Curriculum
Moses Gets Water From a Rock
Memory Verse:
“So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out.” Exodus 17:6
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Nothing is impossible with God. To the Israelites, it looked like they were going to die of thirst in the desert. But God knew His plan to miraculously provide water out of a rock.
Scripture Summary
The Israelites spent more than 400 years as slaves in Egypt. That’s approximately 10 generations of slavery. Miraculously, God had delivered the Israelites from slavery and into the care of Moses. He had led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and onto a path to the Promised Land.
After all of the years of slavery, the Israelites were seeking a quick journey to the Promised Land. However, that’s not what God had planned. Throughout their journey, the Israelites complained as they traveled through the desert. God met their needs and even considered their complaints as He provided food (quail and manna). The Israelites were thankful for a short while, but then quickly turned to complaining.
The Israelites weren’t just complaining about their thirst; they were questioning whether or not God was really with them. They chose to complain rather than wisely seek a solution, or better yet pray about their struggles. Moses was frustrated as he led the complaining people, and he cried out to God for help and guidance.
And God provided… yet again. God was faithful to Moses and the Israelites despite the poor attitudes of the Israelites. Miraculously, God provided water from a rock for the Israelites to drink.
God gave Moses specific instructions on how to solve the challenge and provide water for his people. Moses was to take his staff and elders as witnesses to a specific rock at Horeb. Moses was to strike the rock with the staff, and God would cause fresh water to flow freely from the rock. The best part, God promised to be with Moses throughout the process.
Why Is This Important
Life often seems impossible. Circumstances are out of our control. Past decisions have brought debilitating consequences. When we’re down, life seems to strike again with a blow. But God, in His limitless power, can do the impossible to provide a way for us to face another day.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
When God Doesn’t Use His Power
“But the Lord made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He stretched out the heavens. When He speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over
the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from His storehouses.” (Jeremiah 10:12-13)
Jeremiah pleaded with God’s people to turn from their sins and return to God.
He eloquently describes the unfathomable power that God contains and has already used to create the earth. Our God is all-powerful and can do the impossible.
God rescued Noah and his family. He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. God allowed David to slay a giant with a stone. He instantly healed countless people through Jesus’ ministry. God raised Lazarus from the dead. There’s no question that God can do anything.
Though sometimes He chooses to not do the impossible.
Read the words of Lauren Daigle’s song Trust in You as she explores her response when our all-powerful God doesn’t miraculously solve her challenges.
When You don't move the mountains I'm needing You to move When You don't part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don't give the answers as I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You.
Take a moment to consider the impossible things God has already done in your life. How has your life been changed by each of these miracles?
Now consider your life right now. What is one area of your life in which you need God to do the impossible? How have you navigated this challenge–with complaints, or in anticipation of God’s work? While God’s ways are mysterious, how can you practice trusting Him today?
Spend a few minutes talking with God. Share with Him your concerns and fears. Be honest with Him about what you’d like to see happen in the situation. Commit to trusting Him and His plan, even if it doesn’t match what you’d like to see happen.
The all-powerful God of the universe who created everything and has performed countless miracles loves you. You. You are His beloved child.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me. I know that You can do anything–even the impossible. Please help me trust You and your plan today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: One smooth rock per child, Fine-tipped permanent markers
So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out.” Exodus 17:6
SAY: Let’s do something now to help us learn our Bible memory verse. Moses and God’s people were in a desperate situation, and God did something impossible. When Moses followed God’s instructions, God saved them!
Follow these steps:
- Let each child choose a smooth rock.
- For each child, write the memory verse on the rock and draw a water droplet, then blow on it to dry the ink.
- Form a circle with kids holding their rock in one hand.
- Have children take turns tapping their rock with their finger like Moses striking the rock and then saying the Bible memory verse with everyone together.
- Encourage kids to take their rock home, show it to their family, and tell how God provided for His people.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible, Robe, Pool noodle, One disposable cup per child, Rock, Pitcher of water, Tape
Get Ready: Set out the supplies, but keep the pitcher of water out of sight. Post signs at designated areas of your room to be the Wilderness and Mount Sinai.
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, God’s people wandered through the desert and wilderness on their journey to the land that God had promised them. Their journey had been hard, but now it got even harder! As Moses led them to a place to camp, they couldn’t find water. It was terrible. Their lives were in danger! And they were really angry with Moses, thinking he had led them into the desert just to die. Things were tense! Now you get to help tell what happened.
Here’s what to do in this impromptu play.
- You’ll pretend to be Moses. Put on the robe and carry the pool noodle for a staff.
- Tell the children that they’ll be the thirsty and unhappy Israelites who follow Moses. Explain that when you raise your hand, they’ll grumble and complain very loudly. When you lower your hand, they’ll be silent.
- Explain that Moses and the Israelites will act out what’s happening in the story as you read.
SAY: Moses led the Israelites out of the wilderness into the desert while they searched for a place to camp.
Lead children haphazardly around the room, changing course a couple times. Then stop.
SAY: Finally, they found a place that looked good to camp. It was near Mount Sinai.
Have Israelites pretend to set up camp at Mount Sinai.
SAY: There was just one problem: There was no water to drink! And the people and their animals were very thirsty!
- Raise your hand while the Israelites grumble loudly.
- Tamp the staff on the floor and say, “Why are you complaining against me and testing God?”
- Raise your hand even higher so the Israelites complain even louder.
SAY: Moses was frustrated and scared. He thought the people might hurt him, they were so angry. So, he went to his tent, fell to his knees, and asked God for help.
Drop to your knees, raise the staff, and say, “God, please help!”
SAY: God helped Moses. He told Moses exactly what to do so that God would do an impossible thing.
Snack
Water From Rock Snacks
You’ll Need: Large pretzel sticks, Cheese slices, Lettuce leaves, Pop Rocks candies, Small paper plates, Cups, Water, Napkins, Sanitizing hand wipes
Have kids clean their hands with hand wipes.
SAY: This represents the camp the Israelites set up. They were very thirsty because there was no water!
Have kids use the lettuce leaf and cheese slice to build a tent (lettuce leaves) over a sleeping blanket (cheese slice).
SAY: This represents Moses’ staff and the rock he struck as God instructed.
Distribute a large pretzel stick and Pop Rocks candies to each child.
SAY: This represents the water that gushed from the rock Moses struck.
Distribute a cup of water to each child.
Thank God for doing impossible things for His people and for us. Then enjoy!
SAY: God created a miracle so thousands of people would have plenty of water to drink. God saved everyone when He did an impossible thing!
Game
Walk the Rocks Game
You’ll Need: Gray or brown construction paper, Scissors, Open play area
Explain to kids that they’ll be playing a game called “Walk the Rocks.”
Play the game like this:
- Have kids line up on one side of the area at the “rock” path.
- Tell kids they must cross the “stream” by stepping only on the rocks.
If they fall into the stream, they’re out and must sit beside the stream.
- Once all kids have crossed in one direction, remove one rock and spread all the rocks a little further apart. Do this each time all kids have crossed in one direction, gradually spreading the rocks further and further apart. Any kids who are “out” can cheer on their friends.
- Play until all kids are out.
AFTERWARD, ASK:
- What helped you cross the rocks in this game?
- How does God help you in everyday life?
Craft
Water From a Rock Craft
You’ll Need: “Moses Gets Water From a Rock How-to Video", Brown, tan, gray, and black construction paper, Washable white, brown, black, and gray paint Four pie tins or plastic plate, Sponges, Scissors, Water, Blue glitter glue, Markers, Hand Wipes
Get Ready: Set out the supplies. Cut sponges into odd shapes and sizes.
Have kids follow these steps for a unique “Water From a Rock” craft.
- Have kids choose a color of construction paper and then tear (no scissors!) the paper into a rock shape. (The bigger, the better.)
- Show kids how to dip a damp piece of sponge into paint and then create a rough, “rocky” pattern on their construction paper rocks.
- Let kids decorate their rocks with paint, then add a water-droplet shape somewhere on it using the blue glitter glue.
- Write “God provides for me!” on the bottom of the rock.
- Set the crafts aside to dry.
SAY: God’s people were in need, and He did something impossible for them. There are times in life when we have needs, too. It might be a basic need, like for water or food. Or it can be a complex need, like help with a friendship or a job for our parent. No matter what our needs are, we can always ask God for help and trust that He is listening. God can do impossible things.
ASK:
- What do you think happened after God’s people got water?
- What do you think happens today when God does something impossible for people?
SAY: Moses was in a desperate situation with no easy answer and God’s people were dying of thirst. God saw this and provided a miracle for them by giving them water from a rock. They were saved, and they knew they could trust God to provide.
Prayer
You’ll Need: A “Water From a Rock” handout for each child, Crayons
Distribute the “Water From a Rock” handout and three crayons to each child.
Have children sit in a circle. Tell them they’ll use the crayons you gave them to silently color certain items on the handout as you pray.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You for choosing Moses to lead Your people. Have kids color Moses’ head wrap.
Thank You for telling him to strike the rock and save Your people.
Have kids color the rock.
Thank You for providing them plenty to drink. Have kids color the water.
Thank You for doing impossible things for us, too. Help kids write their name on the paper.
In Jesus’ name, amen!
