• murmur: grumble, complain, whine
• gratefulness: being thankful

Discussion Point: Do you know anyone who complains constantly? Everything is either too hot, too cold, too high, too low - nothing is right for these people. Are they fun to be around? Is it rewarding to do anything for them? What is it these people lack? A sense of thankfulness. The Israelites complained a lot about food and water and fighting the enemy. Who always provided for them? God. Did he ever let them down? No. So why did they complain? Not because they lacked, but because they always wanted more.

Our society is not much different. Ads and commercials constantly try to convince us that we need something else. We lose sight of all the wonderful things we have and concentrate instead on what we don't have. We can prevent become murmurers by constantly reminding ourselves of the things we are thankful for. We can battle a whiny mood by counting our blessings.

Worksheet: I'm Thankful to my Family For...

Memory Work:

Numbers 21: The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us."

1. The Israelites complained a lot. T
2. God is unhappy when we complain. T
3. We have much to be thankful for.   T
4. The Israelites had a lot to be thankful for. T
5. God provided no way for the Israelites to be healed.   F

1. Name 3 things you're thankful for.
2. How many words can you make from the letters "grateful".
3. Name 3 things the Israelites had to be grateful for.

1. Act out an Israelite who was bitten, saw the staff and healed.
2. Put the first five books of Bible in order (written on cards).
3. Trade seats with another student.

1. What were the Israelites complaining about?
2. How do you think God felt to hear them complain?
3. What emotions were the Israelites feeling when they asked Moses to pray for them?

1. Is it ok for us to complain?
2. What can we do when we feel like complaining?
3. We should always approach God with a _________ attitude.

1. What did God send to punish the Israelites?
2. What did God have Moses make?
3. How were the people healed?

1. What sin made God so angry?
2. What did the Israelites admit they had done?
3. Who provided a way for them to be healed?