What is God Like?

MOSES
AIM: God shows us His character through events

God is a PROVIDER (Y3 T1 UH)

Teaching Idea: God shows us He is a PROVIDER by supplying food to Israel, but when
God provides what we need He expects us to follow His instructions and obey Him.
Learning Tool: Bead with ‘PROVIDER’ written on it for bracelet
Bible Verse: “… my God will supply all your needs.” Philippians 4:19

I Want – I Need

Write two headings:                                   I NEED                                   I WANT
Give a couple of examples:                         A bed to sleep in                  A queen size water bed
Food to eat                            My favourite meal every day

Who can think of something that you actually need, and then something that matches it that you want but do NOT need? (Add answers to the list)

There is a real difference between what we need and what we want. We can cope without the things we want, but we can not cope very well without the things we need.

Sometimes we tell our parents that we need something, and sometimes they agree with us. They realise that we have asked for something important – it is not something that we just want, but it is something that we actually need. They agree to let us have it but only on the condition that we follow their instructions about it.

Below are two examples to highlight the above principle. You don’t need to use both examples. You could dramatise them if you want.

Example #1

You ask your parents if you can have a bike to get to netball practises and games. You mention Mum and Dad are often so busy they don’t get you to practise and games on time and you feel like you’re letting the team down. A bike of your own means you can get yourself there on time and it will help with your fitness. You need a bike. Mum and Dad agree that you need a bike, but will only let you have one on certain conditions – you have to learn and obey the road rules, you have to learn to fix a puncture, and you have to look after it yourself and put it away each night. You agree to these conditions and head off to choose and buy a bike.

Example #2

You ask Mum or Dad if you can have a watch because you need to know what time to turn the oven on and put the vegetables on for tea, and if you are out at someone else’s place you have to keep an eye on the time to know when to leave for home. You need a watch. Mum or Dad agree that you need a watch, but will only let you have one on certain conditions. You must always leave it on when you are at school or away from home, and never lend it to others. And on the days you go swimming you must leave it at home. You agree to these conditions and head off to choose and buy a watch.

Have you been given something that you needed only as long as you followed Mum or Dad’s instructions about it?

Just as our parents will sometimes give us what we need and expect us to follow their instructions, God also provides for His people’s needs and expects them to be obedient and to follow His instructions.

Grumblings

God had gone to great lengths to save His people from slavery. He had sent many warnings to the disobedient king of Egypt to show that He is LORD, and finally He had divided the waters of the Red Sea to save His people. You would think by now that the Israelites would be really thankful to the LORD, and that they would trust Him.

Listen for the answers to these questions:

What did the people need?
What could they have done instead of complaining?

A. Read Exodus 16:2 & 3

There in the desert they all complained to Moses and Aaron and said to them, “We wish that the LORD had killed us in Egypt. There we could at least sit down and eat meat and as much other food as we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert to starve us all to death.

(Answer two questions above)

B. Read Exodus 16:4 & 5

The LORD said to Moses, “Now I am going to cause food to rain down from the sky for all of you. The people must go out every day and gather enough for that day. In this way I can test them to find out if they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to bring in twice as much as usual and prepare it.

Would God give them what they needed?
What did God want to find out about His people?

C. Read Exodus 16:13-15

In the evening a large flock of quails flew in, enough to cover the camp, and in the morning there was dew all around the camp. When the dew evaporated, there was something thin and flaky on the surface of the desert. It was as delicate as frost. When the Israelites saw it, they didn’t know what it was and asked each other, “What is it?” Moses said to them, “This is the food that the LORD has given you to eat.”

How do you think that the people would have felt about God now?
If you had been them, what would you have wanted to say about God?

D. Dramatic Reading Exodus 16:16-31
(Could perhaps have some girls mime while you read)

The LORD has commanded that each of you is to gather as much of it as he needs, two quarts for each member of his household.

The Israelites did this, some gathering more, others less. When they measured it, those who gathered much did not have too much, and those who gathered less did not have too little. Each had gathered just what he needed. Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it for tomorrow.” But some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it. The next morning it was full of worms and smelled rotten, and Moses was angry with them. Every morning each one gathered as much as he needed; and when the sun grew hot, what was left on the ground melted.

On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts for each person. All the leaders of the community came and told Moses about it, and he said to them, “The LORD has commanded that tomorrow is a holy day of rest, dedicated to him. Bake today what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Whatever is left should be put aside and kept for tomorrow.” As Moses had commanded, they kept what was left until the next day; it did not spoil or get worms in it. Moses said, “Eat this today, because today is the Sabbath, a day of rest dedicated to the LORD, and you will not find any food outside the camp. You must gather food for six days, but on the seventh day, the day of rest, there will be none.

On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather food, but they did not find any. Then the LORD said to Moses, “How much longer will you people refuse to obey my commands? Remember that I, the LORD, have given you a day of rest, and that is why on the sixth day I will always give you enough food for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day and not leave his home.” So the people did no work on the seventh day.

The people of Israel called the food manna. It was like a small white seed, and tasted like thin cakes made with honey.

Display Philippians 4:19 ‘… my God will supply all your needs.’

What do you think God expects of us when He keeps His promise?

(That we will follow His instructions and obey Him)

God shows us He is a PROVIDER by supplying what we need, but He expects us to follow His instructions and obey Him.

Prayer

Hand out paper and pens to each girl, and have them write their name and one need which they have and would like to tell God about. When you pray out loud, leave a gap for the girls to silently tell God about their need. Collect up their papers and continue to pray during the week. Ask next Rally whether their needs have been met. Teach thankfulness.