Moses & the Red Sea 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’s people walked on dry ground.”
God’s people had been slaves in Egypt. Slaves must work hard, and they are not free. But God set them free, and Moses led them out. In the day, a tall cloud went in front of them. At night, it was a tall fire to give them light. The LORD was leading his people.
God told Moses to encamp by the sea. To encamp means to set up your tents. So the people put up their tents by a big sea.
Back in Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind. “Why did we let them go?” he said. He got into his chariot – a cart pulled by horses. He took six hundred chariots and his whole army. They raced after God’s people. Clip-clop, clip-clop! Can you make the sound of the horses?
God’s people looked up. The army was coming! In front of them was the deep sea. They were very afraid. They cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt?”
Moses said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.” Salvation means God saving his people.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses. “Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. Lift up your rod. And stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.” A rod is a long walking stick. Divide means to split in two.
Then God’s tall cloud moved. It went behind God’s people. It stood between them and the army. There was cloud and darkness, but it gave light in the night. All night long, the army could not come near.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. Whoosh! The LORD sent a strong wind all night. Can you stretch out your hand like Moses?
The water moved back. There was a wall of water on the right. There was a wall of water on the left. And in the middle was dry land! God’s people walked on dry ground.
Step, step, step. Let’s march in place together! Moms and dads and children, all walking through the middle of the sea. God’s people walked on dry ground.
Pharaoh’s army came after them into the sea. Early in the morning, the LORD looked down at the army. He took off their chariot wheels. Now the chariots were very hard to drive. The soldiers said, “Let’s flee from Israel, for the LORD fights for them!” To flee means to run away.
The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea.” So Moses stretched out his hand. When morning came, the water came back. It covered Pharaoh’s army.
But the children of Israel were safe. They had walked through the middle of the sea. There was a wall of water on each side. God’s people walked on dry ground.
The LORD saved Israel that day. The people saw the great work of the LORD. And they believed in the LORD and in Moses.
Then Moses and the people sang a song to God. “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously. The LORD is my strength and song.” Triumphed gloriously means God had won in a great big way!
Miriam, the sister of Moses, took a tambourine – a little drum that jingles. All the women went out after her with tambourines, and they danced. Miriam sang, “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously.” Can you shake a tambourine and sing? Jingle, jingle!
God made a dry path through the deep sea. He kept his people safe all night long. God’s people walked on dry ground.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the people felt when they saw the walls of water?
- What song would you sing to God after a big rescue?
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)
“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still” — Exodus 14:14 (The LORD will fight for you → make strong arms; you shall be still → fold your hands and stay very still)
Dear God, thank you that you made a way through the sea. Thank you that you take care of your people. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God is powerful enough to make a way — even when there seems to be no way.
Memory verse: “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.” — Exodus 14:14 · WEB
The Bible story
God's people were trapped and afraid — but God had a rescue plan, and He opened a road right through the sea to lead them to freedom.
Talk about it
- As a baby, where was Moses hidden? — In a basket by the river
- Who found baby Moses? — The princess
- God spoke to Moses from a... — Burning bush
- What did God want Moses to do? — Lead God's people to freedom
- What did Moses tell Pharaoh? — "Let my people go"
- How many plagues did God send on Egypt? — Ten
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Jesus met Moses and Elijah on a mountain, they talked about His “departure” that would soon happen in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). The Greek word Luke uses is exodus. Moses led God's people out of slavery through the sea. Jesus would lead His people out of a much bigger slavery, sin and death, by dying and rising again. He opens the way to freedom for you.
What God wants to tell us
The people looked at the deep sea and thought there was no escape. But God is bigger than any problem. When you feel trapped or scared, you can remember this: nothing is too hard for God. He made a road right through the water for His people, and He can make a way for you too. You just need to trust Him and stay calm.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for setting Your people free and making a safe path through the sea. Thank You that Jesus sets me free too, and leads me to new life with You. When I feel trapped or afraid, help me to stay calm and trust that You will fight for me. You are so powerful and so kind. Amen.
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