Jethro’s Wise Advice 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: “Moses could not do it all alone.”
Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law – the father of Moses’ wife. Jethro was a priest in the land of Midian.
Jethro heard all that God had done for Moses and his people. He heard how the LORD had brought them out of Egypt! So Jethro came to visit Moses in the wilderness, at the Mountain of God.
Jethro brought Moses’ wife, Zipporah, and their two sons along. One son was named Gershom. The other was named Eliezer. Eliezer means “My God is help.”
Moses went out to meet him. He bowed and kissed him. They asked each other, “How are you?” Then they went into the tent.
Moses told Jethro all that the LORD had done. He told about the hard times on the way. And he told how the LORD saved them. Jethro was so glad. He said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.” Delivered means saved.
Then Jethro gave gifts to God. Aaron and the leaders of the people came. They all ate bread together before God. Munch, munch!
The next day Moses sat down to help the people. They came to him with their problems and questions. Who is right? What does God want? They stood around him from morning until evening! So many people! Moses could not do it all alone.
Jethro saw it. “Why do you sit alone?” he asked. Moses said, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.” Inquire means to ask.
Jethro said, “The thing that you do is not good. You will surely wear away. The thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.” Wear away means getting so tired that you have no strength left. Can you pretend to carry something very heavy? Oof! Moses could not do it all alone.
Jethro said, “Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you.” Counsel means good advice. What do you think Jethro’s idea was?
Moses should teach the people God’s laws. And he should choose good men who honor God, men who tell the truth. They could lead groups of people – groups of ten, fifty, a hundred, and a thousand. Let’s count the groups: ten, fifty, one hundred, one thousand!
The helpers could take care of the small problems. Only the big, hard problems would come to Moses. Jethro said, “So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.” Moses could not do it all alone.
Then Moses would not get so tired. And all the people could go home in peace.
So Moses listened to Jethro. He did all that Jethro said. He chose good men to help him. Now the helpers took care of the small problems. And the hard problems came to Moses.
Then Moses said good-bye to Jethro. And Jethro went back home to his own land.
God gave Moses good helpers, and God was with them all. Moses could not do it all alone.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Moses felt at the end of such a long day?
- Who are the helpers in your family?
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)
“They shall share the load with you” — Exodus 18:22 (share the load → carry a pretend box with two hands; with you → point to a friend)
Dear God, thank you for the helpers you give us. Thank you that we don’t have to do everything alone. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: It's Good to Share the Load
Memory verse: “The thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.” — Exodus 18:18 · WEB
The Bible story
Moses was doing every single job all by himself, until a wise old visitor named Jethro shared one simple idea that changed everything for everyone!
Talk about it
- Who came across the desert to visit Moses? — His father-in-law Jethro
- What big job had God helped Moses do? — Lead the people out of Egypt
- How did Jethro feel when he heard what God had done? — Full of joy
- What did Moses do all day long? — Sat and helped the people
- Why did Jethro become worried as he watched? — Moses did all the work alone
- What did Jethro say about Moses' big job? — It was too heavy for one man
Where is Jesus in this story?
Moses could not carry all the people's problems by himself (Exodus 18:18). Jesus, who could have done everything alone, still chose twelve helpers “that they might be with him and that he might send them out” to preach (Mark 3:14). Today He gives each of His followers a part in His work, and that includes you.
What God wants to tell us
God never wants us to feel that we must do everything all by ourselves. When Jethro gave Moses wise advice, he showed us that God often sends helpers just when we need them. Asking for help is not weak — it is wise! God made us to care for one another, to work together, and to rest when we are tired. When we share our jobs and our worries, everyone is happier, and there is more love to go around.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for the people who help me every day — my family, my friends, and my teachers. Please help me to share my jobs and my worries, and to be a kind helper for others too. When I feel tired, remind me that I am never alone, because you are always with me. Amen.
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