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Baby Moses in the Basket

Exodus 1:15-2:10; Hebrews 11:23 Old Testament PrincipleCourage

Pharaoh's daughter discovering baby Moses in a basket among the Nile reeds while Miriam peeks from the tall grass.

Pharaoh ordered that Israel's baby boys be thrown into the Nile. But Moses' mother bravely hid him, then put him in a waterproof basket by the river. God protected him through his sister Miriam and even Pharaoh's own daughter. God is with us, so we can be brave.

God is with His people and protects His plans, even against a king. Because He is with us, we can be strong and courageous.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 BSB

Christ Connection · Picture

Baby Moses escaped a king's order to kill baby boys, and God raised him up to rescue His people from slavery. Years later, another baby escaped another king's deadly order: King Herod tried to kill the baby boys of Bethlehem, but God protected Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16). Moses rescued Israel from Egypt; Jesus came to rescue the whole world from sin and death.

Matthew 2:13-16; Hebrews 11:23; Acts 7:20

The Big Story · Redemption

Sin made Pharaoh cruel, and God's people suffered as slaves. But God protected the baby who would lead them out of Egypt, part of His great rescue plan that leads all the way to Jesus.

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Pharaoh gave a cruel order against Israel's baby boys, but Moses' mother and sister were brave, and God kept baby Moses safe. God is with us, so we can be brave too.

Memory verse

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Adapted from Joshua 1:9

Start here

Ask, "What is the bravest thing you've ever done?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today we'll meet a whole family of brave people. Let's find out where their courage came from."

Bible story 6 min

God's people, the Israelites, lived in Egypt. There were so many of them! The king, called Pharaoh, was afraid of them. So he made them slaves.

Then Pharaoh gave a cruel order. He did not want any more Israelite baby boys to grow up.

One Israelite mom had a baby boy. She saw how special he was, and she hid him for three months.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Act it out 10 min

You’ll need: A doll or stuffed animal, A basket or small box, A blue sheet or blanket

  1. Choose Moses' mother, Miriam, the princess and a maidservant. Use the doll as baby Moses.
  2. Act out the skit with the blue sheet as the river.
  3. Switch parts so more kids get a turn.
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More lessons from this story

Same Bible story, a different principle.

In the BeginningGod Calls MosesExodus 2:1-3:15; Exodus 4:1-17God saw His suffering people and came down to rescue them, and He called Moses to go, promising, "I will be with you."Old TestamentObedience

More lessons on Courage

The same principle in other Bible stories.

Seeing God's WorldWhy Am I Here?Esther 4:1-17; Esther 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10When an evil plan threatened God's people, Mordecai told Queen Esther, "Who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther bravely went to the king, and God used her to save His people. God made each of us on purpose, for good works He prepared ahead of time, and He gives us courage to do them.Old TestamentCourageElisha and the Chariots of Fire2 Kings 6:8-23The king of Aram sent a huge army to capture Elisha. In the morning, Elisha's servant saw soldiers all around the city and was terrified. Elisha said, "Don't be afraid! Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." God opened the servant's eyes, and the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourageTo an Unknown God: Paul in AthensActs 17:16-34While Paul waited in Athens, he was upset to see the city full of idols. He talked about Jesus and the resurrection in the synagogue and the marketplace, and the city's thinkers brought him to a council called the Areopagus. Paul bravely stood up and said, "I found an altar that says, 'To an unknown god.' I will tell you who He is." He told them God made the world and gives everyone life and breath, and He raised Jesus from the dead. Some laughed, some wanted to hear more and some believed. God gives us courage to tell others about Him.New TestamentCourageDeborah and BarakJudges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31A cruel king with 900 iron chariots ruled over Israel. God told Deborah that Barak should lead an army against him, and God would give them the victory. Barak was afraid to go alone, but he went. God sent a storm, and the chariots got stuck in the mud! We can be brave because God goes before us.Old TestamentCourageEsther Saves Her PeopleEsther 2:1-9:32; Hebrews 4:16Wicked Haman planned to destroy all of God's people. Queen Esther was afraid, but she asked her people to fast and pray, then bravely went to the king. God was quietly at work all along, and He turned the whole plan upside down to save His people.Old TestamentCourageThe Church BeginsPeter and John Heal a ManActs 3:1-4:31; Isaiah 35:5-6Peter and John healed a man who couldn't walk, in the name of Jesus. When leaders told them to stop talking about Jesus, they bravely said, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."New TestamentCourage