Family Devotion Idea: Friends

*About once a week, we try to post the outline of a family devotion that you and your kids can do together.  Carve out some time with your kids for a fun and creative discussion this week!

Teaching Goal:

Friends provide support.

Scripture:

Exodus 17:8-13 (verse 12) “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other.”

Materials:

2 heavy books

Lesson and Discussion:

*Words that are written in bold are when you, the parent, are speaking.  Feel free to use your own words.

It’s important to choose good friends.  Friends encourage and support us when we are feeling sad and alone.  Friends can also help us make good choices, and we can do the same for our friends.

In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus, we learn that the lives of many people depend on Moses and his friends.  Moses and the Israelites were in a battle against the Amalekites.  The Israelites loved God and the Amalekites hated God.  Moses and his friends Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill to watch a battle.  Moses had a special walking stick that he received from God.  If Moses held the stick over his head, the Israelites would start winning the battle.  If Moses lowered the stick, then the Israelites would start losing the battle.  Moses’ friends Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms when he got tired, and the Israelites won the battle.  Thanks to the support of his friends, Moses and the Israelites were saved.

ACTIVITY:

Give each child a turn to hold two heavy books over his or her head, one in each hand.  Use a clock or count out loud how many seconds the child can hold up the heavy books.  Arms must be kept straight.  Stop counting when any part of the arm drops below the shoulders.  Give each child a second turn, but this time count how long each child can hold up the heavy books with a friend holding each arm for support.  You will get tired of counting before your arms supported by friends get tired.

Application:

Friends provide support.  Take turns telling about a time when a friend helped you.  What can you do this week to help one of your friends?

If you like this devotion idea, there are hundreds more available from Family Time Training.  See the link on the left side of this page for more information.