LESSON THEME: Trust God Always
Exodus 2:1-10 tells the story of Moses’ birth during a time when Pharaoh had ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed. His mother (Jochebed) hid him for three months, then crafted a waterproof basket and placed him among the reeds of the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the child, was moved with compassion, and unknowingly hired the baby’s own mother as his nurse. This remarkable rescue of Moses demonstrates that when we release our greatest treasures into God’s hands—even amid seemingly impossible circumstances—He works in ways we cannot imagine.
WELCOME SENSORY BINS 6:00-6:15 p.m.
Baby Moses Sensory Bin Match
- Baby Moses Bible Match Game
- Sensory Bins with rice/beans and other objects
Print one set of Bible Match cards as a mat.
Hide the other set of cards in the bin.
Have kids look for the hidden cards.
Tell them our story today will focus on the events they find. Moses’ mom took care of him and found a way to keep him safe. God helped provide a way for Moses to be safe.
Baby Moses Playdoh Mats
- Baby Moses Playdoh Mat
- Playdoh or Dry Erase Markers
Kids can make a Baby Moses out of Playdoh or draw a baby in the basket using dry erase markers. Explain that in our story today, Baby Moses will be placed in a basket and put in the river to protect him.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU MUSIC: 6:20-6:30 p.m.
Where is Baby Moses
Verse 1:
Where is baby Moses, Moses, Moses?
Motion: Place hands on hips and look around questioningly, turning head side to side
Where is baby Moses, on the River Nile?
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
He’s floating in a basket, a basket, a basket.
Motion: Cup hands together to form a basket shape and gently rock them back and forth
He’s floating in a basket on the River Nile.
Motion: Continue rocking basket hands while making wavy motion with arms
Verse 2:
The princess she went bathing, bathing, bathing,
Motion: Pretend to splash water on face and arms
The princess she went bathing, on the River Nile.
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
She found the baby Moses, Moses, Moses,
Motion: Lean forward with surprised expression, point down as if discovering something
She found the baby Moses on the River Nile.
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
Verse 3:
His sister watched him closely, closely, closely,
Motion: Place hand above eyes like looking far away, leaning forward slightly
His sister watched him closely, by the River Nile.
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
She offered up a helper, helper, helper,
Motion: Raise hand enthusiastically like volunteering
She offered up a helper by the River Nile.
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
Verse 4:
His mother became his nurse maid, nurse maid, nurse maid,
Motion: Rock baby in arms, looking down lovingly
His mother became his nurse maid, near the River Nile!
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river
God protected Moses, Moses, Moses,
Motion: Make protective motion by placing hands overhead like a roof
God protected Moses on the River Nile.
Motion: Make a wavy motion with hand to represent the river.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU PRAYER: 6:30-6:40 p.m.
WHISPER A PRAYER SONG & FORM CIRCLE
Ask each kid to share one thing they are grateful for about their mom/grandma/aunt. Have them pray for that person.
BIBLE STORY & CRAFT 6:40-7:00 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED:
- Bible
- Small baby doll
- Basket
- Blanket
Opening Game: “Hide the Baby”
Have children start at the front of the room. Hide the baby doll in the basket under a blanket somewhere in the room. Ask the children to search for the baby. When found, say: “Today we’re learning about a mommy who had to hide her baby to keep him safe!”
Bible Story
Our Bible story today comes from Exodus chapter 2. It’s about a special baby named Moses and his very brave mother.
A long time ago, the Israelites (God’s special people) lived in Egypt. The king of Egypt, called Pharaoh, was worried that there were too many Israelites. He made a terrible rule that all baby boys born to the Israelites should be thrown into the Nile River.
But when Moses was born, his mommy looked at her beautiful baby boy and knew she had to save him. Even though she was scared of the king’s rules, she decided to be brave and protect her baby. More importantly, she decided to trust God would take care of her baby.
For three whole months, Moses’ mother hid him in their home.
IF TIME ALLOWS: PLAY THE QUIET GAME HERE
Ask the children if it is hard to keep quiet.
But soon, Moses grew bigger and his cries got louder. His mother knew she couldn’t hide him at home anymore. So, she had a clever idea!
Moses’ mother made a special basket. She covered it with sticky tar to keep water out, making it like a tiny boat. Then she gently placed baby Moses inside the basket.
With a prayer in her heart, Moses’ mother placed the basket among the tall reeds by the river’s edge. Moses’ big sister Miriam stayed nearby to watch what would happen.
God had a wonderful plan! Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to bathe and found the basket with baby Moses inside. When she saw the crying baby, her heart filled with love. She decided to keep him as her own son.
Then something amazing happened! Miriam stepped forward and asked, ‘Would you like me to find a Hebrew woman to help take care of the baby for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said yes!
Guess who got to take care of Moses? His very own mother! Moses’ mother was so brave to trust God with her precious baby, and God kept Moses safe.”
CLOSING PRAYER
“Dear God, thank you for taking care of baby Moses and thank you for taking care of us. Help us to be brave like Moses’ mommy and sister, and help us to always trust in your plan for our lives. Amen.”
Bible Story Activity/Craft
ITEMS NEEDED
- Small pots
- Potting soil
- Wheatgrass or cat nip (grown or seeds)
- Decorating supplies
- Water
Give each child a small pot to decorate. Help each child one at a time come fill it with soil. Show them how to sprinkle seeds on top (or allow them to plant already growing grass). Gently water the seeds (or plants).
Teach: “Just like Moses was safe in his basket among the tall reeds, these seeds will grow into tall grass. With God’s help, your mom (or caregiver) keeps you safe and helps you grow just like Moses’ mommy!”
SNACK TIME: 7:00-7:10 p.m.
Mother’s Day Cards
ITEMS NEEDED
- Coloring Page
- Crayons
- Glue
- Snack
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks. Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks. Have Mother’s Day card color activity on the table for kids to complete while they eat their snack, or while they are waiting for others to finish.
EXPERIENCE: 7:10-7:25 p.m.
Foil Boats.
- Foil (precut)
- Disposable muffin cups
- Pom-Pom balls (represent baby Moses)
- Tins with water in them.
Have each child design a foil boat by wrapping the foil around the muffin cup (don’t fold it down). Remove the muffin cup. Let them put their baby Moses inside of it. Let them play with their boats in the water.
DISMISSAL 7:25-7:30 p.m.
Prepare for dismissal.
ACTUAL SCRIPTURE
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water