This lesson teaches children that God is powerful, that He keeps His promises, and that He protects the people who trust Him. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is more powerful than anyone, and He always keeps His promises to take care of His people, even when bad leaders refuse to listen.
Memory Verse
Exodus 9:4
The LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’”
(WEB)
Hold both hands out flat, then slowly move one hand higher than the other to show how God makes a difference between His people and everyone else. Repeat the verse together while you move your hands.
The Story: Exodus 9 for Kids
God sent Moses to talk to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Moses was to say, “God says, let My people go so they can worship Me.” Pharaoh was the king, and he did not want to let the Israelite people leave Egypt. He was stubborn and would not listen.
God warned Pharaoh that bad things would happen to the animals in Egypt, but God promised to protect the animals that belonged to the Israelites. The next day, every animal belonging to the Egyptians died. Not one animal belonging to God’s people died. Pharaoh sent someone to check, and he saw it was true, but his heart was still hard.
Next, God told Moses to throw ashes from a furnace into the air. The ashes turned into dust that spread over all of Egypt, and it made painful sores break out on people and animals. Even the magicians who copied Moses’ work could not stand in front of him, because they had sores too.
God sent Moses back to Pharaoh with a stormy warning. A hail storm was coming the next day, bigger than any storm Egypt had ever seen. Some of Pharaoh’s servants believed God’s word and brought their animals inside to safety, but others did not and left them outside.
Moses raised his rod toward the sky, and God sent thunder, lightning, and hail that fell across the whole land of Egypt. But in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there was no hail at all. Pharaoh admitted, “I have sinned. The LORD is right, and I am wrong.” When Moses prayed, the storm stopped. Pharaoh’s heart became hard again, and he still would not let the people go.
Read It Together
Exodus 9:6
The LORD did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.
(WEB)
Point out that God did exactly what He said He would do. Ask the children to notice that not one Israelite animal died, while every Egyptian animal did.
Exodus 9:16
But indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth…
(WEB)
Explain that God wanted people everywhere to know His power and His name. Help the children see that God’s power is meant to show who He is, not only to scare anyone.
Exodus 9:26
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
(WEB)
Show the children that God protected His people in the land of Goshen while the hail fell on Egypt. Ask them how God takes care of them in their own homes.
Talk About It
- What did God promise Moses would happen to the animals of the Israelites, and what happened to them?
- Why do you think Pharaoh kept saying no to God, even after he saw the bad things happen?
- What did the servants who believed God do to protect their animals, and what can you learn from them?
- How did God show that the Israelites were safe in the land of Goshen when the hail came?
- When you feel scared, how can you remember that God is powerful and keeps His promises to you?
Activity Ideas
Hail Storm Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and cotton balls. Ask each child to draw a land with two sections, one labeled Egypt and one labeled Goshen. Have them glue cotton balls as hail over Egypt only, leaving Goshen clear. Talk about how God protected His people.
Stop the Storm Game
You will need a open space and a soft ball or bean bag. Have children stand in a line and pass the ball, calling out “Hail!” when they pass it. When you shout “Moses prays!” everyone must freeze in place, like the storm stopping. Play a few rounds and talk about how God is always in control.
Safe in God’s Care Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and a small envelope for each child. Have each child write or draw one way God takes care of them, such as a home, family, or friends. Let them place the card in the envelope and take it home to remind them that God protects His people.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s power is not limited, and His word will come true even when human leaders resist it. It also shows that God is careful to make a clear difference between those who trust Him and those who do not, and that His protection is real for His people. Adults can also see the warning in Pharaoh’s hard heart, which kept refusing to humble himself even after seeing God’s power.
Avoid telling children that God sends bad things to people who disobey Him as a simple rule. The text shows God’s judgment on Egypt within a longer story of God’s plan to free His people. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and His care for His people, rather than frightening children about storms or punishment.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are more powerful than anything and that You always keep Your promises. Help us to trust You when we feel afraid and to listen when You speak to us. Thank You for taking care of us just as You took care of Your people long ago. Amen.
