Curriculum

Parting the Red Sea

Moses parts the Red Sea Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God’s more powerful than a superhero, and He loves to display His power and protect His people.

Scripture Summary

The Israelites just suffered 430 years of slavery in Egypt and nine of 10 plagues God sent to the Egyptians. God’s people, the Israelites, were spared the final plague of death through Passover. They were now free and headed to the promised land. God gave the Israelites guides (a cloud by day and a pillar by night) to direct them and remind them of His presence.

But just like in an action movie, there was an evil plot twist. God led the Israelites via a longer path in order to avoid fighting the Philistines.

While the Israelites thought they were spared and completely safe, 600 Egyptian war chariots plus all other chariots in Egypt to hold the fierce military charged after the Israelites.

Moses led the Israelites to what appeared to be their death. They were between the deep, vast Red Sea and the charging Egyptian army. The angel of God separated the two camps, and Moses raised his staff for God to separate the waters with a great wind. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, and the Egyptian army followed behind.

Once the Isrealites were safe, God prompted Moses again to raise his hands. The waters collapsed over the Egyptian army and killed all Egyptian warriors. This was another miraculous deliverance from God.

There is no record, other than Scripture, of this defeat. Egyptians made it a practice to not record any military defeats and even delete from records the names of traitors and political opponents.

Why Is This Important

Sometimes it looks like there’s no way out. But we can always trust God for a solution–whether a quick remedy or a fierce and powerful miracle.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

God’s GPS

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” (John 13:7)

I like to find the most-direct route. Always. While my GPS provides options, I have been known to argue with the GPS and even go an entirely different route in order to get to where I’m going...faster.

Jesus spent His ministry loving people and inviting them into relationship with Him (rather than a sterile list of religious do’s and don’ts). He continually challenged the cultural norm with teachings of the last will be first and love your enemies. John accounts how Jesus replied to His disciples who were arguing when Jesus washed their feet. Jesus assured them that they could trust Him–even if they didn’t understand at the moment.

We may not always understand God’s ways or God’s direction. Just like God led the Israelites out of Egypt by a less-direct route, He had a purpose. His direction displayed His power and protection for the Israelites. By going the longer route, they were able to avoid fighting the fierce Philistines on the way to the promised land. Sometimes God blesses us with understanding, and sometimes we continue to wonder about God’s direction. Either way, we can trust Him.

God always knows the safest and best route for us. This route might not always be the most direct, but it often displays God’s protection for us. When I’m too focused on the fastest route, I often find myself in an unexpected delay where God meets me on the journey. And I find that He redefines my goal. Rather than getting to where I need to be as quickly as possible, my goal shifts to embracing His love and protection and presence along the way.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for protecting me. You display perfect love and protection, and I’m thankful I can trust You even when I don’t understand. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: “Book of Waves” handout, Blue construction paper, Scissors, Staplers, Markers

“The people feared the LORD and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.” Exodus 14:31

SAY: God protected His people by separating the waters of the Red Sea so they could escape Pharaoh’s army. God is powerful and He protects us. We’re going to make some special books to learn our Bible memory verse.

Help kids do the following:

  • Cut out the wave from the “Book of Waves” handout.
  • Trace four blue waves on the construction paper.
  • Have kids cut out each wave shape and then stack them along the straight edge, alternating colors.
  • Help kids carefully staple twice along the stacked straight edge, creating a “Book of Waves.”
  • For kids, write parts of the Bible memory verse on the four pag- es of their book.
  • Have kids flip through their book and practice the Bible memory verse for several minutes.
  • Have everyone repeat the verse aloud together.
  • Encourage kids to take home their “Book of Waves” and prac- tice the verse with their family.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bible, Poster board, Tape, Markers

Get Ready:
Tape the poster board to the wall in an area where all kids can get to it. Set out the supplies in a central area.

SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, God protected His people from Pharaoh’s army by parting the Red Sea so they could escape. God had freed them after 400 years of slavery, and He was leading them away to a new, happier life. Now, I need your help to show what happened. Let’s create something called a storyboard.

Here’s what to do.

  • Read aloud Exodus 14:21-22.
  • Allow time for children to draw the story.
  • Have everyone tell about what they drew. Afterward, ASK:
  • What do you think God’s people were thinking when Moses parted the Red Sea for them?
  • What does this event in the Bible tell you about God’s power?

SAY: God did a huge thing for His people because He is powerful. He worked for their good. He works in our lives, too, to protect us.

Snack

Red Sea Snacks

You’ll Need: Blue Jello dessert cups (one per child), Canned whipped cream, Teddy Grahams snacks, Spoons, Napkins, Sanitizing hand wipes

Have kids clean their hands with hand wipes, then follow these steps.

  • Remove the seal from the refrigerated Jello cup.
  • Add a squirt of whipped cream to the top.
  • Use your spoon to “part the sea.”
  • Walk your Teddy Graham across the sea.
  • Thank God for protecting His people, then enjoy!

SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, God rescued His people when their lives were in serious danger. God protected them because He is powerful.

Game

Red Sea Run Game

Explain to kids that they’ll be playing a game called “Red Sea Run.” Play the game like this:

  • Have kids line up against one wall, and you stand on the opposite wall.
  • Explain that when you raise your arms and say, “Part, Red Sea!” kids can run toward you. When you lower your arms and say, “Freeze!” kids must freeze in place.
  • Play until everyone reaches the wall where you stand. 

Afterward, ASK:

  • How do you think God’s people felt when they walked through the parted waters of the Red Sea?

Craft

Split the Sea Craft

You’ll Need: “Parting the Red Sea” How-to Video, Blue construction paper, Tan construction paper, Scissors, Pencils, Glue sticks, Markers

SAY: God knew His people were in trouble! So first He freed them. Then He guided them through a huge desert. And finally, He rescued them from an army that wanted to bring them back into slavery. God protected the Israelites. And God protects us!

Help children follow these steps to create a “Split the Sea” craft.

  • Cut a piece of blue construction paper in half horizontally.
  • Cut 3-inch slits along only the portion of both pieces of paper that was just cut. These fringe-like sections will become rolled “waves.”
  • Stack the cut pieces of blue construction paper exactly over the tan paper, with the fringe-cut sides together. Use a glue stick to attach the solid parts of the blue paper to the tan paper, but do not glue the fringe.
  • Use a pencil to roll the fringe-cut pieces back, creating the “waves” of the parted sea and revealing the tan “dry ground” beneath.

ASK:

  • When are times we can ask God to protect us?
  • How do you know God that God is powerful?

SAY: God parted the Red Sea to protect His people from Pharaoh’s army. God protects you, too.

Prayer

Wave Prayer

Have children sit in a spaced-out circle with their arms stretched out so they can’t quite touch their neighbors. Show kids how to make a “wave” with their arms (this is like a wave that an audience does in a stadium). Tell them they’ll create waves as you repeat this prayer together. You’ll start each wave.

Dear God, (repeat as they send a wave)

You protected Your people (repeat as they send a wave) And You protect us, too. (repeat as they send a wave) What a mighty God you are! (repeat as they send a wave) We love You! (repeat as they send a wave)

In Jesus’ name, amen. (repeat as they send a wave)