12.29.2024 | Moses Parted the Red Sea
Exodus 13:17–15:21
The Bible tells us that the Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years, and there were about 600,000 men leaving with Moses. If we add to that number the women, children, and other Egyptians who wanted to be a part of the Israelites, we can estimate that there were more than two million Israelites leaving Egypt! That’s equal to the population of Chicago, Illinois, which is the 3rd largest city in the United States!
Now, think about all those people crossing the Red Sea on dry land while God held back the water. How amazing it must have been to see a whole city of people walk through the middle of that miracle! Once again, God demonstrated His power over creation and the enemy so His people could be free.
The Bible describes how our sin makes us enemies of God, but it also shares God’s plan to rescue those who believe. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!”
When there was no way out and all hope seemed lost, God provided a way for the Israelites to be free. Likewise, when we were lost in our sin and without hope, God sent Jesus to rescue us from sin!
The Israelites faced certain death, but God miraculously made a way for them to be saved by parting the Red Sea. We are all sinners and face certain death for our sin, but God miraculously made a way for us to be saved by sending Jesus to die in our place for our sin and rise again.
Memory Verse & Question
Family Prayer Time
Mornings
Ask God to remind you of His great power when you pray. Ask Him to give you boldness when you pray and confidence that He can do anything He chooses! Is there any limit to God’s power? How does God’s power give us confidence to ask Him for things in prayer?
Evenings
Praise God for the ways you saw His glory in creation today. Think of how the vastness of the sky reminds us of God’s greatness, the brightness of the sun reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world, and the evergreen trees are reminders that we can have eternal life through Jesus.
Family Activities
For Fun
Fill a large bowl with water. Use cups or spoons to scoop water from the bowl. Allow kids to use their hands to attempt to ‘hold back’ the water as it falls into the bowl. Discuss God’s power over creation and how He is the only one who can hold back the waters as He did for the Israelites.
To Serve
Visit a local lake or river to collect trash and debris from the shoreline. Dispose of the trash in appropriate bags or bins. As you stand in front of the body of water, talk with kids about how God parted the waters of the Red Sea. Imagine what it would’ve been like to see this miracle and how it might have increased your faith in God.
