Baby Moses in the Basket- Exodus Series
Today in Calvary Kids, we started a series in Exodus and learned about Moses and the beginning stages of his life. God protected him and made all things possible out of a situation that seemed impossible. We can trust God's plans even when things look out of our control.
Exodus 1:8-14, 22; 2:1-10
The story of Moses starts in a really hard time for God’s people, the Israelites.
Many years before, Joseph had brought his family to Egypt during a famine. Over time, that family grew into a huge nation; possibly millions of people. The new Pharaoh didn’t remember Joseph or how he had helped Egypt, and he became afraid that the Israelites might rise up against him. So Pharaoh made the Israelites slaves. They had to work very hard every day, and Pharaoh was still afraid. Then he did something terrible and made a law that all baby boys born to the Israelites had to be killed. But even then, God already had a plan to rescue His people.
During this scary time, a Hebrew mother had a baby boy. She loved him very much and wanted to keep him safe from Pharaoh’s cruel law. So, for three months she hid her baby. But when he got too big to hide, she knew God had a plan and she carried out hers. She made a basket out of papyrus and coated it with tar so it wouldn’t sink. Then she carefully placed her baby inside and set it in the river. His big sister, Miriam, stood nearby to watch what would happen. It must have been frightening, but God was watching every second.
As the basket floated down the Nile River, Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess, came to the river to bathe. She saw the basket and heard a baby crying. When she opened it, she felt compassion. “This must be one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Instead of letting harm come to the baby, she decided to save him. Right then, Miriam stepped forward bravely and said, “Would you like me to find someone to help take care of the baby?” The princess agreed, and Miriam went and got her own mother, the baby’s mom. God worked everything out perfectly. The baby’s mother got to take care of him until he was older, and the princess even paid her to do it.
The princess named the baby Moses, which means “drawn out,” because she drew him out of the water. That name would become very special, because one day, Moses would draw God’s people out of Egypt. Even when things looked dark and dangerous, God was at work. He used a baby, a brave sister, and even the daughter of the enemy king to protect His plan. Nothing can stop God’s plan, not even a powerful Pharaoh.
Sometimes life feels confusing or scary. Maybe you’ve moved to a new school, someone was unkind to you, or something didn’t go the way you hoped. But just like God was watching over baby Moses, He’s watching over you too. He sees every detail of your life, and His plan is good, even when you can’t see it yet.
What is the Christ Connection?:
1. Pharaoh oppressed Israel with harsh slavery (Exodus 1:11) → Herod and the Romans oppressed Israel (Matthew 2:16, John 11:48)
2. Pharaoh feared the growth of the Hebrews (Exodus 1:9-10) → Herod feared the coming King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2-3)
3. Pharaoh ordered Hebrew babies to be killed (Exodus 1:22) → King Herod ordered babies in Bethlehem to be killed (Matthew 2:16)
4. Moses was born and favored by God (Acts 7:20) → Jesus was born a favored by God (Luke 2:40,52)
5. Moses' parents hid him in faith (Hebrews 11:23) → Joseph took Jesus to Egypt in faith (Matthew 2:13-14)
6. Moses was placed in a basket in the Nile (Exodus 2:3) → Jesus was laid in a manger (Luke 2:7), both humble and vulnerable beginnings.
7. Moses was drawn out of the water and named by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10) → Jesus came up out of the water at baptism and was called God's beloved Son (Matthew 3:16–17).
8. Moses grew and had a heart for the people (Exodus 2:10-11) → Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:40)
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Pharaoh was so afraid of the Hebrew people? What does fear make people do?
2. How did Moses' parents show faith in God? What would you have done?
3. What brave thing did Miriam do? How can kids your age be brave for God?
4. How did God use Pharaoh's daughter in His plan? What does this teach us about God's power?
5. What similarities do you see between baby Moses and baby Jesus?
Application Points:
1. When you're scared, remember God is protecting you like He protected Moses.
2. Be brave like Miriam and look for ways God might use you to help others.
3. Trust God's plan even when things seem impossible.
4. Remember that God can change anyone's heart, so pray for your enemies.
5. Know that God is preparing you right now for something special in the future.
Memory Verse:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5a
Exodus 1:8-14, 22; 2:1-10
The story of Moses starts in a really hard time for God’s people, the Israelites.
Many years before, Joseph had brought his family to Egypt during a famine. Over time, that family grew into a huge nation; possibly millions of people. The new Pharaoh didn’t remember Joseph or how he had helped Egypt, and he became afraid that the Israelites might rise up against him. So Pharaoh made the Israelites slaves. They had to work very hard every day, and Pharaoh was still afraid. Then he did something terrible and made a law that all baby boys born to the Israelites had to be killed. But even then, God already had a plan to rescue His people.
During this scary time, a Hebrew mother had a baby boy. She loved him very much and wanted to keep him safe from Pharaoh’s cruel law. So, for three months she hid her baby. But when he got too big to hide, she knew God had a plan and she carried out hers. She made a basket out of papyrus and coated it with tar so it wouldn’t sink. Then she carefully placed her baby inside and set it in the river. His big sister, Miriam, stood nearby to watch what would happen. It must have been frightening, but God was watching every second.
As the basket floated down the Nile River, Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess, came to the river to bathe. She saw the basket and heard a baby crying. When she opened it, she felt compassion. “This must be one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Instead of letting harm come to the baby, she decided to save him. Right then, Miriam stepped forward bravely and said, “Would you like me to find someone to help take care of the baby?” The princess agreed, and Miriam went and got her own mother, the baby’s mom. God worked everything out perfectly. The baby’s mother got to take care of him until he was older, and the princess even paid her to do it.
The princess named the baby Moses, which means “drawn out,” because she drew him out of the water. That name would become very special, because one day, Moses would draw God’s people out of Egypt. Even when things looked dark and dangerous, God was at work. He used a baby, a brave sister, and even the daughter of the enemy king to protect His plan. Nothing can stop God’s plan, not even a powerful Pharaoh.
Sometimes life feels confusing or scary. Maybe you’ve moved to a new school, someone was unkind to you, or something didn’t go the way you hoped. But just like God was watching over baby Moses, He’s watching over you too. He sees every detail of your life, and His plan is good, even when you can’t see it yet.
What is the Christ Connection?:
1. Pharaoh oppressed Israel with harsh slavery (Exodus 1:11) → Herod and the Romans oppressed Israel (Matthew 2:16, John 11:48)
2. Pharaoh feared the growth of the Hebrews (Exodus 1:9-10) → Herod feared the coming King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2-3)
3. Pharaoh ordered Hebrew babies to be killed (Exodus 1:22) → King Herod ordered babies in Bethlehem to be killed (Matthew 2:16)
4. Moses was born and favored by God (Acts 7:20) → Jesus was born a favored by God (Luke 2:40,52)
5. Moses' parents hid him in faith (Hebrews 11:23) → Joseph took Jesus to Egypt in faith (Matthew 2:13-14)
6. Moses was placed in a basket in the Nile (Exodus 2:3) → Jesus was laid in a manger (Luke 2:7), both humble and vulnerable beginnings.
7. Moses was drawn out of the water and named by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10) → Jesus came up out of the water at baptism and was called God's beloved Son (Matthew 3:16–17).
8. Moses grew and had a heart for the people (Exodus 2:10-11) → Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:40)
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Pharaoh was so afraid of the Hebrew people? What does fear make people do?
2. How did Moses' parents show faith in God? What would you have done?
3. What brave thing did Miriam do? How can kids your age be brave for God?
4. How did God use Pharaoh's daughter in His plan? What does this teach us about God's power?
5. What similarities do you see between baby Moses and baby Jesus?
Application Points:
1. When you're scared, remember God is protecting you like He protected Moses.
2. Be brave like Miriam and look for ways God might use you to help others.
3. Trust God's plan even when things seem impossible.
4. Remember that God can change anyone's heart, so pray for your enemies.
5. Know that God is preparing you right now for something special in the future.
Memory Verse:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5a
Posted in Calvary Kids