God Gives Us Families

(The Story of Moses, Miriam, and Aaron)

Written by Carolyn Warvel

Scripture Reference: Exodus 2 - 3, and Numbers 12

Printable Bible Verse Cards: Print out onto card stock, cut apart, and send home with each child. (KJV Pattern or NIV Pattern). (Printing Problems?)

Teaching Concept: Children learn that God gives us families to help us, protect us, and teach us. Sometimes we don't get along, but we can learn from our mistakes and learn how to love like God wants us to love through our families.

Early Arrivals Activity

1. Color a "God Gives Us Families" Picture - Before class print out the patterns and make copies. Have your children color the pictures as you talk about families. Ask your children how many brothers and sisters they have, if they know their grandparents, and how many cousins, or aunts and uncles they have. (KJV Color Sheet or NIV Color Sheet) (Printing Problems?)

2. "God Gives Us Families" Coloring Book - Each page of this book gives another reason why God created families. Have your children color the pages they would like and talk about the pages as they work.

Challenge your children to do at least five things in the book this week: Have fun with their families, show love, cuddle, help a family member, comfort someone, do something enjoyable together, laugh together, do something to make a good memory, spend time together, do something to show a family member that you cherish him or her, show you care, share, forgive, pray and thank God for your family with someone in your family. Give them little sticky tabs to mark the pages that show something that they would like to do with their family or friends this week. (You can use the mini books below for this activity instead.)

Print out the pages and assemble them according to these Directions. Do not cut the pages apart. (Pattern 1, Pattern 2, Pattern 3, Pattern 4, and Pattern 5, Pattern 6, Pattern 7, Pattern 8, Pattern 9, and Pattern 10) (Printing Problems?)

The Lesson

How many of you have brothers or sisters? Did you know that God gave you brothers and sisters for a reason? It can be great to have brothers and/or sisters. Let's think of some reasons why it is good to have brothers and/or sisters. (Let your children share their ideas.)

1. You always have someone close by to play with and talk to.

2. If you have older brothers or sisters, they can help teach you to do things that they have learned. They can help your parents watch out for you.

3. They help you to learn how to get along with others. You learn how to live in peace even when they can be annoying.

4. If you have younger brothers or sisters, you can learn how to help your parents, take care of others, and teach others.

But there are also things that make having brothers and sisters not so great sometimes like:

1. They can tell on you or get you in trouble when you do something wrong.

2. You may feel like they get all the attention from your parents.

3. You may not be able do everything you want to do or get everything you want because your parents also have to buy things for your brothers and sisters.

4. You may feel like your parents don't have time for you.

5. You may have to compete with your siblings to get what you want.

Our Bible story today is about someone who had a great family. (Open your Bible to Exodus and tell the story in your own words.) You probably know the story of Moses. Moses had a great family! His mother loved God and cared about him very much. When he was born he was in great danger because the ruler of Egypt was a very mean man. He made it a law that all the Israelite baby boys that were born had to be killed. Of course, Moses' mother would never allow that. She made a basket for him and hid him in the reeds along the bank of a river.

Miriam Helps Her Brother

Moses' mother had his older sister, Miriam, watch over him while he was in the basket. Miriam was a very good older sister and did what her mother asked of her. But one day the evil ruler's daughter came down to the river and found baby Moses. She thought he was really cute and decided that she would keep him for herself. Miriam was hiding in the reeds not far away. She was scared, but she knew she had to do something. She bravely went up to the princess and asked her if she needed a nurse for the baby. The princess said yes, and Miriam went to find her mother. The princess paid Moses' mother to take care of Moses, her own child, while he was a baby. Miriam had helped save her brother's life.

Do any of you have an older brother or sister? Do they help your mother watch over you when she is busy?

Are you an older brother or sister? Do you help your parents watch out for your younger brothers or sisters?

 

Aaron Helps His Brother

Moses became the princess' son and lived with her, but he knew he was different. One day he saw a Egyptian beating up Hebrew and it made him very angry. He killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand because he didn't want to get into trouble. But someone had been watching and told on him. When Pharaoh heard the news he was very angry and tried to kill Moses, but Moses ran away to hide in a town far away. There he got married and had some children.

In the mean time the Israelites back in Egypt were having a very hard time. There was a new Pharaoh and he was even worse than the last. He was very mean to the Egyptians and made them work very hard. God heard the Egyptian's cries and had a plan to rescue them. One day Moses was out looking after his flock and God appeared to him in a burning bush. He told Moses that he was sending him back to Egypt to lead his people out of Egypt to the Promised Land.

But Moses told God that he was too afraid to go back to Egypt. God told him that he didn't have to be afraid because he would be with him, but Moses still didn't want to do it. He told God that he had never been good a speaking, but God told him that he didn't have to worry about that because he would tell him what to say. But Moses still didn't want to do. He asked God to send someone else instead of him. This made God mad, but God had an idea and sent Aaron, Moses' older brother, to speak for Moses. God told him that he would speak to Aaron what he tells him to say and it would be like Aaron was his mouth and as if Moses was God to Aaron. Moses and Aaron did what God wanted them to do and with God's help they lead all the Israelites safely out of Egypt.

Have you ever been afraid to do something and had an older brother or sister help you to do it so that you weren't so scared like Aaron helped Moses?

Have you ever helped a younger brother or sister do something that he or she was too afraid to do?

 

Miriam and Aaron Show Jealousy

Miriam and, Aaron worked side by side for many years helping their younger brother, Moses, guide God's people out of Egypt. Together they helped the people flee from Egypt and guided them through the desert. They depended on each other, and they depended on God. But, like all brothers and sisters, sometimes there was jealousy and arguing between them. As you know, brothers and sisters do not always get along. Miriam and Aaron were not at all happy when Moses decided to marry a Cushite woman. They began to complain and question Moses' position as leader. Miriam grumbled, " God had spoken to all of them, so why was he the leader?"

Can you think of a time when you were jealous of your brother of sister? If you do not have a brother or sister, can you think of a time that you were jealous of a friend?

Families Forgive Each Other

This made God very angry. Like an angry father, God told all three of them to come outside because he wanted to talk to them. When they were outside, he told Miriam and Aaron to step forward and told them to listen to what he had to say. God spoke to them through a cloud and told them that Moses was very special because he was very faithful and that he had a special relationship with him. He talked to Moses face to face, not in dreams or visions like the other prophets. Then he asked them, "Knowing how important Moses is to me, why weren't you afraid to speak out against him?" Then God left them. When God left Miriam's skin turned white as snow. She was covered in a terrible disease called leprosy! When Aaron saw this he begged Moses to forgive them for what they had done, and asked him to help Miriam.

Moses loved Miriam and wanted to help. He cried out to God to please heal her. God listened to Moses and healed his sister.

It is important to ask for forgiveness from our brothers and sisters when we do something wrong. Can you think of a time you had to say you were sorry and ask for forgiveness from a brother or sister or friend?

 

Prayer

Father, We want to thank you for our families today. Help us to get along, respect each other, and to forgive each other when we do things that hurt each other. Amen.

Activities

1. Read "The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight" - by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Brother and Sister Bear usually got along very well, but one morning Brother Bear woke up cranky and things went from bad to worse. The bears fought all day, calling each other names, not saying please and thank you, shouting at each other, and not talking to each other until Mother Bear stepped in. She explained that everybody gets into an argument once in a while, even people who love each other, but after a while it's over. The bears learn that making up after a fight is lot like a beautiful rainbow appearing after a storm. After reading the story to your children ask them if this reminds them or their family. Ask them what they argue or fight about and what they can do to keep from fighting with their siblings. Have them act out getting into a fight about something , saying, "I'm sorry", and "I forgive you." (You can probably find this book in your local library.) The Berenstain Bears Get In a Fight By Random House, Inc After causing a family commotion when they fight with each other, the Berenstain cubs learn that sometimes even the best of friends don't get along. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

2. Read "The Best Family in the World" by Susana Lopez

3. Read "On Mother's Lap" by Ann Herbert Scott

Michael loves sitting on his mother's lap rocking back and forth, back and forth. He also has many special objects that he loves to hold while he is on his mother's lap, and he finds that his mother's lap is big enough for him and all his things. When Michael's little sister wakes up he is not very excited about sharing his mother's lap with him, but finds out that her lap is big enough for both of them, and it feels good snuggling with his mother and baby sister rocking back and forth. Before reading this book show your children the picture of Michael's mother making the "whisper" sign at the beginning of the story. Ask your children if their mother ever does that to them and why. When you have read the story ask your children how they thought Michael felt sitting on his mother's lap at the beginning of the story, how he felt when his little sister woke up, and how he felt when both him and his sister where sitting on her lap. Ask them if they ever felt that way. Tell them that sometimes it is hard when you have brothers and sister, but parents have enough love for all of their children, and God has enough love for all his children. On Mother's Lap, Board Book By Scott / Houghton-mifflin Sweet and gentle, this little board book captures the love between an Eskimo mother, son and new baby sister. Charming illustrations show that no matter what, there's always room on mother's lap. 28 board book pages.

4. Read "God Gives Us Families" - Before class print out the pages of the book and assemble the book. In class read the pages and talk about each page with your children. Ask them questions like:

1. Do you have a big family?
2. Do you like riding on your Dad's shoulders?
3. How have your parents helped you grow?
4. Have you ever gotten a family group hug?
5. Do you like cuddling when it is cold outside?
6. Does your mom or dad help you with your hair?

Before class print out the pages and assemble them according to these Directions. Do not cut the pages apart. (Pattern 1, Pattern 2, Pattern 3, Pattern 4, Pattern 5, Pattern 6, Pattern 7, Pattern 8, Pattern 9, and Pattern 10). (Printing Instructions and Assembling Directions)

5. God Gives Us Families! Mini book - Give each child a mini version of the book you read to take home and read with their families. Challenge your children to do at least five things in the book this week: Have fun with their families,
show love, cuddle, help a family member, comfort someone, do something enjoyable together, laugh together, do something to make a good memory, spend time together, do something to show a family member that you cherish him or her, show you care, share, forgive, pray and thank God for your family with someone in your family. Pattern 1, Pattern 2, Pattern 3, Pattern 4, and Pattern 5. (Printing Instructions and Assembling Directions)

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information or storage retrieval system, except for local church or school use only. This copyright notice must be included on all copies. Requests for permission to copy this material for any other uses should be addressed to Carolyn Warvel, 588 Duran Street, Henderson, NV 89015 or e-mail me at care@daniellesplace.com

Comments

We would love to hear your comments about this lesson. If you taught this lesson, we would love to hear how it went, if you changed anything, added anything, what age you taught and was it appropriate. Any comments that would help others teach this lesson are welcome.

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