No matter what happens, God is in control! Think of a time when you were sad or scared and God delivered you.
Why do bad things happen? (Wait for answers.)
The Bible says evil or bad things happen because of sin in the world. The world is under the “curse” of sin and death. When you think of the word curse, what do you think of? (Discuss)
The curse of sin started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve listened to the devil and disobeyed God. The curse entered the world because of their sin.
As soon as sin entered the world, people started hurting each other. Cain killed his brother Abel. Have you ever done something to hurt or make fun of your brother or sister or anyone else? This is sin. God wants to deliver us from the curse of sin.
King Herod was living under the power of sin and the devil when he tried to hurt baby Jesus. However, God warned Joseph and hid Jesus while Herod was still alive.
God protected Jesus, because Jesus’s goal was to grow up to break the curse of sin.
How did Jesus break the curse? Do you know?
That’s right! He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin! He not only forgives us, he takes away the power of the curse of sin so we can walk away from bad decisions that hurt God and other people.
(Parents, if your kids are old enough, you may want to decide if you want to read the rest of the passage where the babies were killed by Herod. Just look up the passage in the bible and read and discuss. Remind the children that Jesus came to die as a sacrifice. He ultimately would suffer just like the other children, and his suffering brought the freedom of all children all over the world.)
Let’s read the story. See how Jesus escaped and tell each other afterwards.
The Escape to Egypt
Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Did you see how Jesus escaped? Let’s pray for God’s protection today. God loves us and wants us to talk to him when we feel afraid.
Prayer:
“Dear Jesus, thank you for coming into a dangerous world to break the curse of sin and death. I trust in you as Lord and savior. Please break the curse of sin in my life and forgive me for all my sin. Live inside of me by your Holy Spirit.
God, thank you that Jesus is stronger than all evil and that he loves me. Thank you God for protecting me with the power of Jesus.
Father, in Jesus name destroy the Devil’s plans in this world. Send your Angels to protect me and my family. Thank you for Angels and that they watch over me!
Father God, thank you that your love takes away all fear. Take away my fears and fill me with faith in Jesus.
God, I pray for all the kids in trouble and all those who are hungry, sick or hurt or scared. Deliver them with the power that delivered Jesus from Herod and the power that raised him up from the grave.
Thank you for your protection, Lord Jesus!
Amen!
Revealed Ministries 