OPTION 1: ROUND AND ROUND

This adaptation to tag has been played for generations. Have one person be “it” and have them chase another person. Limit your space by identifying boundaries, such as by saying, “You must stay in the youth room.”

Faced with boundaries, and the possibility of the one chasing being faster, the one being chased needs assistance. Objects such as chairs or tables or other barriers might give some assistance. If you have another person in the Youth Sabbath School, have them provide some interference. Be careful that participants don’t get hurt (it shouldn’t be a life-or-death option).

If you have four people in your Youth Sabbath School, have three of them form a triangle by grabbing one person’s elbow with their right hand, and the other person’s elbow with their left hand. One of the three is the one trying to avoid being tagged by “it.” Strategy calls for the triangle of people to spin around so the two partners stay between “it” and the one pursued.

If you have five people in your Youth Sabbath School, have three form the triangle and have the one being chased be “free” to roam while “it” gives chase.

Change roles periodically. If someone is tagged, the roles get reversed.

OPTION 2: FACING YOUR FEAR

The showdown in Egypt between Yahweh and Pharaoh must have scared a lot of people. Just as Yahweh had predicted, Pharaoh and the Egyptians begged the Israelites to leave Egypt, and they showered gifts on them to do so (see Exodus 12:31-36).

But after they had left Egypt, much to their fear, the Israelites found themselves pursued by Pharaoh and his army. They got hemmed in at the Red Sea. Talk about fear!

Play “Facing Your Fear” by rolling the dice, actually one die, and see what number end up at the top when it’s finished rolling. That number is the fear from an Old Testament story about when God’s people were threatened by some type of calamity. Put yourself into the story and answer the question: What would you do, and why?

These options can be downloaded on a 1-page guide. It’s available in Word format. If you don’t have the fonts, just download it in PDF format.

Note: The Old Testament examples happened AFTER the story in Exodus, so the story for this week is a first-time experience. We have many examples to draw on to build our faith. The Israelites at the Red Sea were true trailblazers!

TRANSITION

As you consider our lesson for today, think about what kind of background you have. Does it make having faith in God easy or hard for you? What about the generation before you in your family? The Israelites spent hundreds of years in Egyptian slavery. God may have delivered them from that in an amazing way, but how could they know for sure that Yahweh would continue to be with them even after they left Egypt? In the same way, how can you trust God today?

This is a short video clip you can show your Youth Sabbath School to illustrate this week’s topic, plus a few follow-up questions to spark discussion afterwards.

OPTION 1

Create a video clip that illustrates faith. This important word is often associated with God, but we also recognize it in many other relationships as well. Call it “trust,” and you have the foundation for friendship. Create a video about how faith/trust develops, or how it can be hindered. Remember to create a series of follow-up questions as well.

OPTION 2

This is a nearly 7-minute clip that picks up where last week’s segment from The Prince of Egypt leaves off. This time, it’s about crossing the Red Sea. Play it for the participants and then lead them in a discussion with these follow-up questions.

QUESTIONS

• What amazes you about this story?
• Which parts of this clip match how the Bible records this incident?
• Which parts of this clip seem different from how the Bible records it (Exodus 14:1-31)?
• Why did Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursue the Israelites into the desert and into the Red Sea?
• Is there anything in this remarkable story that relates to your life—whether in the present, the past, or the future?