Preschool track
Overview of Exodus
The word exodus means "the way out," and the miraculous escape known as the Exodus is considered one of the Bible's most important events. Exodus shows how God powerfully rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and formed them into a new nation of Israel.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Bible Reading
The Baby in the Basket (Exodus 1:8-14; 2:1-10) Reading
Many years ago, in a land called Egypt, a baby boy was born, His name was Moses. Moses' parents and big sister, Miriam, loved him very much. Moses' parents were slaves and forced to work very hard. The king of Egypt, Pharaoh, did not want the slaves to have many children, but Moses' mother loved Moses and she kept him safe.
One day Moses' mother made a special basket for him. She made it so that it would float in water and not sink. Moses' mother laid Moses in the basket and put it in the Nile River. She hid him behind some tall grasses so no one could see Moses. Miriam, Moses' older sister, was nearby and watched him in the basket. She could see anything that might happen to baby Moses.
Soon, one of the pharaoh's daughters went to the river to take a bath. The pharaoh's daughter saw Moses' basket floating in the tall grass area in the river. The princess went over to the basket and opened it. She saw baby Moses. He was crying, and she felt sorry for the baby.
Moses' sister, Miriam saw what was happening. She ran to the pharaoh's daughter who was holding Moses. "Would you like me to get a woman to take care of the baby?" asked Miriam. The pharaoh's daughter said, "Yea, please do."
Miriam ran to get her mother and brought her to the pharaoh's daughter. The pharaoh's daughter handed baby Moses to his own mother and said, "Take care of this baby." Moses' mother took him home. When he was old enough, Moses' mother took him to the pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him and raised him in the pharaoh's house.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
One day Moses' mother made a special basket for him. She made it so that it would float in water and not sink. Moses' mother laid Moses in the basket and put it in the Nile River. She hid him behind some tall grasses so no one could see Moses. Miriam, Moses' older sister, was nearby and watched him in the basket. She could see anything that might happen to baby Moses.
Soon, one of the pharaoh's daughters went to the river to take a bath. The pharaoh's daughter saw Moses' basket floating in the tall grass area in the river. The princess went over to the basket and opened it. She saw baby Moses. He was crying, and she felt sorry for the baby.
Moses' sister, Miriam saw what was happening. She ran to the pharaoh's daughter who was holding Moses. "Would you like me to get a woman to take care of the baby?" asked Miriam. The pharaoh's daughter said, "Yea, please do."
Miriam ran to get her mother and brought her to the pharaoh's daughter. The pharaoh's daughter handed baby Moses to his own mother and said, "Take care of this baby." Moses' mother took him home. When he was old enough, Moses' mother took him to the pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him and raised him in the pharaoh's house.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
The Burning Bush (Exodus 2:11-3:22) Reading
Moses grew up into an adult. He saw the way the Egyptians were treating the Israelites as slaves. Moses did not like the way the Egyptians were hurting the Israelites - Moses' people. Moses got mad and scared, so he ran away to Midian.
Moses lived in Midian for many years. He got married and became a dad. He was a shepherd and cared for sheep.
One day Moses was taking care of the sheep on the edge of the desert near God's mountain. God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. Moses saw the flames on the bush, but the bush didn't burn. Moses got close to the bush and God called out to him, 'Moses! I am God. I have seen my people as slaves in Egypt and have heard their cries. I have come to rescue them. I am sending you. Moses. to set my people free."
"Who am I to do that?" asked Moses.
"I will be with you, Moses," said God. "You will go to the Israelites and tell them that the Great I Am has sent you to free them from Egypt. You will go to the pharaoh and tell him to set the Israelites free. I will help you, Moses."
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Moses lived in Midian for many years. He got married and became a dad. He was a shepherd and cared for sheep.
One day Moses was taking care of the sheep on the edge of the desert near God's mountain. God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. Moses saw the flames on the bush, but the bush didn't burn. Moses got close to the bush and God called out to him, 'Moses! I am God. I have seen my people as slaves in Egypt and have heard their cries. I have come to rescue them. I am sending you. Moses. to set my people free."
"Who am I to do that?" asked Moses.
"I will be with you, Moses," said God. "You will go to the Israelites and tell them that the Great I Am has sent you to free them from Egypt. You will go to the pharaoh and tell him to set the Israelites free. I will help you, Moses."
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Moses and Pharaoh (Exodus 5:2-13:9) Reading
Moses asked God for help speaking to the Israelites and to Pharaoh, so God suggested that Moses ask his brother Aaron, to help.
Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They said, "God has sent us to tell you to the people go!"
Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to let the people go. To force Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, God sent plagues to Egypt. God turned the water in the Nile River into blood. God sent frogs to Egypt. God sent lice to Egypt. God sent insects to Egypt. God sent diseases to the animals in Egypt. God sent ash that caused people to get skin sores to Egypt. God made it hail and thunder on Egypt. God sent locusts to Egypt. God took away the light in Egypt and made everything very dark.
Pharaoh still would not let the people be free from slavery. It was a sad day when their firstborn child had to die. That broke Pharaoh's heart.
Pharaoh finally said, "Go!" The Israelites were free.
And God's people were on the run.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They said, "God has sent us to tell you to the people go!"
Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to let the people go. To force Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, God sent plagues to Egypt. God turned the water in the Nile River into blood. God sent frogs to Egypt. God sent lice to Egypt. God sent insects to Egypt. God sent diseases to the animals in Egypt. God sent ash that caused people to get skin sores to Egypt. God made it hail and thunder on Egypt. God sent locusts to Egypt. God took away the light in Egypt and made everything very dark.
Pharaoh still would not let the people be free from slavery. It was a sad day when their firstborn child had to die. That broke Pharaoh's heart.
Pharaoh finally said, "Go!" The Israelites were free.
And God's people were on the run.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Crossing the Sea (Exodus 13:17-14:31) Reading
The people were so happy. Pharaoh said they could go. They packed up all their things. They were going to the new land that God had promised them.
But Pharaoh changed his mind. He did not want the people to go. He sent his army to catch them.
God's people came to the Reed Sea. How were they going to get to the other side? They were afraid. The king's army was behind them. The water was in front of them.
"Do not be afraid," said Moses. "God will help us."
God sent a strong wind to blow the water out of the way. God's people walked across on dry land. God's people were safe. Pharaoh's army could not chase them anymore.
But Pharaoh changed his mind. He did not want the people to go. He sent his army to catch them.
God's people came to the Reed Sea. How were they going to get to the other side? They were afraid. The king's army was behind them. The water was in front of them.
"Do not be afraid," said Moses. "God will help us."
God sent a strong wind to blow the water out of the way. God's people walked across on dry land. God's people were safe. Pharaoh's army could not chase them anymore.
Song of Joy (Exodus 15:1-21) Reading
Miriam, Moses' sister, sang, "Sing to the Lord!" She was happy! God's people were happy! God helped them cross the Reed Sea. Now the people were safe.
Miriam was so happy that she wanted to sing and dance! She wanted to thank God for taking care of them.
Miriam sang, "Sing to the Lord!" and played music on her tambourine.
Then Miriam and all her friends played their tambourines as they sang together, "Sing to the Lord!"
Miriam was so happy that she wanted to sing and dance! She wanted to thank God for taking care of them.
Miriam sang, "Sing to the Lord!" and played music on her tambourine.
Then Miriam and all her friends played their tambourines as they sang together, "Sing to the Lord!"
The Wilderness (Exodus 15:22 - 17:7) Reading
The Israelites were free from Egypt, but now they were camping in the desert. The people wondered how they would live in the desert, away from their homes.
The people were unhappy. So they started complaining to their leaders, Moses, "Why did you lead us into the desert?" They grumbled, "We're hungry, and there's no food to eat."
"Stop grumbling," said Moses. "God is with us, and God knows what we need."
That evening quail flew into the camp. The people caught the quail and cooked them for dinner. Everyone had enough to eat.
The next morning when the people came out of their tents, they saw thin, flaky stuff all over the ground. The people called the flakes manna, and they ate it like bread.
"Only gather as much manna as you can eat today," said Moses. "Don't try to keep any of it for tomorrow. God will give us enough for each day."
But some of the people didn't listen to Moses. They gathered more manna than they could eat and tired to keep the leftovers for later. But the leftover manna became infested with worms! So the people learned to gather just enough manna to eat each morning.
But the people were still not happy. They started complaining again. "We're thirsty," said the people. "We don't have anything to drink."
"Stop your complaining," said Moses. "God is with us, and God will make sure we have water to drink."
Then God told Moses to take his staff and go to a place called Horeb. Moses struck a rock with the staff. Fresh water started coming out of the rock!
So God provided food and water for the people in the wilderness.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
The people were unhappy. So they started complaining to their leaders, Moses, "Why did you lead us into the desert?" They grumbled, "We're hungry, and there's no food to eat."
"Stop grumbling," said Moses. "God is with us, and God knows what we need."
That evening quail flew into the camp. The people caught the quail and cooked them for dinner. Everyone had enough to eat.
The next morning when the people came out of their tents, they saw thin, flaky stuff all over the ground. The people called the flakes manna, and they ate it like bread.
"Only gather as much manna as you can eat today," said Moses. "Don't try to keep any of it for tomorrow. God will give us enough for each day."
But some of the people didn't listen to Moses. They gathered more manna than they could eat and tired to keep the leftovers for later. But the leftover manna became infested with worms! So the people learned to gather just enough manna to eat each morning.
But the people were still not happy. They started complaining again. "We're thirsty," said the people. "We don't have anything to drink."
"Stop your complaining," said Moses. "God is with us, and God will make sure we have water to drink."
Then God told Moses to take his staff and go to a place called Horeb. Moses struck a rock with the staff. Fresh water started coming out of the rock!
So God provided food and water for the people in the wilderness.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:1-20:21) Reading
Moses and the people continued to move around in the wilderness. One day they came to a tall mountain. They set up their tents and the bottom of the mountain.
"I want the people to know that I am their God," God said to Moses. "Come to the top of the mountain, and I will give you special rules to help the people live together the way I want them to live."
So Moses went up the mountain while all the people waited below. The people saw the top of the mountain become covered with smoke. They heard thunder and saw lightning. The people were afraid.
Then God spoke these words:
Then Moses came back down the mountain. He saw that the people were afraid.
"Don't be afraid," Moses said to the people. "The smoke and thunder help us remember how powerful God is. Listen to these special rules from God."
And the people listened as Moses told them God's rules.
*Taken from Deep Blue Story Bible
"I want the people to know that I am their God," God said to Moses. "Come to the top of the mountain, and I will give you special rules to help the people live together the way I want them to live."
So Moses went up the mountain while all the people waited below. The people saw the top of the mountain become covered with smoke. They heard thunder and saw lightning. The people were afraid.
Then God spoke these words:
- There is only one God.
- Worship only God.
- Always say God's name with love.
- Remember to rest one day a week.
- Love your parents.
- Do not kill.
- Always love the person you marry.
- Do not take what belongs to someone else.
- Do not tell lies about other people.
- Do not want something that someone else has.
Then Moses came back down the mountain. He saw that the people were afraid.
"Don't be afraid," Moses said to the people. "The smoke and thunder help us remember how powerful God is. Listen to these special rules from God."
And the people listened as Moses told them God's rules.
*Taken from Deep Blue Story Bible
I Wonder...
- how Moses' mother felt when she placed him in the river.
- what Moses was feeling when he saw the burning bush.
- why God picked Moses to help the Israelites.
- why Pharaoh thought the Israelites would get in trouble.
- if Moses was scared to go to Pharaoh every time
- how it was like for the Egyptians and Israelites during all the plagues
- why Aaron was the one who got to go with Moses
- if God has been watching over me since I was a baby.
- how Pharaoh felt when he saw how powerful God was.
- if Miriam ever doubted God would help them.
- how it would feel if we felt hungry and thirsty.
- who can we buy food from if we do not have a grocery store.
- how long we can go without food and water.
- how it would feel if we felt hungry and thirsty.
- who can we buy food from if we do not have a grocery store.
- how long we can go without food and water.
- how Moses was feeling when he was seeing the tablets being made right in front of him.
- if the tablets were heavy carrying them down the mountain.
- why there were more or less commandments.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think Moses was feeling when this happened?
- What do you think is the most important part of this story?
- Miriam had to be very quiet when she was hiding by the river. Be quiet and listen for a moment. What do you hear?
- Miriam waits by the water's edge to see what would happen to her baby brother. When was a time you watched or waited patiently? What happened next?
- In this story, the Pharaoh felt the Egyptians were more important than the Hebrews. How can we make sure everyone feels important?
- What sounds do you think Moses heard when the bush was burning?
- Have you ever seen something you couldn't explain with words? What was it? What did you think about it?
- In the story, God tells Moses that God is with people who are hurting or treated unfairly. What are some ways you can help others know that about God?
- How does God get your attention?
- How does the wind sound when it blows across the water?
- Have you ever seen the ocean or a big lake? What it would look like if God blew the water out of the way?
- Moses was a brave leader. How can you be a brave leader?
- How do you think the music sounded when Miriam sang?
- Have you ever seen a group of people dance together in a show or on a stage? How did watching them make you feel? Did you join in?
- Miriam sings and dances to celebrate a special day. How do you celebrate when something good has happened? What are your favorite ways to celebrate special times with family and friends?
- What do you do when you are happy?
- What do you think God's people were thinking when the Reed Sea parted?
- Who provides you with the things you need?
- What does it sound like when tour stomach growls? What do you like to eat when you are so hungry?
- What do you think the flakey stuff that God gave the Israelites for bread look like?
- What would you do if there were no grocery stores to buy food? What did Moses and God do?
- Have you ever noticed how heavy water is? Ask a grown-up to help you lift a gallon of water. Lots of people in the world don't have water faucets in their house. They have to carry water for cooking and washing a long way. Can you imagine having to carry all the water for your bath? How many buckets do you think it would take?
- What does your voice sound like when you are very scared?
- Have you ever seen water coming out of a spring? That's when water seeps up through the ground. Kind of like coming from a rock!
Videos
Godly Play
Moses
This video is 18:23 minutes long
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Ten Best Ways
This video is 10:25 minutes long
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Holy Moly
Baby Moses
This video is 6:37 minutes long
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The Ten Commandments
This video is 5:34 minutes long
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Exodus
This video is 6:40 minutes long
Saddleback Kids
Moses in the Wilderness
This video is 3:16 minutes long
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The Red Sea (Exodus 13-14)
This video is 1:40 minutes long
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Art Project
Burning Bush
Materials:
Instructions:
- a baking pan or sallow box with sides
- a large paper cut to the size of the bottom of the pan or box
- crayons
- red, yellow, orange, and brown washable paint
- crayola makes a good washable nontoxic paint
- tape
- marbles
Instructions:
- child draws a free-style bush on the paper using the crayons
- best time to write child's name and/or other word's on their that you wish
- place the paper in the tray and secure the edges with a few pieces of tape
- sparingly dot the paper with various colors of paint
- place the marbles on the surface of the paper and move the tray around slowly in a rolling or gentle wave-like motion
- as the marbles roll around they will pick up paint and distribute it over the paper
- remove the marbles and hang the picture to dry
Create Your Own Staff
Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- two paper towel rolls
- finger paint
- tape
- smock
- paper
- spill cloth
Adult Preparation:
- gather materials
- lay out spill cloth
Instructions:
- First tape the paper to the table and smock the kids
- Next, give each child a small dollop of paint in each color
- Then, give each child a paper towel roll and have them finger paint
- After that, roll the paper towel roll over the paint on the paper to rub the colors together
- Repeat 1 - 4 for second paper towel roll
- Next, let the rolls dry overnight
- Then, tape them together
Making My Own Tablet
Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- Ary-dry clay
- can buy at local art stores
- Optional:
- Pointed utensil
- a stick, pencil, play-dough utensil
- Black marker
- Pointed utensil
Adult Preparation:
- gather materials
Instructions:
- First, grab two handfuls of clay
- Then, form two tablets
- After that, you can either go on to step 4 or 6
- Next, wait until they dry
- After it dries, add numbers 1 - 10 in two columns going down each tablet in black marker
- Next, write the numbers 1 - 10 with a pointed utensil
Songs
Where is Baby Moses? by Miss Nina
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Baby Moses by Toddler Bible Songs
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This song is 2:35 minutes long
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This song is 2:05 minutes long
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Where is Baby Moses by Liezel Richey
The song is 1:20 minutes long
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The 10 Plague Bible Song by Sing And Learn The Bible
This song is 1:19 minutes long
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How Did Moses Cross the Red Sea by Gloria In Excelsis Deo
This song is 3:43 minutes long
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O Listen King Pharaoh by Children's Music - Justin Jude Carroll
This song is 1:01 minutes long
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Miriam's Song (God Parted the Red Sea) by Rivers Voice
This song is 1:52 minutes long
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Go Down Moses by Christian Songs and Videos
This song is 4:28 minutes long
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The Ten Commandment Boogie by Go Fish
This song is 1:11 minutes long
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Take Care of Me by Emmanuel Christian
This song is 2:34 minutes long
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Ten Commandments by KidVue
This song is 1:39 minutes long
Tips for Adults
In the Book of Genesis, Jacob's family traveled to Egypt to have access to food. Hundreds of years later, that small family had grown into a large group of people called the Israelites. Egypts king, Pharaoh, was so afraid of the Israelites would cause him trouble that he forced them to become slaves. God saw them suffering and sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.
Elementary Track
Overview of Exodus
In the book of Genesis, Jacob's family traveled to Egypt to escape starvation. Hundreds of years later, that small family had grown into a large group of people known as the Israelites. Egypt's king, Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelites would cause him trouble that he forced them to become slaves.
Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelite slaves, but God saw their suffering. God heard their prayer for help. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. The word exodus means "the way out," and the miraculous escape know as "the exodus" is considered one of the Bible's most important events. At first God sent diseases and plagues to force Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. When Pharaoh didn't obey, God told the Israelites to paint the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb. This saved God's people from a deadly plague. God finally led the slaves to freedom, pushing back the waters of the Reed Sea so they could walk across dry ground (Exod 1-15).
As the Israelites camped in the desert, God gave the Ten Commandments (Exod 20) and asked the people to obey God. They complained of thirst and hunger, but God gave them water and food. This exciting story explains how God saved a people and taught them to trust!
*Taken from Deep Blur Kids Bible
Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelite slaves, but God saw their suffering. God heard their prayer for help. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. The word exodus means "the way out," and the miraculous escape know as "the exodus" is considered one of the Bible's most important events. At first God sent diseases and plagues to force Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. When Pharaoh didn't obey, God told the Israelites to paint the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb. This saved God's people from a deadly plague. God finally led the slaves to freedom, pushing back the waters of the Reed Sea so they could walk across dry ground (Exod 1-15).
As the Israelites camped in the desert, God gave the Ten Commandments (Exod 20) and asked the people to obey God. They complained of thirst and hunger, but God gave them water and food. This exciting story explains how God saved a people and taught them to trust!
*Taken from Deep Blur Kids Bible
Overview: Exodus 1 - 18 by Bible Project
This video is 6:32 minutes long.
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Overview: Exodus 19-40 by Bible Project
This video is 6:26 minutes long.
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Bible Readings
Miriam Hides Moses (Exodus 2:1-10) Reading
The Hebrews living in his nation
Grew and grew in population.
Selfish Pharaoh, so very cruel,
Wrote a truly awful rule:
"Because you are too bug a crowd,
No more baby boys allowed!"
One Hebrew family, full of joy,
Had just welcomed a baby boy.
Mother took some grass and leaves,
And made a basket to set in the reeds.
She put her baby snug inside,
And took him to the riverside.
Miriam found a spot to hide.
She wouldn't leave her brother's side.
Then Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe
And saw the basket in the waves.
Miriam saw the princess meant no harm,
As she rocked the baby in her arms.
"Shall I get a nurse perhaps?
To care for the baby on your lap?"
Pharaoh's daughter answered, "Please!"
So Miriam ran through the trees.
When mother came to where they were,
The Pharaoh's daughter hired her to care.
One day, when baby boy was grown,
Mother walked him to Pharaoh's throne.
The princess spoke aloud and said,
"I found him in the riverbed,
So Moses is to be his name.
And I will love him all the same,
As though this boy were borne to me,
Adopted now to royalty."
Grew and grew in population.
Selfish Pharaoh, so very cruel,
Wrote a truly awful rule:
"Because you are too bug a crowd,
No more baby boys allowed!"
One Hebrew family, full of joy,
Had just welcomed a baby boy.
Mother took some grass and leaves,
And made a basket to set in the reeds.
She put her baby snug inside,
And took him to the riverside.
Miriam found a spot to hide.
She wouldn't leave her brother's side.
Then Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe
And saw the basket in the waves.
Miriam saw the princess meant no harm,
As she rocked the baby in her arms.
"Shall I get a nurse perhaps?
To care for the baby on your lap?"
Pharaoh's daughter answered, "Please!"
So Miriam ran through the trees.
When mother came to where they were,
The Pharaoh's daughter hired her to care.
One day, when baby boy was grown,
Mother walked him to Pharaoh's throne.
The princess spoke aloud and said,
"I found him in the riverbed,
So Moses is to be his name.
And I will love him all the same,
As though this boy were borne to me,
Adopted now to royalty."
The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-12) Reading
Is there a place that is special to you? A place you like to be? Moses finds himself in a special place in this story.
Taking care of his new family's flock was a bif change for Moses. He never had to do that when he lived in Pharaoh's house in Egypt. On this day, he took the flock far from home to the sunny side of the mountain.
Moses saw a bush burning bright. But the bush wasn't burning up. Moses said, "I've got to see this up close! Why isn't that bush burning up?"
God saw Moses heading to the bush. God called, "Moses, Moses."
"Here I am," said Moses.
"Stay back," said God. "Take off your shoes, You are standing on special holy ground." Then God said, "Your family has known me a long time; going way back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
All of this sacred Moses. He hid his face.
God said more, "I see my people in Egypt are having a hard time. I hear them crying out because their masters make them work too hard. I know that they are hurting. So I'm here to rescue them from the Egyptians. I want to take them from Egypt to a new place to live, a land of milk and honey. Other people already live there, but I have heard my people cry. I've seen how badly and unfairly the Egyptians treat them. Moses, I want you to rescue my people from Pharaoh."
Moses said, "I can't rescue your people. Pharaoh won't listen to me at all."
"You can, because I'll be with you," said God. "When it's all over, come back here to this special holy place and worship me."
Taking care of his new family's flock was a bif change for Moses. He never had to do that when he lived in Pharaoh's house in Egypt. On this day, he took the flock far from home to the sunny side of the mountain.
Moses saw a bush burning bright. But the bush wasn't burning up. Moses said, "I've got to see this up close! Why isn't that bush burning up?"
God saw Moses heading to the bush. God called, "Moses, Moses."
"Here I am," said Moses.
"Stay back," said God. "Take off your shoes, You are standing on special holy ground." Then God said, "Your family has known me a long time; going way back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
All of this sacred Moses. He hid his face.
God said more, "I see my people in Egypt are having a hard time. I hear them crying out because their masters make them work too hard. I know that they are hurting. So I'm here to rescue them from the Egyptians. I want to take them from Egypt to a new place to live, a land of milk and honey. Other people already live there, but I have heard my people cry. I've seen how badly and unfairly the Egyptians treat them. Moses, I want you to rescue my people from Pharaoh."
Moses said, "I can't rescue your people. Pharaoh won't listen to me at all."
"You can, because I'll be with you," said God. "When it's all over, come back here to this special holy place and worship me."
Terrible, Awful Times (Exodus 5-11; 12:21-23, 29-36) Reading
African Americans tell this Bible story because they were once slaves. Jews tell this story every passover. This story reminds us how God is always with us, even in terrible, awful times.
God gave Moses and his brother, Aaron, a message for Pharaoh: "Let my people go into the wilderness to worship God together for a few days."
"Which god are you talking about?" asked Pharaoh. "Get back to work!"
"God! Help your people with these terrible, awful times!" shouted Moses.
"Just wait," said God. "See the power I have. Remind my people of the promises I made to. them a long ago. I will lead them to a new place to live. Say and do what I tell you. Pharaoh will let you go."
Each time Pharaoh said no, God did some terrible, awful thing, First, God turned Moses' walking stick into a snack! Then God turned the water in Egypt into blood! Frogs, mosquitos, and flies got into the food. The Egyptians and their crops. Everything was completely dark for three days!
So many terrible, awful things happened, but only to the Egyptians. But none of these terrible, awful things fro, God changed Pharaoh's mind.
God had one more terrible, awful thing planned. Moses told his people to mark their doors with lamb's blood so that God would know where they lived. At midnight, God made the oldest child in each Egyptian family die. Pharaoh woke to the cries of the Egyptian parents.
"Moses and Aaron," called Pharaoh, "I'll do what you asked. Worship your God. Also, bless me so that these terrible, awful things stop!"
God's people left quickly for the land that God had promised them.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
God gave Moses and his brother, Aaron, a message for Pharaoh: "Let my people go into the wilderness to worship God together for a few days."
"Which god are you talking about?" asked Pharaoh. "Get back to work!"
"God! Help your people with these terrible, awful times!" shouted Moses.
"Just wait," said God. "See the power I have. Remind my people of the promises I made to. them a long ago. I will lead them to a new place to live. Say and do what I tell you. Pharaoh will let you go."
Each time Pharaoh said no, God did some terrible, awful thing, First, God turned Moses' walking stick into a snack! Then God turned the water in Egypt into blood! Frogs, mosquitos, and flies got into the food. The Egyptians and their crops. Everything was completely dark for three days!
So many terrible, awful things happened, but only to the Egyptians. But none of these terrible, awful things fro, God changed Pharaoh's mind.
God had one more terrible, awful thing planned. Moses told his people to mark their doors with lamb's blood so that God would know where they lived. At midnight, God made the oldest child in each Egyptian family die. Pharaoh woke to the cries of the Egyptian parents.
"Moses and Aaron," called Pharaoh, "I'll do what you asked. Worship your God. Also, bless me so that these terrible, awful things stop!"
God's people left quickly for the land that God had promised them.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Walking on Dry Land (Exodus 14:5-31) Reading
Have you ever felt completely free? Like when summer vacation begins? Then what if someone gave you chores to do? That would be the worst! That's what happens in this story. Right when the Israelites think they are free, Pharaoh sends his army after them.
Remember the previous story and all the terrible, awful things that happened to the Egyptians? God wanted Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, and he did.
But after they were gone, he thought, "What am I doing? Who will make my bricks? I need the Israelites back. Quick!" Pharaoh called for his fastest chariots so that he could chase after the people he had just let go.
The Israelites saw them coming, and they were scared. They shouted to God.
"We told you something bad would happen. We should have stayed and worked for the Egyptians. Now we'll be killed by this army in the middle of nowhere!"
"Don't be afraid!" said Moses. "God will protect us. You'll never have to see the Egyptians again."
God heard this and said, "Why are you so worried? Tell everyone to keep moving to the sea. Moses, you will part the waters so that my people will walk on dry land."
God's messenger and a tall cloud that was leading the Israelites moved behind them to protect them from the Egyptians. Moses stretched his arm over the sea. God blew the water out of the way so that the people could walk across on dry land. The Egyptians followed them. God lit the tall cloud with fire. The Egyptian army was frightened. Their chariot wheels stopped turning, and they tried to run away. God told Moses to stretch his arm over the water again. The water crashed back on the dry land. The army drowned in the sea right in front of the Israelites.
They realized what God had done from them. They believed that God was their God, and finally they trusted Moses.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Remember the previous story and all the terrible, awful things that happened to the Egyptians? God wanted Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, and he did.
But after they were gone, he thought, "What am I doing? Who will make my bricks? I need the Israelites back. Quick!" Pharaoh called for his fastest chariots so that he could chase after the people he had just let go.
The Israelites saw them coming, and they were scared. They shouted to God.
"We told you something bad would happen. We should have stayed and worked for the Egyptians. Now we'll be killed by this army in the middle of nowhere!"
"Don't be afraid!" said Moses. "God will protect us. You'll never have to see the Egyptians again."
God heard this and said, "Why are you so worried? Tell everyone to keep moving to the sea. Moses, you will part the waters so that my people will walk on dry land."
God's messenger and a tall cloud that was leading the Israelites moved behind them to protect them from the Egyptians. Moses stretched his arm over the sea. God blew the water out of the way so that the people could walk across on dry land. The Egyptians followed them. God lit the tall cloud with fire. The Egyptian army was frightened. Their chariot wheels stopped turning, and they tried to run away. God told Moses to stretch his arm over the water again. The water crashed back on the dry land. The army drowned in the sea right in front of the Israelites.
They realized what God had done from them. They believed that God was their God, and finally they trusted Moses.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Miriam at the Reed Sea (Exodus 15:20-21) Reading
The people of the Lord sang joyously in celebration,
Delighted that the Lord had saved the Israelite nation.
For God had led them safely to the Reed Sea's other side,
Washing up their enemies within the crashing tide.
Finally they triumphed! They left that awful land!
And so the prophet Miriam took tambourine in hand.
All the women joined her. They grabbed their tambourines.
They danced in praise together, and Miriam would sing:
"Sing to the Lord who triumphed so gloriously for thee!
Horse and rider Lord has thrown into the stormy sea!"
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Delighted that the Lord had saved the Israelite nation.
For God had led them safely to the Reed Sea's other side,
Washing up their enemies within the crashing tide.
Finally they triumphed! They left that awful land!
And so the prophet Miriam took tambourine in hand.
All the women joined her. They grabbed their tambourines.
They danced in praise together, and Miriam would sing:
"Sing to the Lord who triumphed so gloriously for thee!
Horse and rider Lord has thrown into the stormy sea!"
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Storybible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Just Enough (Exodus 16:1-31) Reading
Have you ever felt really grumpy? Or grumpy and tired? Or grumpy, tired, and hungry all at the same time? If you have, then you know what it was like for the Israelites after they left Egypt.
It had been two months since the Israelites left Egypt. That's a long time on your own in the desert. They complained to Moses and Aaron, "We were slaves in Egypt, but at least we had enough food to eat."
Now they were so hungry that they thought they might die!
"They know I can hear them when they complain, right?" God asked Moses.
I'm not sure they do," said Moses.
"Okay. I have a plan. It will help them know that I hear their grumbling, and I will feed them. But it will test how well they follow my instructions." God told Moses the plan.
"Everybody, listen," said Moses and Aaron. "Why complain to us? God can hear you and has a plan to feed you. When you have meat at night, God wants you to remember. Remember all their terrible, awful things God saved you from in Egypt. When you have bread to eat in the morning, you will see God's greatness. Please, follow God's instructions."
That night quail landed in the Israelites' camp. Now they had meat to eat. In the morning when the dew lifted, flakey stuff was left on the ground.
"What is this stuff?" the Israelites asked. "This is the bread that God has given us," Moses said. "And these are your instructions: Every morning gather just enough of it for your family. Don't save any You have to trust that there will be more tomorrow."
They gathered the flakey stuff and the it. Some folks didn't follow the directions and tried to save some for later. It grew worms and got really awful. This made Moses angry. After a few days the people knew they would have more each day. Morning after morning, they gathered just enough.
On the sixth day God had something special in store for the Israelites. That morning they gathered enough for two days.
"Tomorrow is a day for you to rest. It called the Sabbath," said Moses. "It is a day for God. Gather enough for two days and cook it today. Tomorrow, don't go out to gather anything."
Some Israelites did try to gather food on the seventh day, but nothing was there. Now they knew that they were to rest on the seventh day. God would give them food.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
It had been two months since the Israelites left Egypt. That's a long time on your own in the desert. They complained to Moses and Aaron, "We were slaves in Egypt, but at least we had enough food to eat."
Now they were so hungry that they thought they might die!
"They know I can hear them when they complain, right?" God asked Moses.
I'm not sure they do," said Moses.
"Okay. I have a plan. It will help them know that I hear their grumbling, and I will feed them. But it will test how well they follow my instructions." God told Moses the plan.
"Everybody, listen," said Moses and Aaron. "Why complain to us? God can hear you and has a plan to feed you. When you have meat at night, God wants you to remember. Remember all their terrible, awful things God saved you from in Egypt. When you have bread to eat in the morning, you will see God's greatness. Please, follow God's instructions."
That night quail landed in the Israelites' camp. Now they had meat to eat. In the morning when the dew lifted, flakey stuff was left on the ground.
"What is this stuff?" the Israelites asked. "This is the bread that God has given us," Moses said. "And these are your instructions: Every morning gather just enough of it for your family. Don't save any You have to trust that there will be more tomorrow."
They gathered the flakey stuff and the it. Some folks didn't follow the directions and tried to save some for later. It grew worms and got really awful. This made Moses angry. After a few days the people knew they would have more each day. Morning after morning, they gathered just enough.
On the sixth day God had something special in store for the Israelites. That morning they gathered enough for two days.
"Tomorrow is a day for you to rest. It called the Sabbath," said Moses. "It is a day for God. Gather enough for two days and cook it today. Tomorrow, don't go out to gather anything."
Some Israelites did try to gather food on the seventh day, but nothing was there. Now they knew that they were to rest on the seventh day. God would give them food.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
God is Where the Water is (Exodus 17:1-7) Reading
What do you do when you are thirsty? When you are really thirsty after playing on a hot day? The Israelites were really thirsty. But they had nowhere to get water.
So many Israelites left Egypt that they could travel only a short way each day. One day they stopped in a place that had no water to drink. No water fountains. Nowhere to buy a bottle of water. Not even a swimming pool or lake. The people were very thirsty. People can't live very long without water. They were afraid they would die!
The people had complained to Moses before this day. Now, because they were so thirsty and scared, they were really mean to Moses.
"Give us water to drink right now!" they shouted.
"Why are you being mean to me?" Moses asked. "Why are you testing God?"
The Israelites were so thirsty. They had forgotten when God saved them from the terrible, awful work Pharaoh forced them to do in Egypt.
"Why did you ever bother making us leave Egypt? Was it to have us all get so thirsty and die here in the middle of nowhere?" they asked.
The Israelites were really scared and angry this time. Moses knew it was time to talk with God.
"What am I going to do with these people, God? They're about to throw rocks at me!"
God answered with a plan for Moses to get water for the people. "Take some leaders and the same walking stick you used to turn the Nile River into blood in Egypt. Go away from the people. I will be standing on a rock. Hit that rock with your walking stick. Watch water - enough for everyone - come out of it."
Moses did all that God said. The leaders saw it happen. The people remembered that place. They called it Massah and Meribah because they were mean to Moses and tested God there. But God was with them anyway.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
So many Israelites left Egypt that they could travel only a short way each day. One day they stopped in a place that had no water to drink. No water fountains. Nowhere to buy a bottle of water. Not even a swimming pool or lake. The people were very thirsty. People can't live very long without water. They were afraid they would die!
The people had complained to Moses before this day. Now, because they were so thirsty and scared, they were really mean to Moses.
"Give us water to drink right now!" they shouted.
"Why are you being mean to me?" Moses asked. "Why are you testing God?"
The Israelites were so thirsty. They had forgotten when God saved them from the terrible, awful work Pharaoh forced them to do in Egypt.
"Why did you ever bother making us leave Egypt? Was it to have us all get so thirsty and die here in the middle of nowhere?" they asked.
The Israelites were really scared and angry this time. Moses knew it was time to talk with God.
"What am I going to do with these people, God? They're about to throw rocks at me!"
God answered with a plan for Moses to get water for the people. "Take some leaders and the same walking stick you used to turn the Nile River into blood in Egypt. Go away from the people. I will be standing on a rock. Hit that rock with your walking stick. Watch water - enough for everyone - come out of it."
Moses did all that God said. The leaders saw it happen. The people remembered that place. They called it Massah and Meribah because they were mean to Moses and tested God there. But God was with them anyway.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
God Gives the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) Reading
What rules do you have to follow when you are at home and school? The Israelites had some special rules too. This is the story about how they got them.
One day the Hebrew people camped near a mountain. God wanted Moses to come up the mountain. God had a message for Moses to give to the people.
Moses told everyone to gather at the bottom of the mountain. "God has something important to say," Moses explained. "Wait here, and you will be able to hear God speak."
The people stood at the bottom of the mountain and waited. Suddenly, the earth began to shake. A thick cloud of smoke came down over the mountain. Thunder clapped and lightening flashed. A trumpet blew loudly. God was on the mountain.
Moses climbed up into the cloud of smoke to meet with God. God gave Moses ten important rules to help the people live in loving ways. They were written on two stone slabs.
The first four rules were about God.
1. There is only one God.
2. Remember I am your God. Worship only me.
3. When you say my name, speak it with love and respect.
4. Remember the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. Work on the other six days and rest on the seventh. Make it a day set apart for me.
The other six rules were about how to live with other people.
5. Treat your father and mother with respect. Look after them.
6. Don't kill anyone. Respect all people.
7. Be true to your husband or wife.
8. Don't take the things that belong to others.
9. Don't lie about anyone. Always tell the truth.
10. Don't wish you had things that belong to other people. Be happy with the things you have.
The people heard the thunder and the trumpet. They saw the lightning and the cloud of smoke. They were afraid and moved away from the mountain.
"Don't be afraid," Moses said. "God just wants you to know how to live so that you won't do the wrong things."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
One day the Hebrew people camped near a mountain. God wanted Moses to come up the mountain. God had a message for Moses to give to the people.
Moses told everyone to gather at the bottom of the mountain. "God has something important to say," Moses explained. "Wait here, and you will be able to hear God speak."
The people stood at the bottom of the mountain and waited. Suddenly, the earth began to shake. A thick cloud of smoke came down over the mountain. Thunder clapped and lightening flashed. A trumpet blew loudly. God was on the mountain.
Moses climbed up into the cloud of smoke to meet with God. God gave Moses ten important rules to help the people live in loving ways. They were written on two stone slabs.
The first four rules were about God.
1. There is only one God.
2. Remember I am your God. Worship only me.
3. When you say my name, speak it with love and respect.
4. Remember the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. Work on the other six days and rest on the seventh. Make it a day set apart for me.
The other six rules were about how to live with other people.
5. Treat your father and mother with respect. Look after them.
6. Don't kill anyone. Respect all people.
7. Be true to your husband or wife.
8. Don't take the things that belong to others.
9. Don't lie about anyone. Always tell the truth.
10. Don't wish you had things that belong to other people. Be happy with the things you have.
The people heard the thunder and the trumpet. They saw the lightning and the cloud of smoke. They were afraid and moved away from the mountain.
"Don't be afraid," Moses said. "God just wants you to know how to live so that you won't do the wrong things."
*Taken from Growing in God's Love Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder...
- if God can still bring good out of bad situations.
- if it was hard for Joseph to forgive his brothers.
- how Joesph knew that God had never left him.
- if God has been watching over me since I was a baby.
- how Pharaoh felt when he saw how powerful God was.
- if Miriam ever doubted God would help them.
- if it is difficult sometimes to love God.
- why there are so many things to remember.
- how Moses was feeling when he was seeing the tablets being made right in front of him.
- if the tablets were heavy carrying them down the mountain.
- why there were more or less commandments.
- how long it took Moses to climb the mountain.
Discussion Questions
- Miriam had to be very quiet when she was hiding by the river. Be quiet and listen for a moment. What d oyou hear?
- Miriam waits by the water's edge to see what would happen to her baby brother. When was a time you watched or waited patiently? What happened next?
- In this story, the Pharaoh felt the Egyptians were most important than the Hebrews. How can we make sure everyone feels important?
- Where do you hear stories told over and over? Why are they told so often?
- Have you ever seen a leader act in an unfair way, unfair like Pharaoh?
- When you see leaders act unfairly, what can you do to change their minds? How can God help you like God helped Moses?
- Where do you hear stories told over and over? Why are they told so often?
- Have you ever seen a leader act in an unfair way, unfair like Pharaoh?
- When you see leaders act unfairly, what can you do to change their minds? How can God help you like God helped Moses?
- How does the wind sound when it blows across the water?
- Have you ever seen the ocean or a big lake? What it would look like if God blew the water out of the way?
- Moses was a brave leader. How can you be a brave leader?
- How do you think the music sounded when Miriam sang?
- Have you ever seen a group of people dance together in a show o on a stage? How did watching make you feel? Did you join in?
- Miriam sings and dances to celebrate a special day. How do you celebrate when something good has happened? What are your favorite ways to celebrate?
- What do you do when you are happy?
- Who provides you with the things you need?
- What does it sound like when tour stomach growls? What do you like to eat when you are so hungry?
- What do you think the flakey stuff that God gave the Israelites for bread look like?
- What would you do if there were no grocery stores to buy food? What did Moses and God do?
- Have you ever noticed how heavy water is? Ask a grown-up to help you lift a gallon of water. Lots of people in the world don't have water faucets in their house. They have to carry water for cooking and washing a long way. Can you imagine having to carry all the water for your bath? How many buckets do you think it would take?
- What does your voice sound like when you are very scared?
- Have you ever seen water coming out of a spring? That's when water seeps up through the ground. Kind of like coming from a rock!
- How do you think God's special rules hleped the people live more fairly with one another? What would happen in the world if everyone followed these rules?
- Moses climbed the mountain to meet with God. What do you think Moses saw at the top of the mountain?
- Where do you see people following God's special rules today? Which of these rules habe you followed in the past week? What can you do differently so that you can follow God's rules?
Videos
Holy Moly
Baby Moses
This video is 7:13 minutes long
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Crossing the Red Sea
This video is 6:29 minutes long
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The Ten Commandments
This video is 12:02 minutes long
Saddleback Kids
This video is 1:40 minutes long
Crossroad Kids' Club
This video is 4:46 minutes long
Connecting
She Moses - Harriet Tubman
This video is 8:26 minutes long
Script
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Art Project
Make a Basket for Moses
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*Taken from education.com
Moses and Miriam
Materials:
Instructions:
- blue paper
- green paper
- coffee filter
- scissors
- glue stick
- something to color with
- somethings to create Moses and Miriam with
- possible items are:
- popsicle sticks
- pom poms
- string
- yarn
- cotton balls
- fabric
- possible items are:
Instructions:
- First, take a cupcake-cup-shaped large coffee filter and color it
- Then, create Moses and Miriam
- Next, glue the coffee filter onto the blue paper (for water)
- After that, glue Moses in the center of the filter
- Then, cut the green construction paper in thirds
- Next, fold a small piece on one end of the strip
- After that, glue the folded side onto the blue paper
- Finally, glue the green paper behind the filter on the blue and Miriam can be stuck in the grass or glued to the filter
Songs
Brave by Saddleback Kids
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I'm Trusting You by Lifetree Kids
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This song is 3:31 minutes long
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This song is 3:22 minutes long
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Pharaoh, Pharaoh
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Go Down Moses by PCPC Kids
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This song is 2:01 minutes long
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This song is 28 seconds long
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The Perfect Ten by Kyle Jorris
This song is 3:07 minutes long
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Pharaoh Pharaoh by Jason Whitfield
This song is 2:31 minutes long
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The Ten Commandment Boogie by Go Fish
This song is 1:11 minutes long
Content for Adults
In the Book of Genesis, Jacob's family traveled to Egypt to have access to food. Hundreds of years later, that small family had grown into a large group of people called the Israelites. Egypts king, Pharaoh, was so afraid of the Israelites would cause him trouble that he forced them to become slaves. God saw them suffering and sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.
Each book of the Bible page will have either one or two videos and the handouts taken from an Adult Faith Formation Class that talked about this particular chapter. The video might help you understand the chapter.
The God of Exodus (Ex 1-20)
This video is 53:36 minutes long
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Exodus, Liberation, and the People of God (ex. 21-40)
This video is 54:44 minutes long
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