YEA Lesson Library
Food From Heaven
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that God provided manna and quail for the Israelites. The student should be grateful for God’s blessings and should not grumble.
Scriptures
Exodus 15:27
Exodus 16:1-35
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Psalm 78:18-29
Psalm 105:40
John 6:31
John 6:47-50
Words to Know
GRUMBLING - complaining, talking about how unhappy they were
MANNA - food sent down from God in heaven
WILDERNESS - barren, wasteland where there is little water and nothing grows
The Lesson
God led Moses and the Israelites through the Red Sea. Now they were in a wilderness land. There was not much water for the people to drink. The food they brought with them was gone. They were hungry. So the people started grumbling.
The people were mad at Moses for bringing them into the wilderness. They said things were better in Egypt. They even thought Moses brought them out to kill them all! They forgot about how hard they had to work in Egypt. They even forgot why God brought them out.
God heard the people grumbling. He told Moses that He would send food for the people to eat. But, the food would not come from the grocery store. There were no stores in the wilderness. God would send special food down from heaven for the Israelites. Each morning manna would be on the ground. All they had to do was go out and pick it up.
When the people saw the manna, they said, "What is it?” That is what manna means - what is it? The Israelites were to go out every morning and pick up the manna - except on the Sabbath. They were not supposed to work on the Sabbath. God said to pick up twice as much on Friday so they would have food for the Sabbath.
The manna was white and tasted like honey bread. It came down from God in heaven. It must have tasted good. But the people still weren't happy. They grumbled some more. So, in the evening, God sent quails for the people to eat. The quails were birds that tasted like chicken. Now they had plenty to eat.
God was still taking care of His people. They should be happy.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - John 1:17
Monday - Exodus 19:1-2
Tuesday - Exodus 19:10-11
Wednesday - Exodus 19:18-19
Thursday - Psalm 81:11-12
Friday - Psalm 1:1
Saturday - Psalm 33:11-12
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:
1. Tell why the Israelites grumbled.
2. Describe what God sent the people to eat.
3. Define what manna means.
4. State that we should be thankful for the things God gives us.
Topics & Themes
God’s Provision
Gratitude
Grumbling
Israelites
Manna
Moses
Red Sea
Sabbath
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, stickers, cassette or CD, music player, songbook. construction paper, glue, magazine pictures, clear Contact paper, snack, crackers, paper lunch bags, blue fabric or florist's foil
Preparation
Children are often reminded to say "please" and "thank you" to other people. Reminders to use good manners are necessary. But, they also should realize that they should be thankful to God. Point out that al good things come from Him, even though Mommy buys their food at the grocery store, or Daddy buys their clothes. God is the one who makes the food grow. And, being thankful is one way to show that we love God.
Before you come to class, cut out pictures of food from magazines. Be sure to include favorites, like ice cream, hamburgers, pizza, fruit, etc. Have enough pictures of various sizes so each child will have enough to glue all over their construction paper.
On the floor of your classroom arrange blue fabric or florist's foil in two sections with a path through the middle to represent the Red Sea.
Review Questions
1. Why did the Israelites grumble and complain?
2. Who did they blame for them being in the wilderness and hungry?
3. What did God send the Israelites to eat?
4. What does the word "manna" mean?
5. When God sent the people food to eat, what should they say?
6. What should you say to God for all the good things He gives you?
REACH Activity
Letters: QU (Note: Q is almost always followed by “u” so it’s introduced to children this way.)
Words: quail, quite, quit, quiet
Sentence:
THE ISRAELITES WERE QUITE HAPPY TO EAT QUAIL.
Song
“If You’re Happy” is on page 47 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask if one of the children would like to thank God for the snack they have to eat today. (If no one volunteers, have them repeat a simple prayer of thanks.)
Printable Pages
