Powerless
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
We sometimes feel helpless, and we don’t know the right solution to our problem. Even when we don’t have all the answers, we can trust God will help us. This week we will read a story about a family God helped when they didn’t see an answer to their problem.
BIBLE STORY
Feeling helpless can be an overwhelming feeling. We often feel as though there is no way out and that we should give up. There are many scenarios in life that could make someone feel helpless, but there is always something we can try. Think about these riddles and see if you can solve them. The answer may not be what you thought it would be, but there is an answer!
What has to be broken before you can use it? (An egg)
What month of the year has 28 days? (All of them)
What is full of holes but still holds water? (A sponge)
There’s a one-story house in which everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow doors, yellow furniture. What color are the stairs? (There aren’t any, its a one-story house)
A man dies of old age on his 25th birthday. How is this possible? (He was born February 29)
David’s parents have 3 sons: Snap, Crackle and what’s the name of the third son? (David)
Where does today come before yesterday? (In the dictionary)
What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps? (A river)
A man looks at a painting in a museum and says “Brothers and sister’s I have none, but that man’s father is my father’s son,” Who is in the painting? (The man’s son)
Some of those riddles were hard and some were easy. Did you start to feel as though you would never figure out the answer? There may be times we feel like the answers we need will never come, but we can trust that God will help us. We don’t always get the answer we want, but God sees and wants to help us in the way He knows is best. This week we will read about a family who needed help protecting their baby. They probably felt helpless to protect him but did not want to give up. They did not know if they had the right answer to protect their child, but God was there to help. Let’s read in our story to find out what baby was saved and how God helped this family when they my have felt helpless.
Read or listen to the Bible story Exodus 1:22-2:10
What did Pharaoh order to all his people? (To throw all Hebrew boys into the Nile, but let girls live)
How long did Moses’ parents hide him at home? (3 months)
What did Moses’ mom make as a new way to hid him? (A papyrus basket coated with tar and pitch)
Where did Moses’ mom place the basket? (In the reeds along the bank of the Nile)
Who found Moses in the basket in the Nile? (Pharaohs daughter)
What did Moses’ sister suggest to Pharaoh’s daughter? (That she would get a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby)
How long did Moses stay with his mother before going to live with Pharaohs daughter? (The woman took the baby and nursed him and when he was older she took him to live with Pharaohs daughter)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
God helped Moses’ parents hide him in the brush of the Nile in a basket boat. When Pharaoh’s daughter found him she rescued him and sent him back to be raised by his mother before bringing him to live at the palace. God helped their family and ultimately rescued the nation of Israel.
Activity
Discuss times when you have felt helpless. You are not alone in feeling helpless sometimes, we all have these feelings when we do not see a solution to our problem. We can seek help from others when this happens and we can trust that God will help us. We do not need to give up, but continue to seek solutions to our problems. Listen to the following scenarios and determine if you have a solution to their problem, or who they can seek for help.
Materials: printed scenarios
Alternate
God sends help to His people in their time of need and when they felt helpless. Cut and paste the way God helped the following people in the Bible.
Materials: printed activity sheet, scissors, glue
Independent activity:
Moses’ mother weaved a basket that she placed him into on the river. Try your hand at weaving. Create a simple loom to weave strips of paper, material or clothes. Use additional materials such as paint, colorful tape, beads or sequence to make it your own. Use the following website for more detailed instructions on how to create your loom.
Materials: craft sticks, glue, strips of paper, material or cloth. Optional: colorful tape, beads, sequence
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Complete the following Moses paper plate craft
Materials: Regular-sized Paper Plates, Water Color Paints and Paint Brushes, Green Construction Paper, Crayons, Magic Markers, or Colored Pencils, Glue Gun, Scissors, Card Stock (Heavy Paper)
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Matthew 18:18-20
This verse describes how when two or more on earth are in agreement the Lord is there. God calls us to be in union together and help each other. We can know that God will be there helping us.
Who was placed in a basket on the river?
Why did Moses’ mother place him in the basket?
What was Pharaoh trying to do to all the Israelite boys?
How did God help Moses’ family?
Where did Moses live when he was a baby?
How does God help you?
How do your parents help you?
Practical Application at Home
We all have people in our lives who have helped us when we needed help. We can trust that God helps us as well as other people in our lives. Think of situations this week and month in which you needed someone’s help. Did they know to help you or did you have to ask for help? Were you afraid to ask for help?
Tell how the following people have helped you in a situation this week or month.
Dad
Mom
Aunt
Uncle
Grandparent
Brother or sister
Teacher
Pastor
Friend
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.