Exodus 14:19-31, New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

¹⁹The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel’s army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them. ²⁰It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.

²¹Then Moses reached out his hand over the Red Sea. All that night the Lord pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The waters were divided. ²²The people of Israel went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.

²³The Egyptians chased them. All Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. ²⁴Near the end of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud. He saw the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic. ²⁵He jammed the wheels of their chariots. That made the chariots hard to drive. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for Israel against Egypt.”

²⁶Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Reach out your hand over the sea. The waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” ²⁷So Moses reached out his hand over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the Lord swept them into it. ²⁸The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. It covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the people of Israel into the sea. Not one of the Egyptians was left.

²⁹But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left. ³⁰That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of Egypt. The Israelites saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. ³¹The Israelites saw the amazing power the Lord showed against the Egyptians. So the Israelites had great respect for the Lord and put their trust in him. They also put their trust in his servant Moses.

Children’s Message (or Family Activity to be done at Home)

Supplies:

Bible
Cardstock paper
Crayons or colored pencils for the cutout of Moses (click here to find a free printable Moses)
Two resealable freezer bags
Red food coloring

This site offers many printable Bible characters and scenes that allow you to re-tell the stories with a “Godly Play” approach. Godly Play is a Christian education approach that helps children explore their faith through story. Children gain religious language and enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play.

Affix the image of Moses to a popsicle stick or craft stick to create a cardstock Moses. Each child should have his/her own cardstock Moses to use to re-tell this series of sermons with his/her own interpretation.

You will also need two Ziploc freezer bags filled with water and red food coloring. Safely secure the bags so they don’t leak or spill.

Share the scripture story in your own words, using the props of the cardstock Moses and the Ziploc bags. Place the bags next to each other. When Moses parts the sea, move the bags away from each other to create a path.

God’s people had been slaves in Egypt for a long time. But God made it possible for them to escape. And although the Israelites were very happy about that, they went from being slaves to being wanderers in the desert. They didn’t know where they were or where they were going. They were afraid.

Even though they were in the dark and afraid, God always was with them. The Bible tells us that God “went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” God was always right there.

Pharaoh was the ruler of all Egypt. Pharaoh is another word for king. As the Israelites followed God through the desert, Pharaoh decided he wanted his slaves back. His army chased after the Israelites, who seemed trapped because the Red Sea – a very large body of water – was right in front of them. What could God’s people do now? They were stuck!

God told Moses to stretch out his walking stick across the water. A great wind parted the water and made a dry path through the Red Sea. God’s people walked through the sea on dry land! Pharaoh’s army tried to cross the sea, too, but the water came back together.

God protected and guided the Israelites during their dark times, and God can protect and guide us during our dark times, too. We never have to be afraid of bad things because God is with us. No matter how dark and scary things get, God will guide us, just as he guided the Israelites.

Encourage the children to tell the story again to someone in their home this week while using the props. Remind them that cardstock Moses will be used in the remaining weeks of this sermon series. Have them take pictures and send them to the church to post on social media coinciding with this sermon series.

Prayer: God of love and protection, thank you so much for being with us and guiding us during difficult and scary times. Thank you for protecting us with your love. Help us to remember to trust in you always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.