Miriam and Aaron Question Moses 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 was very humble.”
Moses had a sister named Miriam and a big brother named Aaron. Miriam was a prophetess – God gave her messages. Once, by the Red Sea, she had played her tambourine. She sang to the LORD. Aaron was God’s priest.
One day Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. To speak against someone means to say unkind things about them. They grumbled about the wife Moses had married. She came from a land far away, called Cush.
They said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” Maybe they wanted to be as important as Moses. And the LORD heard it. The Bible does not tell us that Moses said anything back.
Moses was very humble. That means he did not think he was better than others. A humble person does not brag. He was more humble than anyone on earth.
Suddenly the LORD said, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” So Moses, Aaron, and Miriam came out.
The LORD came down in a tall cloud. The cloud was a sign that God was there. He stood at the door of the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.
God said, “Now hear my words.” God said that he spoke to other prophets in visions and dreams. A vision is like a dream that you see while you are awake.
God said, “My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles.” Faithful means God can always count on him. Moses could even see the LORD’s form. Plainly means in clear, simple words. A riddle is a puzzle made of words.
God said, “Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” The LORD was angry with them. And the cloud went away from the tent. Moses was very humble.
Aaron looked at Miriam. Oh no! Her skin was sick, white as snow. Can you think of something white as snow?
Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us. We have done foolishly.” Foolishly means not wisely. Aaron was sorry.
Right away, Moses cried to the LORD for his sister. “Heal her, God, I beg you!” Can you fold your hands and pray like Moses? Moses was very humble.
God answered Moses. Miriam had to stay outside the camp for seven days. After that, she could come back in. Maybe the seven days felt very long to Miriam.
Let’s count the days with Miriam: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven! Seven days is one whole week.
Day and night, the whole camp waited. All the people waited for her. They did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. Nobody left her behind. Miriam was not forgotten.
Then Miriam came back. And the people traveled on together, into the wilderness of Paran.
God heard Moses pray for his sister. Moses was very humble.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Miriam felt, waiting outside the camp?
- Why do you think Moses prayed for his sister right away?
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)
Miriam waited 7 days outside the camp. Color the 7 suns.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Now the man Moses was very humble” — Numbers 12:3 (the man Moses → point to a friend; was very humble → bow your head low)
Dear God, thank you that you hear us when we pray for each other. Thank you for my family. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Chooses, and God Forgives
Memory verse: “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.” — Numbers 12:3 · WEB
The Bible story
When Miriam and Aaron grumble against their brother Moses, God shows them who He has chosen, and teaches a wonderful lesson about humility and forgiveness.
Talk about it
- Who were the two people who grumbled about Moses? — Miriam and Aaron
- What kind of leader was Moses? — Very humble
- Who did God say He speaks with face to face? — Moses
- Why did Miriam and Aaron start to grumble? — They were jealous
- What did Miriam and Aaron say about Moses? — Did God speak only by Moses?
- Where did God call the three of them to come? — To the Meeting Tent
Where is Jesus in this story?
God said Moses was “faithful in all my house” (Numbers 12:7). The book of Hebrews uses these words to show that Jesus is even greater: Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house, but Jesus is faithful as the Son over God's house (Hebrews 3:5–6). And like Moses, Jesus was humble, calling Himself “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
What God wants to tell us
This story reminds us that God gives each of us our own special place, so we never need to grumble or feel jealous of anyone else. When Miriam and Aaron made a mistake, God did not stop loving them — He gently corrected them and then welcomed Miriam home. God wants us to stay humble, to cheer for others, and to forgive quickly, just as He is always ready to forgive us.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for loving me and giving me my own special place in Your family. Please help me not to grumble or feel jealous, but to be humble and kind. When I make mistakes, help me to say sorry, and help me to forgive others quickly, just like You forgive me. Amen.
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