Manna in the Wilderness

In Exodus 16, God first gives the Israelites manna as food in the wilderness. It’s describes as being like ‘flakes.’ These crackers aren’t like flakes exactly, but making them will help children to imagine themselves into the story.

You will need: 100g plain flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil, 3 tablespoons of water, a rolling pin, a mixing bowl, a fork, a baking tray, greaseproof paper, a knife or pizza cutter, an oven, honey

Preheat the oven to 180˚C and grease a baking tray or line it with greaseproof paper. Mix the dry ingredients together in the bowl and then add the oil and water. Mix together with a fork or your hands until a dough is formed. Roll the dough out thinly and place it on the baking tray. Prick the dough all over with a fork and then cut it into squares with a knife or pizza cutter. Put the baking tray into the oven and bake for 15-20 mins until the crackers are starting to turn light brown.

When the crackers have cooled, share them out and try them. Children might want to spread a little bit of honey on them, as we are told that the manna tasted like ‘wafers made with honey’ (Exodus 16:31). As you eat, talk about the story of God giving manna in the wilderness.

Talk about:

  • How would you have felt to see the manna on the ground for the first time?
  • Why do you think God gave the rule about only gathering what was needed?
  • What would you think of having this every day for many years?
  • What foods do you eat every day?

Pray:

Thank God for the foods you enjoy. Ask him to show us how to help those who don’t have enough to eat.

The Exodus Story: Life in the Desert Sandpaper Painting

The Exodus story is a fabulously colourful and exciting one.  Miracle after miracle happens to the Israelites as they journey through the Red Sea and across the desert to the promised land.  This craft touches on the life bringing provision God brings to his people through manna, quail and water.

img_2747You will need: sandpaper (use quite fine sandpaper if finger painting as it is much less rough on fingers), paint.

The sandpaper is rough and reflects both the sand of the desert the Israelites are crossing and the hardship of life there.  Adding colour helps to reflect the life that God’s proven brings to them.

Encourage children to use their fingers or brushes to paint on the sandpaper.  They might want to paint something from the story they have heard or simply to create a colourful picture.  Use the time to talk about how God provided for the Israelites in the desert, bringing them life and showing his love.

Worry Assembly (The Exodus story: Wandering in the wilderness)

This assembly works well with years 1-6 and is quite interactive- especially if you have a willing teacher who doesn’t mind taking a risk!

You will need: A retelling of the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and being given manna by God, a sealed plastic ziplock bag 2/3 filled with water, sharp pencils or pens

We told the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and worrying about where they would get food and drink and also about where they were going.  A great retelling can be found in this book:9780745964331

Talk to the children about what worries them and then talk about the way that God helps the people in the story.  They don’t need to worry because He has got it covered!

Invite a teacher to come out to the front (we had a very willing head teacher who we had prepared beforehand!).  Sit them in a seat and hold a ziplock sandwich bag filled with water (and sealed!!) above their head.  How worried do they feel now on a scale of 1-10?  Then bring out a pen or a sharp pencil.  What if I threatened to push this pencil into the bag? How worried would you be then?  Stick 2015-09-01 19.15.09the pencil ALL THE WAY THROUGH the plastic bag in one steady move so that the pencil is poking out either side of the bag.  No water will come out!  Repeat this twice more.

Emphasise the point you knew that no harm was going to come to the teacher even if they were worried.  You had it covered.  When we are worried, we know that God has it covered and will look after us.  We can tell Him anything we are worried about.  Who can the children talk to if they are worried?

Say a prayer, thanking God for people who help us when we are worried and thanking Him that we can talk to Him about our worries too.