s Your Excuse?
Play the “Excuses Game” (a good game to play while riding in the car). The first person should give a command (put on your shoes; take the dog outside; take out the trash; do your homework; clean your room; etc.). Everyone else must think of an excuse why you CAN’T do it. The crazier the better!
Ask:
Why do we give excuses? (Because we don’t want to do something; we don’t think we can do something; we’re afraid; etc.)
God met Moses at a burning bush and laid out a plan for Moses. God wanted Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to free the Israelites from slavery.
What did Moses do? What are some of the excuses Moses gave?
(I can’t do this; I doubt if anyone will listen to me; I’m not good at talking to others; please send someone else to do it.)
Even though Moses made excuses, he finally said yes to God’s plan.
God Always Helps Us
God was NOT asking Moses to do something he could not do. God was going with him and would help Him. God might ask us to do hard things, but He will always help us.
At bedtime, ask:
What is something God has told you to do that you think you can’t do?
Read God’s responses to Moses’ excuses with your child.
Moses’ excuses: God’s words to him:
I can’t do this. I will be with you.
I doubt if anyone will listen to me. Tell them I have sent you.
I’m not good at talking to others. I will help you know what to say.
Please send someone else to do it. I will send a helper to go with you.
Pray and work together on one thing (sharing Christ with a friend; obeying Mom right away; forgiving a friend; being kind to a sibling; etc.). Talk about the progress each night at bedtime. Continue to pray about it and ask for God’s help to say yes to what God wants.
P.S. Share your own struggle to do a hard thing God is asking you to do. Without God’s help, none of us can do all God has instructed us to do.