The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 32

Powerpoint Pictures: People swapping stickers; GameBoy; iPad Mini; Nike Lebrons; ASDA Trainers; Plain Hoodie; Jack Wills Hoodie; Ferrari Enzo; Vauxhall Nova

When might you hear the words: “Got, Got, Got, God, Need!”?  [When two people are swapping cards or stickers]

Do you thin the following are good swaps or bad swaps? [GameBoy for iPad Mini; Nike Lebrons for ASDA Trainers; Plain Hoodie for Jack Wills Hoodie; Ferrari Enzo for Vauxhall Nova]

In the next part of the Big Bible Adventure we see the people of Israel make a terrible swap.

God has just given the Israelites the 10 Commandments, commands about love God and loving one another, and the people responded by saying: “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” (Exodus 24:3)

However Moses remained up Mount Sinai for what seemed to be a lifetime (it was only 40 days) and at the bottom of the mountain the people of Israel became impatient.  They asked Aaron to make an idol to worship (breaking both the 1st and 2nd Commandments).  Out of the gold jewellery they gave him, Aaron made a golden calf that they could worship.

Do you see what they had done?  They had done a bad swap!

They had swapped the real God who rescued them from Egypt and provided for them in the desert, for a pretend god that could do nothing.

God was angry at them for what they had done and told Moses that He was going to destroy them.  But Moses prayed and pleaded with God not to wipe out the people by reminding God of His promise.

“Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them.” (Exodus 32:13)

Moses said to God, you’ve been keeping your promise about a great people, but what about your promise of a land for them to live in?

“Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” (Exodus 32:14)

God is a merciful God who does do not give His people what they deserved and He is also a faithful God as He continues to keep the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

But the question still remains: “Will they ever get to the land God had promised them?”

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 19-25

Powerpoint Pictures: School; Home; Country; Road; A Sport; A Board Game

Rules.  Where do we find rules? [School; Home; Country; Road – Highway Code; Sport; Board Games].

Why do we have rules?  Rules are there for our good, for our safety, so that life works the way it should.

In the next part of the Big Bible Adventure we come to some famous rules or commandments.

The Israelites have been travelling in the desert for three months, and finally they reach Mount Sinai.  Moses told the people that this is where God was going to teach them how to live as His special people.

“The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” (Exodus 19:8)

Moses went up the mountain to meet with God, and was given 10 Commandments that the people were to obey.  There were commandments about loving God (Do not worship any except Me; Do not make idols; Do not misuse God’s name; Keep the Sabbath – one day a week special) and commandments about loving one another (Honour father and mother; Do not murder; Be faithful in marriage; Do not steal; Do not tell lies about other people; Do not want what belongs to someone else).

Obeying these rules, God said would please Him and make Him happy.

As well as these 10 Commandments, God gave lots of other instructions including how to build a special tent where God would live amongst His people.  The tent called the Tabernacle would be a reminder to the Israelites that God was with them.

“When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” (Exodus 24:3)

But will they?  Will they do everything the LORD has said?

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 16-17

Powerpoint Pictures: Weather Forecast; Congestion on Road; Referee; Petrol Station Board; Useless Waiter

What do people complain the most about? [The Weather; Traffic; Referees; Price of Fuel; Poor Service].

People whinge and moan when things don’t go the way they want them to.

God’s people, the Israelites, having been rescued from slavery in Egypt, were travelling through the desert to a special mountain that God had told them to go to.

But life in the desert was not easy, and soon they began to moan, forgetting about the amazing rescue God had given them.

“We have no food!”

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” (Exodus 16:4)

The next morning there were strange white wafers that tasted like honey covering the ground – enough food for everyone to eat.  God also provided for them some fresh meat too!

But soon God’s people began to complain again.

“We have no water!”

God told Moses: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.  Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:6)

Sure enough, that’s what happened.  Plenty of water for the people and their animals.

Some time later there was another problem.

“Our enemies are coming!”

Enemies called the Amalekites came to fight against them.  But God helped his people to victory.  “So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army.” (Joshua 17:13)

Instead of punishing them for moaning, God gave them what they didn’t deserve – food, water and victory.  He showed that He could be trusted to look after them.

Eventually the Israelites made it to the special mountain.

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 14

Powerpoint Pictures: Tunnel; Bridge; Boat; Swim; Water Ski; Fly – plane/hang glider; Raft; Li-lo

Imagine you were going on holiday to France.  In order to get to there you have to cross some water (a whole English Channel).  How might you get across? [Tunnel; Bridge; Boat; Swim; Water Ski; Fly – plane/hang glider; Raft; Li-lo]

The Israelites had to cross some water in order to be finally rescued from Egypt.

When the final plague came, God passed over the Israelite homes so that their sons were safe.  But He did not pass over the Egyptian homes and their sons died.  So Pharaoh said “Get out!” leave Egypt.  The Israelite were free!!!

The Israelites travelled through the desert towards the Red Sea.  But after they had left, Pharaoh changed his mind: “We’ve let our slaves go!” and so he set off with his army (600 chariots) and chased after them.

Now the Israelites had reached the Red Sea, and when they looked back they saw the dust cloud of Pharaoh’s army coming after them.  When they looked forward they saw water (lots of water!)

They were scared.  “We’re going to get captured again.”  Moses said to the people “Do not be afraid” the Lord will fight for you.

Go told Moses to stretch out his hand over the Red Sea.  Listen to what happened when he did: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.  The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)

The sea opened up so it was like there was road that ran through it, and all the Israelites quickly crossed to the other side.

The Egyptians chased after them and ran onto the road in the middle of the sea.  God then told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea again, and when he did, the wind stopped and the water came splashing down over the Egyptians.

God’s people were rescued, and now they were safe!

When the Israelites saw God’s power, they put their trust in Him.  That night there was a great celebration in the Israelite camp.  There was a massive party.  They were free!  God had saved them!  Moses and the people laughed and sang songs.  What an incredible rescue!

But what will happen to them now they have been rescued?

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 12

Powerpoint Pictures: Strangers; Stop, Look, Listen; Don’t Run Swimming Pool Sign; Fire Bell; Electric Socket; Matches

We are told some things as children to keep us safe.  [Don’t talk to strangers; Stop, look, listen when crossing a road; Don’t run along the side of the swimming pool; If the fire bell rings meet at a certain location; Don’t put your fingers in electric sockets; Don’t play with matches].

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt.  They needed to be rescued, and God had sent a rescuer, Moses, to lead them out of Egypt.  But Pharaoh said “No!  I will not let the Israelites go.”  Even after 9 plagues had fallen upon the Egyptians (Nile to blood, frog, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness), he still refused to let them go.

Why do you think Pharaoh didn’t want to let the Israelites go?  [As slaves they were a valuable workforce].

God spoke to Moses again and said that He would send one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt, and then Pharaoh would let the people leave.

This plague would be the worst of all the plagues.  It was a plague called the Passover.  God was going to pass through Egypt and every firstborn son and animal will die.

But God also gave instructions to keep the firstborn Israelite sons safe.

Three instructions:

1) Get ready to leave Egypt – put your sandals on, tuck your cloak in your belt, and have your staff at hand.

2) Get a lamb which has no defects, kill it, and paint the sides and tops of the doorframes of your house with its blood.

3) Roast the lamb, and eat it with bread (without yeast) and bitter herbs.  And do all this quickly because you’re about to leave Egypt.

Now it makes sense to get ready to leave Egypt, it makes sense to eat a meal, but why painting your doorframe with blood?

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.  No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)

When God passes through Egypt, every house where He sees the blood on the doorposts, He will pass over and everyone inside those houses will be kept safe.

And that’s what happened.  At midnight every eldest son of every Egyptian died.  But in the home of the Israelites, the eldest son was kept safe because they followed God’s instructions.

Then Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron “Get out, leave Egypt, you and all the Israelites.”  So that’s what they did.  God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  But the story is not quite over yet…

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 5-10

Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures of the 10 Plagues

Teach the following sound effect… [taken from Click 5-7s Unit 3]

• “No” [for Pharaoh’s answer]
• “Er yuk” [for Nile River turning to blood]
• “Ribbet, Ribbet” [for frogs]
• “Buzz, Buzz” [for gnats]
• “Zing, Zing” [for flies]
• “Ker splat” [for death of firstborn cattle]
• “Scratch, Scratch” [for boils]
• “Clatter, Clatter” [for hailstones]
• “Munch, Munch” [for locusts]
• “Ooo! Ooo!” [for darkness]

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt.  They needed to be rescued.  They cried out to God to rescue them, and God answered their prayer by sending a rescuer called Moses.  God promised Moses that He would lead the people out of Egypt.

So Moses went to the king of Egypt, he took his big brother Aaron with him, and they said to Pharaoh, “God says, “Let my people go!”  But Pharaoh said: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go?  I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)

It looked like Moses had failed.  It looked God wouldn’t rescue His people after all.

But Pharaoh (and the Israelites) were about to see that God not Pharaoh is the real King!  God would send 10 plagues to should that God is the powerful King of all.

[Follow the pattern below for the first nine plagues].

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said: God says “Let my people go!”  Otherwise I will send… [insert plague].

But Pharaoh said: [shout out “No!”]  So… [insert plague – then sound effect].

[Comment about how Pharaoh’s magicians could do the first two miracles but none of the others, and how God showed Pharaoh that the Israelites were His people by keeping the plagues of flies, animals dying, boils and hail away from where they lived]

But still Pharaoh would not let the people go.

[After going through the nine plagues] Pharaoh refused to accept that God was in charge, that He is the real King.  But there was one more plague to come.

Will Pharaoh listen after this one and let the people go?

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 2-3

Powerpoint Pictures: Lifeguard; Fire Engine; Rescue Helicopter; The AA Van; Gok Wan

How would you rescue someone who was…? [Drowning; Trapped in a building on fire; Stuck up a mountain; Car broken down; Wearing terrible clothes; A Slave]

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and they were very unhappy.  They needed to be rescued.  So they cried out to God, “Save us, Rescue us”.

God heard the prayers of the people.  He knew what was happening to them.  He felt sorry for them and sent a rescuer.

A baby!

That’s a surprising answer to the people’s prayer.

You would have thought God would have sent someone big and strong like Superman to fly in and beat up all the enemies and set the people free.

Why on earth would he send a baby?

Well the baby was only the beginning.

As you know babies don’t stay as babies forever, and this baby whose name was Moses didn’t stay a baby forever either.  He grew up and ended up leaving Egypt and working in the desert as a shepherd (but how that happened is another story!)

Now one day as he was looking after his sheep and goats, Moses saw a bush on fire.  But there was something strange about this bush.  It was not burning up (when you burn wood on a fire it turns to ash).

So Moses went to have a closer look.  As he did, there was another surprise, the bush started to speak.  Imagine you were walking along one day and a bush started to talk to you?  But it wasn’t the bush speaking.  It was God who was speaking.

God said that he had seen what was happening to his people the Israelites and was going to rescue them.  God then said to Moses, “So now, go.  I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”  (Exodus 3:10).

Moses was worried, but God said He would be with Him.  You see it wasn’t really going to be Moses who would rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, it would be God.

God was going to answer the prayers of His people by sending Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.  Next time we’ll find out how He did…

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)

The Big Bible Adventure – Exodus 1-2

Powerpoint Pictures: David Cameron; Gordon Brown; Barak Obama; George Bush; Queen Elizabeth II; King George Vi; Roy Hodgson, Fabio Capello [Need to be updated as these change]

Who is the current Prime Minister?  [David Cameron]  Who was the Prime Minister before David Cameron? [Gordon Brown]

Who is the current President of USA? [Barak Obama]  Who was the President before Barak Obama? [George Bush]

Who is the current monarch of Great Britain? [Queen Elizabeth II]  Who was the monarch before Queen Elizabeth II? [King George VI]

Who is the current England manager? [Roy Hodgson]  Who was the England manager before Roy Hodgson? [Fabio Capello]

With a new leader things change and are done differently to how they were done before, and that was the case in Egypt as we’re going to see as we continue the Big Bible Adventure.

Joseph and his brothers have all died, and so had the Pharaoh or King who was in charge while they were alive too.

There was now a new Pharaoh in town and this one did know Joseph or how God used him to save the Egyptians (as well as Israelites) during the 7-year famine.

This Pharaoh saw that there were so many Israelites living in Egypt and was worried that in the future they might fight against the Egyptians.  So he made the Israelites his slaves.

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to be a slave in Egypt.  One of the jobs you had to do was make bricks.  And you made bricks by collecting straw.  It was backbreaking work.  Imagine having to do that all day, with no rest, and forever.  Life wouldn’t be much fun at all!

And as the number of Israelites increased, the Egyptians worked them harder and harder.  It was a desperate situation.

The Israelites needed help and they cried out to God, and then we read that “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant [a promise he had made] with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.  So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” (Exodus 2:24-25).

God heard the prayers of His people.  God was concerned about His people as He saw the situation they were in.  But would He do anything to help them?

More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: thx4stock)