This lesson teaches children that God is in charge and keeps His promises, even when a powerful king says no. It is built for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a few questions, and one activity.
Big Idea
God is the boss of everything, and He always does what He says. Even when people refuse to listen, God’s plans go forward.
Memory Verse
Exodus 7:5
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
(WEB)
Have children hold both hands out flat in front of them, then slowly lift one arm straight up, like God stretching out His hand. Ask them to say the verse while they make the motion, and repeat it three times with bigger and bigger arm movements.
The Story: Exodus 7 for Kids
God spoke to a man named Moses one day and said, “I have made you like God to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.” Moses was not a king or a warrior. He was an old man, eighty years old, and his brother Aaron was even older. God told Moses that Aaron would be his helper and speak for him.
God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with a message. They were to ask Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave Egypt. God told them that Pharaoh would not listen at first, but God would show His power in many wonderful ways. Moses and Aaron did exactly what God said.
When Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh, God gave them a sign. Aaron threw his staff down on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Pharaoh called his own wise men, and they made their staffs turn into snakes too. But Aaron’s snake ate up all their snakes. Pharaoh still did not let the people go.
God told Moses to go to the river early in the morning. Moses was to tell Pharaoh, “The Lord says, let my people go.” Then Moses lifted his staff and struck the water. The river turned into red blood, and the fish died. The water smelled terrible, and the Egyptians could not drink it. They even dug in the ground to find water.
Pharaoh still did not change his mind. He went back into his house and did not even think about what had happened. But God’s promise did not change, and the story of His power was just beginning.
Read It Together
Exodus 7:1-2
1 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
(WEB)
Point out that God chose Moses and gave him a helper. Show children that God does not need the strongest or most important person to get His work done. He chooses whom He wants and gives them what they need.
Exodus 7:10-12
10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments. 12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
(WEB)
Ask children to notice that Aaron’s staff was stronger than the staffs of Pharaoh’s wise men. Explain that God’s power is greater than any power people try to copy. Pharaoh’s magicians could not match the true power of God.
Exodus 7:19-21
19 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” 20 Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
(WEB)
Walk children slowly through what happened to the water in the river. Help them see the effects, the fish dying and the water becoming undrinkable. Remind them that God’s words always come true, even when they are hard to see at first.
Talk About It
- What did God tell Moses that Pharaoh would do at first?
- How do you think Moses felt when God asked him to speak to a king?
- What did Aaron’s staff do, and why was that so surprising?
- What happened to the river, and how do you think the people felt about it?
- When have you seen God keep a promise in your own life?
Activity Ideas
Staff and Snake Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a wooden staff on one side of the paper and a snake on the other. Let them color both pictures and then talk about how God turned the staff into a snake. Hang the drawings where children can see them during the week.
Stretch Out Your Hand Game
You will need an open space and a small toy or object for the game. Have children stand in a line while one leader holds the object. The leader says, “God stretched out His hand,” and everyone reaches their arms up high. When the leader says, “Pharaoh did not listen,” everyone freezes. Play a few rounds so children can practice the motions and listening.
Water Take-Home Jar
You will need a clear jar, water, and a few drops of red food coloring. Fill the jar with water and let the child add the red drops, watching the water change color like the river. Encourage them to tell the story of the river to a family member at home. Remind them that God is in charge of everything, even the water.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is sovereign over nature, human rulers, and the courts of Egypt. Pharaoh’s stubbornness does not stop God’s purpose, and the plagues reveal that the Lord is the true God who keeps His word. Adults can take comfort that God’s plans proceed even when opposition seems strong.
Avoid suggesting to children that God wanted Pharaoh to be cruel or that children should be harsh toward people who disagree with them. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and power rather than on the suffering of the Egyptians.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are in charge of everything and always keep Your promises. Help us to trust You when things are hard and to listen when You speak. Thank You for being with us every day. Amen.
