THINK TOGETHER
What does a judge do? Have mom or dad ever had to stand in front of a judge? (be honest)
READ TOGETHER
The Bible isn’t a book about us. It’s a book about God. All of the stories in the Bible were written by God so that we can know who he is and what he’s like. The best way to know God is to know Jesus. This means that all the stories in the Bible will help point us to Jesus. There’s a story in the book of Exodus that does just that. The story is about the Hebrews on the way to Mount Sinai. The Hebrew people are hungry, thirsty, and angry. Worst of all, they keep doubting God’s love.
One day the people got so mad that they decided to put Moses on trial. Do you know what a trial is? A trial is when someone is accused of doing something bad, and then they must stand up in front of a judge. If the judge says that they are guilty then the person will be punished. The Hebrews wanted to judge Moses. They thought he was a bad leader and was trying to hurt them. Some people even wanted to kill him. But Moses told the people that they weren’t just judging him, they were judging God. Moses yelled at the people for “testing” God. And then God said:
Exodus 17:6. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.”
God could have said, “Be Quiet!” Or, “Find your own water.” Or, “Now I’m gonna judge you wicked people.” But instead God said that he would stand on a rock and Moses should strike it. By standing on the rock God was letting the rock be him. And by letting Moses hit the rock, God was letting himself be judged and punished instead of the people.
On the cross, Jesus, like the rock, was hit for us. We are all like the Hebrews who complain, and fail to trust God. But instead of hitting us, God hit Jesus in our place. And like that rock gave water, Jesus gives us his eternal life and love to satisfy us forever.
Because of Jesus we don’t have to be judged or hit by God. We are forgiven!
With Jesus we don’t have to judge or hit others. We can forgive!
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Can you draw a picture of our story together? Don’t forget to include 1) the rock, 2) Moses hitting the rock, and 3) the water flowing out. Talk about how the rock is like Jesus on the cross.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, you were hit by God for me so that I could be forgiven. Help me to always remember that you love me and are with me. Amen.
TLICfamily 