Crossing the Red Sea
Vocabulary
- Exodus: to come out of
From Egypt, God sent the Israelites south, to avoid possible
conflicts with the Philistines. They were on the edge of the Red
Sea when the Egyptian army ran them down. The Israelites were
afraid because they were trapped against the sea and the
Egyptians had a well trained army with chariots and horses.
Moses told the Israelites to "be still" for "The Lord will fight
for you." Is there a single army that can stand against God? No.
Does God need our help to defeat his enemies. No.
The angel of the Lord and the pillar of cloud stood between the
two groups. The cloud lit up the night. Neither camp approached
the other. God told Moses to lift his staff and hold it over the
sea. While Moses did this, God sent an East wind to blow against
the sea. Soon there was dry land for the Israelites to cross
over upon, and walls of water on both sides. The Israelites
crossed over.
By morning, the Egyptians chose to follow the Israelites. They
brought their fancy chariots, but God clogged the wheels so they
would not turn. They began to realize they were fighting against
God. God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, that
it might return to its normal depth. When he did this, every
single Egyptian soldier and all their chariots were destroyed in
the sea.
When the Israelites saw they were saved, they sang praises to God. Miriam (Moses' sister) led the women in praises to God in song.
Discussion points:
-
Exodus 14:3-4 God said ahead of time that he was putting the Israelites style="max-width:100%;"
said God's power is demonstrated through our weakness, because when we are
weak, and do God's will, it's obvious He is helping us. We don't have to be
powerful or knowledgeable or wealthy or popular to accomplish God's work. He
will provide all we need. So when we feel trapped or weak or helpless, who
should we turn to? Will he help us? - Was God harsh to destroy the Egyptians? No. List the warnings the Egyptians had. (the ten plagues, the angel and the cloud) Was Pharaoh wrong to rebel against God all this time? Yes. God had been patient with Pharaoh, showing him over and over that God had the power and the authority. He even let Pharaoh remain king over a great nation, if he would let the Israelites go. The Pharaoh went against his word and tried to recapture God's people. When evil men fight against God, they will receive justice. Pharaoh could have let them go and been fine. Instead, he faced his punishment for rebelling against God.
Craft: Use shoeboxes to make panoramas of the crossing. Line the two long sides with blue cellophane, paper or other covering. Make little people from clay, dolls, paper cut outs, etc and line up the Israelites as they cross. Include wagons with supplies and animals. If desired, make one panorama of the Egyptians in their chariots following the Israelites.
Activity: For the wanderings in the wilderness lessons, make a poster board with two headings: What did the Israelites fear? and How did God help? Each lesson post images from the lesson, one in each column. For this lesson, in the fear column, copy and paste a picture of Egyptian soldiers chariots. In the second column, place a picture of the Egyptians being washed away by the water. Variation: Have each student keep a page in their notebook and have them draw or write the fear and help in the column each week.
Activity: Take a pan of water. Ask students if they can hold back the water. Let them try with a tongue depressor, their hands, etc. Then put a transparent glass in the water. Show how the glass forms a wall that holds back the water. Ask the students if man could hold back water without some kind of wall. Of course not. It takes huge concrete devices like the Hoover dam to hold back water. God was able to push the water into walls with his might power.
Activity: Form the walls of the red sea by lining up students. One at a time have students come through the line and reform it at the ends. When everyone has gone through, pretend the next half of the students are Egyptians and crash down on them, surrounding them with your arms (like London bridge is falling down.)
True or False
- God planned all along to save the Israelites. T
- The Israelites were strong enough to destroy the Egyptians. F
- God proved his power through the helplessness of the Israelites. T
- The Egyptians should have known the power of God by now. T
- God was mean to destroy the Egyptians. F
- Singing praise is one way to show thankfulness to God. T
Review Questions for gameboardExodus 14:14a The Lord will fight for you.
Exodus 14:22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
linguistic
questions - What does Exodus mean?
- What does Passover refer to?
- Who were the Israelites named for?
- What is a prophetess?
activity questions - Have student hold out his arms like Moses did while the next student takes his turn. (Note how quickly that becomes tiring - and how Moses might have done that all night.)
- Have student lead a verse of God is so Good. Discuss how praising God is important and appropriate at any time.
- Have a student quickly assemble a small puzzle from a class image. (Photocopy and cut into pieces a picture from a storybook, a worksheet, etc.)
emotion questions - How did the Israelites feel when they were trapped between an army and the sea?
- What did the Egyptians realize when their wheels wouldn't work in the sea?
- How does God feel about those that rebel against him?
- How does God feel when we praise his great works?
application questions - Will God ever leave us trapped if we are doing His will?
- If we feel too weak to do what's right, who should we turn to?
- Will God ask us to do more than we can?
- What can we do to show God we are grateful for his help?
fact questions - What did God tell Moses to do to make the water rise into walls?
- What did God tell Moses to do to make the water return to normal?
- What time of day were the Egyptians destroyed?
- Who sang a song of praise after the Israelites were saved?
review questions - Why did the Israelites camp by the sea?
- Why did God purposefully trap his people?
- What protected the Israelites from the Egyptians while the wind was blowing?
- What made the Egyptians realize they were fighting against God?