PROTECTED BY YHWH
The Passover
Exodus 11:1-12:30

Activity:
Because the king of Egypt had hardened his heart and refused to heed the warnings of nine plagues, YHWH sent one more plague on the Egyptian people-the death of the firstborn, both of people and of animals. But while this terrible judgment took place, YHWH provided protection from death for the Israelites. Through Moshe, YHWH gave instructions for the Israelites to smear the blood of lambs on their doorposts-a foreshadowing of the sacrifice Y’shua would make by shedding his blood to save those who believe and obey. In remembrance of YHWH's mighty acts and protection, YHWH instructed the people to observe the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The story of the death of the firstborn and the first Passover shows that YHWH protects those who love and obey him. This lesson will help kids understand that YHWH wants to be their protector.

Preperation:
To do every activity you will need to gather Bibles; a flashlight; masking tape; and items that provide protection, such as potholders, sun lotion, toothpaste, keys, an umbrella, a catcher's mitt, and a hat. You'll also need a bookmark, tape, newsprint, markers, containers of red paint, branches of a shrub to use as brushes, crackers or matzos, cups of water or juice, Life Savers candy, twine, and scissors.

Activity:

Flash of Danger
(You'll need a flashlight and masking tape.)
Create an open space by moving the table and chairs to one side of your classroom. In one corner, mark off a box on the floor with masking tape. Make the box big enough for all the children to stand in it at once. Have kids stand in the opposite corner.

Say: The light from this flashlight will represent danger. Think of it as a laser. I'll shine it around the room. If the "laser beam" shines on you, drop down and lie flat on the floor. When you're no longer in the light, you can get up and crawl again. Crawl to this box on the floor. When you get inside the box, you are protected from the laser beam, and you may stand up again.

Turn off the lights. Shine the flashlight around the room until all the kids have made it across the room and are standing inside the box. Turn the lights back on. Have the kids sit in a circle on the floor. Then ask:
*What was it like to pretend you were in danger?
*How did you feel when you got to the safe place?
*What kinds of danger do people face today?
*What kind of danger is most frightening to you?
*What are some things you've learned to do when you're in danger?

Say: Today we're going to find out about a whole country that was in danger. Some of the people found YHWH's protection-but others didn't.

Teaching and Activity:
(You'll need a Bible with a bookmark at Exodus 11 and items that provide protection, such as potholders, sun lotion, toothpaste, keys, an umbrella, a catcher's mitt, or a hat. You'll need enough items for each student to have at least one object.)

Place all the items that provide protection in a pile on the floor. Have kids stand in a circle around the pile. One by one, allow kids to choose an object from the pile. Encourage kids to examine their objects carefully. Then ask:
*Who can tell me what all these things have in common? Explain.
*How does each thing provide protection?
*What could happen if you didn't have that item?
*Which item is most important to you? Explain.
*What other things protect you every day?

Set out a Bible with a bookmark at Exodus 11. Say: These items protect us from rain and heat and cold. But we can't count on them to protect us from big things. There is someone we can count on, though-YHWH! Today's Bible story is about a time YHWH saved his people from grave danger. Let's find out what happened.

Teaching and Activity:

(You'll need Bibles, tape, two large pieces of newsprint, markers, containers of red watercolors or tempera paint, and small branches of a shrub to use as brushes.)
Say: Moshe tried many ways to convince the king of Egypt to free the people of Israel so they could worship YHWH.

Ask: *Who can name some of the things Moshe tried?

Say: But the king still refused. So YHWH planned a way to make the king and his people willing to let the Israelites go. Let's see what YHWH planned.

Help children find Exodus 11. Ask a volunteer to read Exodus 11:4-8.

Say: YHWH knew that the king of Egypt was stubborn. Can you show me what a stubborn king might look like?

Pause and then say: Ooo-you're a pretty scary-looking bunch.

This king was scary, too. He was so mean and stubborn that YHWH planned something terrible to make him let the Israelites go: The first son of every household in Egypt would die. But YHWH wanted to protect the people of Israel from death. So YHWH gave Moses a plan. Let's read about that plan.

Have a volunteer read Exodus 12:21-23.

Say: YHWH's people painted the door frames of their houses with lambs' blood. This showed that they loved and obeyed YHWH. Let's paint a door frame like the people of Israel did.

(Tape two pieces of newsprint on a wall or door frame. With markers, draw a door on each piece. Hand out red paint and small branches for brushes. Let kids take turns painting the top and sides of one of the paper door frames. Have half the kids gather near the painted door frame and the other half near the unpainted door frame.)

Have volunteers read Exodus 12:12-13 and 12:29-30. Invite children who enjoy role-playing to fall to the ground dramatically to show that some of the Egyptian people died. Invite the rest of the kids to act the way they think the people of that time acted when they discovered that the firstborn sons had died.

Ask: *What would you have thought that night if you were an Egyptian? if you were an Israelite?
*Why did YHWH let this happen?
*How do you think the king felt when he found out that the firstborn sons of the Egyptians had all died?
*What does this story teach us about YHWH’s protection?

Say: YHWH provided protection for his people because they loved and obeyed him. YHWH protected the people who wanted to worship him. YHWH wanted the people to always remember that he provided protection. Let's see what YHWH told them to do to help them remember.

Teaching and Snack:
(You'll need crackers or matzos, cups of water, and a Bible.)
Have kids gather around a table where you've set out crackers or matzos and cups of water or juice.

Say: YHWH told the people to get dressed as if they were going on a trip, then to eat the special Passover meal that night. YHWH told the people to have a special meal every year to remember how he had protected them. We can remember that special time, too. Let's eat a snack now to remember the time YHWH provided special protection for his people. Of course, every year we celebrate YHWH’s power by holding a “seder” or “special meal”.

Ask: Who can tell me about the seder? What parts to you like? What songs do we sing during the seder?

While kids eat, read Exodus 12: 8-17.

Ask: *How did eating the meal this way help the people remember YHWH's protection?
*Why is it good to have special times to remember what YHWH has done?
*Why do you think YHWH protects us?
*How has YHWH protected you in the past?

Say: Let's thank YHWH now for protecting the people of Israel and for loving and protecting us.

Praying:
(You'll need a Bible and markers.)

Gather children around the painted door frame.

Say: People in Bible times and people today ask YHWH for protection. We need to be thankful when YHWH protects us.

Read Psalm 121:5-6 to the children: "YHWH himself is caring for you! He is your defender. He protects you day and night" (The Living Bible). Have children write their names on the painted door frame to show that they need YHWH's protection.

Say: Let's say these verses from Psalms together. Then let's say this: "Right now we ask you to protect us from..." and you can add a word or two.

Have kids repeat the verses from Psalms with you, phrase by phrase. Then add the sentence to the verse and have kids add a word or two.

Say: We're thankful that YHWH protected the people of Israel and that YHWH protects us. I'm glad YHWH loves and protects you.

Teaching and Activity:
(You'll need Life Savers candy, twine, and scissors. Before class, cut twine into 2-foot lengths.)

Have kids sit in a circle.

Say: YHWH protects us in many ways, day after day, even when we don't think about it. Remembering good things YHWH does for us is important. I'm going to pass around this roll of Life Savers. When the roll comes to you, take one Life Saver. Then tell about a time YHWH protected you.

If kids hesitate, start the discussion by sharing a time when YHWH protected you. For example, "YHWH protected me by helping the doctors discover why I was sick and what medicine I needed to get well" or "YHWH protected me by helping me remember to wear my seat belt so that I wasn't hurt badly when another car hit mine."

Give everyone a chance to share, then ask:
*Why is it important for us to think about YHWH's protection?
*How does it make you feel when you think of ways YHWH has protected you?

Say: YHWH loved the people of Israel, so he protected them. YHWH loves and protects us, too.

Pass out pieces of twine. Have kids put their Life Savers on the twine and tie the twine around their necks to make necklaces.

Say: Wear your necklace home as a reminder of YHWH's protection. Let's give one final cheer of thanks for YHWH's protection.

Lead the kids in a quick, exuberant yell such as "Yea, YHWH!"
Activity:

Passover Placemats: Materials: Construction Paper Markers, Crayons, Paint, Glitter or other materials to decorate Instructions: Ask the children to illustrate what Passover means to them or have them decorate it with Hebrew words for Passover

Activity:

Passover Reclining Pillow: Materials: Pillow Case (Light colors or white work best) Markers or cloth markers
* Insert a piece of cardboard so that it does not bleed through

Instructions: You can really go wild with this one as far as what to put on the pillows. Notes: Ideas for Illustration - The 10 Plagues - Moshe parting the sea - Miriam finding water for the nation of Israel - The Seder Plate and all of the things on it. - The child's name in Hebrew - Hebrew Vocabulary words

Activity:

Reenact the Plagues: Materials: Glass of Water and Red Food Coloring Small round stick on dots (for boils) Plastic/rubber frogs, insects, etc. Blindfold for Darkness Ping pong balls for the Hail

Instructions: Divide the kids into teams Each team has to reenact "their" plague and tell about it Notes: This really brings the plagues into a better perspective for the kids. They learn about the order of the plagues and have fun while they are doing it.