This lesson teaches children that God hears them even when things get harder, and that Moses and the people trusted him to keep his promise. It works for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God hears his people and keeps his promises, even when life feels hard and nothing seems to change. We can take our worries to him and trust that he is still in control.
Memory Verse
Exodus 5:1
Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out flat in front of them, as if they are carrying a message. Then move them forward slowly, like Moses walking into Pharaoh’s palace. Say the words together while you move, and the motion will help them remember that God sent Moses to speak for him.
The Story: Exodus 5 for Kids
Moses and his brother Aaron walked up to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They had a message from God. God said, “Let my people go, so that they can hold a feast to me in the wilderness.” Moses and Aaron wanted the Israelite people to be free so they could worship God.
Pharaoh did not like this message at all. He said, “Who is the LORD? I do not know him, and I will not let Israel go.” Then he made the work even harder. The Israelite people had to make bricks, and now they had to find their own straw to make them. But they still had to make the same number of bricks every day.
The workers were tired and scared. Their own leaders were beaten because they could not make enough bricks. The leaders went to Pharaoh to ask for help, but Pharaoh only said, “You are lazy!” The people felt like everything had gone wrong.
The leaders came back and found Moses and Aaron. They were upset and said, “May the LORD look at you and judge you, because you have made things worse for us.” Moses felt sad too. He went back to God and prayed, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Why did you send me?” Moses did not understand why things were so hard.
The story teaches us that Moses brought his big feelings and questions straight to God. God knew what was happening, and he was still working, even when the people could not see it yet.
Read It Together
Exodus 5:2
Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
(WEB)
Point out that Pharaoh said he did not know the LORD. Ask the children how it feels when someone does not listen to them. Explain that God’s people can still trust him even when the people in charge refuse to listen.
Exodus 5:7-8
7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
(WEB)
Show the children how Pharaoh made the work harder for the people. Ask them to imagine having to find all the straw for the bricks by themselves. Talk about how hard it is when a job suddenly gets bigger, and how God still sees the people working.
Exodus 5:22-23
22 Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; and you have not rescued your people at all.”
(WEB)
Read Moses’ honest prayer to God. Point out that Moses asked God hard questions instead of hiding his feelings. Tell the children that God welcomes their questions and wants them to talk to him about everything.
Talk About It
- What did Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh that God wanted?
- How do you think the Israelite people felt when their work got harder?
- What did Moses do when he felt confused and sad?
- When have you felt like something was too hard for you to handle?
- What is one thing you can pray to God about this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Brick Craft
You will need brown paper, scissors, crayons, and glue. Have each child cut out a rectangle to look like a brick, then decorate it with straw drawn in crayon. Write “God hears me” on the back of each brick. Talk about how the people made bricks every day, and how God hears them while they work.
Ask Moses, Pharaoh Says No
Choose one child to be Moses and one to be Pharaoh. Have the child playing Moses walk to the other side of the room and say, “Let my people go!” Pharaoh should answer, “No!” Then the children can take turns trying again. Explain that even when Pharaoh said no, God was still with Moses.
Prayer Jar at Home
You will need a clean jar, paper, and a pen. Ask your child to write one worry or question on a slip of paper each day and put it in the jar. Read the slips together once a week and pray over each one. Remind your child that God hears every prayer, just as he heard Moses.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Exodus 5 shows that obeying God does not always bring immediate relief. Moses delivered God’s message faithfully and things got worse, and he struggled with that. Scripture records his honest question to God, which shows that bringing hard feelings to the Lord is part of faithful life.
Avoid promising children that God will always make hard things easy right away. The chapter ends with Moses still waiting for God to act. Instead, emphasize that God hears us and is faithful over time, even when we cannot yet see how he is working.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you that you hear us when things feel hard. Help us to trust you like Moses did, and bring our questions and worries to you. Thank you that you are always with us and keep your promises. Amen.
