Week of January 24, 2016: The Israelites Crossed the Red Sea

Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17–17:7
Big Picture Question: Is anything too hard for God to do? Nothing is impossible for God.
Key Passage: Exodus 6:7
Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity.

The crossing of the Red Sea is an event in history that exudes God’s grace. This even has been remembered for generations as God’s mighty redemptive act. God had clearly shown His power in Egypt through the 10 plagues; at the Red Sea, God acted in an even mightier way.

Instead of leading the Israelites into the wilderness, God instructed Moses to turn back so that the Egyptians would think they were lost. God purposefully hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would pursue the Israelites. Why? “Then I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh” (Ex. 14:4)

All night long, the Lord kept a pillar of a cloud between Egypt’s chariots and the Israelites. Then He instructed Moses to stretch out his hand; God drove back the sea with a powerful east wind. By faith, the Israelites passed through on dry ground! (See Hebrews 11:29.) When Pharaoh and the Egyptians followed after them, the waters came back and covered the entire army of Pharaoh. None of them survived.

God created a way to save His chosen people by parting the Red Sea. In the same way, God created the way for people to escape the penalty of sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. God didn’t make the way of salvation for us because we deserve it, but because of who He is: a gracious and loving God who created us to be in relationship with Himself.

Week of January 17, 2016: The Passover

Bible Passage: Exodus 11:1–13:16
Big Picture Question: Why is the Passover important? The Passover was the way God chose to save His people and is a picture of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners.
Key Passage: Exodus 6:7
Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity.

The tenth plague was the most severe and had the greatest impact on the Egyptian people. God told Moses that around midnight, every firstborn male in Egypt would die. No one would be excluded. Even the firstborn of the livestock would die. But God gave specific instructions to the Israelites. They were to slaughter a lamb or goat and put its blood on their doorposts. The blood on the doorpost would be a distinguishing mark. When God saw the blood, He “passed over” the house.

The Israelite people were sinful, and they deserved death just as much as the Egyptians did. But God, by His grace, provided them a way out. By marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, they were spared from the judgment and death they deserved. They deserved to die; the lamb was killed instead.

Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). His death was the ultimate sacrifice, and those who are under His saving blood will be passed over in the final judgment. God gave the Passover to show us His loving provision for sinful man to be made right with Him.

Week of January 10, 2016: Moses Confronted Pharaoh

Session Title: Moses Confronted Pharaoh
Bible Passage: Exodus 5:1–6:13; 6:28–11:1
Big Picture Question: What did God show the Egyptians and the Israelites? God showed that He is the one true God.
Key Passage: Exodus 6:7
Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity.

Moses’ appeals to Pharaoh to let the Israelites go were not well received. Time and time again, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh refused to let the people go. Wait a second. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Wasn’t God the One wanting the Israelites out of Egypt? Why would he do such a thing?

God did not contradict Himself. He has a special purpose behind everything He does. Moses confronted Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival for Me in the wilderness.” Note Pharaoh’s response: “Who is Yahweh that I should obey Him by letting Israel go?” (Ex. 5:1­2).

Pharaoh did not recognize God’s authority.The plagues were acts of judgment designed to show the Egyptians who God is. And they learned their lesson.

God called Moses to be His servant. The Bible says that Jesus is greater than Moses. Jesus was a servant who obeyed God perfectly and suffered to free His people from sin.

Week of January 3, 2016: Moses Was Born and Called

Session Title: Moses Was Born and Called
Bible Passage: Exodus 1:8–2:10,23­25; 3:1–4:20
Big Picture Question: Why did God save Moses? God saved Moses to rescue His people from captivity.
Key Passage: Exodus 6:7
Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people from physical captivity in Egypt as He would one day send Jesus to save His people from spiritual captivity.

Moses’ story is a clear picture of God’s sovereignty. Not only was Moses’ life spared by the Egyptian princess, but also his mother nursed him and he grew up in the house of Pharaoh. God also planned for Moses to spend years shepherding in Midian before He called him to his task.

Imagine the encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush. God drew a curious Moses to Himself, and then He spoke to him: “Moses, Moses!”

Perhaps God’s greatest revelation to Moses was His name: “I AM WHO I AM.” The most basic and
important fact about God is that He exists—He always has and always will exist. He does not change. God revealed to Moses who He is so that Moses would trust in Him.

The calling of Moses points to a greater calling and rescue—the call of Jesus to come to earth to save God’s people from their sin. When kids better understand who God is, they can trust in