Sunday School - 3rd Grade

Reading Portion: Exodus 16

Lesson:

1. After the Israelites received more than enough water in the last place they were in (Elim), they came to a place called Sin. Sin was a wilderness. They soon were very hungry.

2. They weren’t happy and complained to Moses. They said that they’d rather be in Egypt and eat all the food they wanted (even though they suffered a lot).

3. God heard them and told Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

4. Soon after that, God told Moses that this bread was to come in the morning and in the evening, they’ll get meat. So, in the evening, quail came. And when they got up in the morning, they found thin flakes on the ground.

5. When the Israelites saw it, they had no idea what it was. It was white and was like wafers made out of honey. But they did what they were told and gathered as much as each of them needed (about 2 liters per person). By the time the sun grew hot, it all melted.

6. They were told to eat only what they gathered the day and save none of that for the next day (except the sixth day). Some people didn’t listen and saved some for the next day. And when they got up the next day, they found that it stunk and was covered with flies.

7. Since Sabbath is the day of rest, the Israelites had to gather twice as much on the sixth day than they usually would on the other days, because there would be nothing on the ground on that day.

8. The people called this bread Manna. Manna means “What is it?”

9. God told Moses to save some in a jar so that the future generations can see the bread God gave them to eat. Moses told Aaron and Aaron did as God said.

Moral: The Lord nourishes and keeps His children even in the wilderness.

Memory Verses:

Psalm 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psalm 107:8 - Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:9 - For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.