The Names of God: El Kanna & Esh Oklah

I taught this lesson just like this, but the Bible reading was like telling a story, make it come alive. Put yourself in the seat of the narrator. Talk about jealousy. We always think of it as a sin, but God is jealous. How is that possible?

Scripture

Exodus 34:14

 You are never to bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything He has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Name

Esh Oklah - consuming fire, the word is the same as eating, God will consume you like food. That's a weird mental picture

El Kanna - qannā - A title exclusively use of God and His desire for exclusive relationships, meaning "Jealous"

Understanding the Name

We going to focus on El Kanna. 

God Reveals His Name

God makes a covenant with Israel (the nation) as they are about to march into Canaan. He tells them not to make treaties with anyone in the land, it will be a thorn in the flesh (discomfort) to them, they will drive out the inhabitants, some of which are like giants and are very powerful warring tribes. 

Exodus 34:10-14

10 And the Lord responded: “Look, I am making a covenant. I will perform wonders in the presence of all your people that have never been done in all the earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord’s work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring. 11 Observe what I command you today. I am going to drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you. 13 Instead, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, and chop down their Asherah poles. 14 You are never to bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God.

I Samuel 4:1-10, 5, 6

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and[a] camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about 4,000 men on the battlefield.

3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord let us be defeated today by the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it[b] will go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.

6 The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, 7 they panicked. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, nothing like this has happened before.[c] 8 Woe to us, who will rescue us from the hand of these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—30,000 of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

^5:1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 2 brought it into the temple of Dagon[a] and placed it next to his statue.[b] 3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. 4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, both Dagon’s head and the palms of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained.[c] 5 That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.

6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, terrorizing and afflicting the people of Ashdod and its territory with tumors.[d][e] 7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because His hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.” 8 So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?”

“The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark. 9 After they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the men of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.

10 The Gittites then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!”[f]

11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. It must return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!”[g] For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them. 12 The men who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

^6:1When the ark of the Lord had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months, 2 the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and pleaded, “What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.”

3 They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, you must not send it without an offering. You must send back a restitution offering to Him, and you will be healed. Then the reason His hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.”[a]

4 They asked, “What restitution offering should we send back to Him?”

And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you[b] and your rulers. 5 Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps He will stop oppressing you,[c] your gods, and your land. 6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?

7 “Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the Lord, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending Him as a restitution offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way. 9 Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the Lord who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not His hand that punished us—it was just something that happened to us by chance.”

10 The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen. 11 Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors. 12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.

13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 

God is a Jealous God and wants our best, our all, our complete devotion. He chastises the church and the world alike. 

Take It To The Bank

Small Group Questions - We are going to dig a little deeper

1. What promises does God make in Exodus 34:10-14?
2. What commands does God give?
3. What warnings does he issue?
4. In Samuel we see God has authority over all, including health and wealth and gods. What are some gods that we might follow today?
5. Part of God's name is Consuming Fire.  Malachi 3:2-3 What is the day of His coming going to bring? What gets burned up? Everything that is not of God
6. What is faith?
7. What should our faith look like?
8. Who or what do you love? Does it take away from your walk with God? Does it pull you from God?

Pac-Man

 Life size video game of tag. 

Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=533608

This is dodgeball in a maze. We used kids bleachers they are 4 or 8 feet long, with 2 tiers. At camp we played in teams making long rows. Pac-Man has to hit the ghosts with the ball. You can't throw over the maze walls. Last one out is the next Pac-Man. It's so much fun and so simple. You can even play with 2 PacMan and 2 dodgeballs. 

Names of God: El Roi

WARNING:

This lesson may trigger some strong responses. We did use the first video, but you need to preview it first. I would strongly recommend letting the parents know the angle you take with bringing this Name of God into the modern world. The Matthew West song shows a child dealing with a drug abusing parent. The book The Names of God in the Old Testament there is a section in chapter about a trafficked person. What I can share is we had a former teen at our church who was trafficked and then groomed and became a trafficker, her child is safe and she is now in prison and has made a 180 in life and is witnessing to her captive audience. 

This picture is from 2011 from the neighborhood that I grew up in. Nearly everybody was flooded out. It was a job to drag everything out and drop it at the curb. DPW scooped it up with huge front end loaders and off to a local park for staging and then off to the dump. Even in the worst, God is still in control. My mom was able to recover many treasures unharmed. My dad got his desk back that was a family heirloom made by a grandfather on my mom's side. 

Scripture

Genesis 16:13-14

So she called the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees,[a] for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?”[b] 14 That is why she named the spring, “A Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.”[c] It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

Name

El Roi (EL raw-EE) - The God Who Sees Me

Understanding the Name

Hagar was Sarai slave and when Abram and Sarai tried to take God's promise into their own hands, they made a mess of things. Sarai was angry with Hagar and mistreated her, it was so bad, Hagar ran away. She had her son, who because God had blessed Abram's off-spring (even the "wrong" offspring). Hagar was Egyptian and had been with Abram and Sarai for many years. Since she was close to Sarai, probably was privy to much of Abram and Sarai's conversations. When the abuse became too great, she fled into the desert, with no hope, no water, no protection the angel of the Lord found her, she learned that this God she had probably heard so much about, was real, He did care, He sought her out, He provided care, He reiterated the promise that was given to Abram would be given to her son. Ishmael is the father of the Arabs, they are nearly as plentiful as the Israelites. 

God Reveals His Name

Hagar finally learned that "the God of Abram" sees her, a no one, a slave and a runaway slave at that, a sinner, a pagan, and a woman (no rights for women). It was at this well in the desert she met the "Lord who sees her". She finally understood with a personal intervention who God, El or Elohim really was, not a force, not an uninterested power, but a personal creator, sustainer who listens for the cries of the hopeless to lift them out of their woes and to set them on the right, to bind their wounds, heal their hearts and restore their life. 

Genesis 16:13 - Hagar gave God the name, "The God Who Sees Me"

Take It To The Bank

1. God cares - Psalm 33:13-15,18-19;  He is listening for your cries. Hagar hadn't quite gotten the lesson the first time, so after Ismael was born and Isaac was born, she had difficulties with Abraham and Sarah, and was sent off. They went out in the desert and having run out of resources, she set Ishmael down in the shade and then sat down far enough away she could not hear him. God came near and spoke to her, and opened her eyes to see a well, and they had water to survive. 
2. God always keeps His promises, even when we mess them up. Ishmael's line continues to grow just as Isaac's. 
3. When we truly cry out, God will reveal Himself.  

Roll tape: https://youtu.be/QPwd_TQpsHY

Alternate video: https://youtu.be/wzJ-PyMVIcU

WE ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE STORY ABOUT THE SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR. 

I spoke with someone who has far too much first hand knowledge and they want to address it at some point, but not without prayer, much prayer and parental involvement. I talked to this person to see if they would address it, and it is being considered, but this ties into my parenting teen class and parents meeting. 

At this point I do not remember what the book says and I do not have the book handy. This story of trafficking hit close to home at the time I taught the lesson and even closer to home since then. 

Small Group Questions:

1. What images come to mind when you hear the name "The God Who Sees Me"?
2. Have you experienced a moment when you know God was right there and you know He saw you and He did something?
3. Many have used Psalm 121:3, 5-8 as they went off to war as a promise they will return home safe and unscathed. Do you think this is what God had in mind? Does it work? What should we do with this verse? Are we always going to be uninjured? We will always be safe? How do we interpret this when bad things happen? Man can kill the body, but not the spirit. We also know that the promise can stretch, but God will not allow it to break. We will be made safe and that safe may be in heaven.

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video Matthew West - The God Who Stays (Official Music Video)

Matthew West - The God Who Stays (Official Music Video)

Somewhere, Nowhere, Everywhere - I'm going

We're going places with this game. you need three lines on the ground. One is somewhere, one is nowhere and one is everywhere. Use your comedian to introduce this. Last one to the correct line is out. Point in the wrong direction, point in the right direction, point to nothing in particular, call out "Elsewhere" if they move off the line they are out. You can up the difficulty with adding more lines, Elsewhere, Over-there, etc.

You can also make this a theme game, if you're in the Navy, it's the bow, midship, aft, stern, etc. If you're piratey, then it's the bow, forecastle, stern, poop deck, etc. If it's baseball, then it might be dugout, pitcher's mound, outfield etc.

Epistles to the Youth Group & the First Epistle

The “Epistles (Letters) to the youth group”

Idea: As the apostles sent letters of encouragement and instruction to the churches, so too can we. We can use this for reaching out, discipling, teaching and encouraging. With many hands this will make light work. 

At the time we launched this we did not have a youth Sunday School, so this took the place of Sunday School to some degree. It offers another chance to disciple the youth. The letters can come from youth leaders, key parents, elders of the church even the pastor. With so many hands it should be light work. Scroll down to the bottom to see the first one we sent out. 

Key rules to follow:

Clearly identifying the scripture when we quote it. Bold print and the reference clearly marked out. 

It does not need to be a hefty tome each week. 

It can reinforce the lesson, but is not required.

It may be a chance to reach out to students that don’t come regularly.

Personal questions that the teens can answer and write back. 

There should be a “cover letter” to all teens and parents on our plan for these letters. 

Ideas

Eph 1:15-19 - Prayer for spiritual insight

Eph 2:11-22 - Unity in Christ

Phillippians 2:12-18 - Light in the dark

Phillippians 3:12-4:1 - Spiritual growth

I Thess 2:17-20 - Paul longs to visit

I Thess 4:13-18 - Encouragement in Christ's coming

I Thess 5:12-28 - Exhortation and Blessing

I Tim 4:11-5:2 Instructions for ministry

I Tim 6:11-18 Fight the good Fight

I Tim 6:20-21 Guard your Godly heritage

II Tim 3 - Hard times coming

https://andrewcomings.com/james-119-20-three-rules-for-christians-on-social-media-and-everywhere-else/

Team Survivor: Youth Group Edition

Golf Ball Challenge

It is always tempting to share the best at the beginning. But let's save some of the best games for last.

This is going to be series of games, some specific to playing "Team Survivor" and all of them could just be a fun game on it's own. So to set this up. you got to play it up. Make it a challenge, make it a 6 weeks or more, and it's teams, so if you don't show up, your team might get knocked out. Now what to do with all the out teams? Interference or opposition to help eliminate another team. It's got to be a little competitive. The other part of this is probably once a month you have a bye week. Nobody gets knocked out. Some weeks you can earn immunity to not get knocked out that week. 

Golf Ball Challenge:

I typically do this starting in January, but anytime is good. I always wait until fresh snow, and then I hide an appropriate number of golf balls in the snow inside a perimeter, it helps if there is fresh snow after hiding them. Usually I lob them in, so no foot prints. There is one usually yellow golf ball which is the immunity pill. So your team must find 3 to 5 balls to stay in(depends on number of players), or the yellow one for immunity. They have 2 minutes for 100 ft x 100 ft area. They were all warned to bring hat and gloves and warm clothes. 

Note: Know exactly how many and if they are not all found, retrieve them before the grass starts growing. 

Names of God: Elohim

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This name conveys His creative power and authority and sovereignty

Understanding the Name

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM) is the plural of El. It is plural to represent His majesty and hints at the Trinity. It is used 32 times in Genesis 1

God Reveals His Name

Genesis 1:1-28a              Video: https://youtu.be/I5lj2ZA-EhY

God made creation and called it good. 

God made man in His image. 

God made beauty everywhere, his fingerprints are all over creation. 

God made the world for our enjoyment and our care and stewardship. 

God wants to bless us. There are different blessings, they could be spiritual, physical, financial or abilities.

We often think of blessings as financial only. Certainly money does make the world go round according to man, but who spun it into place? Elohim. 

Psalm 102:25-27

25 

Long ago You established the earth,

and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

26 

They will perish, but You will endure;

all of them will wear out like clothing.

You will change them like a garment,

and they will pass away.

27 

But You are the same,

and Your years will never end.

God is unchanging. God is eternal. The universe will pass away and God will still be. He was before the universe and before time and he is outside of time and the universe and when what we know ceases to exist, God will still be. 

Take It To The Bank

God's promises will always stand. 

Children make promises and break them, when they can't fulfill them. Salespeople will promise the moon to get the sale and then not deliver. God makes a promise and then delivers, He has all the infinite resources of heaven and the universe to fulfill the promises. 

God made us and loves us

God made beauty, because He is beauty

Small Group Questions:

What can we learn from Genesis 1 about God?

Order

Logic

life

love

work

stewardship

We are created in the image of God?

We are a model of God, 3 parts, logical, creative, valued

God said creation is good, how does that relate to me, with messy hair, bad at math, freckles, etc?

God loves me, God made me, I am the way God made me "good", I have purpose

What are some of the promises we can rest on?

Isaiah 40:28-29

Isaiah 41:10

Genesis 28:15

Drag Race Life Size Board Game

 What could be more exciting than a drag racing?

• Name of the Game: Drag Racing Life Size Board Game

• Minimum Players: 2       Maximum: 10

• Minimum Age: 5

Set up a course of 2 parallel tracks. I use 12x12 inch plywood squares. I have about 100 of these in the 4 AWANA colors. You need 13 spaces on each track. You'll need 4 sided die. You'll also need a few labels on some of those squares.

• Blow the Engine, Loose a Turn
• Loose a Wheel, Loose a Turn
• False Start

Flip the die and play like a typical board game, the player is the marker. They roll the 4 sided die and move from 1 - 4 spaces at a time. If it's going too fast, they have to roll the exact number to finish the board. 

Equalizer:

Here's what happens to equalize the athletic from the inept: it's pretty much a 3 sided pyramidal die, it acts funny. 

Over the top tips: 

Get some drag racing sound clips.

Get a play by play commentator.

Get a Christmas Tree from a strip to start the game. This can be a great addition to a pine wood derby race night as well. Red, Yellow, Green, Go!