INTRODUCTION

JOSEPH TAKES HIS FAMILY TO SAFETY IN EGYPT

Bible Point:

God guides us.

Key Verse:

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).

Big Picture:

Kids will follow God’s leading in their lives as they trust in God’s love for them.

Joseph Takes His Family to Safety in Egypt

Matthew 2:13-23

You know a lot about guidance. You have parents, teachers, coaches, and pastors who help you learn and grow. But sometimes it’s harder to understand how an unseen God can give direction in the middle of real-life problems or struggles. This week, you’ll discover how to recognize that guidance and learn to trust that God is leading you. You’ll also see how God offers a safe place—a refuge—when life feels confusing or hard.

PLANTING THE SEED

Ever had a really weird dream? Well, Joseph had at least a couple of them. In fact, God spoke to him in his dreams! God told Joseph in a dream to leave Bethlehem, a city in Judea, and take his family to Egypt. Joseph was told that Herod was going to try to kill Jesus. Joseph and Mary obeyed right away, and off to Egypt they went. And it’s a good thing because Herod did come looking for Jesus. In fact, Herod was so set on killing Jesus that he had all the boys in Bethlehem who were Jesus’ age killed. After Herod died, God told Joseph it was OK to go back to Israel. But God warned him to stay away from Judea and to live in Nazareth instead. Joseph and Mary followed God’s guidance all the way (Matthew 2:13-23).

• What do Joseph and Mary’s actions show about trusting God’s guidance?

• How does God guide you?

• How can you learn to recognize and follow God’s guidance right away?

FAMILY FUN

Take a family drive, and let each person in the car guide the driver during a certain portion of the trip. You could go to local destinations such as a school, a store, or a restaurant. As each person guides the driver, try to make the directions specific. Instead of saying, “Drive to the grocery store,” give directions such as, “Turn right at this corner,” and “Drive south for 2.3 miles.”

Bring a map or GPS for reference. After the drive, stop for a meal or a treat. As you eat, talk about what it was like to give directions or listen carefully for directions during the drive. Then talk about how to learn to listen to God’s directions in life. Commit to try listening for God’s guidance all the time, not just during times of trouble.

READY, SET, GROW!

Let God guide you this week:

• Commit to reading the Bible every day. As you read, ask yourself two questions: “What does this passage say?” and “How is God inviting me to change my life because of what I just read?”

• Where do you need God’s guidance right now? Commit to praying to God each day for that situation. Seek the advice of a trusted adult or friend to help you understand what God’s wisdom might be, and ask them to help you keep your commitment to go wherever God leads.

• Reflect on how God has guided you in the past, and write a list of those moments down. Hang them in your room to remind you that on the hard days, God guides you!