Genesis 7 and 8

These lessons remind us that it can be easy to lose hope when life gets hard. That’s what the Israelites did. But even when they struggled, God stayed faithful to His promises. We also see how dangerous pride can be. A prideful heart refuses to listen to God, and that path always leads to trouble.

The First Plagues – Water to Blood and Frogs

God told Moses, “Go back to the Israelites and tell them I will bring them out of slavery into a land of plenty.” But when Moses told the people, they didn’t listen. They were so crushed by their hard work and pain that they couldn’t believe freedom was possible.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Let my people go.’ He will refuse, but I will show my power with great judgments.” This time, Moses got it. He understood that Pharaoh would not let the people go right away—God would first show His power through mighty signs.

So Moses and Aaron obeyed. They went before Pharaoh, and Aaron threw down his staff—it became a snake! Pharaoh’s magicians did the same, but Aaron’s snake swallowed theirs, showing that God’s power is greater. Still, Pharaoh refused to let Israel go.

So God sent the first two plagues:

1. The River Turns to Blood – The Nile, Egypt’s main water source, turned into blood. The fish died, and the people had no clean water to drink. The Egyptians became so desperate that they dug around the edges of the river, hoping to find fresh water to survive.

2. The Plague of Frogs – Soon after, frogs came out of the river and filled the land. They were everywhere—inside homes, in beds, ovens, and bowls!

• Even then, Pharaoh’s heart stayed hard.

Our Nature

Sometimes when life feels too hard, it’s easy to lose hope, just like the Israelites did. They couldn’t see past their suffering. But Moses kept obeying God even when others didn’t believe. Each step of obedience grew his faith stronger.

God was showing that He is more powerful than Pharaoh, more powerful than Egypt’s magicians, and more powerful than anything that tries to stand against His people.

Activity Idea (Ages 9–13): “Mini-Plague Challenge”

1. River to Blood Science Demo

• Fill two clear cups with water. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one while the kids watch. Say: “Just like that, the Nile turned to blood. Imagine how shocking this was for Egypt!”

• Optional: Give kids a chance to dig in a pan of sand with small cups of water underneath to “find fresh water,” showing what the Egyptians had to do.

2. Frog Toss Game

• Give each group a small container (a “house”) and a few paper or foam frogs (you can cut frog shapes from green paper).

• Kids take turns tossing frogs into each other’s “houses.” Whoever ends up with the most frogs “in their house” experiences what Egypt felt!

• Afterward, ask: “How do you think the Egyptians felt with frogs everywhere? What do these plagues show us about God’s power?”

Lesson: The Finger of God—Gnats and Flies

Scripture Summary (Exodus 8:16–24)

God told Moses to have Aaron strike the dust with his staff, and the dust of the ground turned into gnats that covered people and animals everywhere. Pharaoh’s magicians tried to copy the miracle but could not. They said, “This is the finger of God.” Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen.

Then God warned Pharaoh that if he did not let His people go, swarms of flies would fill Egypt. But this time God would make a difference—He would protect the land of Goshen where His people lived. The next day, dense swarms of flies ruined Egypt, but no flies entered Goshen. God showed He had power over the land and that He cared for His people.

Lesson:

In these chapters we see that God shows His unmatched power and His presence in the land. The first example is when He makes gnats come from the dust. Pharaoh’s magicians try to do the same thing but can’t. They tell Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” That means God’s mighty power was at work, and no one else could do what He had done.

Up until this time, the children of Israel had been suffering in the same way as the Egyptians. But now God said He would deal differently with the land of Goshen, where His people lived. When the plague of flies came, no swarms of flies touched them. This was a sign to Pharaoh that God was in the land and that His plan would be accomplished.

God’s Nature:

We serve a mighty God who doesn’t just talk—He acts. God wants us to know that He is strong and that there is no god like Him. He doesn’t hide from us, but reveals Himself in ways we can understand. God also wants us to know that He loves and cares for us. We see this when He rescued His people from slavery. In the next chapters, we will see more of God’s wonder and judgment.

Activity: “Egypt or Goshen?”

1. Label two sides of the room: Egypt and Goshen.

2. Read short statements, and have kids move to the side that matches.

• “Swarms of flies everywhere” → Egypt

• “No flies at all” → Goshen

• “Magicians can’t copy God’s power” → Egypt

• “God protects His people” → Goshen

3. Talk together about what this shows us about God’s power and His care.

Discussion Question:

• Why do you think God wanted Pharaoh and the Israelites to see His power so clearly?