Baby Moses by the River

Before you begin, explain that you will be talking about a baby in your lesson. Instruct kids that when they hear the word “baby” to silently freeze doing something a baby would do. Invite kids to be creative and freeze in a different baby pose each time they hear the word. 

Show and explain the different baby items to care for a baby. 

Good parents will do everything they can to keep their baby (Pause.) safe. Our Bible lesson today is about a little boy baby (Pause.) who was born in a very dangerous time. 

There was a new King in Egypt who saw that the Israelites were very strong, and they were growing in number. The King in Egypt was afraid that the Israelites were going to take over his country. So he issued a command to all of his people: "Take every newborn Hebrew boy and throw him into the Nile River, but let the girls live."

During this time, a woman had a boy baby (Pause.). When she saw what a fine, handsome baby (Pause.) he was, she hid him for three months.

As the baby (Pause.) got older, she couldn't hide him any longer, so she made a basket of tall grass and covered it all over with tar to make it watertight. Then she put the baby (Pause.) in the basket and hid it in the tall grass at the edge of the river. The baby's (Pause.) sister stood some distance away to watch and see what would happen to him.

A little later, the king's daughter came down to the river to bathe. Suddenly she noticed the basket in the tall grass. The princess looked in the basket and saw a baby (Pause.). He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," (Pause.) she said.

The baby's (Pause.) sister asked her, "Shall I go and call a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby (Pause.) for you?"

"Please do," she answered. So the girl went and brought the baby's (Pause.) own mother. The princess told the woman, "Take this baby (Pause.) and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the mother took him home.

Later, when the child was old enough, the mother took the boy and gave him to the king's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The king’s daughter said to herself, "I pulled him out of the water, and so I name him Moses."

What an amazing story of two mothers who loved their child and God’s protection and care. Moses grew to be one of the greatest leaders the people of Israel has ever known. And it all started with a little baby (Pause.) hidden in the tall bushes down by the river.

Dear God, just as the mother of Moses watched over her son and protected him, You love and care for Your children. We thank You for Your love and protection. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.