Memorize these verses as a family:

1 Corinthians 10:3-4: They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 

Listen. God is leading Israel through the wilderness. God appears a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. When God moves, Israel follows. Then God leads them to this place …

Read Exodus 17:1-4 together. What is the problem with the new place? How would you feel if you were there? Why do you think God led them there? God sometimes tests us to see if we will trust him. Does Israel pass the test? Why or why not? 

What do you think God will do to Israel?

One thing before we read the next part of the story. Moses’ staff is a big stick that he carried with him. God used his staff to punish Egypt for treating Israel like slaves. One time God told Moses to hit the Nile River and it turned to blood. Egypt needed the Nile River for their drinking water. God took water away so they would let Israel go. This staff is the same staff in the next part of the story. 

Read Exodus 17:5-6 together. What does God tell Moses to do with his staff? What happens when Moses does it? 

Activity: Draw a picture of this story.

What if I told you that Jesus is in this picture? 

Where do you think he is? 

Read 1 Corinthians 10:3-4 together. Where is Jesus in this story?

The staff that punished Egypt should also have punished Israel because they didn’t trust God. The staff punished Jesus instead. God gave Israel water just in time because Jesus was punished for them. God gives us what we need just in time because Jesus was punished on the cross for us. 

What does this tell us about God?

Respond. We learn from this story that God gives us what we need just in time. The question is can we trust the God who gave us Jesus? 

Make a list of things we can trust God to give us just in time. 

How are we like Israel? Take some time to ask God to forgive us for the times we don’t trust him.

Share. What did you learn that you will share with someone else? Who will you share it with?