Locations & Times

Kids - Adventure with God

God Gives Helping Hands - Week 3

September 14-15, 2019 |

This four-week series looks at the ancient Israelites’ adventure with God through the exodus. In the good and the bad, God was always with them. Because of that, in all of our adventures with him, we don’t need to worry! God is with us.

WORSHiP

BIBLE VERSE

“Don’t worry, because I am with you,” Isaiah 41:10. 

GROUP Q&A
  1. What artifact did Dr. Shovelle and Marv find, and what did it have to do with the story? (They found a sword because there was a battle in the story.)
  2. What did God tell Moses to do so the Israelites would have victory in the battle? (keep his staff and arms raised up high)
  3. What happened when Moses’ arms got tired and he lowered his staff? (The Israelites started to lose the battle.)
  4. What did Moses’ friends do to help him? (They held his arms up for him.)
  5. What was the important lesson Moses learned that day? (It’s important to have help when you’re doing what God has told you to do.)
  6. What are some ways your friends help you? 
PARENT BIBLE STUDY

Read: Exodus 17:8-16 and 18

During this battle against the Amalekites, Moses sent Joshua to fight while he went up on the mountain to pray. And as Moses prayed, he held up his staff so the soldiers who were fighting could look up to see a visible reminder that someone was advocating for them as they fought.

But not even Moses could continue this on his own. Holding the rod above his head for hours on end was exhausting, and Moses needed Aaron and Hur to each take an arm and steady his hands as he sustained his prayer. In verse 12, the narrator wrote that Moses’ hands were steady because of the help of Aaron and Hur. The Hebrew word used here for steady is used other times in the Old Testament to refer to God’s own faithfulness or the honesty of a good friend. It’s a word that conveys certainty and trustworthiness. And God was certainly trustworthy. The Israelites defeated the Amalekites and won the battle. God commanded Moses to remember this moment, so he built an altar and named it “The Lord is my banner” which means that God was their victory.

This is an ancient story, but so much holds true for us. Just like Joshua and the soldiers needed Moses; and just like Moses needed Aaron and Hur; and just like all of them needed God to be their banner of victory, so do we. We were designed this way. We advocate for each other, pray for each other, and hold each other up when one of us is at the end of ourselves. And at the end of the day, we collectively remember that God is faithful, steady, certain, trustworthy, and our ultimate victory.

“LORD you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things planned long ago,” Isaiah 25:1.

God commanded Moses to write down what he witnessed that day in battle. Why do you think it’s important to remember God’s faithfulness?

Think about your current life situation. Where can you offer help to or advocate for someone else? Where do you need to be brave and ask for someone to help hold you up?

Memorize Isaiah 25:1 and remember that God accomplishes everything with perfect faithfulness.

ASK YOUR KID

Q. How did the Israelites win the battle?
Related Resources