Fragile
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
Have you ever needed help carrying something heavy or lifting something big. Sometimes we might start something and realize we are too weak to finish! This week we will see how God helps us in our weakness, just as he helped Moses in his weaknesses.
BIBLE STORY
Do you like to help others? Do you ever need help from others? We all need help from time to time and we all know of someone who might need help. Listen and tell how you have helped someone this week.
I helped someone with their homework
I helped my mom clean the dishes this week
I helped my brother clean his room today
I helped my sister organize her dolls
I helped my dad mow the lawn this week
I helped my dog eat food today
I helped my family complete a puzzle this year
I helped my grandparents pick up leaves this year
I helped my mom water the plants this week
There are times we help others who are in need and then there are times we may need someone to help us. Sometimes we might feel like we are not good enough to do something well or we might think we can not overcome our weaknesses. We might have a hard time in a subject in school, or we do not speak well in front of others, or maybe its hard to read in front of the class, but we can trust that God can help us in our weakness. In our story for today, God helped Moses in his weakness. He had lots of reasons why he was not the right person to free the Israelites from Pharaoh, but God helped Moses in his weakness. Read or listen to the story for this week and see how God helped Moses.
Read or listen to the Bible story Exodus 3:1-14, 4:1-17
Where was Moses living? (Tending the flock of his Father in laws, on the far side of the wilderness)
How did the angel of the Lord appear to Moses? (In the flames of fire from within the bush)
What did Moses notice about the bush? (It was on fire but not being consumed)
What did God tell Moses once he started to come near the bush? (Do not come closer because you are standing on Holy Ground)
What did God say he was going to do for His Israelite people in Egypt? (That he had seen the the suffering of his people and he would rescue them and bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey)
What was God sending to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt? (Moses)
What did God tell Moses to say when he was unsure if he should be the one to go to Pharaoh? (I will be with you)
What did God tell Moses to tell the Israelites if they asked who sent him? (I AM has sent me to you)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Choose a card from the pile and then decide what is needed in order to be equipped for the task. Moses did not feel equipped to do the task God was asking of him. He felt as though he didn’t have the right skills and ability to go before Pharaoh. When God calls us to do something, He makes us worthy through His ability. We don’t have to worry about being good enough because God will help us in our weakness.
Materials: printed and cut equipped cards, scissors
Alternate
God was preparing Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt not only when he lived in the palace, but also when he lived in the country tending sheep. It may not have always felt like God was preparing Moses, but God knew how to help Moses in his weakness. Cut and paste the strips of paper into the correct section. Compare how Moses leading the Israelites and the sheep were the same or different.
Materials: printed comparison page, scissors, glue
Independent activity:
Create a timeline of Moses’ life. You do not need to include dates, but include different important events that happened during Moses’ life. Add pictures of the events as well. Moses thought he would free the Israelites from slavery but not in the same way God had planned. Moses lived in the country after fleeing the palace before God called him to return to Egypt.
Materials: blank sheet of paper, pencil, crayons
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Moses and burning bush craft with tissue paper.
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Moses had lots of excuses as to why he could not go before Pharaoh to free the Israelites. He just saw his own weaknesses and what he was not able to do. But those excuses didn’t change God’s mind that Moses was the one He wanted to send to free His people.
Read Psalm 103:7-8
God is described as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” God could have become impatient with Moses, listening to all of his excuses and reasons not to go. Instead, Go was slow to anger and compassionate to Moses’ fears and worries. God showed Moses He would be with him, even in his weaknesses. God is the same God today, He has love and compassion on us. He knows we were formed of dust and therefore is patient with our weaknesses.
How do you show compassion for other people?
How has God been slow to anger with you?
How does knowing we are loved by God help us love others?
How did God show compassion on Moses?
Was God showing Moses compassion when He sent him to live in the country 40 years?
Practical Application at Home
We don’t need to focus on our weaknesses, but we can focus on who God is. God told Moses to tell Pharaoh, I AM has sent me to you. I AM describes everything. God is everything that we are not. Our weaknesses are covered by all that God is and can do. Say the following statement and fill in the blank with your weakness and compare it to the strength God has instead. Repeat the statement for as many weaknesses you can think of.
I am ______ but God is_______.
Example: I am weak, but God is strong.
We may not have all the answers. We may not be the strongest, fastest, or smartest person in class, but God is everything we are not. He wants to help us in our weakness, we just need to be willing to follow him to where he calls us to go.
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.