Curriculum

God Provides Manna

God provides manna Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God provides everything we need. It might not look like we think it should, but out of His love and wisdom He provides what is good for us.

Scripture Summary

God had just freed the Israelites after 430 years as slaves to the Egyptians. He miraculously provided a way to cross the treacherous Red Sea. It didn’t take the Israelites long–just a matter of months–to begin complaining after such miraculous deliverance.

Then it happened again. The Israelites faced hardships in the desert (lack of food and water, hot days, cold nights, and lots of walking). They were tired, and it didn’t feel or look like the rescue they were anticipating. They lacked trust in God and failed to recognize His provision.

But God listened to their complaints and provided just what they needed. The Israelites took the manna in the morning, a flaky bread substance, and ground it like grain, making it into a sweet pancake. Each evening, God provided quail for them to eat as well. God decided to test their obedience as He provided. While they were not to store up additional food (other than in preparation for the Sabbath), everyone had what they needed for that day.

What began as a lack of trust in God became a life lesson for the Israelites. When they faced hardships, they felt stressed and began to complain. They wanted a quick escape. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, provided the food they needed and an opportunity for them to learn. They were learning to trust by following God, obeying Him, and recognizing His provisions.

Why Is This Important

God consistently displays how He provides for our every need. He wants us to see and remember how He provides and trust Him more and more each day.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

Passing the Obedience Test With Extra Credit

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instruc- tions.’ ” (Exodus 16:4)

Too often, I’m a “glass half empty” person. I see what’s missing, what could have been, what I think I desired. I can relate to the grumbling Israelities. It was hot, they were tired, and there was no food court in sight. God delivered them...to a barren desert?

In the midst of their grumbling and complaining, God saw and heard the Israelites. He loved them and was attentive to what they needed. Difficult circumstances can lead to stress especially when catalyzed by a lack of trust in the Provider. While the Israelites were asking why can’t the life of freedom be easier, the creative God provided manna and quail.

I wonder what would have happened if the Israelites focused on God’s provision rather than their circumstances. Instead of complaining, they could have woken up thankful to see the manna He provided...yet again. The “yet again” wouldn’t be accompanied with a sigh of bore- dom but a gasp of awe. Yet again, God provided just what they needed.

God planned for the Israelites to develop hearts of gratitude and deep trust while following the strict instructions. He was testing their hearts along with their ability to obey. They couldn’t gather only what they needed for that day without trusting God to provide yet again the very next day. It’s as if thankfulness was extra credit on the test of obedi- ence.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for providing just what I need today. Please help me pay attention to You and Your creative ways to provide the food I eat, place for me to sleep, and the clothes on my back. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: God Provides Manna How-to Video, Bibles, “God Provides” placemat one for each child, Crayons, Contact paper/ masking tape or laminator*

“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” Exodus 16:12

SAY: God provided for the people of Israel because God loved them. God loves us, too, and God provides for us. We’re going to make placemats to remind us at meals that all our food comes from God.

Have kids color their placemats. As children are finished coloring, read aloud the Bible memory verse several times.

* After they complete their placemats in the “Interactive Scripture Experience,” either laminate them in the classroom with contact paper or laminate them and bring them back next week.

SAY: Take these placemats home and use them at your table when you eat with your family. Remember that just as God pro- vided for the Israelites, God provides food for you.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Construction paper, Crayons

FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

Give each child a piece of construction paper. Invite them to fold it in half landscape to make two halves of the paper.

  • Explain that you are going to read through Exodus 16:2-5 very slowly.
  • Explain to the children that they are going to hear two things God provided—one at night and one in the morning. On the left side of their paper they will draw what God provided at night (birds called quail) and on the right side they will draw what God provided in the morning (manna). (Manna may’ve looked like crumbled crackers).

After you are finished, invite kids to show what they drew. Spend extra time talking about all the ways God still provides for us daily.

Snack

Manna Snacks

You’ll Need: Flour Tortillas (one per child), Honey, Sugar, Cinnamon, Plastic knives (one per child), Paper plates

SAY: In today’s lesson we learned that God provided manna for His children. Today you get to make your own kind of manna for a snack. Let’s get started.

  • Give each child a paper plate, a plastic knife, and a flour tortilla.
  • Provide honey for them to pour on their flour tortilla. (Be sure to monitor that they don’t pour too much.)
  • Then invite them to sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon on their manna.
  • Enjoy.

ASK:

  • Could you eat this every day?
  • What’s your favorite meal that God provides for you?

Game

Manna Pick Up Game

You’ll Need: Plastic table cloth or tarp, Several boxes of, Cheerios, Snack baggies - one per child

Spread the table cloth/tarp on the floor and then sprinkle a box of Cheerios on it.

SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, we learned that each morning when the dew was gone, there would be manna on the ground for God’s children to pick up and eat. All they had to do was go out, pick it up and eat it. So you are going to get a chance to pick up some pretend manna today.

Form pairs. Give each child a sandwich bag. Give each pair one minute to pick up as much “manna” as possible. Celebrate the pair that picked up the most manna.

SAY: Today we are reminded that God provides for His children. Not only did He provide for His children in the desert, but He also provides for us today.

Craft

Manna Art

You’ll Need: “God Provides” handout, Colorful cardstock paper, Bowls, Cheerios, Glue, Hand wipes

Get Ready:

  • Copy the “God Provides” handout on colorful cardstock paper.
  • Set bowls of Cheerios in the middle of the tables.

To make the Manna Art, have kids glue Cheerios inside the letters on the “God Provides” handout.

Allow the sheets to dry before the children take them home

Prayer

Thank You Prayer

You’ll Need: Large piece of newsprint or several large pieces so kids can spread out, Crayons

SAY: Today we are going to pause and thank God for all He has provided for us.

Invite children to find a spot on the newsprint to draw something they are thankful that God provided. Give them suggestions like family, home, food, etc. After they have all drawn something, take up the crayons.

SAY: You all drew some great things for us to be thankful for. We are going to pray to God now and thank Him for these things. When I point to each of you, you will say “Thank you God for...” and then name what you drew.

For children too shy to pray aloud, decide on a signal they will give you to skip to the next person. After all the children have prayed, close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, You have provided so much for us. Sometimes we see what You provide and are grateful and sometimes we grumble and complain. Help us live with thankful hearts for all You provide for us. Thank You most of all for providing Your Son Jesus to save us from our sins. In Jesus’ name, amen.