Whenever I read the book of Exodus, I can't help but picture a scene like this:The Bible is amazingly boy-friendly, if you know where to look. Its pages are packed with stories of flawed superheroes like Samson, exciting warriors like David, noble men like Joseph, and epic tales of battle, bravery, and adventure. By book two (Exodus), we've got gag-worthy plagues of frogs and bugs and blood. (And yes, I realize that not all boys love sword fights and bugs and such, but...humor me. I'm writing in broad strokes here, based on the boys in my life. And while we're at it, yes, lots of girls will love these stories too—I sure did (I still do!). So there you have my politically correct disclaimer, ha!)
(And hey, if you have daughters, check out 13 Scriptures to Read with Your Daughter.)
But first, we can't talk about teaching boys to love the Bible without recommending The Action Bible. And by recommending, I mean BUY IT TODAY, IT'S THAT AMAZING! (No, I'm not getting paid to say that.) The Action Bible is comic-book-meets-graphic-novel-meets-Bible-superheroes-with-huge-muscles. My kids ADORE this Bible—my older kids have both devoured it cover to cover.
I could list scores of exciting stories here, but for now, let's start with five, all from the Old Testament. (Heads up: All of these stories have some violence in them, so you'll have to decide what is appropriate for your child.)
Here are five Bible stories boys love, with some simple questions for discussion and application:
1. Moses and the plagues (Exodus 7–12)
These five chapters cover the plagues, but the chapters leading up to the plagues make for thrilling reading, too, and chapters 13 and 14 will get you to the mind-blowing Red Sea crossing. For younger kids, think through how you want to handle the plague of the firstborn—it's heavy, and may be hard for sensitive kids to handle.
Questions for discussion: Why was Pharaoh so stubborn? What do these plagues show us about the patience of God and the power of God? Do you think it was scary for Moses to stand up to Pharaoh? Does God notice when his people go through hard times and ask him for help? (Take a quick peek at Exodus 3:7.) Do you think God notices when you go through hard times and need his help?
2. Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:8-15)
When we were little, my parents did a fun devotional where we acted out this story. My brothers held up my hands (oldest kid perk—I got to be Moses!), while my parents pretended to battle each other (hilarious).
Questions: Why do you think God wanted the battle to be won like this, with Moses' hands held high? (Hint: Do you think he wanted the Israelites to realize that they always needed to rely on Him to help them win their battles?) What can we learn about teamwork from Aaron and Hur? Even though Joshua was the one leading the army, would he have been able to win the battle without help from friends like Moses, Aaron, and Hur? How can you be a better team player at school, at home, or in sports?
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