Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story for Kids

Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story for Kids is a significant event from the Old Testament of the Bible, found in the Book of Exodus. It depicts a divine encounter between Moses and God, where God reveals His plan for Moses and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3).

See also: Jonah And The Big Fish Bible Story For Kids

Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story for Kids

Once upon a time, in a land called Egypt, there lived a man named Moses. Moses was a kind-hearted man, but he had a difficult life. He was born an Israelite, but the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was afraid of the growing number of Israelites and ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be thrown into the Nile River.

Moses' mother loved him dearly and didn't want anything bad to happen to him. So, she made a small basket and placed baby Moses in it. She then set the basket in the tall reeds by the edge of the river, hoping that someone would find and care for him.

Moses' Miraculous Rescue

As fate would have it, the Pharaoh's daughter came to the river to bathe and saw the basket among the reeds. She was filled with compassion and opened the basket. When she saw the beautiful baby inside, she knew she had to help him.

The Pharaoh's daughter decided to adopt Moses as her own son. Moses grew up in the palace, receiving the best education and becoming a prince of Egypt. However, as he grew older, he couldn't ignore the suffering of his people, the Israelites, who were enslaved by the Egyptians.

Moses Encounter at the Burning Bush

One day, while Moses was out in the desert tending to his father-in-law's flock of sheep, something extraordinary happened. He noticed a bush that was on fire, but it wasn't burning up. Curious, Moses approached the bush to get a closer look.

To his amazement, a voice called out from the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

Moses replied, "Here I am."

The voice identified itself as the voice of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God told Moses that He had seen the suffering of the Israelites and that He had chosen Moses to lead them out of Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey.

Moses' Doubts and God's Reassurance

Moses was in awe and felt both honored and afraid. He asked God, "Who am I to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?"

But God reassured him, saying, "I will be with you. And when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this very mountain."

God then gave Moses a sign, telling him to throw his staff on the ground. As Moses did so, the staff transformed into a snake. God instructed Moses to pick up the snake by its tail, and it turned back into a staff. This was a sign to show Moses that God's power would be with him.

Moses Learns God's Name and His Identity

Feeling more confident, Moses asked God what name he should tell the Israelites when they asked who had sent him. God replied, "I am who I am. Tell them 'I am' has sent you."

God continued to give Moses instructions, telling him to gather the elders of Israel and to go before Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites. God assured Moses that He would perform great miracles to show His power to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Moses' Mission to Confront Pharaoh

With newfound courage and trust in God, Moses accepted the task of leading his people out of slavery. He returned to Egypt and, with the help of his brother Aaron, confronted Pharaoh, demanding the freedom of the Israelites.

Moses and the Burning Bush Coloring Pages

Click on any of the images below to print out the coloring page.

"There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up." - Exodus 3:2 (NIV)

"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”" - Exodus 3:4 (NIV)

"Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." - Exodus 4:12 (NIV)

Moses and the Burning Bush Activities

Engaging with the story of Moses and the Burning Bush can be an enlightening experience for both children and adults. Here are some activity ideas that encompass crafts, learning, and interactive experiences:

1. Burning Bush Craft

• Materials: Red, orange, and yellow tissue paper, brown paper bag or construction paper, glue.
• Instructions: Tear the tissue paper into flame shapes. Twist the brown paper into the shape of a bush and glue it onto a piece of cardstock. Then, attach the tissue paper "flames" to the bush.

2. God Speaks to Moses Game

• Instructions: Create a simple obstacle course or path that the kids must follow to reach the "burning bush" at the end. Along the way, have "messages from God" that instruct them on how to move forward, teaching obedience and attentiveness.

3. Interactive Storytelling

• Instructions: As the story of Moses and the Burning Bush is read aloud, have children act out parts or use props to represent the bush, Moses, and God's voice.

4. Burning Bush with Handprints

• Materials: White paper, brown paint, red/orange/yellow paint.
• Instructions: Have children paint their hand brown and press it onto the paper to make the bush. Then, they can use their fingertips with the red, orange, and yellow paint to add "fire" to the bush.

5. Moses' Staff Craft

• Materials: Long sticks or dowel rods, brown construction paper or paint, decorations (ribbons, fabric, etc.).
• Instructions: Decorate the stick to look like Moses’ staff. You could even have a portion where it "turns into a snake" using a detachable green paper or cloth.

6. Holy Ground Footprints

• Materials: Blue construction paper, sand, glue.
• Instructions: Cut out footprint shapes from the blue paper. Cover them with glue and then sprinkle sand over them to represent the "holy ground" that Moses walked on.

7. Burning Bush Scene Diorama

• Materials: Shoebox, twigs, tissue paper, LED tea light.
• Instructions: Create a 3D diorama of the burning bush scene using the box as a background. Construct the bush from twigs and tissue paper, and place an LED light beneath to represent the fire.

8. Moses' Sandals Craft

• Materials: Cardboard, leather straps or fabric, decorations.
• Instructions: Create simple sandals that can be decorated and tied around the children's feet, reminding them of God's instruction to Moses to remove his sandals on holy ground.

9. Burning Bush Collage

• Materials: Magazine cutouts, red/orange/yellow paper, glue, markers.
• Instructions: Have participants create a collage that represents the burning bush using cutouts and paper. They can add their own thoughts or verses around the edges.

10. Moses and the Burning Bush Puppet Show

• Materials: Puppets or figures representing Moses, God (as a voice), and a bush prop.
• Instructions: Create a short puppet show to reenact the story, complete with a script based on the biblical text.

These activities can help participants explore the themes of calling, revelation, and the sacred, which are central to the story of Moses and the Burning Bush. They also provide creative and tactile ways to engage with one of the key narratives of Moses' life.

Wrapping Up Story

And so, the story of Moses and the burning bush reminds us that even in the most unexpected places and in the face of our doubts, God can call upon us for great purposes. It teaches us the importance of listening, trusting, and being open to the divine guidance that can lead us on remarkable journeys of liberation and faith.