Baby Moses

TEXT: Exodus 1:22; 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23

OBJECTIVE

The students will be able to explain that Moses' parents had faith in God so they did not fear the king (Pharaoh). They will know that we can trust God in the same way.

BIBLE LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction: If possible, open your class session by bringing a real baby for your children to see. (As an alternative, use a baby doll.) Let your children touch him and talk about how precious babies are and how we love them and want to take care of them. Move into your lesson by telling your class that today's Bible story is about a special little baby whose parents loved him very much.

1. Pharaoh decreed that every baby boy born to the Israelites should be cast into the river.
2. When Moses was born his mother hid him for three months; then she laid him in an ark and put it in the river.
3. Miriam saw Pharaoh's daughter rescue Baby Moses from the river and volunteered his mother to be his nurse.

Climax: Moses stayed in his own mother's home until he was old enough to go to live with Pharaoh's daughter and "he became her son."

Conclusion: God protected Baby Moses in the river, then brought about events for his rearing and education.

Response: The students will be able to explain that Moses' parents trusted God, and did not fear the king. Because they trusted in God, Moses was rescued and well-kept as he grew up. They should know that they can have that same faith and trust in God.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

God showed Abraham that his descendants were going to live four hundred years in a land that was not theirs. They would be servants and would be afflicted (Genesis 15:13).

This was the condition that existed when Moses was born. In an effort to curb the population growth of the Israelites, Pharaoh had decreed that all male babies be thrown into the river. To a Levite couple, Amram and Jochebed, was born a son during this time, but his parents refused to obey the king's command and hid him three months. His mother felt that he could no longer be hidden, so she made an ark of bulrushes and hid him among the flags upon the very river in which presumably the boy babies were to be drowned!

We see here the providence of God in the protection of the little fellow. He did not tip over and drown nor was he eaten by a crocodile, but was preserved in a remarkable manner. The daughter of Pharaoh came to the river, spotted the ark, and had it brought to her. When she saw the baby she had compassion on him and even unknowingly engaged the baby's mother to nurse him until he could be taken to the court. Pharaoh's daughter named him Moses because she had drawn him out of the water.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

• Give your children the eight numbered squares and a copy of the grid sheet (see Patterns). Let them draw the picture in the grief by tracing over each square into the correct space on the grid.
• Let each child make his own basket for Baby Moses (see Patterns). Help them cut on the dark lines, fold on the dotted lines, and paste on the areas indicated. Then have them cut out the Baby Moses and fold back on the dotted lines. Put the baby in the basket.
• Help each child make his own booklet about Baby Moses (see Patterns). Help them follow the instructions on each page. Cut the pages apart, assemble, and staple together.
• Let your children make the baby in the bulrushes (see Patterns). Cut the large and small groups of bulrushes from two shades of green construction paper. Use a brown felt pen to add lines and details. Slit down between several of the bulrushes in the smaller group, so the basket can slide between them. Glue the smaller piece on top of the larger along the sides, leaving the top of the bulrushes open. Cut out the baby and the basket parts. Glue the two parts of the basket together, leaving an opening for the baby. Put the baby into the basket and slip both behind the top rushes.

Special Instructions for Unit 33: See ideas for Lesson 9c.

QUESTIONS

1. What did Pharaoh (the king) want to do to all boy babies?
2. When Pharaoh's daughter found Moses, what did she do?
3. Why did Pharaoh want to kill the baby boys? Why not the girls?
4. Why do you think Moses' mother put him into the basket and in the river?
5. Why did Moses' sister hide and watch Moses?
6. How do you think Pharaoh's daughter felt when she found Baby Moses?
7. How would you feel if you found a real live baby in a little boat?
8. How do you think Moses' mother felt when her daughter came to bring her to Pharaoh's daughter to be the baby's nurse?
9. What do you suppose Moses' mother had been doing while she was waiting to see what would happen to her baby?
10. How would you feel if that were your baby brother in the river? Would you trust God?

PRE-SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS

• A picture of Baby Moses in the bulrushes and Pharaoh's daughter finding him (see Patterns) could be colored and folded, and then unfolded as the lesson is told.
• Make each child a mitt showing Baby Moses in the palm of Jesus' hand (see Patterns). Using a fabric transfer pencil, trace over the design in the book. Iron it onto a piece of cloth. Use liquid embroidery to outline the design on the fabric. Cut out on heavy lines and stitch with right sides together on dotted lines. Clip as indicated. Finish wrist edge. Turn inside out and press.
• Give each child a copy of the baby in a basket, with the lid to fold down (see Patterns). Let them color the basket and then fold the lid down to cover the baby.
• Use the set of six flashcards (see Patterns) to review the story of Baby Moses. Lay them out on your table and see if your little ones can put them into the correct order.

REVIEW IDEAS‍

Draw a picture on posterboard of Baby Moses in a basket. Attached by tape at the top, have strips of green construction paper with questions on them covering the picture. Let the students take turns selecting a strip and answering the question on it. If the answer is correct they get a sticker; if not, let someone else try. Continue until all questions have been asked and the picture is revealed.

This would be a good lesson to dramatize, using some of your students. One boy could be Pharaoh. Have him wear a crown and hang a sin-spotted heart around his neck. Other children could portray Moses' mother and Miriam. Drape a scarf over each of their heads. Other girls could be the princess and her maidens. Have the princess wear a crown also. Other simple props should include a doll, basket, blue sheet for water, and some bulrushes made by attaching fronds of green construction paper to the front of a chair. Miriam can then kneel down behind the chair as she watches the baby.

Show a real baby to your children, if possible the younger brother or sister of one of the children in your group. Explain how much the family loves this baby, and tell them that Baby Moses' family loved him the same way. Talk about how hard it would be to hide a baby, because they need so many things—show some of the things, such as blanket, bottle, diaper. Play a recording of a baby's crying. Show a basket as you talk about what God showed Baby Moses' mother to do in order to save his life.

SUPPORT MATERIAL

• Baby Moses — A Magic Picture Book
• The Story of Baby Moses — My Very First Coloring Book, Warner Press
• Baby Moses in a Basket — A Happy Day Book
• Acting for  God — The Helping Hands Series, Shining Star Publishing
• Baby Moses — Visual Graph, Scripture Press
• The Princess and the Baby — Arch Book
• The Princess and the Baby, No. 9 — The Lion  Story Bible,  A Lion Book