Moses Led the Israelites
Exodus 17-18
May 18, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Exodus 17 and 18 reveal God’s faithfulness to help Moses in the difficulties of leadership. From the Amalekite battle to his daily struggle to teach and judge God’s people, Moses’ human limitations were evident as he came to the end of himself and depended on God to supply him with the support needed to fulfill his role as leader of the Israelites.
How was Moses ill-equipped to take on the strains of these circumstances? How do we see our own need for Jesus in today’s text?
Though Moses led with humble obedience, he could not independently fulfill all the requirements of his role. As Joshua led Israel in war, Moses was responsible for interceding on behalf of the Israelites. When the Israelites were battling the Amalekites, God allowed Aaron and Hur to assist Moses as his arms grew heavy, and God declared that He would blot out the memory of this foe under heaven. When God’s words rang true, Moses declared God to 8888be his victory, the One in whom he placed his trust.
Later, Moses recounted to his father-in-law God’s faithful deliverance in every hardship since their departure from Egypt and went on to explain his responsibilities as leader. Jethro believed Moses’ role was too big for one man and wisely instructed Moses to select other like-minded men to serve alongside him. He explained that the delegation of these roles would help not only Moses, but the rest of God’s people too. God, in His grace, provided the right men to assist Moses in these responsibilities. In both times of need, God graciously provided for Moses.
Teach the kids in your family that God helps us in our times of need, just as He did for Moses. Even more, God provides our greatest need: a Ruler like Moses to perfectly and completely instruct and judge His people––a role that could only be fulfilled through His perfect Son, Jesus. Moses’ leadership was a shadow of Christ’s greatness to come. Pray for the kids in your family to see the salvation Christ offers them today, our greatest help for our greatest trouble.
** Next week: The 10 Commandments (Exodus 19-20; 31)
This Week's Main Ideas
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This Week's Main Ideas •
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BABIES-TODDLERS
Moses was not able to meet all the people’s needs. Jesus met our need to be rescued from sin by dying on the cross and coming back to life.
PRESCHOOL-K
Moses was a great leader, but he was not able to meet all the needs of the people. Jesus is able to hear and respond to all of our prayers. Jesus met our need to be rescued from sin by dying on the cross and coming back to life.
1ST-5TH GRADE
Moses was a great leader, but he was just a man. He was not able to meet all the needs of all the people by himself. Jesus is fully man and fully God. He is able to hear and respond to all of our prayers, and His death and resurrection provides salvation to everyone who trusts in Him.
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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 17:8–18:27 from the Bible.
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Getting a snack from the highest shelf of the pantry, learning how to ride your bike, learning to tie your shoes—these are just some things that we can’t do unless someone helps us. It can be hard to ask for help because we want to do things on our own, but we can do more and feel better about our work when we do it together!
Moses had some tough jobs as the leader of God’s people. One of his jobs was to be a judge for the people. The people would come to Moses to complain and present their case. It was long and lonely work for Moses. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, observed this and saw that it was not good for Moses to do it all on his own every day.
Jethro gave Moses advice about leading the people. He told Moses that it wasn’t good to lead alone. He encouraged Moses to choose trustworthy men to act as judges over smaller groups of people. Then, Moses would not have to work so much, and the people would not have to wait so long to solve their problems.
Moses needed others to help him lead God’s people and teach them God’s laws. Just as Jethro did not want Moses to lead alone, God does not want us to follow Jesus alone. God gave us brothers and sisters who love Jesus and encourage us to love God and obey God and tell others about Jesus.
Moses was a great leader, but he was just a man. He was not able to meet all the needs of all the people by himself. Jesus is fully man and fully God. He is able to hear and respond to all of our prayers, and His death and resurrection provides salvation to everyone who trusts in Him.Pray: God, thank You for giving us people who help us every day. Thank You for friends and family who love us and want to help us accomplish more for Your glory. Most of all, thank You for Jesus, who is always willing to help us with all our needs. 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
Ask God to give you the wisdom and humility to ask for help today. Ask Him to show you the areas where you need help and the people He has given to help with your needs.
Evenings
Thank God for meeting all our needs in Jesus. Thank Him for sending Jesus to cover our greatest need—the forgiveness of sin and a perfect Savior to lead us. How does our need for forgiveness help point us toward Jesus?
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For Fun
Play a game with your kids where you hold your hands behind your back and let them take turns slipping their arms under yours to act as your hands. Let them “help” you make a sandwich and eat it. Mention how fun it is to be the hands for someone else.
This week encourage your kids to be the hands for someone you know who could use some help. You could hold the door open at the store, make a meal for another family, or serve in a local ministry as a family. Read 1 John 3:23 and discuss how we can help by loving and praying for one another.
To Serve
Help kids put together simple encouragement packs for different teams at church like notes for greeters, a snack for production, or stickers for the Wake team. Let them pray over each one before delivering them. Talk with kids about how serving isn’t just about doing tasks, it’s about showing love and cheering each other on as we follow Jesus together!