The Gospel Project for 4/18/21

Unit 4, Session 5: The Plagues and the Passover

Dear Parents,

Last week, kids learned about Moses’ birth and his calling. God had a plan to rescue the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. He chose and called Moses for the task and allowed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to help him.

Moses and Aaron faced a huge obstacle in leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and his name was Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not recognize the Lord’s authority: “Who is the LORD that I should obey him by letting Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2) Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord, but all of this fit into God’s plan to reveal to Pharaoh—and all of Egypt—who He is.

First, God sent a series of plagues that wrecked Egypt. The plagues were acts of judgment designed to show the Egyptians who God is—and the Egyptians learned their lesson. Read Exodus 8:19; 9:20,27; and 10:7.

The tenth plague was the most severe and had the greatest impact on the Egyptian people. God told Moses that around midnight, every firstborn male in Egypt would die. But God gave specific instructions to the Israelites. They were to slaughter a lamb or goat and put its blood on their doorposts. The blood on the doorpost would be a distinguishing mark. When God saw the blood, He “passed over” the house. 

The Israelite people were sinful, and they deserved death just as much as the Egyptians did. But God graciously provided a way out. By marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, they were spared from the judgment and death they deserved. The lamb was killed instead. The heart of the gospel is found in the story of the Passover: Jesus never sinned, but He was crucified for our sins. We deserve death, but He died instead.

As you talk to your kids this week, highlight that by His grace, God spared the Israelites from judgment by requiring the blood of a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. His death was the ultimate sacrifice, and those who trust in Christ are under His saving blood and will be passed over in the final judgment.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS 

Babies and Toddlers

    • God can do anything.

    • Pharaoh would not let God’s people go.

    • God showed He is more powerful than anyone.

    • God kept His people safe from the last trouble.

Preschool

    • Is there anything God cannot do? No, God can do all things.

    • God rescued His people.

Kids

    • Is there anything God cannot do? No, God can do all things.

    • God delivered His people and proved that He is the one true God.


UNIT KEY PASSAGE

    • Hosea 13:4 (Hosea 13:4b for Babies and Toddlers)


NEXT WEEK 

    • “The Red Sea Crossing” (Exodus 13–15)

Sunday WorshipStephanie Petersen