VERSES: Exodus 8:1-15
MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 8:2 "...I will smite all thy borders with frogs."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review Old Testament books from Genesis to Joel.
PRAYER: When we pray, may we remember to praise God for the wonderful creation that He has given to us to enjoy.
SPECIAL SONG: Read, Read Every Day (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1)
VISUAL AID: Pictures Of Frogs In The Home. Unless you want to use a REAL frog, purchase a plastic frog and, in your own home, place the frog in the places that the Egyptians found frogs in their homes: on the tables, in chairs, in the oven, in the beds, etc., taking pictures as you move the frog.
LESSON POINTS:
- Remember last time when Pharaoh said that he would NOT let God's people go into the wilderness and worship Him, what happened to the land of Egypt that was VERY unusual? That's right! All the water turned to blood! Do you remember how long the water stayed turned to blood? Yes! Seven days! That's a long time without water!
- After the water turned back into water, God told Moses to go back and see Pharaoh again with the same message. What do you think Moses told Pharaoh that God wanted him to do? That's right! To let God's people go! God told Moses that if Pharaoh refused and said, "No!" then God was going to send...FROGS! Some people like frogs. A frog here, a frog there, outside in the field, or in the grass, but when God said He was going to send frogs, He meant LOTS of frogs! God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that if Pharaoh refused to let His people go, then he would send many, many frogs that would come out of the river. The frogs would come into their homes, into their kitchens, into their bedrooms; they would be EVERYWHERE, even in their ovens!
- Because Pharaoh refused to let God's people go, God told Moses and Moses told Aaron to stretch his hand with his rod over the streams and the rivers and the ponds and Aaron did what God said. Then all the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt, and they were everywhere just like God had said.
- The Bible says that Pharaoh's magicians brought up frogs, too. Pretty soon, there were frogs in places that frogs would never go unless it was a plague from God. A plague is a number of many annoying things. Do you think having frogs in your bedroom and in your bed would be annoying? I think so, too. Frogs were definitely the second plague. Do you remember what the first plague was? That's right! The water turned to blood. What was the second plague? Frogs!
- Lets' see what happened next. Let's turn our Bibles to Exodus 8:8 and see how Pharaoh feels about all those frogs! (Read verse.) Let's place our bookmarks right here. How did Pharaoh feel about those frogs being in places they should not be? That's right! He wanted them to go away! Pharaoh even called for Moses and said that he would let the people go and worship God in the wilderness! Moses asked Pharaoh when should the frogs go back into the river and Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." Moses answered and said, "There is no god like the LORD God. It will be tomorrow that the frogs will only stay in the river." So, Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses cried to God and asked Him to make the frogs stay in the river.
- And God answered Moses' prayer and did as Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses and villages and fields. The people gathered up the frogs in heaps and the land of Egypt did not smell good at all! The Bible says it stunk!
- Now you would think that Pharaoh, who had seen the water turned to blood and all the frogs come upon the land, would really let the people go, but he changed his mind and hardened his heart and lied. He did NOT let the people go! Pharaoh did not learn from his mistakes, did he? He did not obey God, and there are always consequences when we do not obey God. I wonder if something else annoying will happen to Pharaoh because he will not let the people go? You think so? Me, too! We'll see next time what happens!
- Talk about frogs--how many have the students seen at one time, etc. Stress that God is the ruler over all of the earth. He is the one with total control over everything.
- Discuss how Pharaoh is slowly learning about God. God always says what He means and means what He says. Yes, today, too!
ACTIVITY: Frogs Were In The Beds!
Materials needed: Small box (any size - the box above is 6" x 3" x 2"), enough brown butcher paper to cover box on all sides, enough white butcher paper to cover box as a 'blanket", inexpensive plastic frogs (I bought mine at a dollar store for 8 frogs for $1.00), cotton ball, glue, tape, pencil or crayon or pen.
- Cover box with brown butcher paper; wrap like a present with tape. If short on time, the Bible teacher might want to do this step for each student.
- Pull cotton ball to 'fluff' like a pillow.
- Glue pillow on small edge of bed.
- Glue white butcher paper to top of brown paper on two sides and to the top of the 'bed', resembling a sheet.
- Press corners of 'sheet' with fingers.
- Write "Frogs - Plague #2" and "Exodus 8:1-15" on the sheet in small letters.
- Place plastic frog on 'bed.'