Week of December 12 - God Delivered His People

God’s heart is for His people. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord, He heard them and had a plan to rescue them from their suffering.

That’s why God called Moses back to Egypt. Though Moses had been raised among the royal household in Egypt, his heart was for his own people too. God chose Moses to deliver the enslaved Israelites after a series of plagues.

God’s purpose in sending the plagues was not only to get His people out of Egypt; the plagues would put God’s power on display and stand as acts of judgment against the Egyptians. (See Ex. 7:4-5.) The plagues made life in Egypt uncomfortable. In some instances, the people suffered terribly.

The plagues did convince some of Pharaoh’s officials to take God’s word seriously, but other Egyptians—including Pharaoh—refused to humble themselves. It was the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, that finally got Pharaoh to send the Israelites out of his land.
The heart of the gospel is found in the story of the Passover. The Israelite people were sinful; they deserved death just as much as the Egyptians did, but God graciously provided a way out to keep the promises He made to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15.

At the Passover, the Israelites killed a lamb instead. By marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, the Israelites were spared from the judgment and death they deserved.

God kept His promise to rescue His people from the power of the Egyptians. Each year, the Israelites remembered this miraculous event by observing the Passover festival.

Jesus never sinned, but He was crucified for our sins. We too are deserving of death, but the blood of Jesus—the Lamb of God—covers all who trust in Him and sets us free from sin and death.

God is faithful to keep His promises. He calls us to remember that Jesus has freed us from slavery to sin so we are free to live for His glory.
Family Talking points

CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

  • Younger Preschool: God kept the Israelites safe. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is kept safe from the punishment for sin.
  • Older Preschool: God kept the Israelites safe from punishment when they put the blood of a lamb over their doors. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was punished for sin when He died on the cross, and everyone who trusts in Jesus is kept safe from the punishment for sin.
  • Kids: By His grace, God spared the Israelites from judgment by requiring the blood of a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. His death was the ultimate sacrifice, and those who trust in Jesus are under His saving blood and will be passed over in the final judgment.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

  • Younger Preschool: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises.
  • Older Preschool: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises.
  • Kids: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises because He is faithful.

KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

  • Younger Preschool: God keeps His promises. — Numbers 23:19
  • Older Preschool: God is not a man. He will not lie…What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he keeps. — Numbers 23:19
  • Kids: God is not a man. He will not lie. God is not a human being. He does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he keeps. — Numbers 23:19
Family Prayer Time
MORNINGS:
Praise God for His presence when we go through difficult times. How did God’s presence help the Israelites during the plagues? Why could the Israelites trust God through hard times?
EVENINGS:
Thank God for the Bible and how every page points us to Jesus as the Savior we need. How is Jesus the hero of God’s story?
Family ACTIVITY IDEAS
FOR FUN:
Research the foods eaten at a traditional Passover Seder supper and prepare some of those dishes for your family. Explain to your kids that the Feast of Passover remembers when God “passed over” the Israelites who placed the blood of the lamb around their doors. As you eat, talk about the symbolism of the foods and how the Passover pointed to Jesus. 
Supplies: Passover meal items

TO SERVE:
Take time this week to celebrate and remember Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who provides for our salvation. Work as a family to create a poster with John 1:29 written out on it that will hang inside your front door. As you pass through that doorway each day, pause to remember how God saved the Israelites and how He sent Jesus as the One who saves.
Supplies: poster board, marker

LAST WEEK: God Called Moses (Exodus 1-4)
NEXT WEEK: God Parted the Red Sea (Exodus 13-15)
The Gospel Project is a weekly Bible study that helps kids dive deep into the big story of the Bible—God’s plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Your child can access free Gospel Project learning games and activities in the LifeWay Kids app reader available in the iTunes or Google Play stores.