What an incredible journey it has been! As we wrapped up our final week of The Adventures with Moses, our church family celebrated everything we had learned about God's faithfulness throughout Moses' life. From a tiny baby floating safely in a basket on the Nile to a bold leader guiding God's people through the Red Sea, we have watched God's hand at work every step of the way.

This final week took us into the wilderness, where the Israelites were learning an important lesson: even when life is uncertain, God is our Protector!

As always, we began our evening by joyfully singing our Songs for the Month of Moses. It was wonderful to hear children, parents, grandparents, and volunteers all singing together. Music has become a special tradition of our Adventures with Moses experience, reminding us that worship is something every generation can enjoy together.

Miriam — played by one of our volunteers — helped everyone remember where our story left off. After God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and safely led them through the Red Sea, they found themselves wandering through the desert. Although they had seen God's miracles, they quickly became worried when they ran out of food and water. Like many of us, they sometimes forgot how faithful God had already been.

Our large group lesson focused on one of God's greatest gifts to His people—the Ten Commandments. Before the evening began, ten volunteers each received one commandment to read aloud. As they shared God's instructions, we discovered that the first four commandments teach us how to love and honor God, while the remaining six teach us how to love and care for one another.

One of the most meaningful moments came when each volunteer stretched out their arms to form a circle around the group. It was a beautiful picture of how God's commandments are not meant to trap us but to surround us with His love, wisdom, and protection. God's boundaries are gifts that help us live in healthy relationships with Him and with one another.

During our group discussions, families reflected on times when they wanted to leave tricky situations and talked honestly about how it feels when someone tells us "no." These conversations helped everyone understand that while rules can sometimes feel frustrating, they are often there because someone loves us and wants what is best for us—just as God does.

Together we explored several powerful passages from Exodus. We witnessed God's amazing provision as He sent manna from heaven and quail to feed His people. We saw Him bring water from a rock when the Israelites were thirsty, proving that nothing is impossible for God. Finally, we heard God give the Ten Commandments, showing His people how to live as His chosen nation.

One of the highlights of the evening was tasting manna! While we can't know exactly what the manna God provided looked like or tasted like, everyone enjoyed sampling a sweet treat that helped us imagine what it was like for the Israelites to gather God's daily provision each morning. It sparked wonderful conversations about trusting God to provide exactly what we need each day.

The children also created their own Ten Commandment Tablets, giving them a visual reminder of God's loving instructions.

We closed our final evening with a simple but meaningful finger prayer that reminded us to:

• Remember that God is our God.
• Honor His name.
• Make space for Him in our lives.
• Love our families.
• Show kindness to others.
• Thank Him for His many blessings.
• Thank Him for His commandments.
• Remember that His loving limits help protect us every day.

As we learned about the Ten Commandments, we also discovered something wonderful that Jesus taught many years later. When someone asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, He answered with two simple but life-changing commands:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

And the second is like it:

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus explained that all of God's laws—including the Ten Commandments—are built on these two great commandments. When we love God with everything we have and love others the way God loves us, we are living out the heart of everything God taught His people through Moses.

It was a beautiful reminder that God's rules were never just about following a list—they have always been about living in a loving relationship with God and caring for one another. Just as God surrounded the Israelites with His love and protection in the wilderness, Jesus calls us to surround others with that same love every day.

God is our Protector.

Whether protecting baby Moses in a basket, calling him through the burning bush, leading the Israelites through the Red Sea, providing food and water in the wilderness, or giving commandments filled with wisdom and love, God never stopped caring for His people.

The story of Moses reminds us that God's faithfulness didn't end in the wilderness—and it hasn't ended today. He still provides. He still protects. He still leads those who trust Him.

Thank you to every child, parent, grandparent, volunteer, musician, actor, teacher, and leader who made The Adventures with Moses such a meaningful, intergenerational experience. Watching families grow together in faith has been a tremendous blessing.

As we leave this adventure behind, may we continue walking with confidence, knowing that the same God who faithfully led Moses continues to guide each one of us today.