God Knows What We Need

Bible Passage: Exodus 15:22—17:7 (Life in the Desert)

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© 2014 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

REMEMBER VERSETrust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5–6

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HomeFront Magazine: A Spiritual Parenting Resource This magazine gives families ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in their homes—setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! As the new issue becomes available each month, you may choose to print it for families or encourage them to visit www.HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to have the magazine sent directly to their inboxes. HomeFront is also available as an app for iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.

Tru Mission StatementTru helps kids and their families connect to God, find their place in His big story,

and respond to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lesson Path: Seeing the Mission Statement in a Tru Lesson

Connecting leaders to God ... Inspire, Equip, and Support

Connects kids and their families to God … HomeFront WeeklyAnticipate

… His big story … Celebrate

… And invites them to respond to Him … Respond

… Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Bless

Navigating Lesson 1.7Below you will find additional information to enhance lesson sections as needed.

AnticipateCelebrate Storytelling Video

A storytelling video is available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may find this resource in the Resource Files.

Respond Small Group Enhancement“Remember Verse Games” activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may find this resource in the Resource Files.

Bless

ANTICIPATE | CELEBRATE | RESPOND | BLESS

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ANTICIPATE | CELEBRATE | RESPOND | BLESS

Anticipate// 5–10 min.

God used the Israelites’ time in the wilderness to help them learn about who He is. He cared for their needs and taught them to celebrate the Sabbath. As the children arrive, encourage them to consider these topics as they engage in the following activities.

Option 1: Sabbath Party (for Younger Kids)SUPPLIES• artificial flower leis (1 for every 3–4 children, available at

www.orientaltrading.com) • jumbo sunglasses (1 for every 3–4 children, available at

www.orientaltrading.com)• beach towels (1 for every 2 children)• fruit punch juice boxes (1 per child) • optional: Hawaiian print shirts (1 for every 2–3 children)

ENGAGEWarmly welcome children as they arrive, and invite them to explore the costume pieces. Encourage children that regularly attend to meet a new friend.

Here we have sunglasses, flower necklaces, and beach towels. What might we do with these things? Invite responses. Good thoughts. Who likes to go to the beach or to the pool on a hot day? Interact with responses.

Before we hear today’s portion of The Big God Story, let’s have a party! Encourage kids to interact with the available supplies to create a party atmosphere. Then, allow the children to sit down together and enjoy their juice boxes.

You can also invite kids to share about the activities they like to do in their free time or when they rest on a Sabbath day.

Option 2: Wants and Needs (for Older Kids)SUPPLIES• Wants and Needs cards (see Resource Files) • butcher paper (approx. 3’)• tape• marker• scissors (1 per child)• glue dots

SET UPPrint a set of the Wants and Needs cards for each child. Tape the butcher paper to the wall at a height the children can reach. In the middle of the paper, draw a vertical line. At the top of one side of the paper, write “NEEDS.” At the top of the other side, write “WANTS.”

ENGAGEWarmly welcome children as they arrive. Encourage children who attend regularly to meet a new friend. Then give each child a copy of the Wants and Needs activity page.

What’s the difference between wanting something and needing something? Invite children to respond. When we need something, we can’t live without it. What are some examples of things we can’t live without? Invite responses. Great thoughts! When we want something, we would really like to have it, but we can live without it. What are some examples of things we might want but not need? Invite responses.

Explain that each child can cut apart the Wants and Needs cards and glue each image to either the “WANTS” side or the “NEEDS” side. Not every image clearly belongs on one side or the other! Allow the children to work together to decide which images represent wants and which represent needs.

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© 2014 David C Cook

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Celebrate//20–35 min.

LARGE GROUP

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Welcome & Traditions//

• Take five minutes to open your CELEBRATE time by engaging in Welcome and Traditions.• Group Tradition (optional): Hang a piece of canvas and write “God in Our World” at the top. Each week,

encourage kids to write or draw how they’ve seen God in their world in the last week.

Remember Verse//

• This week’s Remember Verse focuses on a character trait of God that’s highlighted in today’s portion of The Big God Story.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5–6

Connect// Invite the children to ask one another the following question or one of your own. Encourage them to ask someone they may not know. After a minute or two, ask several children to tell the group their friends’ answers. (For Connect Question slide, see Resource Files.)

QuestionWhat’s your favorite thing to drink on a hot day?

The Big God Story//

SUPPLIES • Bibles (1 per leader and 1 per child)• Timeline slide and animation (see Resource Files)• unsweetened chocolate (a few small pieces)• regular chocolate (a few small pieces)• cup of water• craft stick• rock • Bible-times costume for “Moses”

SET UPHave the person playing the part of Moses put on the costume. Set the cup of water, craft stick, and rock near the stage.

Worship Response//

SUPPLIES• God Knows What We Need strips (see Resource Files)• scissors• cardboard box• marker• pens• slides: Matthew 6:25, 31, 33 (see Resource Files)• worship music (suggestion: “Come Unto Me,” TruWorship You Are)

SET UPPrint and cut apart the God Knows What We Need strips, making one strip for each child. Have the strips, along with pens, ready to give to the kids. Write “God Knows What We Need” on the box and place it at the front of the room.

Ponder Point: God Knows What We Need

Find more details for each section in the How It Works document in the Supporting Lesson Resources section of the My Lessons page at tru.davidccook.com.

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The Big God StoryBible Passage: Exodus 15:22—17:7Storytelling Technique: First-Person Narrative with Props

ENGAGEStoryteller: Welcome! Today we have a very special guest—someone we’ve been hearing about the past few weeks in The Big God Story. God used him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt so they could begin a new life and worship God as the Lord. Who was this person? Invite responses. Yes—Moses! Before he comes out, let’s pray together. Lead children in prayer of release. Then leave stage as Moses enters.

Moses: Hi, everyone! I hear you’ve been reading about all of the things God did for us. After God freed us from slavery and saved us from Pharaoh’s army, we were so happy! When we arrived on the other side of the Red Sea, we danced and sang songs to God because He knew what we needed and had freed us. But it didn’t take long before we realized we were in a desert without enough food or water. We walked with our children and animals under the hot sun. Wipe your brow and fan yourself. What happens to your body when you’re in a desert? Invite responses. You’re hot, you’re sweaty—and you get thirsty!

There we were—millions of us—thirsty and with no way to carry enough water for so many people. So, after a few days of walking, the people started to panic. What do you look like when you’re panicked? Invite kids to make “panicked” expressions. Exactly. Eventually, we found a spring of water. Hold up cup of water. We were so excited! Laugh a little to yourself, reminiscing. A few of us ran over to take a sip … but it was bitter! Take a sip of water and make an expression to show the water tastes bad. Gross! Have any of you tasted unsweetened chocolate? Invite responses. Ask a few volunteers to come to the front, and give them the pieces of unsweetened chocolate. Let them taste the chocolate, and then ask them to share their thoughts. Unsweetened chocolate doesn’t taste good. It’s bitter, kind of like the water from this spring. Invite kids to make expressions and sounds as if they’re tasting something bitter and unpleasant.

The people complained. They worried that God might not take care of us. However, God knew what we needed. God told me to throw a piece of wood into the water, and the water became sweet! Put craft stick in water. Take another sip and make a pleased expression. Ask the kids who tasted the unsweetened chocolate to try the regular chocolate and share their thoughts. Then ask them to return to their seats. By doing this, God showed us He has the power to take care of His people.

What else do you think we needed in the desert? Invite responses. That’s right—we needed food! We ran out of food a month into our journey. Just like the people panicked about the water, they panicked about the food. Let’s turn to Exodus 16:3 in our Bibles to hear what they said. Ask a volunteer to read the verse aloud while the rest of the kids follow along. The people felt so hungry that they forgot about how awful our lives had been in Egypt. They doubted that God would take care of us. Even though they doubted, God was faithful to lead the people onto a path toward new life in Him.

Because God knew what we needed, He told me to give the people a message. Read Exodus 16:6–8 aloud while kids follow along. What do you think happened next? Invite responses. Let’s find out. Ask a volunteer or two to read Exodus 16:13–15 aloud. Imagine wandering around in the desert, worried that you’ll never find food. Then God brings birds into the camp and rains bread from the sky! The meat was delicious, and the bread tasted like it had been made with honey (Exodus 16:31). Rub your stomach. Invite kids to make sounds as if they’re eating something yummy. God also sent enough so every person was full. He knew what His people needed.

Those two miracles were pretty amazing. But God didn’t stop there—He did one more thing to give us what we needed. Now, keep in mind we had been slaves for our whole lives. We were tired! So, God gave us a special gift. Read Exodus 16:23 aloud or ask a volunteer to read it while kids follow along.

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What is the Sabbath? Invite responses. It’s a day for us to rest. God commanded us to gather up twice as much food on the day before the Sabbath so we didn’t have to worry about gathering up food on our day of rest. God was so serious about us resting on the Sabbath that He didn’t send the manna and quail on the Sabbath day!

God took the time to show us we could trust Him—that He knew what we needed and would provide for us. He proved this over and over. In fact, when we left the place where we previously camped, the people worried about water again. And they complained to me again! Shake your head. But, of course, God knew what we needed. God told me to strike a rock (hold up the rock) so that water would come out of it. I did what God asked of me—and it was amazing! God brought water out of a rock! Sigh, thinking back on the memories. We really saw some incredible things in the wilderness. Storyteller comes onstage and thanks Moses for sharing today. Thanks for letting me come and share some of them with you! Leave stage.

Storyteller: Encourage kids to clap and thank Moses for visiting. As we heard, God brought the Israelites out into the wilderness so they could be His people and worship only Him. God proved to them He had heard their cries by delivering them from the Egyptians, and He used the challenges in the desert to prove He knows what we, His people, need. God also has the power to take care of our every need. In fact, He knows what we need before we do. Though we might worry, we can always trust God and give our worries to Him. Share a story of a time you realized God cared for your needs.

Worship ResponseENGAGESometimes we might think that God only cares about big things—that He’s too busy to care about the things we worry about every day. But God is big, and He never gets tired. God is so amazing and loving that He cares about both the big things and the little things. And He’s powerful enough to take care of both! We can give Him everything—even our smallest worries.

Tech: Cue music. Pass out the strips of paper and pens. Encourage kids to write or draw on the paper something they’re worried about. Let them know they don’t have to write or draw anything if they don’t want to—they can just think about it. Then ask the kids to hold the strips of paper in their hands and crumple them up.

Sometimes we’re like the Israelites—holding our worries and pain too tightly. But God knows what we need, and we can trust Him. Because of this, we can release our worries and pain to Him. He has the power to take care of us. Invite the kids to bring up their papers and place them in the box labeled “God Knows What We Need” in a spirit of giving over their worries to God. Then they can sit back down. Tech: Cue Matthew 6 slides. Afterward, ask the children to open their hands as you read a blessing over them from Matthew 6:25, 31, 33. Pray God will give them peace and joy, even in small ways, throughout their days.

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400 YEARS OF WAITING

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Respond// 15–20 min.

Reflect: God Knows What We NeedGod cared for the needs of His people as they traveled through the wilderness. God gave them food and water each day and provided a day for them to rest. They belonged to Him, and He would always take care of them. Encourage the kids to open their Bibles and read the suggested passages.

Questions for Younger Kids• Why did God bring His people out of Egypt? Exodus 5:1• What did the Israelites do when they were thirsty and

hungry? Exodus 15:24; 16:3• How did God give His people the water and food they

needed? Exodus 15:25; 16:13; 17:5–6• How have you seen God take care of you and your family?

Questions for Older Kids• What did the Israelites do when they were thirsty and

hungry? Exodus 15:24; 16:3• How did God give His people the water and food they

needed? Exodus 15:25; 16:13; 17:5–6• How did God give His people the rest they needed?

Exodus 16:23• Why is it important to take a Sabbath day (a day of rest)?• How do you trust God to take care of things in your life?• How does God use hard situations to show us that He will

take care of us? How has He done this in your life?

Engage: Water and WoodSUPPLIES• disposable cups (20, 18 oz.)• water (approx. 1½ gal.)• craft sticks (1 per child)• masking tape

SET UPFill each cup about halfway with water. Set 10 cups in a straight row on one side of the room and 10 on the other side. On each side of the room, place a small strip of masking tape about three feet away from the cups, to mark where children should stand. Place half of the craft sticks by each strip of tape.

ENGAGEDivide the children into two teams, and have each team stand on one side of the room, lined up behind the tape.

In the desert, the Israelites came to a spring of water that tasted so bitter they couldn’t drink it. God told Moses to put a piece of wood in the water to make it drinkable, and it became sweet! To remember this event, we’re going to play a fun game.

Encourage each team to take turns attempting to toss the craft sticks into the cups of water. The first team to get one craft stick in each cup wins. For an additional challenge, consider placing the cups in wacky places around the room or increasing the distance between the children and the cups.

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Open a Bible and read the following blessing from Matthew 6:31–33:

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” … Your heavenly Father knows that you need [these things]. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.

Invite the children to clench their hands tightly. Encourage them to ask God to reveal something they may be worrying about or holding too tightly. Give the kids a moment to hear from God. Then, explain that they can slowly open up their palms as a symbol of giving their worries to God as you speak the following blessing over them.

May you rest in the knowledge that God knows what you need and will take care of you. May you praise Him this week for His goodness in your life.

Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week’s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God’s Word together before children arrive at church.

Bless// 5 min.

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