During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
Let your children’s families know that this week the children will learn the story of Miriam, a girl God used in His big plan. God values girls and women and invites them to be a part of His story! Encourage family members to share positive qualities they appreciate in every girl and woman in their family.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome your children warmly.
In today’s class, you will hear about an important leader in the Bible. This person showed many good character traits.
What character traits do you think are important in a leader?
Everyone stand up and spread out. I will name a character trait that this person showed, and you will use your bodies to silently act out that trait. For example, if I say, “Joyful,” you might smile and jump up and down.
Say the following character traits one at a time. Give children time to act out each one.
Ask the children to sit down for the Bible lesson.
The person in today’s Bible story showed great courage. This person obeyed a parent, cared for a younger sibling, and made wise choices.
Who do you think today’s story is about?
Allow the children to guess. They will probably not guess correctly, but that is okay.
Good guesses! Today’s Bible story is about a girl who was about your age—between 7–12 years old—when she did something very courageous. What she did would change the lives of many people. Her name is Miriam.
Optional: If possible, share the images from The Action Bible.
Before today’s Bible story took place, God’s people (the Israelites) were slaves in Egypt. They had been in Egypt for about 400 years. There were now so many Israelites that Egypt’s king, called Pharaoh, became nervous. He was worried that they would rebel against the Egyptians and leave the country. Egypt depended on the Israelite slaves to do their work for them.
In order to limit the number of Israelites, Pharaoh ordered that every newborn Israelite boy was to be drowned in the Nile River.
Optional: If you are using The Action Bible, have the children read the story on pages 112–116.
During this time, an Israelite woman gave birth to a baby boy. She hid him from the Egyptians for 3 months. When he was too old to hide, she made a basket out of reeds and coated it with tar. She placed her baby boy in the basket and put it among the tall plants along the edge of the Nile River. Miriam, the baby’s older sister, stayed nearby to see what would happen to the baby.
Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess, went down to the river to bathe. She saw the basket floating near the shore and asked her slave to bring it to her. The princess opened the basket and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him.
Miriam stepped forward and asked the princess, “Should I go get an Israelite woman to nurse the baby for you?”
The princess answered, “Yes, go.” So Miriam went and got her mother. Pharaoh’s daughter told Miriam’s mother, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the baby’s mother was able to take her baby home and care for him.
When the baby grew older, his mother took him to the princess, and he became her son. She named him Moses. Many years later, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
God knew Moses would lead His people to freedom one day. He chose Miriam, a young girl, to help save Moses’ life as a baby. Her actions kept Moses alive!
What character traits did Miriam show in this story?
Allow children to share their ideas. They can say the traits from the opening activity, as well as others.
Miriam showed great care when she stood nearby to make sure her baby brother was okay. She showed great courage when she talked to the Pharaoh’s daughter. We can imagine that slave girls probably did not talk to Egyptian princesses. It is possible that she could have been punished or even killed for her boldness. Miriam also showed respect for her mother when she went to get her to nurse the baby. Miriam was wise and made good, quick decisions!
What does it tell you about God that He chose to use Miriam to help save Moses?
God uses anyone in His story.
What does it tell you about God’s view of children?
The Bible tells us more about Miriam. Years later when she was an adult, Miriam and the other Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt. Pharaoh sent his army to chase after them. The Israelites were trapped with the army behind them and the Red Sea in front of them. God divided the waters, and the Israelites walked across the Red Sea on dry ground. But the Egyptian army drowned in the sea. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led all the women in singing and dancing. Listen to the words she sang:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
Exodus 15:21
What other character traits would you use to describe Miriam?
Allow children to share their ideas. They may say things such as leader of women, worshipper, or musician.
People who lived in Egypt when Moses was a baby may have thought Miriam was just a young slave girl who could never do anything important. Maybe there are people who think similar things about you. But that is not what God thought of Miriam. And it is not what God thinks
of you.
God values you if you are a girl. He values you if you are a boy. He sees you. He cares about you. God used Miriam in His plan to lead His people out of slavery. He used Miriam to help save Moses’ life. God invites you to be a part of His big plan too!
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
Exodus 15:21
Have the children quickly find partners.
Think of something good God has done for you or for someone you know. Maybe God led you to this class. Maybe He comforted you when you were scared, provided food when you were hungry, or helped you make a friend.
Pause briefly for children to think quietly.
With your partner, create and sing a song of praise to God with 2 parts like Miriam’s song had. For example: I praise You, God. Thank you for… (finish the sentence with something God has done for you).
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, there is space for children to write their songs on them.
Give pairs time to create and sing their songs. If you have time, allow the pairs to share their songs with everyone.
Optional: If you have the optional musical instruments, allow the children to use them as they share their songs.
When your children are finished with their songs, close class by speaking the following blessing based on Exodus 15:21, over them.
Blessing: Sing to the Lord, for He is highly honoured! Like Miriam, you can play a part in God’s redemption story. May God fill you with courage and wisdom.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
