Exodus 4
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Far away, in a big dry land, stood a man. His name was Moses. The sun was warm on his back. In his hand he held a stick, a long wooden stick. A shepherd's stick, for walking and for his sheep.
But Moses was not happy. Moses was scared.
God had said something to Moses. Something big. "Go to Egypt. Help my people."
And Moses said, "But nobody will believe me."
Then God said, "Moses, what is that in your hand?"
Moses looked. "A stick," he said.
"Throw it down," said God.
So Moses threw his stick on the ground. Plok. And then… then the stick began to move. It wriggled. It hissed. It was a snake!
Moses ran away. Fast!
"Come back," said God. "Take it by the tail."
Moses came back, very slowly. He reached out his hand. He grabbed the tail. And in his hand it was a stick again. Just a wooden stick. God can do that.
"Now put your hand under your coat," said God.
Moses did. And when he pulled his hand out, it was all white and sick. Moses put it back under his coat. And when he pulled it out again, his hand was all better. God can do that too.
What Does This Mean?
But Moses was still scared. He said, "God, I cannot talk nicely. My words get stuck. Please send somebody else."
And God said, "Who made your mouth, Moses? I did. Go. I will be with your mouth. I will tell you what to say."
God did not say, "Then stay home." God said, "Go. I will go with you."
The Common Thread
And God gave Moses somebody. "Your brother Aaron is coming," said God. "He can talk well."
So Moses went. He put his wife and his boys on a donkey. And he took the stick, God's stick, in his hand.
On the way he saw somebody coming. Somebody far away in the sand. Closer, and closer. It was Aaron! His own brother! Aaron was so glad. He hugged Moses and kissed him.
Together they walked to Egypt. Together they stood before all the people. Aaron talked, and Moses held up the stick, and God did the wonders.
And the people listened. They heard that God had seen them. That God knew about all their crying and all their hard work. God had not forgotten them.
Then all the people bowed their heads. Very quiet. And they said thank you to God.
For You
Moses was scared. Do you know that feeling? Sometimes something is too big. Too dark. Too new.
Moses said, "I cannot do it." And God said, "I will be with you."
God says that to you too. When you are scared in the dark, God is there. When you do not know what to say, God is there. You never have to go alone.
Talk About It
What do you think Moses felt when his stick became a snake?
What are you sometimes scared of? Shall we tell God about it?
Praying Together
Dear God, sometimes I am scared. Moses was scared too. Thank you that you stayed with him. Please stay with me too. Amen.
Questions about Exodus 4
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Exodus 4 about?
What does Exodus 4 say?
What does Exodus 4 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Exodus 4?
Why is Exodus 4 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
He left Midian with the same stick he'd carried for forty years as a shepherd. Nothing about it had changed. But Scripture no longer calls it his rod: "Moses took God's rod in his hand." What you hand over to God keeps its ordinary shape and gets a new owner. What are you still calling yours?
Nothing had changed yet. They were still slaves, still under the whip. But when they heard "that he had seen their affliction," they bowed their heads and worshiped. Being seen was enough. Then Pharaoh doubles the work, and their worship collapses. Can you hold on to being seen by God when the road gets harder before it gets better?
Before Pharaoh has felt a single plague, before Israel has crossed a single sea, God tells Moses to say, "Israel is my son, my firstborn." Notice the tense. Israel is already his. The rescue does not create the relationship; the relationship demands the rescue.
Sit with that. God did not wait for Israel to be free, obedient, or impressive to call them his own. He claimed them in slavery, in mud, in silence. If you are waiting to clean yourself up before you can be called his, you have the story backwards. He speaks the name first, and then he comes to bring you out.
Notice how Moses returns to Jethro before heading to Egypt. He does not slip away in the night or announce his divine mission with fanfare. He simply asks, "Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive."
Even when God has called you to something enormous, honor the ordinary people who have sheltered you. Great callings do not excuse us from small courtesies.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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