I Love A Parade!

I Love a Parade!

Bible Blast: Read Exodus 40:34-38

Whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. Exodus 40:36

Thanksgiving, that great time of eating and being thankful is just a few weeks away. When your family is preparing the day’s feast, do you turn the TV on? Our family loves to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is one of the biggest parades in the United States, but it began as just a small celebration. In the 1920s, many of the people who worked at the Macy’s department store in New York City were immigrants from Europe. They were really proud to be Americans and wanted to celebrate the American holiday in a European way. They dressed up as clowns, knights, cowboys, and other things. They made floats, and they even brought some animals from the zoo! So many people showed up to watch the parade that Macy’s decided to sponsor the parade every year.

Have you seen those huge balloons that float through the streets during the parade? They used to let those balloons go at the end of the parade. Whoever found the balloon could mail it back and receive a gift from the Macy’s store. They don’t do that anymore, but I think it would be so cool to find a giant Mickey Mouse in the backyard!

Now imagine you’re in the desert somewhere outside of Egypt sitting in a camp chair in the evening. Suddenly you see something coming up over the hill. It’s a huge pillar of fire! And following the great fire are thousands of people with their tents, animals, and children! You ask your dad, “What is that fire?” He replies, “God is in that fire, and he is leading all of those people to freedom!”

That would be the most magnificent parade ever! God led the Israelite people with a huge cloud during the day and a huge pillar of fire at night so that everyone could see it and would know which direction to go.

God is leading you, too. Every day as you obey him, he’s leading you to the places he needs you to be.

Girl Gab: If you have been to a parade, what’s your favorite part? The horses? The clowns? The bands? The baton twirlers? Or the candy? Make a commitment to follow God today, just like the Israelites followed his fire.