Baby Moses in the Basket Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God sees, and God cares.”
God’s people lived in the land of Egypt. There were many, many of them. Then a new king came to rule Egypt. The king of Egypt was called Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not want God’s people to grow strong.
So Pharaoh made God’s people work very, very hard. They made bricks out of mud. They built big cities for the king. Can you pretend to carry a heavy brick? Oof!
But God’s people kept on growing. More and more babies were born.
Two women named Shiphrah and Puah helped the mothers when babies were born. Pharaoh told them that the baby boys must not live. But Shiphrah and Puah feared God. That means they honored God more than the king. They kept the baby boys alive. And God was good to them. God sees, and God cares.
Then Pharaoh gave a cruel order to all his people. Every baby boy of God’s people must be thrown into the river! God sees, and God cares.
One mother had a baby boy. He was a fine, beautiful baby. She hid him at home for three months. Let’s count: one, two, three months!
Soon she could not hide him any longer. So his mother took a basket. She covered it with sticky tar, so no water could get in. She put her baby inside. She laid the basket in the reeds – the tall grass by the river.
The baby’s big sister stood far off. She watched and watched. What would happen to her little brother? Can you put your hand over your eyes and watch like her?
Then the king’s daughter came down to wash in the river. Her helpers walked along by the water. She saw the basket in the reeds. She sent her servant to get it.
She opened the basket. There was the baby! Waaah! The baby cried. The princess felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. That means a baby of God’s people. God sees, and God cares.
Then the big sister came near. “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women?” she asked. A nurse is a woman who feeds a baby. The princess said, “Go.” So the girl went and called… the baby’s own mother!
“Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages,” said the princess. Wages means money for your work.
So the mother took her baby home again! She fed him and took care of him. And the princess even paid her for it! God sees, and God cares.
The child grew. Then his mother brought him to the princess. He became her son. She named him Moses. “Because I drew him out of the water,” she said.
Moses grew up as the son of the king’s daughter. And God had a big plan for Moses. One day God would send him to lead his people out of Egypt.
God saw the little baby in the basket on the river. And God sees you too, snug and warm in your bed. God sees, and God cares.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the big sister felt while she watched the basket?
- What do you think the mother said when she got her baby back?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Because I drew him out of the water” — Exodus 2:10 (drew him out → pull both hands up, like lifting a basket; the water → wiggle your fingers like little waves)
Dear God, thank you that you saw baby Moses and cared for him. Thank you that you care for me too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God is always watching over you
Memory verse: “The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."” — Exodus 2:10 · WEB
The Bible story
When a brave mom gently hides her precious baby boy in a little basket on the wide river, God watches over him in the most surprising and wonderful way of all.
Talk about it
- Where did this story take place? — Egypt
- Why was the king, Pharaoh, so worried? — God's people were so many
- How long did the baby's mother hide him at home? — Three months
- What did the mother make to keep her baby safe on the water? — A basket of reeds
- Where did the mother place the basket? — In the reeds by the river
- Who watched the basket from behind the tall grass? — His big sister Miriam
Where is Jesus in this story?
God saved baby Moses so that one day he could lead His people. Later Moses told Israel, “The Lord your God will give you a prophet like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15), and Peter said that prophet is Jesus (Acts 3:22). Moses was pulled out of the water to lead people out of Egypt. Jesus came to lead us out of sin and home to God forever.
What God wants to tell us
Baby Moses was so small, but he was never once alone. Even when things looked scary, God was gently working out a plan to keep him safe and loved. God sees you in just the same way, right where you are today. You may feel little, but you are never too little for God to notice, care for, and hold close. Whatever happens, He is always watching over you with love.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for watching over baby Moses in his little basket, and thank You for watching over me too. When I feel small or scared, help me to remember that You are always near and that You have a good plan for me. I am so glad that You love me and keep me safe. Amen.
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