Curriculum
Moses and the Burning Bush
Memory Verse:
“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
God speaks to us in lots of ways. We can be listening each day for what He wants to tell us.
Scripture Summary
God chose Moses to deliver His people from the Egyptians, though Moses’ life wasn’t turning out as expected. He finished growing up in the palace and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. In his anger, Moses killed the Egyptian and fled for his own life to the town of Midian.
Moses befriended a priest and married one of his daughters, Zipporah, and Moses lived far away from the Israelites, his people.
The Israelites were still enslaved to Egyptian leaders. They were crying out to God and God heard them, so God appeared to Moses in a most unusual way. Moses was tending to a flock in the desert near Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai, where God would choose to give the Ten Commandments). God was audibly calling out Moses’ name from a bush engulfed in flames.
Moses responded to God, took off his shoes on holy ground, and received a calling back to his original purpose. God invited Moses to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. And Moses argued–posing all questions of his qualifications for the task. God knew His plan, and it was time to fulfill the plan. God assured Moses that He would be with him.
The Egyptians had many gods. Moses knew he’d be asked who sent him and wanted to be sure he knew how to answer. God said, “I AM (also Yahweh) has sent me to you.” I AM is the one and only true God.
Why Is This Important
It can be hard to hear God speak. Like most things, it takes practice and some intentionality. Though it’s so worth it to hear His encouragement and direction.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
He Speaks, But Am I Listening?
“‘Go out and stand before me on the mountain,’ the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)
When faced with a big decision or a troubling situation, I have often joked that I planned to go outside and light a bush on fire in order to hear God’s audible voice. Of course, it doesn’t work that way. Sigh.
I know He speaks. There are countless accounts of Him speaking both in the Old and New Testaments. Friends at church have shared hearing His voice on occasion. Though I don’t always hear Him. I’ve even wondered how many burning bushes I’ve simply walked passed. Am I listening? Whether an audible voice booming from a bush on fire or a gentle whisper pointing the way, do I have the welcoming posture to hear God’s voice?
God speaks in a variety of ways. His Word–from Genesis to Revelation– is rich with His words of direction and encouragement. He speaks through our church leaders. God’s voice can be heard through godly friends and counsel. God’s assuring presence can be felt in majestic nature. And His Holy Spirit speaks His truth directly to our souls. He’s more than a Jiminy Cricket conscience, He’s a lifeline of perfect love and truth.
I need to slow down in order to hear Him. While He could use wind, an earthquake, and fire, I find that I hear His voice most when I’m still and He’s whispering. In my heart, I can hear Him saying, “My beloved child, this is the way…”
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for speaking to me. While I’d love to hear Your audible voice, I’m thankful to hear You in Your Word, in Your people, and in Your world. Please help me slow down to listen to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: White construction paper— 1 sheet for each child, Self-adhesive magnet, Scissors, Markers
“Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5
SAY: Let’s practice our Bible memory verse. Moses heard God calling him from the burning bush. God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was on “holy ground.”
God spoke to Moses, and He speaks to us, too. Let’s make some special shoes to help us remember our Bible memory verse for today.
Follow these steps:
- Give each child a piece of construction paper.
- Help kids trace their shoe print on the paper and then cut it out.
- Encourage kids to decorate their shoe
- Have kids practice the Bible memory verse while they decorate.
Once everyone is done, have all the children repeat the Bible memory verse aloud together.
Place a self-adhesive magnet on the back of each shoe print, and encourage kids to stick it on their refrigerator at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: “Moses’ Map” handout - 1 per child, Fine-tipped markers
Give a “Moses’ Map” handout and markers to each child. Have kids draw designs on the shoes at the start of the map.
SAY: Our Bible lesson begins with Moses out in the field taking care of sheep and goats that belonged to his father-in-law, Jethro. He led the sheep out into the wilderness near the huge mountain called Sinai. Moses was minding his own business when he noticed flames burning from the middle of a bush. The most amazing thing was that the bush was on fire, but it wasn’t burning up! The flame just burned and burned.
That’s strange, Moses thought. Why isn’t the bush burning up? I’ll go and see.
Show children the bush on their Moses’ Map and have them add flames.
SAY: As Moses came closer, he saw it was really an angel of God. And then God Himself called out to Moses. He said, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am,” Moses answered.
“Don’t come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. I am God.”
Have kids find the bare feet on the map and color them.
SAY: When Moses heard that, he hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
God continued speaking to Moses. “I’ve heard my people crying out in Egypt because they’re so unhappy. I know all about their pain and suffering. You’re going to free them and lead them into a good land that flows with milk and honey. I’m sending you to the ruler of Egypt to tell him to let my people be free.”
Have kids find the crowd of Israelites on the map and circle them.
SAY: “Why me?” Moses wanted to know. “What makes you think I could go to the ruler of Egypt, get your people freed, and then lead them to a new land?” Moses was really unsure about this.
“I will be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship me right here at this very mountain.”
Have kids find the mountain on the map and color it.
SAY: God spoke to Moses, but Moses kept coming up with excuses. “But, what if people ask who sent me? What if they say, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”
Finally, God answered, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the people of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’” And that was that!
Have kids find the I AM endpoint of the map and color in the letters.
SAY: Wow! Now, think back. Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals? (Allow a few answers.) Because, God said, “You are standing on holy ground.” It was holy ground because God was there! Wherever God is is definitely “holy ground.”
God is here today. Jesus said later in the Bible that, “Wherever two or three gather in my name, I am there with them.” Today, right now, we’re gathered in Jesus’ name at church, so God is here with us. That means we are standing on holy ground!
Snack
Burning Bush Snacks
You’ll Need: Yellow and white cheese slices, 4 slices total per child, Romaine lettuce leaves, 1 leaf per child, Pretzel sticks - 8 per child, Small paper plates, Napkins, Sanitizing hand wipes
Give a plate, napkin, four cheese slices, a lettuce leaf, and eight pretzel sticks to each child. Have kids clean their hands with hand wipes, then follow these steps.
- Use the snack supplies to build a burning bush. You can tear or break any of the snack items.
- Take turns displaying your finished work.
- Thank God for speaking to Moses and to us, then enjoy!
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, God did something amazing and set a bush ablaze—but it didn’t burn up! That got Moses’ attention so God could speak to him and tell him about a very important job he would do. Even though Moses wasn’t sure about it, God told him He’d be right there, helping. God spoke to Moses and God speaks to us, too.
Game
Moses! Moses! Game
Explain to kids that they’ll be playing a game called “Moses! Moses!” Play the game like this:
Follow these steps:
- Have kids sit in a circle. Begin by having each child loudly say his or her name. If you have more than 5 children, form smaller circles.
- Encourage children to listen carefully.
- Explain that you’ll walk around the circle and tap one person on the head. That person will cry out twice, “Moses! Moses!”
- The other kids respond by repeating that child’s name twice, such as “Andy! Andy!”
- Play several rounds.
ASK:
- How does God speak to us today?
- How can we listen for God?
Craft
Fiery Bush Craft
You’ll Need: “Moses and the Burning Bush” How-to Video, Paper plates, Shaving cream, Washable red, orange, and yellow tempera paint, Hand wipes
Get Ready: Spray a pile of shaving cream on a plate for each child.
Have children follow these steps for a memorable Fiery Bush craft.
- Let children choose which colors of paint to add to their shaving cream pile, then add them by dropping globs of the paint to the shaving cream.
- Let children create fiery flames by swirling their fingertips in the shaving cream and paint and spreading it around the plate.
- Shape flames and then set the plate aside to dry.
SAY: God set the bush on fire but it didn’t burn up, and that definitely got Moses’ attention! We made some shaving cream flames to remind us that sometimes God gets our attention in big ways—but also in smaller ways.
ASK:
- What do you think Moses thought when he saw the burning bush?
- Tell about a time that you knew that God had spoken to you—through the Bible, a teacher, a family member, or another way.
SAY: At first, Moses didn’t believe he was really the person to lead God’s people out of Egypt—that was a huge job. But God wasn’t going to make Moses do it on his own; He helped him. God spoke to Moses and God speaks to you, too. He has a special purpose for you. Just like Moses, we can learn to listen when God speaks.
Prayer
Thank You Prayer
Tell children to repeat the prayer after you using the same level voice you use.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You. (whisper) Thank You for always being with us! (loud) And for speaking to us (normal)
Like You spoke to Moses. (whisper)
Please help us listen (loud)
For Your voice. (normal)
In Jesus’ name, amen! (loud)
