Darlene Walls is the Writer of the Junior VBS Lessons
Hear ye, hear ye! Thou art invited to join in a week of Vacation Bible School. The drawbridge is lowered and the entrance of the castle awaits. Hence, we will gain knowledge of our Mighty God. Wilt thou join in as we glean important lessons from the pages of Scripture?
Our lessons this week center around a man named Moses and God’s mighty power. We will take a journey through the pages of Scripture and focus on God’s care and leadership in the life of Moses.
Our first stop along this journey will take us into the land of Egypt. What were the Israelites doing in Egypt? In order to understand this, we have to look back in Scripture. God had His hand on a man named Joseph; it was through him the children of Israel came to be in Egypt in the first place.
Bulletin Board Idea – Junior Teacher
God used Joseph to spare the life of His chosen people. Scripture informs us that approximately seventy souls went into Egypt, and from these seventy souls came the nation of Israel.
How did the Israelites become slaves? They were brought into Egypt and treated as royalty. How was it possible they could go from prosperity and freedom to poverty and bondage? Years passed and Joseph and Pharaoh died, and a new Pharaoh took over as a ruler. God had blessed the children of Israel and they multiplied greatly. The new Pharaoh was afraid they would one day choose to fight against them, thus began the Israelites’ years of slavery. God continued to bless Israel and they continued to grow in number, this was the reason Pharaoh ordered all baby boys to be killed.
God’s providential care is so amazing. He sees all and knows all. From the very beginning, God had plans for the life of Moses. God’s hand of protection was evident throughout his life. As an infant, Moses should have been killed; however, God was at work. Moses’ mother was able to hide him for the first three months of his life. She then made the decision to part with her child in hopes of saving his life. What she did not know was that God was already at work.
Junior Teacher (page 12)
Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who decided to keep him as her own child. She hired Moses’ mother to care for the child. What an awesome blessing for this woman of faith. His mother had the privilege to raise and care for him while he was young and impart to him truths concerning God. When he was older his mother took him to Pharaoh’s house to live.
Moses was born a Hebrew and raised an Egyptian. This must have been hard for him. Day after day, he watched as his own people were beaten and treated harshly. When Moses was older, he killed an Egyptian for his harsh treatment of a Hebrew and hid the body. When Moses realized people knew about the Egyptian’s death, he fled for his life because he feared Pharaoh.
Moses ended up in the desert. From here he married, and he spent forty years tending to sheep. It was during this time that God called to Moses. God never forgot about him; God knew exactly where to find him. The time had come for Moses to do a special work for God.
After excuses were given, Moses finally consented to follow the leadership of God. This decision took him before Pharaoh, where he boldly proclaimed the Word of God. Let my people go, was the message of God, but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he refused to obey. This was the beginning of the end for Pharaoh and those in the land of Egypt.
God sent a series of plagues that ravaged the land, culminating with the death of the firstborn. God made a way for the children of Israel to be saved. A lamb had to die, and the blood had to be applied to the doorposts in order for the Destroyer to pass over. No one was exempt. If the blood was not applied, death came to that household.
Junior Activity Pages (page 4)
After the tenth and final plague, Pharaoh sent the children of Israel out of Egypt. It wasn’t long before Pharaoh gave the command to pursue the Israelites. Of course, when the Israelites saw the advancing Egyptians following them they were afraid; however, this battle was not theirs to fight. God fought on behalf of the Israelites, they were to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. God parted the Red Sea, and they walked across on dry ground. The Egyptian army pursued, and God brought final victory. The sea returned, and the entire Egyptian army was drowned.
The Israelites often complained and murmured against God; yet, He provided for the needs of His people. He sent manna from Heaven to feed them. Can you imagine food from Heaven? In the evenings, God sent quail into the camp for them to eat. God also supplied water from a rock to quench their thirst. He is the Mighty God!
These lessons are an awesome testimony of God’s love and power. They should remind us that God is all powerful and that He is at work in our lives. Let us remember, “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). He is still our Almighty God.
God has a plan for each of us. Even before we were born God knew us. “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:13, 14). We are made in the image of God and for His purpose. God has a plan for you.
Junior Activity Pages (page 5)
God called to Moses from a burning bush. Have you wondered what Moses must have thought to see a bush on fire, calling out to him by name? More importantly, God told him to go to Egypt! Moses began to do like any normal Christian would do. He began to give excuses why he couldn’t do it. “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God knew Moses name, and God knows our name. “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
God is calling to all mankind to come to repentance, but there are many who refuse to answer that call. When someone is saved, God calls him to service. How sad it is that so many people accept Jesus into their hearts, then, never follow Him in service. Far too many saved individuals refuse to heed the call of God. Like Moses, we begin to offer excuse after excuse why we can’t do the things God calls us to do.
One area many of us fall short in is that of evangelism. God still saves! We, as born again children of God, are called to carry the gospel to a lost and dying world. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, shed His blood and purchased salvation for all people. It is each one’s responsibility to tell them about His saving power.
Junior Visual
We have many powerful tools at our disposal. God gives us His Word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word is there to teach and guide us. In a darkened world, His Word gives light and direction. Consider for a moment how powerful the Word of God is. God spoke the world into existence.
It was His very words that created all things. It is by the Word of God that people were created. It is also through His Word that each person realizes his need for salvation. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
God also has sent the Holy Spirit to each believer. The Holy Spirit is present to guide each believer into all truths. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Each believer needs the Holy Spirit to guide him in his Christian walk.
Junior Visual
God loves His children, and He is faithful to meet their needs. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The Heavenly Father will take care of His children. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31- 33). May His children seek to have the Lord first in their lives, and then they can rest assured God will take care of the rest.
Our lessons this week are God Loves Me, God Calls Me, God Saves Me, God Guides Me and God Cares for Me. May we take to heart these simple, yet profound lessons from the Word of God.
(This article was taken from Junior Teacher Manual.)
Click here for more information about VBS 2013, The Mighty God – God Leads Moses and Me.
