Moses Chooses God's People
(Exodus 2:11–25)

As Moses grew up, he knew he was different. He was raised in the palace of Pharaoh, the most powerful man in Egypt, as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He had the best clothes, the best food, and the best education. But Moses was a Hebrew, and his heart was with his own people, the Israelites, who were slaves in Egypt.

One day, when Moses was a grown man, he went out to see his people working. It was a very hard and sad sight. The work was difficult, and the Egyptian slave drivers were cruel. Moses saw an Egyptian hitting an Israelite man. Moses looked around to make sure no one was watching. He became so angry that he rushed over and killed the Egyptian! Then, he quickly hid the body in the sand, hoping no one would ever know what he had done.

The very next day, Moses went out again. This time he saw two Israelite men fighting each other. Moses asked the one who was causing the trouble, "Why are you hitting your own friend?" The man looked at Moses with scorn and said, "Who made you our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me, too, just like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?"

Moses was shocked! The secret was out. He knew that Pharaoh would soon hear about what he had done and would want to kill him. Moses was now in great danger. Pharaoh did hear about it and immediately tried to find Moses to have him executed.

Moses had to run away! He left the great palace and the rich life he knew and ran far away into the land of Midian. When he arrived at a well in Midian, he sat down to rest. Soon, seven sisters came to the well to water their father's sheep. Some shepherds came and chased the sisters away to get water for their own flocks first. But Moses stood up for the sisters, chased the mean shepherds off, and even helped the sisters water their flock quickly.

When the sisters returned to their father, Jethro, he was surprised at how fast they were. "How did you get back so quickly today?" he asked. The sisters replied, "An Egyptian man rescued us from the shepherds and even watered the flock for us!" Jethro invited Moses to stay with them, and Moses ended up living there. He married one of the daughters, Zipporah, and they had a son named Gershom. Moses became a shepherd for Jethro, far away from Pharaoh's palace. Meanwhile, the Israelites in Egypt continued to groan under their slavery. They cried out to God, and God heard their cries. God remembered the special promises He had made long ago to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

A Curious Question

Moses had a choice: he could stay in a palace and be rich, or he could choose God's people who were slaves. Why is choosing to follow God and help His people always better than choosing a comfortable life without Him?

Jesus Connection

Even though Jesus is not in this story, Moses's choice is a picture of what Jesus did for us! Moses chose to give up a life of comfort in Pharaoh's palace to be with God's people, even when it meant suffering and running away.

The Bible tells us that Jesus, who is the Son of God, gave up the ultimate "palace" His glory and power in heaven to come to earth. He chose to be born as one of us, to suffer, and to die on the cross to save God's people from the slavery of sin. Moses had to run away from Pharaoh's threat, but Jesus faced the ultimate enemy, sin and death, to set us completely free. This story shows us the great love of God's chosen leaders, which is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus, our great Savior and Rescuer!

Discussion Questions

  • If you were Moses, and you had the choice between being a prince in a beautiful palace or leaving to be with the slaves, what would you have thought about? Why?
  • Moses tried to help the Israelite slave in his own strength (by killing the Egyptian). Why is it important to ask God for help and to follow His rules when we try to help others?
  • The Israelite man asked Moses, "Who made you our prince and judge?" How did Moses have to wait a long time before God was ready for him to be the true leader?
  • God heard the cries of the Israelites in their suffering. What does this tell you about how much God cares about you when you are sad or hurting?

“So What” What Can I do?

Choosing God’s Way

  • Be Brave for What's Right: Moses saw something wrong (the Egyptian hitting the Israelite) and acted, even though his method was wrong. How can you be brave this week and stand up for a friend or a family member in a way that is kind and follows God's rules?
  • Wait on God: Moses was ready to be a hero, but God made him wait for 40 years as a shepherd. Is there something you really want to do right now? How can you practice patience and wait for God's perfect timing and plan for you?
  • Remember God Hears You: The Israelites cried out to God in their pain, and the Bible says God heard them. Next time you are worried or upset, make the choice to stop and pray to God, knowing He always listens to your cries.

Memorize God's Word

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36, ESV)

Hand Motions:

  • “For what does it profit a man”: Shrug your shoulders and open your palms in a questioning way.
  • “to gain the whole world”: Circle your arms widely to show a big, whole globe/world.
  • “and forfeit his soul?”: Cross your arms over your chest (meaning to lose what is most precious – your heart/soul).

Praying with Kids

Dear Father, thank You for the story of Moses, who gave up a palace to be with Your people. Thank You that Jesus, Your Son, gave up His glory in heaven to rescue us from our sins. Please help us to always choose what is right over what is easy or comfortable. Help us to be patient and wait on Your perfect plan, just as Moses had to wait. We know You hear our cries. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Craft or Activity: Moses' Desert Staff

Moses left the palace and became a simple shepherd, relying on a simple staff. This craft reminds kids that God often uses simple tools and people to do amazing things.

Materials Checklist

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Staff: Give each child one cardboard tube. If you want a longer staff, help them use masking tape to connect two tubes together firmly.
  2. Paint/Cover the Staff: Have the children paint the tube(s) brown to look like a wooden staff. Alternatively, they can wrap the tube with brown construction paper and glue it down.
  3. Add “Desert” Details: Once dry, the children can wrap and twist a few green pipe cleaners around the top of the staff to look like small leaves or desert brush (reminding them that Moses was a shepherd in the wilderness).
  4. Discuss: As the children work, remind them that Moses' simple shepherd staff was what God used later to do mighty miracles (like turning into a snake or parting the Red Sea). God can use simple people and objects for His great purposes!

Effective Teaching Techniques

  • Role Play: This story is perfect for simple role-playing. Assign kids to be Moses, the Egyptian taskmaster, the fighting Israelites, or the shepherds at the well. Have them act out the “action” parts of the story (the fight, the chase, helping the women). This helps concrete learners visualize the high stakes of Moses’ choice.
  • Map It: Before class, draw a simple two-part map (Pharaoh’s Palace/Egypt and the Land of Midian) on a whiteboard or paper. As you tell the story, physically move a cutout “Moses” from the Palace to the Desert. This clearly illustrates the huge distance and change in his life.
  • Object Lesson: Bring in a “fancy” prop (like a cheap plastic crown or a nice velvet pillow) to represent the palace and a simple “plain” stick to represent the staff. Ask the kids which one is better – then explain that choosing God is always better than having the best things in the world.