Lesson 037
The Ten Plagues
Exodus 7:14-11:10; 12:29,30
MEMORY VERSE
D AN IEL 6:27a
“God deliv ers and resc ues, and He w orks signs and w onders
in heav en and on earth.”
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
A piece of paper with the memory verse printed in a sealed
envelope addressed to your class, masking tape, and prepared 3”x
5” index cards. A table, plain cheerios, fruit loops, drinking straws,
and a stopwatch or watch with a second hand.
Play-doh, red construction paper and small sandwich baggies.
ATTENTION GRABBER!
Please Mr. Postman!
You will need a piece of paper with the memory verse printed on it
and sealed in an envelope addressed to your class, masking tape,
and prepared 3x5” index cards.
Tape two long parallel lines on your floor about 10 inches apart
and nine feet long. Then tape every three inches or so from one
line to the next making approximately 25 spaces. Your floor
should look like a ladder. Then tape a square off at each end. One
end is “start" and the other one is "finish." Make several 3x5” cards
ahead of time and have them well shuffled. Make the majority of
the cards say "advance 3 spaces," and one each of the cards say:
"windstorm, back 1 space," "hailstorm, back 1 space," "lightening
strikes, back 1 space," "tree fell, back 1 space," "bridge out, back 2
spaces," "rainstorm, back 2 spaces," "snowstorm, back 2 spaces,"
"flood, back 3 spaces," "got sick, back 3 spaces." Be sure that the
majority of cards will ensure that the letter will reach the finish
line. Place the letter with the verse inside on the "start" square and
let the children take turns drawing a card and doing what it says
with the letter. When the letter gets to the finish, open the letter
and read its’ contents. Remind your class that God is p o w e r f u l
and able to deliver.
LESSON TIME!
God wanted to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into
the Promised Land; but Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler, would not let
the Israelites go. In today’s lesson, we will learn how God dealt with
Pharaoh and the Egyptian nation to accomplish His purposes.
There was no Pharaoh or king, false god, or person who could stop
God from accomplishing His plan. God, in His mighty power,
would deliver the children of Israel. As God’s children, we can be
confident our God is able to intervene in the most difficult and
hopeless circumstances. God is powerful and able to deliver.
EXOD U S 7:14-20
S o t h e LOR D s ai d t o M o s e s : " Ph ar ao h 's h e ar t i s h ar d ;
h e r ef u s es t o l et t h e p eo p l e go .
" G o t o Ph ar ao h i n t h e m o r n i n g, w h e n h e go e s o u t t o
t h e w at er , an d you s h al l s t an d by t h e r i v er 's ban k t o
m eet him ; and t he rod w hic h w as t u rned t o a serp ent
you shall t ak e in you r hand .
" An d y o u s h a l l s a y t o h i m , ' T h e L O R D G o d o f t h e
Hebr ew s h as s en t m e t o y o u , s ay i n g, "Let M y p eo p l e
go , t h at t h ey m ay s er v e M e i n t h e w i l d er n es s "; bu t
ind eed , u nt il now you w ou ld not hear!
'Thu s says t he LOR D : "By t his you shall k now t hat I
am t he LOR D . Behold , I w ill st rik e t he w at ers w hic h
are in t he riv er w it h t he rod t hat is in m y hand , and
t h ey s h al l be t u r n ed t o bl ood .
" An d t h e f i s h t h a t a r e i n t h e r i v e r s h a l l d i e , t h e r i v e r
s h al l s t i n k , an d t h e Egy p t i an s w i l l l o at h e t o d r i n k
t he w at er of t he riv er."
T h e n t h e L O R D s p o k e t o M o s e s , " S a y t o Aa r o n , ' T a k e
you r rod and st ret c h ou t you r hand ov er t he w at ers
o f Egy p t , o v e r t h e i r s t r e am s , o v e r t h e i r r i v e r s , o v e r
t heir p ond s, and ov er all t heir p ools of w at er, t hat
t h e y m a y b e c o m e b l o o d . An d t h e r e s h a l l b e b l o o d
t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t , bo t h i n v e s s e l s o f
w ood and v essels of st one.'
An d M o s e s a n d Aa r o n d i d s o , j u s t a s t h e L O R D
c om m and ed . S o he lif t ed u p t he rod and st ru c k t he
w at e r s t h at w e r e i n t h e r i v e r , i n t h e s i gh t o f Ph ar ao h
a n d i n t h e s i g h t o f h i s s e r v a n t s . An d a l l t h e w a t e r s
t h at w er e i n t h e r i v er w er e t u r n ed t o bl ood .
Pharaoh had a hard heart. He would not listen to God and chose to
disobey Him. So God brought the first of 10 plagues on Egypt. God
turned the Nile River into blood. The Egyptians worshipped a river
god. When God turned the Nile into blood, He was proving that He
was the only real God and that He was powerful.
Pharaoh experienced the sad consequences of pride and rebellion
to God. Because he thought he knew more than God, he brought a
lot of pain upon himself and others in his nation. If he had just
humbled himself before God, he could have been spared so much.
If we refuse to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge Him,
we will bring pain upon ourselves and those we love.
EXOD U S 8:1-3
An d t h e L O R D s p o k e t o M o s e s , " G o t o P h a r a o h a n d
s ay t o h i m , 'T h u s s ay s t h e LOR D : "Let M y p eo p l e go ,
t hat t hey m ay serv e M e.
"Bu t i f y o u r ef u s e t o l et t h em go , beh o l d , I w i l l s m i t e
al l y o u r t er r i t o r y w i t h f r o gs .
"S o t h e r i v er s h al l br i n g f o r t h f r o gs abu n d an t l y ,
w h i c h s h al l go u p an d c o m e i n t o y o u r h o u s e, i n t o
you r bed c h am ber , on you r bed , i n t o t h e h ou s es of
you r serv ant s, on you r p eop le, int o you r ov ens, and
i n t o you r k n ead i n g bow l s .”
After the plague of blood was over, Pharaoh's heart grew harder
and God sent a plague of frogs to cover the land. By this, God
showed that He was real and the Egyptians' frog goddess was a false
god. Moses prayed that the Egyptians would be rid of the frogs,
and God took them away. "But when Pharaoh saw that there was
relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord
had said." (Exodus 8:15).
EXOD U S 8:16-19
S o t h e L O R D s a i d t o M o s e s , " S a y t o Aa r o n , ' S t r e t c h
ou t you r rod , and st rik e t he d u st of t he land , so t hat
i t m ay be c o m e l i c e t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t .'
An d t h e y d i d s o . F o r Aa r o n s t r e t c h e d o u t h i s h a n d
w it h his rod and st ru c k t he d u st of t he eart h, and it
b e c a m e l i c e o n m a n a n d b e a s t . Al l t h e d u s t o f t h e
l an d be c am e l i c e t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t .
N ow
the
m agi c i an s
so
worked
with
their
en c h an t m en t s t o br i n g f or t h l i c e, bu t t h ey c ou l d n ot .
S o t h er e w er e l i c e on m an an d beas t .
T h e n t h e m agi c i an s s ai d t o Ph ar ao h , " T h i s i s t h e
f i n ge r o f G o d ." B u t Ph ar ao h 's h e ar t gr e w h ar d , an d h e
d id not heed t hem , j u st as t he LOR D had said .
Next, God brought lice on the land of Egypt. Pharaoh’s magicians,
using sorcery, had sought to copy the other two plagues; but, they
were powerless to copy this one. Even the magicians realized that
this was from God. God proved that the god of the desert was a
false god. Yet, Pharaoh's heart grew harder.
Sometimes, false prophets try to imitate God’s truth. Because
Pharaoh’s magicians, in touch with demonic powers, could copy
the plagues, Pharaoh felt like he was just as powerful. Now, God
had done something that cannot be copied. God was showing that
He was more powerful than their idols as well as more powerful
than their magicians and false religions. Even after blood in their
water supply, frogs everywhere, and lice everywhere, Pharaoh still
refused to let God’s people go.
EXOD U S 8:20-22
An d t h e L O R D s a i d t o M o s e s , " R i s e e a r l y i n t h e
m o r n i n g an d s t an d be f o r e Ph ar ao h as h e c o m e s o u t
t o t he w at er. Then say t o him , 'Thu s says t he LOR D :
"Let M y p eo p l e go , t h at t h ey m ay s er v e M e.
"Or el s e, i f y o u w i l l n o t l et M y p eo p l e go , beh o l d , I
w ill send sw arm s of f lies on you and you r serv ant s,
on you r p eop le and int o you r hou ses. The hou ses of
t h e Egy p t i an s s h al l be f u l l o f s w ar m s o f f l i e s , an d
al s o t h e gr o u n d o n w h i c h t h ey s t an d .
" An d i n t h a t d a y I w i l l s e t a p a r t t h e l a n d o f G o s h e n ,
in w hic h M y p eop le d w ell, t hat no sw arm s of f lies
s h al l be t h er e, i n or d er t h at you m ay k n ow t h at I am
t he LOR D in t he m id st of t he land ."
This time God not only brought a plague of flies, but He showed
Pharaoh that He could keep the flies away from the land where the
Israelites dwelled; this proved the Egyptian fly god was false.
Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go into the wilderness to
sacrifice, but when the plague was over he changed his mind and
would not let them go. Pharaoh did not keep his promise; but, God
is still in control. God is powerful and able to deliver.
EXOD U S 9:1-7
T h e n t h e LOR D s ai d t o M o s e s , " G o i n t o Ph ar ao h an d
t el l h i m , 'T h u s s ays t h e LOR D G od of t h e Hebr ew s :
"Let M y p eo p l e go , t h at t h ey m ay s er v e M e.
"Fo r i f y o u r ef u s e t o l et t h em go , an d s t i l l h o l d t h em ,
"beh ol d , t h e h an d of t h e LOR D w i l l be on you r c at t l e
in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the
c am el s , on t h e oxen , an d on t h e s h eep . T h er e w i l l be
a very severe pestilence.
" An d t h e L O R D w i l l m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e
l i v e s t o c k o f I s r ae l an d t h e l i v e s t o c k o f Egy p t . S o
n o t h i n g s h al l d i e o f al l t h at bel o n gs t o t h e c h i l d r en
of Israel." ' "
Then t he LOR D ap p oint ed a set
t i m e, s ay i n g,
"Tom orrow t he LOR D w ill d o t his t hing in t he land ."
S o t he LOR D d id t his t hing on t he next d ay, and all
t h e l i v e s t o c k o f Egy p t d i e d ; bu t o f t h e l i v e s t o c k o f
t he c hild ren of Israel, no one d ied .
T h e n Ph ar ao h s e n t , an d i n d e e d , n o t e v e n o n e o f t h e
liv est oc k of t he Israelit es w as d ead . Bu t t he heart of
Ph ar ao h be c am e h ar d , an d h e d i d n o t l e t t h e p e o p l e
go .
Next God sent a plague of disease upon all of the Egyptians'
livestock. Once again God proved that the Egyptian livestock gods
were false. All of the Israelites’ livestock was spared. Yet, Pharaoh
continued to harden his heart and would not let Israel go.
Cheerio Rodeo
You will need a table, plain cheerios, fruit loops, drinking straws,
and a stopwatch or watch with a second hand.
Divide your class into teams of three or four and give each child a
straw. Place one cup of cheerios and one cup of fruit loops on a
tabletop and mix them up. Have one team play at a time. When
you say, "GO!" the chosen team will try to separate the cheerios
from the fruit loops. Time each team and write it on the
chalkboard. The team with the shortest time wins. You will need
to wipe the table and start with new cereal each time.
Remind your class that throughout all the plagues, God made a
distinction between His people and the Egyptians; He never made
any mistakes. In the same way, we are a separate people in the
world today. The Bible says that we are to be in the world, but not
of it. God’s hand of protection is upon His people despite the
circumstances and condition of the world around them. How
important that, as a separate people, we not adopt the ways and
ideas of the world.
EXOD U S 9:8
S o t h e L O R D s a i d t o M o s e s a n d Aa r o n , " T a k e f o r
you rselv es hand f u ls of ashes f rom a f u rnac e, and let
M o s es s c at t er i t t o w ar d t h e h eav en s i n t h e s i gh t o f
P h a r a o h . An d i t w i l l b e c o m e f i n e d u s t i n a l l t h e l a n d
o f Egy p t , an d i t w i l l c au s e bo i l s t h at br e ak o u t i n
s o r es o n m an an d beas t t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e l an d o f
Egy p t ."
Then God sent boils and sores on all of the Egyptians. Here God
proved Himself mighty over the Egyptian goddess of disease. The
Bible says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart because He saw that
Pharaoh was intent on disobedience.
EXOD U S 9:13-18
Then t he LOR D said t o M oses, "R ise early in t he
m o r n i n g an d s t an d be f o r e Ph ar ao h , an d s ay t o h i m ,
'T h u s s ays t h e LOR D G od of t h e Hebr ew s : "Let M y
p eo p l e go , t h at t h ey m ay s er v e M e,
"f o r at t h i s t i m e I w i l l s en d al l M y p l agu es t o y o u r
v ery heart , and on you r serv ant s and on you r p eop le,
t hat you m ay k now t hat t here is none lik e M e in all
t he eart h.
"N ow if I had st ret c hed ou t M y hand and st ru c k you
and you r p eop le w it h p est ilenc e, t hen you w ou ld
h av e been c u t of f f r om t h e ear t h .
"Bu t ind eed f or t his p u rp ose I hav e raised you u p ,
t hat I m ay show M y p ow er in you , and t hat M y nam e
m ay be d ec l ar ed i n al l t h e ear t h .
" As y e t y o u e x a l t y o u r s e l f a g a i n s t M y p e o p l e i n t h a t
y o u w i l l n o t l et t h em go .
"Beh ol d , t om or r ow abou t t h i s t i m e I w i l l c au s e v er y
h eav y h ai l t o r ai n d ow n , s u c h as h as n ot been i n
Egy p t s i n c e i t s f o u n d i n g u n t i l n o w .”
Next, God sent a plague of hail to destroy the Egyptian crops. He
proved Himself more powerful than their gods of crops and
storms. This time Pharaoh pleaded for relief.
Again, its too bad that many people suffered because of Pharaoh’s
pride. We need to remember that our disobedience not only
affects ourselves, it affects others.
EXOD U S 9:27-34
An d P h a r a o h s e n t a n d c a l l e d f o r M o s e s a n d Aa r o n ,
and said t o t hem , "I hav e sinned t his t im e. The LOR D
i s r i gh t eo u s , an d m y p eo p l e an d I ar e w i c k ed .
" En t r e at t h e LOR D , t h at t h e r e m ay be n o m o r e m i gh t y
t h u n d er i n g an d h ai l , f o r i t i s en o u gh . I w i l l l et y o u
go , an d y o u s h al l s t ay n o l o n ger ."
An d M o s e s s a i d t o h i m , " As s o o n a s I h a v e g o n e o u t o f
t he c it y, I w ill sp read ou t m y hand s t o t he LOR D ; t he
t h u n d er w i l l c eas e, an d t h er e w i l l be n o m or e h ai l ,
t hat you m ay k now t hat t he eart h is t he Lord 's.
"Bu t as f or you and you r serv ant s, I k now t hat you
w ill not yet f ear t he LOR D God ."
N ow t h e f l ax an d t h e bar l ey w er e s t r u c k , f or t h e
bar l ey w as i n t h e h ead an d t h e f l ax w as i n bu d . Bu t
t he w heat and t he sp elt w ere not st ru c k , f or t hey are
lat e c rop s.
S o M o s e s w e n t o u t o f t h e c i t y f r o m Ph ar ao h an d
sp read ou t his hand s t o t he LOR D ; t hen t he t hu nd er
and t he hail c eased , and t he rain w as not p ou red on
t he eart h.
An d w h e n P h a r a o h s a w t h a t t h e r a i n , t h e h a i l , a n d
t he t hu nd er had c eased , he sinned yet m ore; and he
hard ened his heart , he and his serv ant s.
Pharaoh sinned again by hardening his heart to the voice of the
Lord. Pharaoh was willing to acknowledge God when he needed
help, but not when all was well. Sadly, there are many like that.
They turn to God for help in time of crisis only; they may make
promises to serve Him. When the crisis is over, they resume their
former life style. As Pharaoh, they did not genuinely repent.
EXOD U S 10:1-6
N o w t h e LOR D s ai d t o M o s e s , " G o i n t o Ph ar ao h ; f o r I
hav e hard ened his heart and t he heart s of his
s er v an t s , t h at I m ay s h o w t h es e s i gn s o f M i n e bef o r e
him ,
"and t hat you m ay t ell in t he hearing of you r son
an d y o u r s o n 's s o n t h e m i gh t y t h i n gs I h av e d o n e i n
Egy p t , an d M y s i gn s w h i c h I h av e d o n e am o n g t h e m ,
t hat you m ay k now t hat I am t he LOR D ."
S o M o s e s a n d Aa r o n c a m e i n t o P h a r a o h a n d s a i d t o
h i m , "T h u s s ays t h e LOR D G od of t h e Hebr ew s : 'How
l on g w i l l you r ef u s e t o h u m bl e you r s el f bef or e M e?
Let M y p eo p l e go , t h at t h ey m ay s er v e M e.
'Or el s e, i f y o u r ef u s e t o l et M y p eo p l e go , beh o l d ,
t om or r ow I w i l l br i n g l oc u s t s i n t o you r t er r i t or y.
' An d t h e y s h a l l c o v e r t h e f a c e o f t h e e a r t h , s o t h a t
n o on e w i l l be abl e t o s ee t h e ear t h ; an d t h ey s h al l
eat t he resid u e of w hat is lef t , w hic h rem ains t o you
f rom t he hail, and t hey shall eat ev ery t ree w hic h
gr o w s u p f o r y o u o u t o f t h e f i el d .
'They shall f ill you r hou ses, t he hou ses of all you r
s e r v an t s , an d t h e h o u s e s o f al l t h e Egy p t i an s --w h i c h
neit her you r f at hers nor you r f at hers' f at hers hav e
seen, sinc e t he d ay t hat t hey w ere on t he eart h t o
t h i s d a y . ' " An d h e t u r n e d a n d w e n t o u t f r o m P h a r a o h .
God used this time when it was necessary to punish Pharaoh’s
disobedience to demonstrate His mighty power. Note that God
tells the Israelites they are to pass these stories down from one
generation to another so they and their children would never
forget what God had done for them.
Imagine the stories that Moses had for his grandchildren! May we
remember all the great things God has done for us. May we pass
them on to our own children and others.
The eighth plague God brought upon Egypt was a plague of locusts.
Locusts were insects like grasshoppers, and they came and covered
the land. The Egyptians also had a god of crops and God proved
him powerless by destroying their crops.
Again Pharaoh pleaded for relief and admitted his sin, but when
God removed the locusts Pharaoh would not release the Israelites.
EXOD U S 10:20-29
B u t t h e LOR D h ar d e n e d Ph ar ao h 's h e ar t , an d h e d i d
n o t l et t h e c h i l d r en o f Is r ael go .
Then t he LOR D said t o M oses, "S t ret c h ou t you r hand
t ow ar d h eav en , t h at t h er e m ay be d ar k n es s ov er t h e
l an d o f Egy p t , d ar k n e s s w h i c h m ay e v e n be f e l t ."
S o M oses st ret c hed ou t his hand t ow ard heav en, and
t h e r e w as t h i c k d ar k n e s s i n al l t h e l an d o f Egy p t
t hree d ays.
They d id not see one anot her; nor d id anyone rise
f rom his p lac e f or t hree d ays. Bu t all t he c hild ren of
Is r ael h ad l i gh t i n t h ei r d w el l i n gs .
T h e n Ph ar ao h c al l e d t o M o s e s an d s ai d , " G o , s e r v e
t h e LOR D ; on l y l et you r f l oc k s an d you r h er d s be
k ep t bac k . Let y o u r l i t t l e o n es al s o go w i t h y o u ."
Bu t M o s es s ai d , "Yo u m u s t al s o gi v e u s s ac r i f i c es an d
bu r n t o f f er i n gs , t h at w e m ay s ac r i f i c e t o t h e LOR D
our God.
"Ou r l i v es t o c k al s o s h al l go w i t h u s ; n o t a h o o f s h al l
be l ef t beh i n d . For w e m u s t t ak e s om e of t h em t o
serv e t he LOR D ou r God , and ev en w e d o not k now
w it h w hat w e m u st serv e t he LOR D u nt il w e arriv e
there."
Bu t t he LOR D hard ened
w o u l d n o t l et t h em go .
Ph ar ao h 's
heart ,
and
he
T h e n Ph ar ao h s ai d t o h i m , " G e t aw ay f r o m m e ! T ak e
heed t o you rself and see m y f ac e no m ore! For in t he
d a y y o u s e e m y f a c e y o u s h a l l d i e !"
An d M o s e s s a i d , " Y o u h a v e s p o k e n w e l l . I w i l l n e v e r
s ee y o u r f ac e agai n ."
The ninth plague God brought was a darkness that covered Egypt
for three days. There was no light except in the Israelites’ homes.
Here God challenged the Egyptian sun god; but Pharaoh's heart was
hard, and he would not let them go.
Pharaoh remained unwilling to submit to God. Even though God
proved Himself to Pharaoh again and again, Pharaoh chose not to
listen to God. Pharaoh hardened his heart so many times that he
was callous and unable to believe in God. That is a sad condition!
For those with hardened hearts, unable to believe, will face God’s
judgment. May we be careful to maintain our own hearts—may our
hearts remain soft and willing to obey God’s voice.
EXOD U S 11:1-10
An d t h e L O R D s a i d t o M o s e s , " I w i l l b r i n g y e t o n e
m o r e p l a g u e o n P h a r a o h a n d o n E g y p t . Af t e r w a r d h e
w i l l l et y o u go f r o m h er e. Wh en h e l et s y o u go , h e
w i l l s u r el y d r i v e y o u o u t o f h er e al t o get h er .
"S p eak now in t he hearing of t he p eop le, and let
ev er y m an as k f r o m h i s n ei gh bo r an d ev er y w o m an
f r o m h er n ei gh bo r , ar t i c l es o f s i l v er an d ar t i c l es o f
go l d ."
An d t h e L O R D g a v e t h e p e o p l e f a v o r i n t h e s i g h t o f
t h e Egy p t i an s . M o r e o v e r t h e m an M o s e s w as v e r y
gr e at i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t , i n t h e s i gh t o f Ph ar ao h 's
s er v an t s an d i n t h e s i gh t o f t h e p eo p l e.
T h e n M o s e s s a i d , " T h u s s a y s t h e L O R D : ' Ab o u t
m i d n i gh t I w i l l go o u t i n t o t h e m i d s t o f Egy p t ;
'an d al l t h e f i r s t bo r n i n t h e l an d o f Egy p t s h al l d i e ,
f r o m t h e f i r s t bo r n o f Ph ar ao h w h o s i t s o n h i s t h r o n e ,
ev en t o t h e f i r s t bor n of t h e m ai d s er v an t w h o i s
beh i n d t h e h an d m i l l , an d al l t h e f i r s t bor n of t h e
beas t s .
'T h en t h er e s h al l be a gr eat c r y t h r o u gh o u t al l t h e
l an d o f Egy p t , s u c h as w as n o t l i k e i t be f o r e , n o r
s h al l be l i k e i t agai n .
'Bu t agai n s t n o n e o f t h e c h i l d r en o f Is r ael s h al l a d o g
m o v e i t s t o n gu e, agai n s t m an o r beas t , t h at y o u m ay
k n ow t h at t h e LOR D d oes m ak e a d i f f er en c e bet w een
t h e Egy p t i an s an d I s r ae l .'
" An d a l l t h e s e y o u r s e r v a n t s s h a l l c o m e d o w n t o m e
an d bo w d o w n t o m e, s ay i n g, 'G et o u t , an d al l t h e
p e o p l e w h o f o l l o w y o u !' Af t e r t h a t I w i l l g o o u t . "
T h e n h e w e n t o u t f r o m Ph ar ao h i n gr e at an ge r .
B u t t h e LOR D s ai d t o M o s e s , " Ph ar ao h w i l l n o t h e e d
you , s o t h at M y w on d er s m ay be m u l t i p l i ed i n t h e
l an d o f Egy p t ."
S o M o s e s a n d Aa r o n d i d a l l t h e s e w o n d e r s b e f o r e
Ph ar ao h ; an d t h e LOR D h ar d e n e d Ph ar ao h 's h e ar t ,
an d h e d i d n o t l et t h e c h i l d r en o f Is r ael go o u t o f h i s
land .
The final plague God brought was one that killed the firstborn
child of every Egyptian including Pharaoh and their livestock's first
born also. Only after this severe plague did Pharaoh become
willing to let the Israelites go.
In all of the plagues, God proved that He was the true God. He
could foretell the future and His promises would come to pass.
God proved Himself to be all-powerful, above all His creation. Just
as God exercised His great power to deliver the children of Israel,
God can use His great power to rescue us from our circumstances.
God is powerful and able to deliver
God, also, demonstrated His care and protection for His people,
those who love and serve Him. Not one of the plagues harmed the
Israelites. God promises to protect those who believe in Him. We
will not face the judgments that He has prepared for nonChristians. As a Christian, we have been forgiven our sin and saved
from the consequences of sin. In John 5:24 Jesus states, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment,
but has passed from death into life.”
Pass Over My Play-doh
You will need play-doh and red paper.
Give each child a piece of play-doh or home-made clay and a
quarter of a sheet of red paper. Let them work on their own
creations. Appoint one child (or teacher) to be the "angel of the
Lord” who can go around taking away play-doh creations unless the
child holds the red paper over the play-doh. The “angel” may
wander around while the kids work and probably shouldn't be the
most aggressive kid in class. But explain to the children that as
long as they hold up the red paper than the angel will “pass over”
them.
Use this as an illustration of how the Angel of the Lord passed over
the Israelites who had the blood applied over their doorposts. Also
explain how that this is a picture of the blood of Jesus that protects
us from God’s judgment and allows us to have a relationship with
God. Supply small baggies at the end of class for the children to
take their play-doh creations home.
PRAYER
Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s amazing
power to save us. If there are any children who have not yet
responded to the Gospel, give them opportunity to do so.