Water from the Rock Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God was with them, even here.”
God’s people were traveling through the wilderness. Not long before, God had given them manna – bread from heaven – to eat. The wilderness is a hot, dry land. There are rocks and sand, but not many trees. God told them where to go. He led them to a place called Rephidim. They set up their tents. But there was no water to drink. Not one drop! There was no river. There was no well. There were only rocks and sand under the hot sun.
The people were thirsty. The children were thirsty. The animals were thirsty too. Have you ever been very, very thirsty? God was with them, even here.
But the people were angry with Moses. “Give us water to drink,” they said. Moses said, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Quarrel means to argue and fight with words.
The people grumbled more and more. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt?” they said. They were very angry. So Moses cried out to the LORD. “What shall I do with these people?”
The LORD answered Moses. “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you. Take the rod in your hand, and go.” Elders are the older leaders. The rod was Moses’ walking stick. He had used it in Egypt, when God did great wonders there.
God said, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock. You shall strike the rock. And water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” To strike means to hit. God was with them, even here.
So Moses walked on ahead of the people. The leaders came along to watch. They came to a big rock near God’s mountain. Water from a rock? Rocks are hard and dry! What do you think will happen?
Moses lifted up his rod. Can you lift your arm high like Moses? Bang! He hit the rock, just as God had said. And out came the water! It came gushing and splashing out of the hard, dry rock. Splash, splash!
Now there was water for everyone. The moms and dads drank. The children drank. The animals drank. Gulp, gulp, gulp! Can you take a big, long drink? God was with them, even here.
Moses gave the place two names, Massah and Meribah. Can you say them? Massah! Meribah! They mean “testing” and “quarreling.” The people had asked, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”
Is the LORD among us? Yes, the LORD was among them. He had promised to stand there on the rock. And he gave them water from a rock!
God’s people were thirsty, and God gave them water. In the dry wilderness, God took care of them. God was with them, even here.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the people felt when the water came out of the rock?
- What do you do when you are very thirsty?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Water will come out of it, that the people may drink” — Exodus 17:6 (water will come out → wiggle your fingers down like a stream; the people may drink → drink from your cupped hands)
Dear God, thank you for cool water to drink. Thank you that you are with us everywhere. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God gives us what we need
Memory verse: “You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” — Exodus 17:6 · WEB
The Bible story
When the Israelites are thirsty in the burning desert and there is no water to be found, God shows Moses a wonderful, surprising way to help.
Talk about it
- Where were God's people walking in this story? — Through a hot desert
- Where had the Israelites lived before, as slaves? — Egypt
- What could the people NOT find at Rephidim? — Water
- How were the thirsty people feeling? — Thirsty and cross
- What did the people say to Moses? — "Give us water to drink!"
- What did Moses do when he felt worried? — He prayed to God
Where is Jesus in this story?
The apostle Paul wrote something surprising about this rock in the desert: “that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Just as water gushed out for thirsty people, Jesus gives life to everyone who comes to Him. He even stood up at a festival in Jerusalem and called out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37).
What God wants to tell us
Just like the Israelites in the dry desert, we sometimes feel worried that we do not have enough. But this story shows us that God sees every need and loves to help His children. When we feel thirsty, tired, or unsure, we can talk to God, just as Moses did. God is always near, and He cares for us in ways that can surprise us with joy.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for always knowing what I need. When I feel worried or thirsty for help, remind me that You are near and that You love me. Help me to trust You like Moses did, and thank You for taking such good care of me. Amen.
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