Lesson 7: Bugs, Frogs, and Pharaoh—Oh My!

Distribute name tags and snacks. Choose one of the following activities to do together while children eat their snack.

Collect prayer requests from the students. The leader or a student can pray for the entire group, or a leader can pair up students and invite them to pray for one another.

• “Have you ever felt stuck in a hard situation and needed help?”
• “Have you ever had someone help you when you were having a bad day or a difficult time?”
  • Maybe you were sick and someone brought you soup or your favorite snack.
  • Maybe you were sad at school and a friend sat with you or made you laugh.
  • Maybe you got hurt, and a teacher or parent helped clean you up and made you feel better.

“The Israelites had been waiting for a really long time for God to rescue them from slavery. Today, we’re going to hear how God showed his power to rescue his people!”

“Today, we are going to talk about how Pharaoh kept saying ‘No Way!’ to letting God’s people go. Let’s play a quick game!

We’re going to play a fun game where I’ll ask some silly questions, and you get to answer with “No way!” or maybe even “Hmm… maybe!”

Some of these might make you say, “No way!” right away. Others might make you stop and think!”

Give students different real-life scenarios where they would want to say “No way!”

• “Would you eat a ketchup and banana sandwich?” (No way!)
• “Would you jump in a pool of slime?” (No way!)
• “Would you give away all your toys?” (Maybe!)
• “Would you sleep outside with no blanket or pillow?” (No way!)
• “Would you let a monkey do your homework?” (No way!)
• “Would you eat a whole lemon without making a face?” (No way!)
• “Would you trade your favorite snack for a plate of broccoli?” (No way!)
• “Would you walk backward everywhere for a whole day?” (No way!)
• “Would you pet a skunk if it was really cute?” (No way!)
• “Would you go a whole day without talking?” (No way!)
• “Would you let someone else pick out your clothes for a week?” (No way!)
• “Would you share your favorite dessert with everyone in the room?” (Maybe!)

“In our Bible story, Pharaoh kept saying “No way!” to God’s command to let his people go. But God’s power was greater than Pharaoh’s “No way!” Let’s see how!”

Welcome the students to Crossroads and tell them you are glad they came this week.

(Think of a time God kept a promise or helped you. This helps you remember you can always trust him.)

Tell kids that closing their eyes and folding their hands together can help keep them focused and not distract those around them.

Ask:

• “What would you do if you were stuck in a really bad situation and couldn’t fix it?”
• “How would you feel if someone more powerful stepped in to help you?”

“That’s what happened to God’s people in Egypt. They were stuck as slaves—but God had a plan to rescue them because he always keeps his promises.

Last week we learned about Joseph and how God used a bad situation for something good. Joseph became a powerful leader in Egypt and helped save his family and many others.

But years later, after Joseph died, a new Pharaoh came to power. He didn’t know about Joseph and made God’s people, the Israelites, slaves. Egypt was strong—maybe the strongest country in the world—and the Israelites were suffering.

There was a man named Moses. God sent Moses to talk with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt and gave Pharaoh one message from God: “Let my people go!”

The problem was that Pharaoh was stubborn and kept saying, “No way!””

“We will be going through the story and we will have motions to go along with parts of the story.

Each time Moses went to Pharaoh, he delivered a clear message from God. Let’s say it like Moses might have—loud and strong! Cup your hands around your mouth like this (👋📣), and shout together:
📣 “Let my people go!”

Every time Pharaoh heard Moses’ message, he refused to listen. Let’s show how stubborn he was! Cross your arms in front of your chest like this (🙅‍♂️), and say together in a strong voice:
🙅‍♂️ “No way!”

After each plague, God showed that he was more powerful than Pharaoh, Egypt, or anything else! Let’s show our muscles to remember that God is powerful!

Raise your arms and flex like this 💪, and shout it out together:

💪 “God is powerful!””

Consider going through the motions two or three times.

“God saw how badly his people were being treated in Egypt so he sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message”:
📣 “Let my people go!”“
🙅‍♂️ Kids respond: “NO WAY!”

“So God sent the first plague…”

1. Water Turns to Blood
   “All the water in Egypt turned to blood! The fish died and it smelled awful!”
   📣 Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
2. Frogs
   “Frogs covered the land—they were in their homes, beds, ovens, and even on their heads!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
3. Gnats
   “Tiny bugs called gnats came from the dust and bothered everyone—even the animals!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
4. Flies
   “Swarms of flies filled the houses—there were flies everywhere!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
5. Death of Livestock
   “All the Egyptian animals died, but the animals that belonged to God’s people were fine.”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
6. Boils
   “Painful sores covered people and animals. Ow!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
7. Hail and Fire
   “Huge hailstones crashed down with fire from the sky—destroying crops and buildings.”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
8. Locusts
   “Locusts covered the land and ate every green thing they could find!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
9. Darkness
   “It was so dark you couldn’t see anything—for three days!”
   📣Moses said,“Let my people go!”
   🙅‍♂️But Pharaoh said, “NO WAY!”
   💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”
10. Death of the Firstborn
    “The oldest child in every Egyptian family died—but God’s people were safe. Pharaoh was heartbroken.”
    📣Moses said, “Let my people go!”
    🙅‍♂️And finally Pharaoh said, “GO AWAY!”
    💪 “GOD IS POWERFUL!”

“After all of these plagues, Pharaoh finally let the people go free. God used Moses to stand up to the strongest nation on earth. God showed that he is powerful and that he keeps his promises!

Just like God rescued his people with a powerful act in Egypt, he would one day rescue the whole world through Jesus, the Lamb of God.”

Ask:

• “Why did God send all these plagues?”
  • To show his power and keep his promise to rescue his people.
• “How did God care for his people during this time?”
  • He protected them and kept his promise to rescue them.
• “What does this teach us about God?”
  • He is powerful, keeps his promises, and cares for us too!

Thank God for His power and promises.
Pray for trust in God’s care.
Ask for hearts that listen and obey.

How to Play:

• The leader plays the role of “Pharaoh” and gives commands to the group. If the leader says “Pharaoh says…” before the action, kids must obey.
• If the leader gives a command without saying “Pharaoh says,” kids should not do it.
• Mix in movements that relate to the story (e.g., “March in place like the Israelites leaving Egypt,” “Jump like a frog,” “Hold your arms up like Moses parting the Red Sea”).
• Occasionally say “Let my people go!” and kids must respond, “No Way!” like Pharaoh.
• If a student follows a command incorrectly, they sit out for the round.

Connection: Just like Pharaoh refused to obey, sometimes we struggle to listen to God.

When we obey God, we experience his blessings, just as Moses and the Israelites did.

How to Play:

• Divide kids into two teams. Place the index cards at one end of the room.
• One at a time, a player from each team runs to grab a card and bring it back. Once all cards are collected, teams must arrange them in the correct order.
• The first team to correctly list all 10 plagues in order wins.

Connection: God used the plagues to show his power. Even when Pharaoh refused to listen, God’s plan could not be stopped.

How to Play:

• Split kids into two teams. Set up the “sea” by draping blue fabric on both sides of a narrow path.
• One by one, kids must go through the course while avoiding the “waves” (leaders can shake fabric or try to tag them lightly). If tagged, they go back to the start.
• Once the whole team crosses safely, they shout, “God rescues his people!”

Connection: God performed a miracle by parting the Red Sea. Just as the Israelites trusted God to lead them through the sea, we can trust God in our lives.

How to Play:

• Divide kids into two teams: Pharaoh’s Army and Moses & Israelites.
• The teams play a tug-of-war match.
• Each time the game is reset, a leader calls out, “Let my people go!” and kids respond, “No Way!”
• Eventually, the Moses & Israelites team should win to symbolize God’s power.

Connection: Even though Pharaoh resisted, God’s power was greater. God will always accomplish his plans, no matter the opposition.

“Today we’re going to play a drawing game to help us remember the 10 plagues that God sent to Egypt to show his power and rescue his people.”

One at a time, have each child come forward and pick a card from the bag or envelope.

Give them 1 minute to draw the plague they picked. No words—just pictures!

After the minute is up, they’ll hold up their drawing for the group to guess which plague it is.

Continue until all kids have drawn (or as time allows).

The 10 Plagues:

1. Water Turned to Blood
2. Frogs
3. Gnats or Lice
4. Flies
5. Death of Livestock
6. Boils (painful sores)
7. Hail and Fire
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Death of the Firstborn

Ask:

• “Why do you think God wanted to rescue his people from Egypt?”
• “How do you think God shows that he’s more powerful than any other person or thing?”
• “Can you think of a time someone kept a promise to you? How did it make you feel?”

Instructions:

Hold up the rock and say: “This rock is hard. No matter how much water I pour on it, it won’t soak anything in.”

Pour water on the rock and let the kids watch it run right off.

This reminds us of Pharaoh in the Bible. When Moses told him what God said, Pharaoh didn’t listen. He had a hard heart, like this rock. He refused to obey God.

Hold up the sponge and say: “Now look at this sponge. It’s soft. Watch what happens when I pour water on it.”

Pour water onto the sponge, or dip it into the bowl, and let kids see it soak the water in.

“This is the kind of heart God wants us to have—soft and ready to soak in his words, listen, and obey.

Pharaoh hardened his heart like a rock and refused to listen to God. But we should have hearts like a sponge—soft, ready to soak in God’s truth and obey him.”

Ask:

• “What kind of heart do you think pleases God?”
• “How can we keep our hearts soft toward God?”
• “Are there times we act like Pharaoh and don’t listen?”

“God gives us lots of chances to listen and follow him. Let’s be like the sponge—ready to listen, learn, and obey—not like the rock, refusing to change.”

Ask:

• “Why did Pharaoh keep saying, “No way!” when Moses asked to free God’s people?”
• “What do the plagues show us about God’s power?”
• “How did God rescue his people?”

• “Why do you think Pharaoh’s heart was so stubborn?”
• “How do the plagues show that God is the one true God?”
• “Why do you think God sent the plagues instead of freeing the Israelites instantly?”
• “How do we see both God’s power and his patience in this story?”
• “What are some things we need to trust God for in our lives today?”
• “How does this story remind us of Jesus rescuing us from sin?”

• “How can we remember that God is always in control, even when things seem impossible?”

• “Why do you think Pharaoh kept saying, “No Way!” even after all the plagues?”
• “How do you think the Israelites felt watching God’s power at work?”
• “What does this story teach us about God’s power and faithfulness?”

“Just as God rescued the Israelites from slavery, he sent Jesus to rescue us from sin. We can trust him no matter what happens, because he is always faithful!”

Lead kids in a prayer thanking God for his forgiveness and asking for help to forgive others.