This lesson teaches children that God saw His people in trouble and cared for them, even when no one else seemed to notice. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God sees us when we are hurting, and He always remembers His promises. Even when life feels scary, God is still watching over us and caring for us.
Memory Verse
Exodus 2:25
God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them.
(WEB)
Cup your hands over your eyes like a little pair of binoculars, then point them outward. Say “God saw” slowly as you do the motion, and let the children copy you until they know the words by heart.
The Story: Exodus 2 for Kids
Long ago, a family of Hebrew people lived in Egypt. The king of Egypt was afraid of them and made their lives very hard. He even gave an order that the baby boys should be taken away from their families.
A Hebrew mother had a baby boy, and she thought he was so beautiful that she hid him for three months. When she could not hide him any longer, she made a small basket out of reeds and sealed it with tar so it would float. She placed her baby inside and set the basket among the tall reeds by the river. Her daughter Miriam stood at a distance to watch over him.
Soon, the king’s daughter came down to the river to bathe. She spotted the basket and sent her servant to bring it to her. When she opened it, she saw the crying baby and felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew babies,” she said softly.
Miriam ran up and asked if she should find a Hebrew woman to take care of the baby. The princess said yes, so Miriam brought their own mother. The princess told her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” Their mother was overjoyed to care for her own son.
When the boy grew bigger, his mother took him to the princess, who adopted him as her son. She named him Moses because she had pulled him out of the water. God kept Moses safe, even in a river and in a royal palace.
Moses grew up, but he was not always brave or wise. He saw trouble between people and tried to fix it in the wrong way, so he ran away to a faraway land called Midian. There he helped some young women who were being pushed away from a well. Later, he married one of them and had a son. The king of Egypt died, and the Hebrew people were still crying out under their hard work. God heard them and remembered the promises He had made to their ancestors. God saw His people and cared about them.
Read It Together
Exodus 2:2-3
2 The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
(WEB)
Point out that the mother did not give up on her baby. She did something creative and brave to protect him. Ask the children how they think God helped her think of a plan.
Exodus 2:6
She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
(WEB)
Show how the princess felt compassion for the crying baby even though he was from a people her father looked down on. Explain that God can change people’s hearts toward others who need help.
Exodus 2:23-25
23 In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them.
(WEB)
Point to the words that tell us God heard, remembered, and was concerned. Explain that God does not forget His people, even when they wait a long time for help.
Talk About It
- What do you think Moses’ mother felt when she placed her baby in the basket?
- How did God take care of baby Moses, even when he was in the river?
- Why do you think the princess decided to save the crying baby?
- What is one time you felt scared, and how did you know God was with you?
- How can we show God’s love to someone who needs help this week?
Activity Ideas
Reed Basket Craft
Gather paper cups, brown paper or yarn, and a little glue. Have children glue the paper or yarn around the outside of a cup to look like a woven basket. Let them place a small paper baby inside and talk about how God protected Moses in his basket.
Watch Over Me Game
Choose one child to be the baby in the middle of the room, and everyone else stands in a circle around them. The children take turns saying, “God sees you,” while the baby quietly walks around. Then switch roles so everyone has a turn, and talk about how God watches over each of us.
Take-Home Promise Card
Cut index cards and write “God sees me” on one side with a simple drawing of eyes. Let each child decorate the card with markers or stickers. Encourage them to keep the card in a pocket or backpack so they can remember God’s care during the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God works faithfully through ordinary people and surprising circumstances. Moses’ mother, sister, and the princess each play a part in God’s plan, even though none of them knew how the story would end. The passage reminds us that God hears the cries of His people and keeps His covenant promises across generations.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that God guarantees every hard situation will end quickly or that faith always brings instant rescue. Instead, emphasize that God sees, hears, and cares, even when His people must wait. Be gentle and honest that the story includes sadness and waiting.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for seeing us and caring about us every day. When we feel scared or forgotten, help us remember that You are always watching over us. Help us trust You and show Your love to others. Amen.
