Exodus 1:22; 2:1-10
So the Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every time a boy is born to the Hebrews, you must throw him into the Nile River. But let all the girl babies live.”
There was a man from the family of Levi. He married a woman who was also from the family of Levi. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw how wonderful the baby was, and she hid him for three months.
But after three months, she was not able to hide the baby any longer. So she got a basket and covered it with tar so that it would float. She put the baby in the basket. Then she put the basket among the tall grass at the edge of the Nile River. The baby’s sister stood a short distance away. She wanted to see what would happen to him.
Then the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt came to the river. She was going to take a bath. Her servant girls were walking beside the river. She saw the basket in the tall grass. So she sent her slave girl to get it. The Pharaoh’s daughter opened the basket and saw the baby boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. She said, “This is one of the Hebrew babies.”
Then the baby’s sister, Miriam, asked the Pharaoh’s daughter, “Would you like me to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for you?”
The Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Yes, please.” So the girl went and got the baby’s own mother.
The Pharaoh’s daughter said to the woman, “Take this baby and nurse him for me. I will pay you.” So the woman took her baby and nursed him. After the child had grown older, the woman took him to the Pharaoh’s daughter. She adopted the baby as her own son. The Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses, because she had pulled him out of the water.
Discussion Questions
- Who wanted to kill the Israelite baby boys? Pharaoh
- How did Moses’ mother protect him from the Egyptians? She prayed to God and then she hid him in a basket.
- Who found the basket with Baby Moses inside? Pharaoh’s daughter
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of Moses and the way you protected him from harm. Help us to be thankful for all the great things you have done for us. Amen.
Bible Verse for November
“Give thanks to the Lord. His love is forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
Activity
Make a Basket for Moses
This project is to make a basket like the one made from reeds used to float Baby Moses in the Nile River. This easy craft boosts counting and fine motor skills. You can also use the same technique to make woven placemats or picture frames.
Materials:
· Construction paper in two different colors
· A 5-inch paper plate
· Glue or rubber cement
· Scissors
Instructions:
- Start by cutting your construction paper. You’ll need 8 strips, each about 12 inches long and 3/4-inch wide.
- Now, arrange the strips, two at a time, so that they form an X. Use glue to secure each X in the center. You’ll make four of these.
- Once the glue is dry, arrange the Xs fanned out in a stack so that they look like a star or an asterisk. Keep the spaces between each arm of the shape as even as you can. Use glue to connect all the Xs together. Let dry.
- Use your paper plate to trace a circle on a sheet of construction paper. Cut out the circle and glue it carefully in the center of the star shape. This makes the bottom of your basket. Let the glue dry.
- While you wait for it to dry, prepare your weaving strips. You’ll need to cut four strips about 16 inches long and ½-inch wide. (If you’re using standard-size construction paper, you’ll need to glue two pieces together at the edges to make the size you need.)
- Once the circle has dried, fold up the long arms of the star from the edge of the circle one by one to make the body of the basket.
- Take one of the long strips. Use a piece of tape to secure it to the first of the arms and begin weaving over and under all the way around the basket until you reach the tape. Carefully remove the tape and use glue to attach the beginning of the long strand to its end. Hold in place to dry.
- Repeat for each of the four long pieces, then let basket dry.
