Forty Years in the Wilderness - (Bible lesson for teens)

During the forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites faced many challenges, including hunger, thirst, and temptation. They also struggled with their own faith and disobedience to God’s commands. Despite all these challenges, God remained with them, providing for their needs and teaching them to trust and follow Him.

BIBLE READING: Exodus – Deuteronomy

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Forty Years in the Wilderness pdf – preteen and teen Bible lesson

BIBLE STUDY NOTES FOR TEENS

BACKGROUND TO THE PASSAGE

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years. However, God heard their cries for help and after a series of plagues that God brought upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and authority (Exodus 7-12), the Israelites were finally set free. They began their journey toward the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey that God had promised to their ancestors (Exodus 3:8). God led them through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22), providing them with guidance and protection.

However, their journey took a tragic turn when they reached the border of the Promised Land. Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe of Israel, to explore the land and report on its inhabitants and resources (Numbers 13:1-20). When the spies returned, ten of them brought back a discouraging report, filled with fear and doubt about the Israelites’ ability to conquer the land due to the size and strength of its inhabitants (Numbers 13:27-33).

This negative report caused the Israelites to rebel and even consider returning to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). Due to their lack of faith in God’s ability to give them the Promised Land, God declared they would wander in the wilderness for forty years. A time for the Israelites to learn to trust and rely on God.

During these 40 years, the Israelites faced numerous challenges, including hunger, thirst, and attacks from enemy nations (Exodus 16-17; Numbers 20:1-13; Numbers 21:1-9). Despite their repeated disobedience and grumbling, God remained faithful to His people. He provided them with manna from heaven to eat and water from rocks to drink (Exodus 16:4-5; Numbers 20:10-11), and He protected them from their enemies (Exodus 17:8-16; Numbers 21:21-35).

The 40 years in the wilderness served as a time of growth, preparation, and transformation for the Israelites, shaping them into the people God intended them to be as they finally entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9).

KEY POINTS

1. GOD DISCIPLINES HIS CHILDREN – DEUTERONOMY 8:5

2. DAILY DEPENDENCE ON GOD – EXODUS 16

3. GOD’S PROMISES ARE RELIABLE – DEUTERONOMY 7:9

4. THE BRONZE SNAKE AND LOOKING TO JESUS – NUMBERS 21:4-9

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YOUTH GAMES AND ACTIVITIES – Forty Years in the Wilderness

MANNA HUNT

Materials needed: Paper manna in different colours. Pen.

Instructions:

Prepare paper manna in different colours by cutting them into small pieces. Write words on the manna if you plan to use them to form a Bible verse.
Scatter the manna around the room or outside area where you’ll be playing the game.
Divide players into teams and give them a set time frame to find as much manna as they can.
If using different colours of manna, explain to the players that they need to gather their colour only in the correct order to form the Bible verse.

WATER FROM THE ROCK RELAY

Materials needed: Buckets, Water, Sponges, or small containers.

Instructions:

Set up two buckets at opposite ends of the activity area for each team – one filled with water and the other empty.
Divide players into teams and provide with a sponge or small container.
On your signal, teams must race to transfer water from the full bucket to the empty one, using only their sponge or container.
The team with the most water at the end wins.
After the game, take some time to discuss how God provided water from the rock for the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness and how He still provides for our needs today.

LOOK QUICKLY

Have the group stand in a circle, facing inward.
Explain to the group that in this game, they must quickly turn and point to face the person’s name you call.
The goal of the game is to avoid being the last player to look and point to the correct person.
Remind how the Israelites had to look to the bronze snake. Explain the importance of looking to Jesus and how we need to fix our eyes on Him.