Unit 1 God Blesses a Family Lesson 8 Baby Moses Exodus 2:1 10 Background Moses parents and sister must have felt helpless to protect him. Even the sound of his crying could lead to discovery and death. And so Moses mother did the best she could, putting him in a safe place and leaving his older sister to watch over him. That was all she could do besides praying. It was up to God to deliver Moses, bringing him to safety as a member of the royal family. Parents today also do their best to protect their families. Children will be able to think of many things their parents do to keep them safe, Greg opened his lunch and saw the note from his mom. My little Moses, it said, Have a great day. Love, Mom. Greg laughed and ran to show his teacher the note. Look, Miss Geisler, he said. My mom calls me little Moses because I m adopted. Miss Geisler laughed. That s a great name for you, she said. God sure picked out good parents for you. God had a plan for Greg. His biggest plan was to take Greg to heaven through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. God gave Greg loving parents who adopted him and taught him about Jesus. They sent him to a Lutheran school so Greg could learn about Jesus love every day. When Greg Sawyer grew up, he became a missionary and helped children learn about Jesus in Lutheran schools in across Asia. God has a plan to take you to live in heaven with Him one day. And He has plans for you including the use of seat belts, locked medicine cabinets, vaccinations, and the like. But as always, our true safety is in the hands of God. Christian parents know this, which is why Lutherans bring their infants to Baptism. As Peter says, For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself (Acts 2:39). Through Christ s death and resurrection for us, we, too, are rescued and kept safe as members of God s royal family. Day 1 Classroom Devotion while you live with Him here on earth. He gives many of you a loving family who wants your faith to grow and who even may have had you baptized so you could become God s child. Your parents love you so much that they let you come to a Lutheran school so you can learn about Jesus every day. God knows what you will do when you grow up. He will help you be a missionary and tell people about Him in whatever job you do. He will keep on taking care of you every day. He will help you carry out His plan for you as you share His love with everyone. (Note: Assure children who are not baptized that Jesus died for them so they might be saved. The Bible says that by grace we have been saved through faith. Encourage them to talk to their families and pastor about this special birthday in God s family.) Central Truth God protects and cares for His people, showing His love to us by making us His children through Christ. Objectives Recognize that because we live in a sinful world, we will experience pain and hurt. Know that because God loves us, He gives us family members and others to care for us; He gives us all the benefits of being His children. Trust in God s promises to be with His children and watch over us. Materials Day 1 Materials The Basics Jack and Maya puppets A sack containing a basket and a small bottle of water Word Wall Word: water Student Book 1, no stickers necessary Web Resource 8a Day 2 Materials The Basics Word Wall Word: look Reproducible 8, 1 for teacher (make 1 paper plate Moses) Quilt or strong blanket Web Resource 8b PrAYer: Dear God, Thank You so much for giving me people to love me and take care of me. Thank You especially for letting Jesus die on the cross for me so I can live in heaven with You one day. In Jesus name. Amen. Sing: I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus (LOSP, p. 24); The Lord Is My Helper (SKLS, p. 54); or I Was Baptized (LOSP, p. 97). 53
Day 1 Jack: (trying to catch his breath) Maya! Maya! You ll never guess what happened yesterday. Maya: What? What? Sounds like something big. Jack: It was a big deal. It was scary. My mom was driving me home from violin lessons and when she turned a corner, a car kept coming and didn t stop. Maya: What happened?! Were you alright? Jack: Mom said the angels were protecting us. The car did hit us, but it only knocked off our front headlight. If we would have turned just a little sooner, the car could have hit my side of the back seat! Maya: Oh, that sounds awful! I would have been so scared. Jack: I was, but it wasn t long and the police came to make sure we were okay and even the ambulance came. The paramedic looked me over to make sure nothing was wrong with me. When we got home, mom said a thank- You prayer that God took such good care of us. Maya: God blessed you so that you could even drive home. He s so good to us! Yeah. Bad things happen, but I m glad my story has a happy ending. God was with me the whole time. Well, I m going to go tell Zach how God took care of me. See ya later, Maya. Bye! Ask, Whom did God use to take care of Jack: Jack? (His mother driving safely and making him wear his seat belt, the angels around the car, the police officer, and the doctors.) Sing God Is with Me (SKLS2, p. 13); All Night, All Day (SKLS2, p. 4); or God Is Near Me (LOSP, p. 107). Hold up the sack, in which you have already placed the bottle of water and basket. I have some things in this bag that will help you guess what today s Bible story is. Who would like to reach inside and see what they find? Let the children pull out the basket and the water and identify today s story. Check what your students already know about the story. Emphasize, Today, we ll talk about how God protects and cares for His 54 children. Whenever you hear the words take care of, move your arms back and forth like I do, as if you re rocking a baby. Read the story, doing the action and reading the extra information indicated by the numerals. 1. Although the children of Israel were God s special children, they still experienced pain. Because we live in a world full of sin, others do things that hurt us. (But God blessed the Israelite women who ignored Pharaoh s command to kill all the baby boys as they were born. They listened to God instead.) 2. God had a plan for Moses. Now Moses would have his own mother take care of him and teach him about God s love. He would also grow up safely in the Pharaoh s palace and live like a prince. Review how God took care of Moses. Who did He send to take care of Moses? (Moses mother, his sister, and Pharaoh s daughter). Sing God Is Near Me (SKLS, p. 20), changing the words I don t have a sling and stones to I don t have a basket strong and David put his trust in God to Moses mother put her trust in God.
Lesson 8 Say, our Word Wall Word today is water. The princess saved Moses by taking him out of the water. When Moses grew up, God used him to take care of His people. God takes care of us and saves us through water and His Word in Baptism. The princess made Moses her child by drawing him out of the water. God picked you out to be His own child. God made you His child by having you baptized with water and His Word. God cares for His children, sometimes by sending other people to show His love and protection. Even before you were born God planned for you to be His child. He said, [quickly point to each of the children, saying their names and including your own], I choose you to be My child. He had you baptized so that you could have your sins forgiven and the Holy Spirit could give you faith in Him. He gave you loving parents to send you to a Lutheran school and learn about Him. Take the water bottle out of the basket. Whenever you see water today, thank God for making you His child. Sing There Is a Name I Love to Hear, (LOSP, p. 44). Complete Student Book 1 Activity Page 16. Students trace the Bible verse and add their name to the message. Or use Web Resource 8a to play Beat the Clock. After revealing all eight helpers, sing Helpers, Helpers, Everywhere (LOSP, p. 107). 55
Day 2 Classroom Devotion T. J. watched the puppies in the cage. That one! That one! T. J. whispered. He wanted to shout, but he didn t want to scare the fluffy puppy. Chocolate labs are so cute, Mom said. I d like to eat him up. I ll call him Hershey, T. J. said, but you can t eat him! Hershey s fat little paws climbed into his new owner s lap. T. J. kissed Hershey s fuzzy head. I picked the best puppy in the whole world, he said. You ll belong to me forever. I ll take good care of you! Say, God chose you to be His child. He knew you even before you were born. He said, This special child is Mine! He gave you a loving family to care for you. He adopted you as His own child when you were baptized. God will love you and take care of you forever. You will always belong to Him. Hold up the Word Wall Word look. Talk about how T. J. looked at all the puppies and saw Hershey, chose him, and then promised to continue to watch over him. Say, God promises to watch over us. Do you remember a blessing that your pastor may use in church? He may use the words of Moses brother Aaron, asking God to look upon us with His favor: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24 26 NIV). PrAYer: Dear God, thank You for choosing me to be Your child. I know that means You will guard and protect me and will take care of all my needs because You love me. In Jesus name. Amen. Sing: Child of God, (LOSP, p. 98) or God Is with Me (SKLS2, p. 13). Day 2 Hold up your sample paper plate Moses. Ask, Why did baby Moses have to leave his home and float in a basket? (Because we live in a world full of sin, we feel hurt and pain, just like the Israelite boys who were being killed.) Review and make a connection: Who else did God keep safe from harm inside something big that floats? (Noah) Remind the children that we are held safely in Jesus arms. Sing He s Got the Whole World (LOSP, p. 101). Write the words Moses, Pharaoh, Pharaoh s Daughter, Miriam, and Moses Mother across your chalkboard or whiteboard. Place a chair under each name. Pick up a pointer or ruler to use as a microphone and introduce the game, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the popular new game show: Bible Chairs! Let s look at the game board and identify today s Bible characters. Help the children read the words on the board correctly. Continue, Now, who will be the first contestant to sit in the correct Bible chair? As the children raise their hands, hold your microphone close to a child and ask his or her name. Ask, Are you ready to play Bible Chairs? Excellent! I will tell you something one of our Bible characters did and we will see if you can sit in the correct chair. Read the following statements and let the children sit in the correct chairs. When the child playing the game sits in the correct chair, touch the character name. When a character is identified more than once, the first child leaves the chair for the next person. My mom was so excited when I was born! (Moses Mother) I hate God s children! I want to hurt them. (Pharaoh) I have to hide my baby so Pharaoh s soldiers can t find him. (Moses Mother) I said, Throw every baby boy into the Nile River! (Pharaoh) I put tar over a basket so it would not sink. (Moses Mother) The water rocked me in my little basket. (Moses) 56
Lesson 8 I told my daughter to watch over my little son. (Moses Mother) I hid in the tall grass to be sure my baby brother was all right. (Miriam) I found something amazing in the water! (Pharaoh s Daughter) I asked the princess if she needed a nurse to take care of the baby. (Miriam) I got to take care of my own little son and tell him about God s love. (Moses Mother) I named the little boy Moses. (Pharaoh s Daughter) God kept me safe. I got to live in Pharaoh s palace and grow up as a prince. (Moses) Conclude, Wow, this is amazing! Every single contestant figured out the answers! Come and join us again on Bible Chairs the game where every contestant is a winner! God really does make each one of you a winner. He drew you to Himself and had you be baptized as His own child. Rock your paper plate Moses back and forth as if it were in the water. Did the water save baby Moses? No, it was God s loving plan and power that saved him. In the same way, water doesn t save us when we are baptized. When you were baptized, the pastor said, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is water connected with God s Word that gives you forgiveness and faith. Show the children how to make the sign of the cross on themselves (touch forehead, heart, shoulders right, then left) as they say, In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We have the cross of Jesus on us always. When God looks at us, He looks at us through the love and sacrifice of His Son on the cross. God gave us His only Son He gives us all things that we need. He will always be with us to love us and keep us safe. Help students to physically experience the gentle rocking sensation like baby Moses to remind them that they, too, are loved and cared for by God. Have the students stand in two rows of at least 4 children, facing each other. Tell them to grip the edge of a quilt. Have a volunteer ( baby Moses ) gently climb into the basket, (quilt) face up. The group will gently rock the baby by moving their arms back and forth, while singing the following song to the tune of Rock-a-Bye-Baby : Jesus takes care of you ev ry day When you re at work and when you re at play. Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me. That s why I will praise Him eternally. 57
Make the sign of the cross on yourselves and say, In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit as you begin each day with the children. Begin each day with the Lord inviting Him to be present in your classroom and to guide your actions. Encourage the children to listen for those words in church and chapel. Make the story come alive for students by showing them images of the Nile River. Can they put themselves in Miriam s shoes and imagine themselves watching through the reeds? Use Web Resource 8b on the CPH Web page. Let all the students create a paper plate Moses in the basket. Use the directions on Reproducible 8 and make supplies available to all. God can use you to take care of others who may not have many financial resources. Identify a crisis nursery or a needy family with an infant. Have students contribute baby care items (e.g., diapers, wipes, baby food, and the like). Deliver the gifts in a basket. As God cared for Moses with a basket, your class can care for a young baby with the use of a basket too. Remember to include a note to say, God takes care of you, so that the family will know your motivation for sharing. When the children celebrate their Baptism birthdays, let each child use a cookie cutter (heart, cross, butterfly, dove) to cut a candle holder from clay. Then they may place a Baptism candle into the clay. Ask them to light their candles with their families and pray, thanking God for their Baptism. Send a questionnaire home with each child. Where was I baptized? Who was my pastor? Who are my sponsors? Did I cry? Did I wear something special? Did we have a celebration? Do we have pictures of my Baptism? How can I remember my Baptism every day? Use 1.6.2, Communicating Care to Others, in the Concordia Curriculum Guide Health volume. Discuss with students: How did Moses mother take care of him? His sister? Pharaoh s daughter? Or use 1.2.1.16 in the Social Studies volume to discuss the topic of adoption. Visit the baptismal font in your sanctuary. Talk about Baptisms your students have seen. Ask the children to discuss how being baptized children of God changes their life and behavior. Lead a prayer, thanking God for letting you be baptized. 58