The Fifth Plague: Livestock Disease (Exodus 9:1–7)
The Lord spoke to Moses and said, "Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so they may worship Me. If you still refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, watch out! The hand of the Lord will strike your livestock in the field-your horses, your donkeys, your camels, your herds, and your flocks-with a very terrible disease!'"
This sounds scary, but God gave Moses a wonderful promise. He said, "The Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. Nothing that belongs to the people of Israel will die."
God set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land."
The very next day, the Lord did exactly what He promised. The livestock of Egypt-the cows, the horses, the donkeys, and more-began to die. It was a very bad disease that spread everywhere across the land of Egypt. But when Pharaoh sent his servants to check on the people of Israel, they saw something amazing! Not even one animal belonging to the Israelites had died. God kept His promise and fully protected His people.
But even after seeing this clear sign of God's power and protection, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn. He still refused to let God's people go.
A Curious Question
In this story, God shows He can tell the difference between His people and the people who don't follow Him. Why is it important to remember that God knows everything about you and can tell you apart from everyone else?
Jesus Connection
The story of the fifth plague shows us that God has the power to protect those who belong to Him. Just as God protected the Israelites' livestock from the terrible disease, God sent Jesus Christ to protect us from something much worse: the punishment for our sin. In the Old Testament, God made a distinction between Egypt and Israel; today, the great distinction is between those who have received God's protection through Jesus and those who have not.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. He gives us eternal life, and no one can snatch us out of His hand. Because of salvation through Christ, we are God's chosen people, eternally safe. This plague reminds us that God is always faithful to His promises to protect and save us.
Discussion Questions
- What did God promise would happen to the livestock of Egypt, and what would happen to the livestock of Israel?
- How did God show that He is powerful and keeps His promises in this story?
- Have you ever felt scared of something bad happening, but then you remembered that God is protecting you? What did that feel like?
- Pharaoh saw that none of Israel's animals died, but he still wouldn't let the people go. Why do you think it can be so hard for people to believe and obey God, even when they see proof of His power?
“So What” What Can I do?
- What is one thing you are worried about today (like a test, a new school, or being sick)? How can you remember that God is your protector in that situation?
- God made a clear difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians. What is one way you can show others this week that you belong to God and want to follow Him?
- This week, when you see an animal (a dog, a bird, or even a picture of a cow), take a moment to thank God for His great power and for protecting you.
Memorize God's Word
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts." - Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
Hand Motions:
- "The Lord is my strength" - Make a muscle with one arm.
- "and my shield" - Hold one arm out straight, palm facing out, as if holding a shield.
- "in Him my heart trusts" - Point to your heart and then point both index fingers up to the sky.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for being so powerful that You can protect us from anything. Thank You for showing us in the Bible that You make a difference between those who follow You and those who don't. Please help us to trust You fully every day, just like the Israelites had to trust You. Help us to remember that Your Son, Jesus, is our ultimate protector and Savior. Amen.
Craft or Activity: God's Protected Pets (Sickness-Free Zone)
Description: Kids will create a simple picture showing the Egyptian and Israelite lands separated by a "protection line," with healthy, protected animals on one side and sick/dying animals on the other, to illustrate God’s distinction and protection during the plague.
Materials Checklist
Printable Templates (Optional)
Instructions
- Fold the cardstock paper in half vertically to create two distinct sides. Label the left side "Egypt" and the right side "Israel."
- Draw a thick line down the center fold. Use the red strip of paper to glue down the middle of the "Egypt" side and the green strip for the "Israel" side to clearly separate the two.
- Have the children draw or glue animal cutouts onto both sides (horses, cows, donkeys).
- On the "Egypt" side, encourage them to draw X's over the animals or use a gray marker to show they are sick and dying, representing the plague.
- On the "Israel" side, the animals should be healthy and colorful.
- Remind the children that God drew a line of protection around His people, just like the line on their paper.
Effective Teaching Techniques
- Class Management: Before the story, have the kids stand up. Tell them they are "Egyptian" if they are standing and "Israelite" if they are sitting. When you say the word "plague" in the story, the "Egyptian" kids should make a sad face and the "Israelite" kids should make a happy face. This simple physical reminder helps them track the distinction.
- Prep Shortcut: Instead of drawing, pre-print a sheet with outlines of a cow, horse, and donkey. Have the kids quickly color and cut them out to save time for the main discussion and application.
- Activity Variation (Older Kids): Instead of the simple drawing, have older kids write the word Protection across the dividing line and explain in one sentence how the plague story points to God's love.