Here you'll find an array of activities for elementary children that can be used in Children's Ministry, after-school programs, in the classroom and by homeschoolers.
The Israelites had just seen the power of the LORD in the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, their captors demise, God bringing water from a rock, God sending manna each day, and His awesome giving of the 10 Commandments and covenant. They had even committed to keeping the covenant. But they didn’t. Moses was gone for 40 days on the mount. Seventy of the elders were also worshipping on the mount. But the people grew tired or complacent or anxious or…. What did go through their minds?
They asked Aaron to make them a god to lead them. The glory of the God that was leading them was still shining on the mount. Did they really want a lesser god? Aaron told them to bring their gold. They did. He fashioned a calf. The people declared that this was their god who would lead them. Aaron declared a festival to God. Wait a minute. To God?
There were many consequences to this grave sin of the graven image. Many died. Yet others deepened their commitment to the LORD.
We are starting a very special series on the Tabernacle that the Israelites built near Mt Horeb (Sinai) according to the directions and pattern given to Moses by God. It is rich in parallels that teach us about God’s best and most important gift, our salvation.
I can’t say it any better than Brennan, so I’ll share His post on the significance of the outer court. Check out his blog at: Brennan’s Pen: The Courtyard https://share.google/irJaJ4lMEJNMrTvTv
After the Golden Calf experience, many repented from their sin and truly chose to worship God. God renewed His covenant and invited the people to build a special Tabernacle. This lesson from Exodus 35 shows how much the people gave. They gave generously and cheerfully. They gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop giving!
Exodus 38:1-9 tells about the Tabernacle Courtyard design. The courtyard was where the people came to offer their gifts. They brought sacrifices to confess their sins and also thank offerings. Here they came to pray, praise the Lord and worship. It is here that we learn about God’s greatest and most important gift, the gift of salvation.
This PowerPoint presentation (and the next 2 lessons) encourages you and the children to make a model of the sanctuary. The model can be one with felts, a paper model, or a classroom size model. The directions and ideas are given in the presentation.
I did the basic work of making an altar, basin, and the curtains. The kids got to put on the bronze paper to finish the altar, add some more mirrors to the basin, and put up the curtains on the entry posts.
To make the altar I took one of Lowe’s blue boxes. I measured 10 inches from the top and cut around the sides of the box at that line. Then I flipped that top over so that it looks like the inner grate spoken of in scripture. I taped the sides all around. The box can easily be flattened for storage by turning it over, untaping the bottom, and then untaping the ‘top’ which is now the middle grate from its underside.
I made the basin by spray painting a very large metal bowl and metal vase with bronze spray paint. The picture doesn’t show the mirrors on it yet.
We often think of Moses leading the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. In fact, the Bible is very clear that God was leading them. The Israelites saw this by God’s special cloud stopped when it was time to camp and moved forward when it was time to go. It was shade during the hot days and a pillar of fire during the cold, very dark nights.
You would think with all the evidence of God’s power and sovereignty in Egypt and such an ever-present sign of God’s leading that they would completely trust in God and have no fear or worries. But that just isn’t usually true of us humans. Let’s put FAITH over fear.
God gave the Israelites yet another reason to trust Him. This is what God does. He presents us with opportunities of fear or faith. He led them to a place where they could not run away. They were hemmed in by cliffs on the side, a canyon behind them with the Egyptian army bearing down on them, and in front was the impassable Red Sea. When life looks impossible and impassable, that is where God want to show us His power. With Him all things are possible.
Interactive PowerPoint Presentation
In this presentation, the kids will get to make a craft and act out the story of the dramatic escape through the Red Sea. The Israelite’s were in a pickle; a God-designed pickle. How would they escape the Egyptians when they were stuck between mountains and the gigantic Red Sea? When we are in a pickle, we too can be calm, pray, and know that God will make a way. He will fight for us. He will lead us. He will always be with us!
Moses and the Israelites, after 3 months of travel from Egypt, finally arrive at Mt. Horeb, which we know as Mt Sinai. Along the way, they have seen God’s many wonders demonstrating that He is the One true God, the Sovereign Creator and King over all things. They have experienced His sustaining care and have received water, food from heaven, shade from His cloud during the day, warmth and light from His cloud at night, and a Providential win against their enemies. Now they are ready to join in a kingdom covenant with God.
I wondered, “What is the true meaning of a covenant?” I found it interesting that, unlike an agreement or contract, a covenant is enduring, signed by blood — it’s forever, even if one of the parties neglects to keep their end of the deal. Wow! This is significant because God made the Israelites a special kingdom, a holy nation. However, they did not keep the Commandments given by God as a part of the covenant.
Jesus stepped in to keep the covenant. He perfectly kept the law and all that God wanted Him to do. He showed His love, humbleness, and obedience by dying for us on the cross. His death and resurrection not only fulfilled the old covenant, it opened up a new covenant that is available to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. We are God’s children and part of His eternal kingdom. We show our love to Him by keeping His commandments with His help.
Interactive PowerPoint Presentation — A Covenant and 10 Commandments
This presentation is dramatic with trumpets and thunder. It includes videos that tell about the covenant and song. I hope you can use it in your children’s ministry.
