This lesson teaches children that God rescued the people of Israel when they were trapped by the sea and that they can trust Him when they feel scared. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Use a large floor space, a few chairs, and a bowl of water if you can, since the story is easier to picture with something to touch and move.
Big Idea
God keeps His promises and rescues His people, even when there seems to be no way out. When we feel trapped, we can stand still and trust Him to help us.
Memory Verse
Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.”
(WEB)
Have children stand with feet planted wide and arms folded tight, like a wall. Then have them unfold their arms slowly and open their hands as they say the words together. Repeat it three times, getting quieter each time, so the children practice being still.
The Story: Exodus 14 for Kids
God’s people, the Israelites, had lived in Egypt for a long time. Moses was their leader, and God had sent him to tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the people go. Pharaoh finally agreed, and the Israelites left Egypt together, with God leading them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Then God told Moses to turn the people back toward the sea, and Pharaoh decided to chase after them. He gathered his best chariots and his soldiers and came up fast behind the Israelites. When the people looked up and saw the Egyptians coming, they were very scared. They cried out to God and said to Moses, “Why did you bring us here to die?”
Moses was not afraid. He told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and see how the LORD will save you today.” God told Moses to lift up his stick and stretch his hand over the sea. Moses did, and a strong wind blew all night long until the water split apart and the ground underneath was dry.
The Israelites walked across the sea on dry land, with walls of water standing on their right and on their left. The Egyptians followed them into the sea, but God made their chariot wheels stick in the mud. When the morning came, Moses stretched out his hand again, and the water came rushing back over the Egyptians. Not one of them was left.
That day, God saved His people from the Egyptians. The Israelites saw the great things God had done, and they trusted God and Moses, His servant.
Read It Together
Exodus 14:13
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.
(WEB)
Point out that Moses told the people not to be afraid, even though the Egyptians were close. Ask children what they think it feels like to be scared and how it might help to remember that God is with us.
Exodus 14:21-22
21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
(WEB)
Show children how the sea opened up and the people walked through on dry ground. Remind them that God can do things that seem impossible, and that He made a way where there was no way.
Exodus 14:31
Israel saw the great work which the LORD did to the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in his servant Moses.
(WEB)
Explain that after the people saw God rescue them, they believed in Him and in Moses. Point out that seeing God’s help can help us trust Him more, too.
Talk About It
- What did the Israelites do when they saw the Egyptians coming, and what would you have done?
- Why do you think Moses told the people to stand still instead of running away?
- What did God do to help His people cross the sea safely?
- Can you remember a time when you were scared and God helped you feel brave?
- What is one thing you can do this week to trust God when you feel afraid?
Activity Ideas
Parting the Sea Craft
You will need a sheet of blue construction paper, two strips of white paper, glue, and crayons. Have children draw the Israelites on the bottom of the paper, then glue the white strips standing up like walls on either side of a path through the blue. Encourage them to color in the dry path and add a pillar of cloud at the top. Talk together about how God made a way through the sea.
Stand Still Game
Play a version of freeze tag. Choose one child to be Moses, who calls out “Stand still!” while the other children run around pretending to be scared Israelites. When Moses calls out, everyone must freeze in place. Then say “God is with us” and let them move again. Let each child take a turn as Moses so everyone practices being still.
Trust Jar Take-Home
You will need a clean jar, a marker, and slips of paper. Ask each child to write or draw one thing that scares them on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. At home, they can pull out one slip each week and pray about it together with a family member. Remind them that God is with us in every situation, just as He was with the Israelites at the sea.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is faithful to His promises and that He saves His people in ways they could never have planned. The Israelites’ fear and complaints are honest, and God responds with patient, powerful deliverance. The story also reveals God’s purpose: that the Egyptians and Israel would both come to know that He is the LORD.
Avoid overstating how the water and wind worked in exact physical terms with children. The text describes God’s action as a miracle, so focus on who did the saving rather than on the mechanics of the sea.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank You that You never leave Your people alone. When we feel trapped or scared, help us to stand still and remember that You are fighting for us. Help us trust You more each day, just as the Israelites learned to trust You at the sea. Amen.
