LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Numbers 20:1-13, we find the Israelites camped in the wilderness near a place called Kadesh. Decades had passed since God freed them from slavery in Egypt, and an entire generation had grown up wandering in the desert as a consequence of their ancestors’ disobedience and lack of faith. The people were exhausted, thirsty, and desperate. With no water in sight, they turned their frustration on Moses and Aaron, crying out that they wished they had never left Egypt. Moses and Aaron did the right thing by going before the Lord in prayer, and God answered them with specific, clear instructions. Moses was told to take his staff, gather the people, and simply speak to a rock. God promised that water would pour out for everyone to drink. This was a new instruction, different from a previous miracle where Moses had been told to strike a rock. The change was significant because it was meant to show that the power belonged entirely to God, not to any object or man.
Rather than trusting and obeying God’s exact words, Moses allowed his anger and frustration to take over. He spoke harshly to the people, then struck the rock with his staff, not once but twice. Water still came out, because God is faithful and the people needed to drink. However, God made clear that Moses had not honored Him as holy in that moment. Moses had acted as though the miracle depended on himself rather than on God alone. Because of this, Moses would not be permitted to lead the people into the Promised Land. This story is a powerful reminder that obedience to God is not optional, even for those who have walked faithfully with Him for many years. God is holy, and He calls us to honor that holiness through trusting, careful obedience, even when we are tired, frustrated, or upset.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Rock Rubbings
Items Needed:
- Flat rocks of various textures
- White paper
- Unwrapped crayons in earth tones
Children place paper over a rock and rub the side of a crayon across it to reveal the texture of the rock underneath. Leaders can say, “Tonight we are going to learn about a very special rock in the Bible.”
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Numbers
Question 2: Is Numbers in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Old Testament.
Object Lesson Setup:
- Bring a large rock (or a painted cardboard rock)
- A staff or long stick
- Spray bottle filled with water (Keep the spray bottle hidden behind the rock until the moment in the story)
Our story today is about Moses. Can you say “Moses”? He helped take care of a lot of people called the Israelites who had been living in the desert for a long, long, LONG time.
The desert was dry and dusty, and one day, something very important ran out. They had no more WATER.
Can you make your thirsty face?
[Wait for kids to make their thirsty faces.]
The people were SO thirsty, and they were not very happy about it. They started complaining to Moses. Complaining means saying “This is not fair!” and “I don’t like this!” Have you ever complained?
[Wait for response.]
The people said things like, “We wish we stayed in Egypt! We are going to die out here!”
Moses did something really good. He went and talked to God. Moses prayed.
[Put hands together in a prayer position.]
Can you pray with me for a second? Just fold your hands like this.
[Pause and let kids fold their hands.]
God heard Moses and gave Moses very special instructions. Do you know what instructions are? Instructions are when someone tells you exactly what to do.
[Hold up one finger.]
God told Moses to take his big stick, called a staff. Can you pretend to pick up a big staff?
[Pretend to grab a big stick with both hands. Kids join in.]
Then God told Moses to walk to a rock.
[March in place.]
March, march, march, march!
[Wait for kids to march.]
And then, God said, SPEAK to the rock. Just use your words! God promised that water would come gushing right out of the rock!
[Make a “whoooosh” sound with your mouth.]
Can you make that sound? Whooooosh!
[Wait for kids.]
But here is what happened. Moses was still very upset. He was frustrated and angry.
[Make an angry face.]
Can you show me your angry face?
[Wait for kids to make angry faces.]
Instead of being calm and obeying God’s words, Moses walked up to the rock and he yelled at the people.
[Use a loud voice.]
Then he picked up his staff, and he hit the rock!
[Pretend to hit the rock dramatically.]
He hit it again!
[Hit again.]
Now here is the amazing part. Even though Moses did not obey exactly, water still came out of the rock!
[Now reveal the spray bottle and spray a little water in the air.]
Whoooooosh! Water everywhere!
[Spray again for effect.]
But God talked to Moses after that. God said, “Moses, I told you to speak to the rock. You did not do what I said. You did not honor me as holy.”
Hmm. What does it mean to honor God?
[Wait for simple responses.]
Honoring God means we trust Him, and we do what He says, even when we are angry, even when it is hard. We obey because we love God, and we know He is good.
[Put hand over heart.]
God is holy. That means God is completely good and perfect. And when we obey God, we are saying, “I trust You, God. I believe You are good.”
Can everyone say this with me? “God is holy!”
[Wait for kids to repeat.]
One more time! “God is holy!”
[Repeat together.]
Theological Questions:
- Why did God want Moses to obey His exact instructions, even something as small as how to get water from a rock?
- If God is holy, what does that mean about the way we should treat Him and talk to Him?
Life Application Questions:
- When someone like a parent or teacher gives you instructions, what makes it hard to obey?
- What is one thing you can do this week to show God you love Him and trust Him?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, You are holy and good, and we want to honor You with our obedience. Help us trust You enough to do what You say, even when it is hard, because You are always right and You always love us. Amen!
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45
Transition kids to the floor to sit in a circle. Today we are going to pray for times when we have a hard time obeying. Let’s ask God to help us honor Him even when we feel frustrated or upset, just like Moses should have done. Let’s also thank God for always providing what we need, just like He sent water from the rock.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45-6:55 | Hop the Rocks
Memory Verse: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15, ESV
Items Needed
Lay paper rocks across the floor. Kids hop across them while repeating the verse as they move.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Water from the Rock Craft
Items Needed:
- Construction paper
- Sponge piece brushes
- Tan or Brown Paint
- Blue puff paint
Kids tear paper into a rock shape and sponge-paint it. Add blue glitter glue to show water flowing from the rock.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while watching the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Water and Oil Experiment
Items Needed:
- Small clear cups
- Water
- Cooking oil
- Blue food coloring
Put water in a cup and add blue food coloring. Then pour oil on top. Watch how they separate. Ask the kids, “Did you know God can do anything, even things that seem impossible, like making water come from a rock?” Leaders and kids take turns shaking the cup and watching it separate again. Talk about how God’s power is bigger than anything we can understand.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Numbers 20:1–13 (ESV)
The people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.
Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.
And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them. These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway
Honor God’s Holiness
What I Learned Today
God’s people were very thirsty in the desert. God told Moses to speak to a rock so water would come out. Moses did not obey exactly, but God still showed His power and reminded everyone that He is holy.
Questions to Ask Me
Theological Questions
- Who told Moses to speak to the rock? (God)
- What came out of the rock? (Water)
- Did Moses obey exactly what God said? (No)
- What does it mean that God is holy? (God is perfect and completely good)
- How do we honor God? (By trusting and obeying Him)
Life Application Questions
- What should we do when God tells us something in the Bible? (Obey it)
- What can we do when we feel angry like Moses did? (Pray and ask God for help)
- How can we show respect to God? (Listening and obeying)
- Who can help you learn to obey God? (Parents, teachers, church leaders)
- What is one way you can honor God this week? (Obey, pray, be kind)