Lesson

2: Moses Flees to Midian

Objectives: Students will…
1) Study Exodus 2:11‐25: Moses flees to Midian and is taken care of by a Midianite priest.
2) Do activities that help students remember the events of Chapter 2

Supplies:

Teacher Materials (provided in classroom)

‐ Bible(s)
‐ Markers/Pencil Crayons
‐ Pens/Pencils
‐ Attendance Chart (See Template)
‐ Stickers for Attendance
‐ Moses Flees to Midian Activity Sheet – one per child
‐ Matching Shoe Game Template – printed on cardstock paper – one set printed and cut out for every
two students
Optional:
‐ Storybook of this story with pictures to show kids (if available) and/or
‐ Flannel Display Board with this story (if available)
Snack:
‐ Snacks in a foot shape (your choice) enough for each child
‐ Napkins for snack one per child
‐ Juice or water and cup one per child
Lesson:
1) Introduction to Lesson 2 minutes
As students enter, welcome them and help find a chair to sit at. Thank them for coming.
Take attendance (using attendance chart supplied). Once children are seated say:
This quarter we will continue to study the Old Testament book of Exodus! Today we will see
that Moses grew up into a man and had to run away from Egypt for doing wrong – even though
he thought it was right. We will look at why doing something wrong – even if we think it is for
the right reason, is never the best choice.

2) Moses Flees to Midian and Activity Sheet 10‐15 minutes
Optional: if you have a book with pictures showing this story you can show the pictures as you read
from the Bible, or if you have flannel characters, etc. you can use those as visuals while reading from
the Bible.

Ask children to get their Bibles and turn to Exodus 2:11‐25. Ask for volunteers to take turns reading
or read yourself the Scriptures below. Thank those who read.
Ask the following after each section of Scripture is read:
Exodus 2:11‐15
Did Moses know he was a Hebrew even though he grew up as an Egyptian? Yes, because in verse
11 it says he went out to his own people – the Hebrews.
Why did Moses murder the Egyptian? Because he was beating a Hebrew.
Should he have murdered the man? No, God says do not murder in Exodus 20:13. (Have students
turn there to see)
Did Pharaoh find out? Yes
Where did Moses run to, to flee from Pharaoh? Midian
Moses murdered a man who was beating another – what could Moses have done instead that
God would have approved of and that would have not gotten Moses in trouble? Step in between
the two men and tell the Egyptian to stop, pray to God, go to the Pharaoh and ask him to speak to the
Egyptians about the way they were treating their slaves.
What can we do today when we see something wrong happening? Same thing – go to authorities
and ask for help, try to mediate and separate the two who are arguing, pray to God, talk to parents
about it, see what the Bible says, etc.

Read Exodus 2:16‐25
Hand out one activity sheet to each child along with pencils and show students Midian on their maps.
Explain that Moses would have crossed the narrow part of the river in the
north and then travelled down to Midian to get away from Pharaoh.
Read the questions on their sheet aloud and have students fill
in the answers on their page. Afterwards let them find the word
MOSES 5 times in the word search at the bottom of their page. Then
Ask the following:
When Moses went to sit by the well, what did he do that was kind?
Helped some women water their flocks when some shepherds were trying
to stop them.
*So we see that Moses cared for others – even though he didn’t
handle it well when he murdered a man, he seems to want to help
those in need – that characteristic of caring for others is a good quality that Moses had!
Who did Moses live with? Reuel
Who did Moses marry? Reuel’s daughter Zipporah
What was the name of Moses son? Gershom
Who heard the groaning of the Hebrews? God and He was concerned about them.
What happened to the king of Egypt (Pharoah)? He died.

Ask students if they have any questions before moving on.
3) Matching Shoe Game 10 minutes
Before class print out shoe game templates and make one set for each pair of students. Print on
cardstock paper. Cut out each shoe shape to have ready for class.

At class tell the students:
Today we are going to play a matching game with these shoes – show paper shoes. We are going
to get into pairs (get students into pairs and give one set of shoe prints from templates to each pair of
students.) Mix up the shoes and place them face down in front of you so they are all visible.
Each person takes a turn picking two shoes – if your shoes match up with the correct phrase –
you get to keep the pair and try again, when you can’t get a pair – it is the next persons turn.
Continue till all the shoes are picked and matched together! This is to remind us of two things:
Moses fled to Midian and that when he was there God blessed him with safety, a place to stay
and a family. Help younger children who might have trouble reading or ask their partner to read the
words aloud for them.
*If time let children mix up shoes and play again.

4) Optional – Sandals Off Relay Race 5‐10 minutes
Divide students into two teams and make sure the room or area is clear of obstacles and that the floor
is clear of any rocks or pieces that could harm kids with sock feet. Ask all children to take off their
shoes or sandals and put them in a pile at the end of the room or area. Have children line up at the
other end with each team in a line so one student from each team goes at a time. Each child will run to
the pile and grab their own shoes and put them on and then run back to their team’s line. Then the
next student in the team goes until all students have gone. The first team to complete this task with all
shoes on – wins! *For safety you can tell them they can only “walk fast” and not run. Anyone
who runs will have to walk back to the beginning and start again.

Let’s remember that even though Moses stopped a man from hurting another, he should not
have murdered him and because of that Moses had to run and leave his homeland because of
his sin.

5) Optional – Snack: Shoe Shaped Snack (your choice) 5 minutes
Hand out one snack to each child – you can use fruit cut in a shoe shape for example. Say to the
children: This snack is to remind us that Moses had to flee for his life from the Pharaoh for
killing an Egyptian. God says we are not to kill – that doesn’t make God happy. And because
Moses did wrong, he had to leave his home and the palace where he grew up and had to run for
his life. Let’s remember that doing wrong never solves the problem – we should pray to God
and ask for help from others, but not hurt someone because they do wrong.
Read Luke 6:31 – Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Read Exodus 20:13 ‐ “You shall not murder.”
Let’s remember that even though Moses stopped a man from hurting another, he should not
have murdered him and because of that Moses had to run and leave his homeland because of
his sin.
Provide a napkin for children to clean their hands. Discuss questions while snacking!

6) Optional – Songs 5 minutes
Have children sing songs with you. Some examples:
1) Old Testament Books of the Bible – Sung to the Alphabet song
2) Itty Bitty Moses – (Sung to the tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider) see lyrics below
Itty Bitty Moses was crying in his room,
Then came his mommy and sang a little tune.
“Hush little baby, the Lord will be your guide,
And no one will ever harm you,
For God is by your side.”

Into a tiny basket, Baby Moses went.
Placed into the Nile, and to the reeds sent.
“Hush little baby, the Lord will be your guide,
And no one will ever harm you,
For God is by your side.”
 Pharaoh’s princess daughter saw Moses in the Nile,
Picked him up and loved him and raised him as her child.
“Hush little baby, the Lord will be your guide,
And no one will ever harm you,
For God is by your side.”

7) Close in prayer

*If desired, ask the children if they have any prayer requests and write them down to help you
remember. Then ask all children to bow their heads and fold their hands to pray. Remember to also
ask God for help in studying the Old Testament to realize and learn how important it is in showing us
and everyone that God had a plan with Jesus from the beginning and that the Old Testament points to
Christ all the way through and shows us that God wants a relationship with us just as He did with the
Israelites. Pray that when we face difficult times like Moses did that we will do the right thing and pray
to God for help instead of trying to solve the problem on our own. We pray that we will remember that
it is never good to fight or hurt another person and that by doing so, we are hurting God and making
God very sad. In Jesus’ name, Amen.