What do you do when there’s no way out?
Pharaoh finally let God’s people go, then changed his mind and chased them with his army. Trapped between the chariots and the sea, Moses said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and watch.” God opened a path through the water, and the whole people walked across on dry ground. On the far shore, Miriam picked up a tambourine.
Pharaoh finally let God’s people go, then changed his mind and chased them with his army. Trapped between the chariots and the sea, Moses said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and watch.” God opened a path through the water, and the whole people walked across on dry ground. On the far shore, Miriam picked up a tambourine.
About 8 minutes: 4 choices and 2 ways-of-knowing stops. Kids play a child leaving Egypt, Moses facing a frightened crowd, and Miriam leading the song. The army is told from the far shore; calm mode hides the chariots and softens the scary lines. What happened to the army is in the grown-ups note.
Ages 5–11
Yes, the Bible says so plainly. You can say: the army came to drag the people back into slavery, and God stopped them for good. It’s okay to feel sad about the soldiers too; the Bible later says God takes no pleasure in anyone’s death (Ezekiel 33:11). Being safe and being sad can happen at the same time.
Exodus 14, with Miriam’s song from 15:20–21. After the plagues, Pharaoh releases the Israelites, then pursues them with chariots. Trapped at the sea, the people panic; Moses tells them to stand firm; God tells Moses to move them forward and stretch out his staff. An east wind divides the sea overnight, Israel crosses on dry ground, and when the Egyptians follow, the water returns and the army drowns (14:28). Our story stays on the far shore and says only that the army could not follow; the drowning is here, for you to raise if your child asks.