Everything You Need to Know about Moses
When you hear “Moses,” what comes to mind first?
Crossing the red sea?
The burning bush?
A baby in a basket, floating down the Nile?
The Ten Commandments? The plagues? His final speech in Deuteronomy?
(Maybe you didn’t know that the book of Deuteronomy is just one big long speech by Moses … or maybe you did know that, because you learned it from What’s in the Bible? like I did!)
Regardless of which of those stories came to mind first, it’s clear that Moses is a pretty important character in the Bible. In fact, one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible happens in Exodus 34, when God reveals himself to Moses. This is significant for a number of reasons, but it also highlights Moses’ importance. God reveals himself to Moses. God names himself (Yahweh) in front of Moses. God has revealed himself to Moses before – in Exodus 3 and Exodus 33. But it is in Exodus 34, when God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, that God utters one of my favorite things in the Word:
The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
Exodus 34: 5-9 (ESV)
This passage encapsulates so much of Moses’ life. God appeared to him, God called him to rescue his people from Israel. Moses learned first-hand (as we all do) about God’s steadfast love. In fact, Moses’ whole life could be characterized as experiencing God’s faithfulness. And Moses worshiped, and he led (and was a part of) a “stiff-necked people.” Moses knew that he was not worthy, and that his people were not worthy of God’s favor – and yet, relying on the faithfulness of the Lord – Moses led a rebellious people with his own doubtful heart, and God blessed them.
We can learn a lot about God’s faithfulness through Moses’ life, and What’s in the Bible? has compiled many resources and videos about the life of Moses, perfect for helping your kids understand the importance of Moses to the story of God’s people. Here are some of our favorite What’s in the Bible? resources about Moses:
Blogs about Moses:
Walk Your Family Through the Bible: A Review of What’s in the Bible? Volume 2 – Exodus
Three Stories that Teach Kids Patience featuring the story of Moses leading the Israelites through the desert
God Has a Plan for You (Exodus 14)
Free Coloring Pages about Moses
Baby Moses Rescued Coloring Page
Moses and the Burning Bush Coloring Page
What’s in the Bible? Volume 2 Cover Coloring Page
Moses Giving a Speech Coloring Page
Moses Sends 12 Spies Coloring Page
Activity Books and Videos about Moses
What’s in the Bible? Volume 2: Let My People Go (Exodus) – Available on DVD or Digitally (Streaming on Minno and Buy/Rent on iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Movies on Demand, Vimeo)This time it’s all about Moses and the Israelites’ harrowing escape from Egypt. Let My People Go [Exodus] begins with the story of baby Moses being plucked from the river by Pharaoh’s daughter, saved so he could grow up to lead God’s people out of Egypt. He meets God in a burning bush, witnesses the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and wanders in the desert. It’s there that the Lord makes a covenant with his people and gives them a new set of rules, the Ten Commandments. The book of Exodus is all about salvation and redemption – what they are and why we need them!
What’s in the Bible? Volume 3: Wanderin’ in the Desert (Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy) – Available on DVD or Digitally (Streaming on Minno and Buy/Rent on iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Movies on Demand, Vimeo)The Pentateuch – a fancy name for the first five books of the Bible – ends on a cliffhanger. The Israelites are left to spend many years wandering in the desert, wondering if they’ll ever get to enter the Promised Land. Through the hard times, God is still faithful, even though the Israelites keep messing up as they try to follow the rules. In Wanderin’ in the Desert [Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy], Buck Denver and friends explore Leviticus and all its rules, learning what they mean and why we still follow some of them today. Next up, Numbers tells about the Israelites in the desert, and Deuteronomy is actually one big speech from Moses, delivered right before the Israelites are finally allowed into the Promised Land!
Exodus Activity Pack – Digital Download
The second book of the Bible – Exodus – comes to life for your kids through the Exodus Activity Pack from What’s in the Bible?. Based on Volume 2 2: Let My People Go!, the activity pack features 9 awesome activities, including coloring pages, a Ten Commandments Match Game, a family discussion guide and more!
The Pentateuch Activity Book – Digital Download
This printable activity book is perfect for families looking for fun, creative ways to engage with the stories of the Bible from those 5 books called the Pentateuch – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy!
Old Testament Heroes Devotional and Activity Pack – Digital Download
Learn the whole Old Testament through the stories of its most famous characters! The Old Testament Heroes family devotional and activity pack features 25 days of devotionals and 10 new activities. Read the stories of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David and more! Activities include a Moses Word Search, Ruth Fill-in-the-Story, Jonah Maze and Daniel Secret Code Game.
Melanie Rainer is the Director of Content for What’s in the Bible? and the editor of the What’s in the Bible? blog.
