📖 From the Bible
When the Israelites saw that Pharaoh and his army were getting close, they were terrified. They cried out to God.
They also said to Moses: “Why did you bring us out here? It would have been better for us to stay slaves in Egypt than to die in the desert!”
Moses answered: “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and watch how God will rescue you. These Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. God will fight for you, and you just stay quiet.”
God said to Moses: “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the people to get moving. Lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea and split the water. The people will walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.”
The big cloud that had been going in front of the Israelites moved behind them. It stood between them and the Egyptians. For the Egyptians it was dark, but for the Israelites it gave light in the night. That way the army couldn’t get near them all night long.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. All night a strong wind blew. The water split apart, and a strip of dry ground appeared.
The Israelites walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground. On both sides the water stood like a wall.
The Israelites had just left Egypt, where they were slaves, and Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, set out after them with his army.
10When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt? 12Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. 14The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.” 15The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. 16Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. Then the children of Israel shall go into the middle of the sea on dry ground. (…) 19The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them. 20It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night. One didn’t come near the other all night. 21Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
This is how we tell this passage to kids. The exact words of the Bible are under “As it is in the Bible”.
The sign (…) marks a place where we left something out. The sentence in italics is ours. We never change the words of the Bible.
Exodus 14:10-22 · Scripture: World English Bible Updated (public domain)
You’re standing at the top of a really tall slide. The kids in line behind you are yelling, “Come on, go!” In front of you, it’s a long way down. Your heart is pounding like a drum. Do you slide, or do you back out? The slide on one side, the whole line on the other. Today we’re reading about people who were stuck between two scary things, too.
The Israelites had just left Egypt. They were free! They were walking through the desert, and God Himself was leading them. In the daytime He went ahead of them in a big cloud, and at night in a fire, so they always knew exactly where to go. Then, all of a sudden, they came to a sea. Water all the way to the horizon. No bridge. No boats.
Then they heard a noise. Behind them, Pharaoh’s army was racing toward them! Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had changed his mind and come after them. The people were terrified. They cried out to God. And they shouted at Moses that they should have stayed in Egypt! The sea on one side. The army on the other. No way out. Can you imagine how hard their hearts were pounding?
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid.” Then he said, “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.” Stay quiet while an army is chasing you? That sounds backwards! Then God told the people to get moving. He told Moses to lift up his staff and stretch his hand out over the sea. Remember his staff? Moses stretched out his hand. All night long a strong wind blew. The water split apart, and a dry path appeared. The people walked right through the middle of the sea, with water standing on both sides like a wall. That same night the cloud moved and stood between them and Pharaoh’s army, so the army couldn’t get any closer.
When the Israelites were safely on the other side, the water came back together. Pharaoh’s army couldn’t catch anyone. The people saw what God had done for them, and they trusted Him. They started to sing. Moses’ sister Miriam picked up a tambourine and danced.
When you don’t know what to do, stop and trust God. He knows.
Did you know?
There was a shorter road out of Egypt. But there was a war waiting on it. God knew the people would get scared and want to run back to Egypt. So He chose the longer way. Sometimes a road that seems strange to you was picked because somebody cares about you. God knew these people really well.
Look at Jesus
Many years later, Jesus’ friends were scared out on the water, too. They were in a boat, and a storm was raging all around them. Jesus told the wind and the waves to calm down. And it got quiet. Jesus is stronger than any storm. When you’re scared, you can say, “Jesus, You’re with me.”
What about you?
Fear shows up before a big test, before a show or a game, or on the first day somewhere new. It’s easy to start panicking and saying, “I can’t do this.” Try something different. First, stop. Take three deep breaths and say in your head, “God is with me.” Then take one small step that you really can take. Stop, calm down, go.
Let’s talk about it
- Remember what Moses said when the people were really scared.
- What helps you calm down when your heart is pounding like a drum? Or can you think of something else?
- Who is with you when you’re scared?
Today’s challenge
When you feel scared or angry today, stop. Take three deep breaths and say in your head, “God is right here with me.”
Prayer
God, sometimes I get scared and I don’t know what to do. Help me calm down and trust You. Show me the first step. Amen.
Tap when you have prayed.