Heroes of the Bible · Lesson 2
Moses
Exodus 3–14
Long before he stood in front of Pharaoh, Moses was a shepherd hiding from his own past, convinced he wasn't the right person for the job. This lesson follows his journey from a burning bush in the desert to the parting of the Red Sea — and what happens when God asks us to do something we don't feel ready for.
Main Focus
The Red Sea in front, Pharaoh's army behind — there was nowhere left to run. But what looked impossible to Moses was never impossible to God. He parted the sea, and the people walked through on dry ground. That's the heart of this lesson: with God, nothing is impossible.
Memory Verse
Big Movement Game
Split the children into small teams. Give each team a balloon and a 'staff' — a stick or pool noodle works well. One at a time, a player uses the staff to guide their balloon from one end of the room to the other and back, then passes the staff and balloon to the next teammate in line. The first team to get every player through wins. Just like Moses used his staff to part the Red Sea and make a way across, each team uses theirs to make their own way across the room!
Discussion Questions
- Is there something in your life right now that feels impossible? What would it look like to trust God with it, the way the Israelites had to trust Him at the sea?
- Why do you think God waited until there was truly nowhere left to run before He parted the sea?
- Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't see any way out? What was that like?
- When Moses looked back and saw Pharaoh's army coming, and looked ahead and saw the sea, what do you think he was feeling?
Object Lesson
You'll need a glass milk bottle, a boiled egg (peeled, sized to just rest on the bottle's neck), a strip of paper, and matches. Light the paper, drop it into the bottle, then immediately place the egg on top of the opening. As the fire burns and the air inside cools, the egg gets pulled down into the bottle — something that looks completely impossible until it happens right in front of you. Talk about how, just like the egg getting into the bottle looked impossible until you saw it happen, the Red Sea looked impossible to cross until God made a way. With God, nothing is impossible.
Craft & Activity
This diorama brings the parting of the Red Sea to life. Cut out the two sea wave pieces, fold the tab at the bottom of each, and stick them upright onto either side of the sea floor page — these become the walls of water standing back. Then cut out the five Bible character figures, including Moses, and stick them into the dry path down the middle, just as Moses and the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. A hands-on way to see Exodus 14 come to life on your child's own table."
Example of the concept (not download specific)
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for showing us that nothing is impossible with You. When Moses stood at the edge of the sea with nowhere left to run, You made a way where there was no way. Help us remember that when things in our own lives feel impossible, You are still the same God who parted the Red Sea. Give us courage to trust You, even in the moments that feel too big for us. Amen.
Leader Prep & Tips
Safety first: the egg-in-bottle demonstration involves an open flame, so this is a leader-only step — light the match and handle the fire yourself while the children simply watch what happens. Have your staff, balloons, and diorama pieces ready ahead of time so the session runs smoothly. As you close the lesson, help the children bring this closer to home. They won't face an army chasing them down or a sea blocking their path — but they will face things that feel just as impossible to them: a hard situation at school, something difficult at home, a fear they can't shake. Encourage them that the same God who parted the Red Sea is still at work today, and that asking Him for help is never a small thing. With God, nothing is impossible — not for Moses, and not for them either.