Exodus 16

Lesson Aim

To thank God for his daily provision of food to us.

Hook 1: Food

What is the nearest food today to manna? There are several different possibilities each of which could be used to illustrate this story e.g. candy floss, Sugar Puffs, sugar coated popcorn or Frosted Shreddies

Begin by eating some of the food and commenting on how nice it is. At the appropriate point in the story scatter the food across the floor. Give the children containers and help them to collect the ‘manna’.

Hook 2: Rotten food

Leave some different foods to rot. Bring them in a sealed container and show it to illustrate what happened to anyone keeping food for a second day. The children can be guaranteed to give you a reaction to the sight and smell of rotten food!

Warning – Children should not handle rotten food.

Hook 3: Quiz

Have pictures of five or six different birds and get the children to pick out the quail.

Hook 4: Questions

Who has ever seen pictures on the TV of people who are starving? People who are so hungry. People who don’t know when they will eat again. In our story today God’s people are complaining that they are hungry.

Application

God provided the Israelites with the food that they needed every single day during their journey through the desert. God also provides us with food. We might buy our food from the supermarket but it is God who causes food to grow and we should thank God for our food.

Moan and Groan Signs

The ‘moan’ and ‘groan’ signs (see Crossing the Red Sea) can be used with each story of the Exodus. They are a good way of illustrating the response of the Israelites throughout their desert journey. Children will enjoy holding the signs up each week.