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Ark of the Covenant Model
Tag Archives: Moses
Balaam, King Balak and Blessings
Numbers 22-24
Thanks to God’s marvelous help, the Israelites had conquered several kingdoms. The neighboring kings were troubled, or should we say, scared. King Balak had a plan. He knew whoever Balaam cursed would truly be cursed (and whoever he blessed, would be blessed). So he called Balaam. Would Balaam curse the Israelites so Balak could conquer them? No, Balaam listened to God and blessed them — after being persuaded by an Angel and his talking donkey.
In this PowerPoint lesson, the kids have an opportunity to watch a short video of the story and then act it out. There also is a video about donkeys. Did you know donkey’s stubbornness is often due to their smart intellect and strong desire to stay safe? King Balak wanted to be safe, too. However, in his quest for safety, he actually condemned his kingdom. Before this story, God tells the Israelites to leave Moab alone because these are the descendants of Lot. Afterwards however, because of the trap they laid for the Israelites, their kingdom was condemned and they were told to treat them as their enemies.
At the end the kids have the opportunity to make a card and write a blessing inside for someone else. You can use this pdf for the inside messages. Print on white cardstock. Fold the paper in half and have the kids decorate the outside with flowers, hearts, or an umbrella and confetti. May God shower you with blessings.
Moses’ Last Words — Remember….
We have gone through many of the books of Moses: Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Our study of the life of Moses is drawing to an end. Moses’ life on earth is drawing to an end. He wants the people to be successful. He wants them to be faithful to God and to remember God’s covenant to them. So, in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of all these things. God has plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. This is the intent of His Covenant and Commands.
This passage is especially meaningful to me, because this is the passage that my dad read to all of us as part of his final words before he passed away. God really wants us to be with Him. He has done and is doing all He can to make it possible.
In this lesson, we’ll review the 10 commandments and learn about Moses’ death. Though Moses died and was buried by God Himself, we know that he was resurrected because he appeared to Jesus when He was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-8).
In this lesson the kids have an opportunity to make Moses, get prizes for filling in the blanks of the commandments, and show that they remember the stories of Moses by doing charades.
Yikes Snakes! Numbers 21
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Water from the Rock — Just Speak
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Respecting Authority and Aaron’s Budding Rod
Numbers 17
The Israelites again began complaining. Are we really any different? Do we not also complain about our leaders? Of course they aren’t perfect, neither are we. Yet God’s Word teaches us to respect authority because it is God Himself who has allowed them to be in a position of authority. How did God solve this problem of complaining about authority? Numbers 17 tells the story of the leaders putting their staffs in the tent of meeting. These staffs represented their authority. God said they would know who was chosen to be High Priest because his staff would leaf out. In the morning, it was Aaron’s rod that had leaves. Just for good measure, God saw to it that it also had blossoms and almonds!
Interesting side note, as we see in Ezekiel’s vision ( ), the Hebrew word for “almond” is similar to “watching.” The almond tree was the first to bloom and was a signal of spring. Just like they watched for the almond blossoms, God watches us for signs of faith and growth.
In this lesson, the kids can decorate sticks with tissue paper blossoms and paper leaves (or you can use silk flowers) and almonds. For a special snack, you can have them make almond sticks out of almond flour or dip pretzel rods in melted chocolate and put on almonds. I added frosting flowers and leaves.
God With Us — A Tabernacle in the Desert
The Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle Set up — God With Us — Exodus 40
In this presentation we learn about the final aspect of the Tabernacle which is the Most Holy Place and the Ark of the Covenant which was placed there. Then we talk about Moses setting up the Tabernacle. God responds by filling the Tabernacle with His presence! The whole message points to how God wants to be with us. Our text is Jude 24. God has made a way for us to come before His presence with great joy! The craft is priest or coloring picture of the High Priest. I had hoped we would have time for both, but we only had time for one. “Give praise to the God who is able to keep you from falling into sin. He will bring you into his heavenly glory without any fault. He will bring you there with great joy.”
Ark of the Covenant model directions.
A Closer Look
God told Moses how to set up the Tabernacle. (Exodus 40) It tells the story of Redemption. Ironically this story of Redemption happens on the anniversary of Israel’s freedom from Egypt. God works like that. It is His purpose. God told Moses to erect the Tabernacle. I’m not sure how exactly they erected the tabernacle, but it included setting up the 48 golden wall panels set in bases of silver and laying over them the roof coverings. (Exodus 36).
Let’s consider the meaning behind those coverings. The first and inmost covering was the woven linen covering that included colors that tell us about God’s ministry: white because God is Holy and pure, purple because God is King, blue because He is faithful to His promises and just in His law, red because He loves us so much that He gave His only Son [Jesus gave His life for us] that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Golden cherubim were woven in the cloth. The cherubim continually worship God and remind all present that God is Holy, Holy, Holy. This first covering shows God’s grandeur, holiness, and perfect plan. The second covering is goat’s hair. I learned that black goats hair was commonly used for tents because it naturally provided protection from the sun by absorbing the UV rays, protection from heat because when it was dry it let the air flow through the loose fibers, and protection from rain because when wet the fibers expand and become water proof. It reminds me of God’s mercy and protection. Black reminds me of our sin. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Over this, the third covering speaks of His death. This cover was ram skin died red. We hear of this in other redemption stories foretelling the story of Jesus. Abraham was asked to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, but, as Abraham himself prophesied, God would and did provide a ram. (Genesis 22:1-14). Finally, over this was a durable leather. This message is for all people everywhere for all time.
I find the order that God told Moses to set the items within the sanctuary most fascinating. I believe it tells of God coming to tabernacle with us; It tells Jesus’ life story. First Moses was told to bring in the Ark of the Covenant and set it within the Most Holy Place (Exodus 40). This represents God’s throne room in heaven. Or might we say His judgement seat, His Supreme Court. The Ark of the Covenant’s name talks about God’s first Covenant; His promise to be Israel’s God; and His law and testament (Exodus 20). Now a New Covenant is established. Jesus has fulfilled the first Covenant and promised that He will write His law on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:14-15) His law is within us like it was within the Ark of the Covenant. Above the gold covered ark box is the pure gold cover with cherubim facing each other and looking down upon what is called the Mercy Seat (Exodus 37:1-9). Here is the other aspect of God’s judgement seat, it is His Mercy. It is this mercy that is demonstrated in the Tabernacle’s and Jesus’ Redemption story. Then Moses hung the curtain that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy place which veiled God’s glory. (Spoiler Alert: The debt was paid, we are redeemed, the veil was torn as Jesus said, “It is Finished”, now we can come boldly before the throne.)
The second piece of furniture to be brought in was the Table that held the Bread of Presence (Exodus 25:23-30). God came from heaven. Jesus was the bread of life, the true bread from heaven, born in Bethlehem, the city of bread, born to give us life. (John 6:30-40) He will be called, Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).
The third piece of furniture to be placed was the lamp stand, which also represents Jesus. He also is the light of the world (John 8:12). Because He came, we do not need to walk in darkness. Jesus came to show us God’s love through His good works. He encourages us to also let our light shine so that our good works will glorify the LORD in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Then the altar of incense was placed in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The smoke and aroma of this incense on this table would continually rise as our prayers rise to heaven. Jesus continually prayed (Luke 5:16). He prayed for his disciples and for us (John 17). What other insights can be drawn from this altar?
After Moses hung up the curtain in front of the Holy Place, he set up the Altar of Sacrifice. Here we see foreshadowed Jesus’ death. Jesus, the lamb of God, came to take away the sin of the world once and for all. It was a perfect sacrifice. (John 1:29, Hebrews 10:5-14)
Finally, the basin of water was set up. Jesus said, “‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.'” (John 7:37-39)
Find more Presentations about the Tabernacle and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai here.
The Golden Calf
Exodus 32-34
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.
God Leads through the Red Sea
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!
Covenant and 10 Commandments at Mt Sinai
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.
The craft is a mobile of the 10 Commandments.
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