Pharaoh's Cruel Plan
(Exodus 1:1-22)
A long time had passed since Joseph saved Egypt from famine. His family, the Israelites, had settled in the land of Goshen, and God had blessed them greatly. They had so many children and grandchildren that they filled the whole region. There were thousands and thousands of them.
Then a new Pharaoh came to power, one who did not remember Joseph or what he had done for Egypt. This king looked out at the Israelite people and felt afraid. He said to his advisors, "These people are becoming too many and too powerful. If war breaks out, they might join our enemies and fight against us. We must do something to stop them."
So Pharaoh put cruel taskmasters over the Israelites. He forced God's people to make bricks and build great storage cities called Pithom and Raamses. The work was backbreaking. The sun was hot. The taskmasters were harsh. But something strange happened: the harder Egypt pressed down on Israel, the more Israel grew and spread. God was working in the middle of the misery.
Pharaoh tried a second plan. He called two brave women, Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives. These were the women who helped mothers give birth. Pharaoh gave them a terrible command: "When you help a Hebrew woman have her baby, if it is a boy, kill him. If it is a girl, let her live."
But Shiphrah and Puah feared God. They would not obey Pharaoh's evil order. They let the baby boys live. When Pharaoh summoned them and demanded an explanation, they answered cleverly, "Hebrew women are so strong! They give birth before we even arrive." Because these women chose to fear God rather than fear Pharaoh, God gave them families of their own and blessed them greatly.
Still, the Israelites kept multiplying. Pharaoh was furious. So he gave one final, horrifying command to all his people: "Every Hebrew baby boy that is born must be thrown into the Nile River. Only the girls may live." The whole nation of Egypt became part of his terrible plot. God's people were in great danger. Yet even in this darkest moment, God had not forgotten His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His plan was already in motion.
A Curious Question
Every time Pharaoh tried a new plan to stop the Israelites, they grew even larger. Why do you think the most powerful king in the world could not stop a people that had no army and no weapons of their own?
Jesus Connection
This story is not only about Israel. It is a preview of something God would do again. Pharaoh tried to kill all the Hebrew baby boys to stop God's rescue plan. Hundreds of years later, when Jesus was born, King Herod tried the very same thing. He ordered every baby boy in Bethlehem to be killed, hoping to destroy the promised Savior (Matthew 2:16).
Both attacks failed completely. God protected Moses, and God protected Jesus. This is not a coincidence. It is a pattern that shows us something deep about the nature of evil and the power of God. Evil always tries to snuff out the light before it spreads. But God's plan of rescue cannot be stopped by any ruler, any army, or any threat.
Just as the Israelites were enslaved under Pharaoh with no way to free themselves, we are all born under the slavery of sin. We cannot work our way out of it. Our best efforts are like the straw bricks that never filled the quota. Salvation does not come from our own strength or effort. It comes entirely from what God has done for us through Jesus, who conquered sin and death so we could go free. The Israelites were multiplying because God was working. We are saved because God was working, not because of anything we did.
Discussion Questions
- Pharaoh was afraid of the Israelites because they were growing so strong. Can you think of a time when someone felt threatened by something good God was doing? What does that tell us about the way God's kingdom grows?
- Shiphrah and Puah were told by the king to do something wrong. They chose to obey God instead. What is the difference between fearing a person and fearing God? When would it be right to disobey a person in authority?
- The Bible says God gave Shiphrah and Puah families of their own as a reward for their faithfulness. What does this tell us about how God sees and responds to acts of courage done out of love for Him?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
This week, think of one situation where you feel pressure to go along with something you know is wrong. Maybe it is at school, at practice, or with a group of friends. Choose one specific moment where you will stop and ask yourself: "Am I more worried about what this person thinks, or what God thinks?" Write it down on a small piece of paper, put it somewhere you will see it, and ask God to give you the courage to choose Him, just like Shiphrah and Puah did.
Memorize God's Word
Exodus 1:12: "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread."
Hand Motions:
- "But the more they were oppressed": Press both palms down slowly, as if pushing something down toward the floor.
- "the more they multiplied": Start with fingers interlaced, then spread both hands wide open.
- "and spread": Sweep both arms out wide to the sides like a bird stretching its wings.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You that no plan of any person or king can ever stop what You have promised. Thank You that You see Your people when they are suffering, just as You saw the Israelites in Egypt. Help us to be like Shiphrah and Puah, willing to fear You more than we fear any person. When things around us feel scary or unfair, remind us that You are the God who keeps growing what You have planted. In Jesus' name, amen.
Craft: "God's Plan Cannot Be Stopped" Shield
This craft gives children a tangible reminder that God is a protector who guards His promises even when powerful forces try to destroy them.
Materials Checklist:
- Cut the Shield Shape: Help children cut a large shield shape (like an old-fashioned knight's shield, flat on top, pointed at the bottom) from cardstock. Pre-cut templates save time for younger classes.
- Cover with Foil: Have the children glue a sheet of aluminum foil over the front of the shield to give it a strong, metallic look. Smooth it down carefully.
- Write the Truth: In the center of the shield, help the children write or trace the words: "God's Plan Cannot Be Stopped."
- Decorate: Let the children add drawings of flames, a crown for Pharaoh on one side, and a symbol of growth (like a plant or family) on the other to show God's people multiplying despite oppression.
- Review Together: As they finish, ask each child to hold up their shield and say: "No king is greater than God."
Effective Teaching Techniques
The key tension in this story is the contrast between Pharaoh's growing panic and God's quiet, unstoppable power. When you tell the story, use a loud, commanding voice for Pharaoh's orders and then slow down and speak softly when you describe the Israelites multiplying. That contrast alone will communicate the theology without you having to explain it.
For younger children (grades K through 2), simplify the three plans into one big idea: "Pharaoh kept trying to hurt God's people, but God kept protecting them." Use your hands to show Pharaoh pushing down (palms down) and God's people multiplying (fingers spreading out). Repeat it three times with them so they feel the rhythm of the story.
For older children (grades 3 through 5), introduce the moral question directly: "Shiphrah and Puah were told by a king to do something evil. They said no. Can you think of a time when a rule or a dare asked you to do something you knew was wrong? What did you do?" This moves the lesson from ancient history into their real week. Wrap up by connecting it to the Jesus Connection: evil tried to stop God's plan then, evil tried to stop it again at the manger, and it failed both times.