Sessions 11-12: Exodus from Egypt
- Teresa
- Aug 13, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 14, 2020
Exodus 1-14
400 years pass and the descendants of Israel have multiplied and grown very strong, such that the land (Egypt) was filled with them. Over time, the Israelites have been enslaved by the Egyptians and the first half of the book of Exodus describes how God leads his people out of Egypt.
Session 11: God calls Moses
Read or watch a video with your kids on Exodus 1 - 4:17
Video 1: Baby Moses
Exodus 1 - 2
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf-4x4iefQE
Video 2: God calls Moses
Exodus 2-3
Source: Saddleback kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kNTUX0mWP8
Discussion:
God calls Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. He also sends his brother Aaron to help him. Remember Jacob and his 12 sons? Jacob's 3rd son, who's name is Levi, is the great grandfather of Moses and Aaron.
What kind of a person is Moses? Does he seem like the person who is going to be the great prophet that leads Israel out of Egypt?
Answers can vary.
Moses stays faithful to God and his people, even though he was raised by the Egyptians.
He is upset when he sees his fellow Israelites being beaten. But he deals with it in the wrong way, he kills the Egyptian and has to go into hiding.
Moses is also very fearful and hesitant when God tells him to bring his people out of Egypt. He feels inadequate and highlights his weaknesses (e.g. he is not eloquent).
Even though Moses seems like a regular guy, one who is a fugitive and appears weak and fearful - with God all things are possible. Throughout salvation history we will see that God often chooses the weak and unqualified to work through and do great things.
What does God do when Moses is doubtful of his ability?
He reassures Moses and tells him that he will be with him. He gives Moses 3 signs to help him believe, as well as to help convince others - (i) turning his rod into a serpent and back into a rod (ii) his hands becomes leprous and is later restored to normal (iii) turning water from the Nile into blood on dry ground. God also reminds Moses that with him, nothing is impossible, and that he would be with his mouth and teach him what to say. He also tells Moses that he will send his brother Aaron to help him.
Reflect: Do we always rely on our own efforts, or do we lean on God and trust in him?
What do we learn about God through the burning bush encounter? What does God say when he reveals his name? (See Exodus 3)
God is holiness itself and we must approach him with reverence ("Do not come near, put off your shoes... for the place on which you are standing is holy ground" - Exodus 3:5)
He is personal, faithful and constant (("I am the God of your father...the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob - Exodus 3:6).
He is a compassionate God. He hears our prayers ("I have seen the affliction of my people... and have heard their cry") and intervenes ("I have come down to deliver" - Exodus 3:6-8)
He doesn't work alone and works through people to fulfill his will ("I will send you...that you may bring forth my people" - Exodus 3:10)
He is patient and loving - even when Moses doubts his ability to lead his people out of Exodus, he reassures him, gives him signs to help him believe, and sends his brother Aaron to help him - Exodus 4:1-16.
God reveals his name to be "I AM WHO I AM" in Exodus 3-14. CCC* 206-207 tells us that this mysterious, divine name expresses God as what he is - infinitely above everything that we can understand or say. It also tells us his faithfulness is everlasting - both past and for the future. He is always there, present to his us.
*CCC - Catechism of the Catholic Church
Session 12: 10 Plagues of Egypt
Read or watch a video on Exodus 4-14
Video 3: 10 Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 4-14)
Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzcYLCYItuc
Discussion
Why did God send the plagues on Egypt? What message was he sending?
God sent Egypt plagues to display his power and convince Pharaoh to let his people go.
The way in which he sent the plagues also sent a strong message. The ancient Egyptians worshiped many gods - for example, Wadjet the cobra goddess, Heqt the frog-headed goddess, Hapi, which represented the spirit of the river Nile. By using the sign of the snake (Aaron's conjured snake ate the conjured snakes of the Egyptian magicians), turning the Nile into blood, sending a plague of frogs, etc. - God was showing that he was Lord, Creator of all things, and more mighty than the Egyptian gods. He was not only showing the Egyptians his power and might, he was also teaching the Israelites to trust in him.
The final plague, the death of the the firstborn, brings about the Passover. The Passover would be celebrated by the Jews thereafter, in remembrance of the time when God led them out of the Egypt into the promised land. Watch the next video on the Passover:
Video 4: Passover
Source: Crossroads Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IwMt-KLkSE
What is the Passover?
The 10th plague was the death of the Egyptian first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb. With the mark, the Lord passed over the first born in these homes, hence the name.
The Israelites celebrate this festival for generations after (even till today), in remembrance of how God saved them from the Egyptians and led them into the promised land.
For older kids: What's the connection between the Passover in the Old Testament, and Jesus' sacrifice in the New Testament?
When Israelites celebrate Passover, they sacrifice a lamb, in remembrance of how God delivered them from Egypt and led them into the promised land.
In the New Testament, Jesus is the true Passover lamb. During the last supper with the disciples (which took place during Passover), Jesus explained that His body and blood would be given for the forgiveness (or passing over) of our sins. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, who delivers us from our sins, and brings us into the 'promised land' of eternal life.
After the 10th plague, Pharaoh agrees to let the Israelites go. When he subsequently changes his mind and sends his men after the Israelites, God demonstrates his might once again by parting the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross. The Israelites rejoice as they escape the oppression of Egypt, and the journey to the promised land begins.
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