Moses Sees God’s Glory — The Shining Face 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: “The LORD spoke with Moses like a friend.”
Moses had a special tent outside the camp, far away from the other tents. It was called the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wanted to seek the LORD could go out there.
When Moses walked out to the tent, all the people stood up. Each one stood at the door of his own tent. They watched Moses until he went inside.
When Moses went in, a tall cloud came down. It stood at the door of the tent. All the people saw it, and they bowed down and worshiped. Can you bow down low, like the people at their tent doors?
Inside the tent, the LORD spoke to Moses face to face. He spoke as a man speaks to his friend. The LORD spoke with Moses like a friend.
Moses’ young helper Joshua stayed at the tent. He did not leave it.
One day Moses talked with God about the long way ahead. God said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Presence means God himself would be there. Rest means peace and quiet.
God said to Moses, “I know you by name.” God knew Moses’ name. The LORD spoke with Moses like a friend.
Then Moses asked God, “Please show me your glory.” Glory means how great and bright and wonderful God is.
God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you.” But God also said, “You cannot see my face.” God is so great and so holy. No one could see his face and live.
God said, “Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. I will put you in a cleft of the rock.” A cleft is a crack in a big rock. God would cover Moses with his hand while he passed by. Then Moses could see God’s back. Can you cover your eyes with your hand?
Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai. The LORD came down in the cloud. He passed by Moses and called out, “The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God.” Merciful and gracious means kind and forgiving. Moses bowed down low and worshiped. The LORD spoke with Moses like a friend.
Moses stayed on the mountain with God for forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread. He did not drink water. He was there with the LORD.
Then Moses came down with two stone tablets. But Moses did not know something. His face was shining! It shone because he had been talking with God.
Aaron and the people saw his shining face. They were afraid to come near him. But Moses called them. Aaron and the leaders came back to him. Then all the people came near. And Moses told them all of God’s words.
After that, Moses put a veil over his face – a cloth to cover it. When he went in to talk with God, he took the veil off. When he came out, he told the people God’s words. Then he put the veil on again. Can you put your hands over your face, and then take them away?
God is full of glory and goodness, and he gives his people rest. The LORD spoke with Moses like a friend.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think Moses’ shining face looked like?
- How do you think Moses felt, hidden in the rock while God passed by?
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 Moses coming down the mountain with a shining face.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Please show me your glory.” — Exodus 33:18 (Please → put your hands together; show me → point to your eyes; your glory → spread your arms up wide)
Dear God, you are full of glory and goodness. Thank you that you are close to me. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God is close and kind
Memory verse: “The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.” — Exodus 34:6 · WEB
The Bible story
Moses is brave enough to ask God a huge question — and when he climbs down the mountain, his face is glowing with God's own shining light for all to see!
Talk about it
- Who was the leader of God's people in this story? — Moses
- Where did Moses go to talk with God? — A special tent
- What did Moses bravely ask God to show him? — God's glory
- What did God say no one could see and still live? — God's face
- Where did God tuck Moses to keep him safe? — In a cleft in the rock
- What did God cover Moses with as He passed by? — His hand
Where is Jesus in this story?
Moses' face shone because he had been close to God. Many years later, Jesus came, and He did not just reflect God's light — He was God's light in person. On a mountain, Jesus' face and clothes shone brighter than the sun. Because of Jesus, we can come close to God without being afraid, and His love can shine in our hearts forever.
What God wants to tell us
In this story, God shows Moses that He is full of love, slow to get angry, and always ready to forgive. God kept Moses safe in the cleft of the rock, just as He keeps you safe too. When we spend time with God, a little bit of His love and light begins to shine in us. You do not have to be afraid — God is closer and kinder than you could ever imagine.
Prayer
Father God, thank You that You are kind, patient, and full of love. Thank You for keeping me safe and coming close to me like a friend. Please let Your light shine in my heart, so I can share Your love with everyone I meet. Amen.
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