The students will be able to describe the things that took place just prior to the crossing. They will realize that when any pressure comes to their life they can turn to God and He will deliver.
Introduction: Take a baking pan or tray of water to class. Allow your students to try to separate the water using their hands. When they see they cannot do this, tell them that your story today is about a miracle God did when He parted the waters for the Children of Israel.
Climax: When the Children of Israel had crossed the Red Sea safely, the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and they were drowned.
Conclusion: God worked as Moses obeyed. The Red Sea parted and Israel was delivered. God will deliver us as we face the pressures and problems of life.
Response: The students will be able to tell the story of the Red Sea crossing and realize that when they are under pressure from the devil, the Lord will deliver them.
Though the Egyptians had suffered the terrible plagues that befell them, more judgment was yet to come. God further hardened Pharaoh's heart and he sent his army in pursuit of the Israelites.
God did not lead the Israelites out of Egypt through the country of the Philistines which was the shortest route to the Promised Land. The Philistines were a warlike nation and God did not wish to discourage the Israelites with war. So the Lord led them through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They followed God's leading to the shore of the Red Sea. They were now trapped in the wilderness by the army of Pharaoh coming in behind them. The Children of Israel were terrified because they were unarmed and apparently they could not escape to the right or left because of the rough terrain and the sea that was before them.
God had given Moses instructions on what to do and Moses told the Israelites to fear not, but to "stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." God could easily have slain the Egyptian army as He did the Assyrian army at a later date, but He had a different plan. He told Moses to hold out his rod over the sea and the water divided. The Children of Israel went across on dry ground, but when the Egyptian army followed them, God caused their chariot wheels to fall off and slowed them down. When all the Egyptian army was in the sea, Moses again held out his rod over the sea and the water came together, drowning the Egyptians. We learn from this that if we are serving God, we have nothing to fear, no matter how impossible the situation may seem.
Bring two sacks—one labeled "Problems" and one labeled "Solutions." Tell the class that all of us, like the Children of Israel, have problems. Open the Problems sack and read the slip of paper inside (preferably problems the children can relate to). The Children of Israel were also concerned about how to get away from the Egyptian army. But then open the Solutions sack and pull out a Bible, a Primary Pals, a miniature church (or picture of one) and praying hands. By coming to Sunday school and church and reading our Bible we learn to pray and trust that God will send a solution. He always does, just like He parted the Red Sea.
Have two puppets act out the song, "How Did Moses Cross the Red Sea?" Have children say "No, no" in the appropriate places.
Take two large pieces of cardboard and cut the top like waves. Paint them blue. Attach these to chairs and setup with a pathway between. Let your children walk between, pretending this is the Red Sea. Pretend the army is nearing, and push the chairs together.
Use an overhead to present this review. Use a piece of blue acetate cut down the center to represent the Red Sea. Split apart and move a strip of people through as you tell about the Children of Israel's crossing on dry land. When you put in a strip of soldiers, move the two pieces of blue acetate back together.
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