This lesson teaches children that God is powerful and faithful, and that the same God who made the sea move for his people is with them today. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is strong, and he takes care of his people. When he is near, even the sea and the mountains know it and obey him.
Memory Verse
Psalm 114:7
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob…
(WEB)
Teach children to stand up tall, stomp their feet slowly like a big strong earth, and then wiggle their hands as they say the words together. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time until everyone is whispering it.
The Story: Psalm 114 for Kids
A long time ago, the people of Israel lived in Egypt, far away from home. They were not free, and they had been there for many years. But God had not forgotten them. He had a plan to bring them out and lead them to a land of their own.
God called his people out of Egypt, and they began to walk. They walked and walked until they came to a big sea. It looked like there was no way across. Then God did something amazing. The water pulled back, and the people walked on dry ground right through the middle of the sea!
The people kept walking until they came to a river called the Jordan. Once again, God showed his power. The water of the river stopped flowing and turned back, so his people could cross over safely. Even the hills and mountains seemed to jump and dance, like little lambs and rams running and playing.
The sea and the river did not need to be told twice. They saw who was in charge and they obeyed. The psalm asks the sea, “What was it that made you run away?” It asks the river the same thing. The answer is simple: the God of Jacob was there, and nothing can stand against him.
In the end, the psalm reminds us that this same God is strong enough to turn a hard rock into a pool of water and a dry stone into a spring that gushes out for thirsty people. Nothing is too hard for him, and he never stops caring for his children.
Read It Together
Psalm 114:1-2
1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language; 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
(WEB)
Point out that God’s people belonged to him and that he made Judah his holy place. Ask the children to notice the word “went out,” and remind them that God is the one who leads his people out of hard places.
Psalm 114:3-4
3 The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.
(WEB)
Show the children how the writer uses pictures to describe the sea, the river, and the hills. Let them act out the sea running away and the mountains jumping like lambs, so they can see how wonderful God’s power is.
Psalm 114:8
Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters.
(WEB)
Point to the rock and the flint in this verse and explain that these are hard, dry things. Tell the children that God can bring water out of places where none seems to be, which shows how creative and kind he is.
Talk About It
- What did the sea do when God’s people came near, and why do you think it did that?
- How did the mountains and hills move in the psalm, and what does that tell us about God?
- Can you think of a time when God helped you or your family when things felt hard?
- Why do you think God brought water out of a rock for his thirsty people?
- What is one thing about God that makes you feel safe, and how can you thank him for it this week?
Activity Ideas
Waves and Mountains Painting
You will need paper, washable paints in blue and brown, and a few cups of water. Let each child paint a wavy blue sea on one half of the paper and some rounded brown hills on the other half. As they paint, talk about how God can move the sea and the hills, and encourage them to add a few jumping lambs and rams.
Stomp Like the Earth Game
You will need an open space and a bell or clapping hands as a signal. Call out “sea,” and the children run to one side of the room as if they are scared. Call out “mountains,” and they stomp, jump, and bounce like little lambs. Finish by calling “presence of the Lord,” and everyone freezes quietly while you pray together.
Thirsty Rock Cup
You will need a small cup of water, a few pebbles, and a paper towel for each child. Give each child a pebble and a cup and ask them to pretend the pebble is the hard rock. Talk about how God made water flow from a rock, and let them take the cup home as a reminder that God gives us what we need, even when it seems impossible.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 114 celebrates how God rescued Israel from Egypt and brought them through the sea and the Jordan into the promised land. The writer sees all of creation responding to the presence of the Lord, which reminds believers that God’s power is greater than any barrier and that his faithfulness to his people never ends.
When teaching children, avoid making the psalm sound like a fairy tale where nature is just a playful character. Be careful to emphasize that God is the one in charge of the sea and the mountains, and that he is worthy of our reverence rather than simply entertaining us with dramatic pictures.
A Prayer to Close
Lord God, thank you for being strong and faithful, just like you were for your people long ago. We know you can move mountains and seas, and we also know you care about us every day. Help us trust you when things feel hard, and help us remember that you are always with us. Amen.
