God Protects His Child

TEXT: Matthew 2:13-23

OBJECTIVE

The student will be able to recount how God protected His Child, and will further understand that God's providential care will surround the one who is His child in our day as well.

BIBLE LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction: Use a picture of an angel watching over children in a dangerous place. Discuss how God watches over us just the way He cared for His own Son Jesus.

Progression of Events:

1. Herod sought to kill the Child.
2. An angel came to Joseph and told him to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
3. Joseph obeyed.
4. Jesus was spared when Herod ordered all male children under two years of age to be killed.
5. An angel came again and told Joseph when it was safe to return to Israel.

Climax: God overruled the orders of kings to preserve His Son.

Conclusion: God watches over the one who is His child in our day, just as He was watching over Baby Jesus.

Response: The students will be able to relate why Joseph fled to Egypt and explain how God protected His Child. They will be able to name some things from which God protects us.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The wise men naturally came first to Jerusalem which was the political and religious center of the nation. When the question was asked where Christ should be born, the scribes knew exactly what the Scriptures said, yet did nothing to honestly investigate all the astonishing events happening just five miles from Jerusalem. Their callous indifference is amazing. Yet just as amazing is the fact that Herod thought he could thwart the plan of God which had been revealed to the prophet hundreds of years earlier (Micah 5:2). This man's insane jealousy blinded him and so he set out to kill the Christ Child. However, in so doing he only succeeded in proving his own foolishness and fulfilling yet more prophecy (Matthew 2:15,18). Even though Herod hid his evil desires in pious words (Matthew 2:8), God knew exactly what Herod was thinking and revealed it unto Joseph in a dream (Matthew 2:13). God is well able to bring His plans to completion. Heaven and earth will pass away but His Word endures forever (Matthew 24:35).

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

• Make beds, Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, and donkey out of clay or papier mache and use them as you tell the story.
• Bring a map to class and on it mark all the places mentioned in this month's lessons.
• Bring a number of items that people use to protect themselves and their property—for example, an umbrella, a lock, a hard hat, seat belt, boot, Mr. Yuk stickers, stop sign. Discuss these items one at a time. End with a picture of parents, and then a picture of Jesus, showing how they also protect us. This idea could also be adapted for use as a review.
• Make your own puzzle from a picture of the flight into Egypt. Let the children help put it together as you talk about the lesson.

QUESTIONS

1. Why were there weeping and mourning· in and around Bethlehem?
2. Why wasn't Jesus slain?
3. Why did Mary and Joseph go to Egypt?
4. Where did they go when they left Egypt?
5. Why did Herod want the babies to be killed? Did he have just a few killed or many? How do you know?
6. To what occasion in Old Testament history can you liken this event? What comparisons between the two can you make?
7. Couldn't Joseph and Mary just have hidden their Baby and not had to travel so far? Explain.
8. What caused Joseph and Mary to return from Egypt?
9. What made them feel it was safe and who gave them instructions?
10. How does God talk to people today and tell them what He wants them to do?

PRE-SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS

• Show pictures of guardian angels watching over children.
• Use small dolls and a hand puppet for an angel to portray situations in which a child might need protection.
• Show pictures of children engaged in various activities common to this age—playing, eating, sleeping, etc. Explain how Jesus is watching them while they do each of these.
• Compare God's protection to an umbrella. The umbrella protects us from the rain just as God protects us from harm.

REVIEW IDEAS

Prepare an overhead on God's protection. Use drawings of some of the items for protection mentioned under In-Class Activities. Include pictures depicting the text of the lesson, and perhaps a simplified map showing the approximate distance traveled. Conclude by showing pictures of the Bible, a Sunday school class, parents talking to child, and explain how all of these are a part of the protection God has for us.

From what does God protect us? Ask children for their ideas and sketch them on a chalkboard or make a list.

Set up an obstacle course in the front of your department. Have a blindfolded student volunteer and try to go through the course without touching anything. Bring out how we have to be alert to God's Voice in order to be protected. You may also wish to point out how you, as direction giver, must keep your eyes on the student all the time. In the same way, God keeps His eyes on us.

SUPPORT MATERIAL

• "The Secret Journey" — Arch Book, Concordia