God Provided for His People
Exodus 15-17
May 11, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
God’s miraculous provision for His people revealed His steadfast compassion despite their continual grumbling. In today’s passage, we read of God granting the Israelites far more than they deserved, heaping upon them more than they needed as they journeyed with Him to the Promised Land. Today, those who are in Christ receive undeserved grace and provision through His sacrificial love lavished upon us like manna in the wilderness.
What made the Israelites long for their old lives in Egypt? What does the Sabbath teach us about God’s provision?
Though not far removed from the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites grew desensitized to God’s extraordinary power at work in their lives. Not only had He delivered them from slavery, but He kept His presence close, guiding them day and night as they journeyed through the wilderness. Now, after weeks of wandering, their grumbling grew louder. They would have rather died in Egypt than learn to depend on and trust God in a desolate place. They took for granted their freedom to worship God in the wilderness; they longed for their predictable lives in Egypt—forgetting the toils of slavery.
Despite what they deserved, God looked on them with compassion, causing bread to rain on them from heaven and for meat and water to become miraculously within reach. He called for His people to trust in His provision, only gathering what was necessary for the day. He desired them to thrive under obedience to Him. Just as God had fought their battle against Egypt, God called them to be still and rest in His provision. Rest requires the people of God to stop striving and simply trust and receive. God was helping His people learn this truth through the Sabbath.
Sadly, the Israelites turned a blind eye to God’s faithfulness in fighting their battles and meeting their needs. We are also prone to overlook God’s faithful provision in our own lives and perhaps even downplay the miraculous gift of salvation in Christ. Lead the children in your home to see the gift of God’s undeserved grace and to hunger and thirst for His gift of salvation.
** Next week: Moses Led the Israelites (Exodus 17-18)
This Week's Main Ideas
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This Week's Main Ideas •
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BABIES-TODDLERS
God gave the Israelites the food and water they needed. We are all sinners, but God gave us Jesus so that we might be saved from our sin.
PRESCHOOL-K
The people were unhappy with Moses and God, but God still chose to give them the food and water they needed. We are all sinners, but Jesus still chose to die for us so that we might be saved from our sin.
1ST-5TH GRADE
The people complained against Moses and against God, but God still chose to give them the food and water they needed. We are all sinners and are enemies of God, but Christ still chose to die for us so that we might be saved.
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Q: Why does sin separate us from God?
A: Because God is holy, sin has broken our relationship with God.
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Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 NIRV
Family Discipleship Activities
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Family Discipleship Activities •
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Read Exodus 15:22–17:7 from the Bible.
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Did you know there are world records for food? For instance, the largest chocolate peanut butter cup weighs more than 440 pounds. The longest rolled fruit snack was as long as a
football field at 300 feet long. In 2011, the largest hamburger for sale was created in California and weighed 777 pounds. Can you imagine trying to eat that much food?
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they started complaining to Moses because they had nothing to eat or drink. I bet they would have loved to have a bite of that 777-pound hamburger! But God gave them something greater than a hamburger.
God heard their cries, and He gave the Israelites quail every evening and manna every morning. This bread was a symbol of God’s faithfulness to meet the needs of His people. God gave the Israelites instructions for when to collect the manna and how much to eat. God provided this thin, flaky bread every morning for 40 years! That equals to more than 7,000 gallons of manna per person! That should be a world record!
The people complained against Moses and against God, but God still chose to give them the food and water they needed. We are all sinners and are enemies of God, but Christ still chose to die for us so that we might be saved.
Pray: God, You are faithful to meet our needs. Thank You for sending Jesus to meet our greatest need and making a way for all who believe to have eternal life with you. Amen
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Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 NIRV
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Mornings
Thank God for the ways He has taken care of your family. How has God provided for your family? How can you give thanks for His provision?
Evenings
Ask God to help you grow in contentment. Like the Israelites, we can grumble and complain for more. How can thanking God for all He has provided help us to remain content? How has He already provided everything we need in Jesus?
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For Fun
Make a list of things you need to live, like shelter and water. Assign a different family member to read each of the following scriptures: Psalms 81:10, Malachi 3:10, and Philippians 4:19.
Discuss how the whole Bible points to God’s provision for us through Jesus. We can give thanks because God provides for our needs.
To Serve
Go shopping for supplies to put into a “Care Kit” for those in need. Include items like toothpaste, socks, lip balm, lotion, sanitizer, and bottled water. Place the items in a ziplock bag with a note that says, “God loves you.” Keep the bag in your car and be ready to give it away the next time you see someone in need.