Moses and the Burning Bush

Five-minute object lesson

Prop: a houseplant and a red paper flame that does not really burn

Hold up a houseplant and a red paper flame that does not really burn. In about five minutes, tell the class this: God calls Moses from a bush that burns and is not burned up, and promises to go with him. Show the prop and ask, “What does this have to do with Moses and the Burning Bush?” Let two children answer. Then read Exodus 3:12 together: “He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”” Close by asking one child to say the lesson back in their own words, using the prop.

Story script

Moses had run away from Egypt and spent years taking care of sheep. One ordinary day, on the far side of the wilderness, he saw a bush on fire that did not burn up. He stepped closer. God called his name from the bush: “Moses, Moses.” Moses answered, “Here I am.”

God told Moses to take off his sandals, because the ground was holy. Then God said he had seen the misery of his people and heard their cries. He was sending Moses back to lead them out. Moses felt unqualified. “Who am I?” he asked.

God did not give Moses a speech about how talented he was. God said, “I will be with you.” He told Moses his name: “I AM.” The God who always is would go with a shepherd who did not feel ready.

You will have days when a job, a classroom, or a hard conversation feels too big. The answer is not that you suddenly become huge. The answer is that I AM goes with you. Holy ground can be any place God speaks, even a patch of dirt beside sheep.

Open the bedtime version