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Weekly Scripture:
Numbers 20:2-13

Story:
"Moses Strikes the Rock Twice"

Application:
Be angry and sin not!

Summary:
The children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness and because they had no water to drink they complained to Moses saying that they wished they were dead or back in Egypt. Moses and Aaron then prayed to the Lord. The Lord told Moses to speak to the rock and it would provide water for all the people and their animals. However, when Moses gathered the people together, he became very angry with them so he struck the rock twice with his rod instead of only speaking to it. Water did flow from the rock for everyone to drink, but the Lord told Moses that He would not allow him to take the people into the Promised Land because he had struck the rock instead of doing as God had told him. Aaron died right after.

Focus:
To teach children that even in a state of anger, we must have fruit of the Spirit, such as self-control, or we will fall into temptation and sin against God.

Finding Christ:
We are told that Christ was the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). The first time God told Moses to strike the rock in Exodus 17:6 and water would come forth. This represented Christ’s death that brings forth life giving water. However, the second time Moses was told to only speak to the Rock, because Christ would never die twice. Moses and Aaron disobeyed and were punished.

Live the Lesson:
This week we will be using balloons. On family night discuss with your children that there are a lot of ways to have fun with balloons. You can fill them up with water if you are outside and squirt each other with them, only to refill them again and blast each other some more. If you are in the house, you can blow up a balloon and without tying it, let it loose and watch it jet through the air. You can blow up a balloon and then squeeze and stretch the opening to slowly release air so that it lets out high pitch squeals. Now blow up a balloon and tie it closed. Hit the balloon back and forth between the family members. As simple at this is, every body always enjoys this. Laugh out loud a lot, as laughter is contagious. But then your mood will change suddenly…

Now grab the balloon and tell the family you feel angry that you did not get as many turns to hit the balloon. Throw a bit of a tantrum and pop the balloon in anger! Make sure there are NO other balloons around. Storm out of the room!

While most of your family is hopefully sitting there shocked, walk back in and pick up the busted balloon. Ask them if the balloon is fun anymore? Explain to them, that when we express our anger, it is usually outside of the will of God. And the things we do in our anger stick with the people around us forever. Even if we apologize, they never forget our explosions. Just like anger ruined the balloon forever, anger also can ruin the plans God has for us if we allow it to overcome us. However, if we do mess up in our anger, we need to repent to God and those we sinned against and seek restoration. *If any of them still don’t get it, make sure they understand that you were not really angry, but you were just driving the point home.

Now grab some of those extra balloons and get back to having fun as a family! Here are my patterns for STANDING VEGGIE TALES BALLOONS: www.familyblueprint.org/veggie_tales_balloons.htm

Memory Verse:
"Be angry, and do not sin." Ephesians 4:26

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to not sin in our anger. Help us always to seek Your will, even when we feel angry.

Living the Life:
This week discuss with your children how anger colors our thought process. Teach them ideas on how to cool down before "reacting" in a situation.

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept