Hey-O Stories Of The Bible - Saddleback Kids

JESUS FORGIVES PETERHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, Jesus Forgives Peter, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw or heard?What did Peter promise Jesus? What did Peter do instead?Peter promised he would never leave or turn away from Jesus. But Jesus told him that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. And just as Jesus said, Peter denied even knowing Jesus.After Jesus was resurrected, he spent time with the disciples. What did Jesus ask Peter?Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Jesus forgave Peter. Peter spent the rest of his life sharing about Jesus, caring for others, building the church, and helping people know Jesus.Why does Jesus forgive us?Because he loves us.How can we be forgiven?When we love Jesus, we can be forgiven, too. We can choose to believe in what Jesus did for us at Easter and follow him. Whenever we sin, we can tell God about it and ask him to forgive us. When we are forgiven, we can choose to share God’s love with others so they can be forgiven and be in God’s family, too.Parent DevotionalHey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this Bible story for yourself. We encourage you to read over this devotional sometime this week as a way to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadElementary Activity Sheets Each week we have a variety of activities to help your child remember the week’s lesson. They include new coloring pages and activity sheets to enjoy!DownloadNavigating Parenthood Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this blog post all about the power of forgiveness, and as you do, think about the ways you might need to extend forgiveness to your child or another person that comes to mind.Download

Jesus did it! He saved the day! Happy Easter, everyone!

This is an extra special bonus episode! We learn about the last supper Jesus had with his friends, the disciples before he was arrested!

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRYHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, The Triumphal Entry , with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw or heard?Why was Jesus going to Jerusalem?To celebrate Passover, a Jewish holiday. He was getting ready for what we celebrate at Easter: to die on a cross to save us from our sinsWhy did Jesus send two disciples ahead of him? Why is this detail important?To get a young donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem. It’s important because God had said a long time ago that this is how Jesus would enter Jerusalem – he was doing what God said he would do.Why did the people run to see Jesus?They had heard about the amazing things Jesus had done and wanted to worship him.How did they worship Jesus?They waved palm branches and laid coats on the street before him. They worshipped him like a king. They shouted, “Hosanna” which means, “Save us!”What are some ways you can worship Jesus this Easter?Getting ready for Easter by reading or watching the Easter story. Praying and thanking him for what Easter means. Singing, giving offerings to the church, and helping others are also all ways to worship God.Parent DevotionalHey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this Bible story for yourself. We encourage you to read over this devotional sometime this week as a way to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!Click - DownloadElementary Activity SheetsEach week we have a variety of activities to help your child remember the week’s lesson. They include new coloring pages and activity sheets to enjoy!Click - DownloadNavigating ParenthoodHey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. As we begin to talk about the grace extended to us through Christ’s death and resurrection, perhaps there are some areas where you can extend grace as well. Check out this Two-Minute Tip all about extending grace in your family.Click - Download

Once Moses was all grown up, everything seemed to fall apart. He left his great life in the palace and became a shepherd on a mountain. But one day he saw something pretty strange...Hey parents! Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7We are proud to present podcasts for all ages! Don't forget to check out these other kids and parent podcasts from Saddleback:🎧 Happy Harbor - Join Arlo the bear, Tilly the penguin, and Kelby the octopus each week as they learn that God made you, God loves you, and God wants to be your friend!🎧 Stories of the Bible Junior - Bible stories for your toddler... and you to enjoy!🎧 Parent Skills Podcast - A podcast for parents from Saddleback church. With experts on each stage of development from infants through adult children and parents just like you, you'll find something for you in each episode.Helpful links:https://saddlebackkids.comhttps://www.youtube.com/c/SaddlebackKidshttps://saddlebackparents.comToday's story comes from Exodus 3 and 4. Here's the passage courtesy of Bible Gateway!Moses and the Burning Bush3 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,[a] the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,[b] the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered.5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father,[c] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship[d] God at this mountain.”13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[e] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.16 “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.19 “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”Miraculous Signs for Moses4 Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.3 “Throw it on the ground,” he

Daniel prayed. That's a good thing! But then the king passed a law that said NOBODY could pray (except to the king) for 30 days. God said to pray, the king said not to pray. What should Daniel do? What would you do? Oh yeah, there's one other thing... if you DO pray you get fed to a bunch of hungry lions. Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion’s DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion’s den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion’s mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

Noah And The FloodHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, Noah and the Flood, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw?How was Noah different from the people around him?Noah was the only man on Earth who still walked with God and made the right choices. All of the other people were evil and were doing things God says are wrong.What were God’s instructions to Noah? Why might that have seemed strange?God told Noah to build a boat and put two of each animal on it. It was strange because God warned of a flood, but it had never even rained like that before! Noah had to have faith and trust God’s plan.What did God promise Noah? How did he show this promise?God promised he would never flood the Earth again, and he put a rainbow in the sky to show his promise.What are some of God’s plans for me?To love him forever, to love other people, and to be a part of his family.Think about this part of our Bible verse: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” What does it mean that God directs your path?It means he tells us what is best and the right way to live. He does that by speaking to us through the Bible, through his helper the Holy Spirit, by talking to us through other Christians, or by talking to him in prayer.Parent Devotional - Step Up Week 3Hey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this week’s Bible story for yourself. Read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadStep Up Week 3: EL Coloring page and Activity SheetEach week we have new activity sheets and coloring pages to help your child remember the Bible story and learn more about how they can step up in faith.DownloadNavigating Parenthood: Step Up - Week 3Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 3 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.DownloadToday's Bible Story Comes Genesis 6-8 (from Bible Gateway)6 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw the beautiful women[a] and took any they wanted as their wives. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with[b] humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”4 In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord.The Story of Noah9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!14 “Build a large boat[c] from cypress wood[d] and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.[e] 16 Leave an 18-inch opening[f] below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.The Flood Covers the Earth7 When everything was ready, the

Zacchaeus was not popular. A lot of people thought he was a liar and a cheater. Who knows why people thought that, except for the fact that he WAS a liar and a cheater. But then one day Jesus invited himself over for dinner. Find out what happened next!

Have you ever been in a spot where doing the right thing might get you in trouble? Three guys from today's story were in that kind of situation. Find out if this trouble was a little too hot to handle!

Who is your neighbor? Duh, the person next to you, right? Trick question! Jesus shares a story about who our neighbors are and how we should do about it. Stick around for the big twist!

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32The father in this story had two sons and he obviously loved them very much. He worked hard to create an inheritance for them when he dies. The youngest son, however, did not want to wait until his father died so he asked for his inheritance early. The father gave him the inheritance and the son left. Imagine this from a father’s perspective. You have worked hard to provide the best for your sons. You have provided everything for them and instead of being grateful and respecting you, your son takes his money and leaves. He does not live out the end of your days with you. He does not make sure you are taken care of in your old age. He barely even says goodbye. He says, “You are no good to me alive, can I pretend you are dead already, take my money and never talk to you again?” Now that must have been hard to forgive. We do not know what the father’s emotions were in this moment, but he gives his son the money and then waits to see if his son would return. By the time his son comes back, he has forgiven him and is waiting for his return. He has compassion on the son and welcomes him back into the family with open arms. They even have a celebration for his return.The example of forgiveness set by the father in this parable is almost unfathomable. We all go through life with people who have hurt and betrayed us. It is difficult to forgive them, but forgiveness is one of the most important things in our walk with God. Every one of us is indebted to God because of His forgiveness in our lives. He has set the standard for us to follow. Sometimes forgiveness is easy, sometimes it takes years to fully forgive someone. But if we continue to walk the process through with God, He will teach us how to forgive those who have hurt us the most.Questions to think about:Why do I need to forgive others?What is the hardest part about forgiving someone?Is there anyone who has hurt or betrayed me that I still to forgive?

Big and Strong: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho“When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” Joshua 6:5Read: Joshua 6Did you ever play the game “Simon Says” as a kid? If you remember, there is a leader playing the role of Simon who gives the players different instructions like “Simon says, ‘Rub your belly’” or “Simon says, ‘Spin in a circle.’” Some of these directions are silly and don’t make much sense, but if you follow all of Simon’s instructions you can win the game!When God commanded Joshua to march in circles around the city of Jericho for seven days, the instructions sounded silly. How could walking around in circles and shouting cause the walls of Jericho to fall? God knew what He was doing, but the Israelites weren’t so certain. However, they followed the instructions anyway, and after seven days they overtook Jericho as God had promised.The Israelites obeyed God even when His plan didn’t make much sense, and they were rewarded for it! If they had ignored God, they would have missed out on the incredible promises He had waiting for them in the Promised Land.God knows what’s best for you, even if you don’t understand. Although it’s sometimes easier to follow our own plan, trusting God means believing He will do what He has promised. Believe that His plan is better than yours, have courage to follow Him, and see how He moves in your life!Questions to think about:Has God ever asked you to do something that sounded strange or scary?How did you respond to His request?What were your fears?How will you respond to God’s instructions in the future, knowing Joshua’s story?

Parents! Did you know that there is a Stories of the Bible Junior! It's true! check it out by searching "Stories of the Bible Junior" in your favorite podcast app! And don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. We looove hearing from parents like you!

Who is the most stylish guy in the Bible's Hall of Faith? Joseph?! Find out what made Joseph so special (hint: it isn't actually his cool coat).“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)Genesis 37 The same question gets asked in a variety of forms: Where is God when it hurts? Why do bad things happen to good people? How can a good and loving God allow suffering?Joseph could have asked these same questions; maybe he did. Mistreated and abused by his brothers, and eventually sold into slavery by them, Joseph could have easily chosen to believe that this was all evidence that God didn’t love him or wasn’t “on his side.” Isn’t that the same place our minds are often tempted to go when we face difficulties or troubles? “God must not care about me. If He did, these things wouldn’t be happening to me.” This seems to be especially true if our troubles come about because of other people’s meanness or sin, while we were simply trying to live our lives following God.Joseph was living a life of obedience even as a young boy. He wasn’t perfect, as evidenced by his somewhat boastful interactions with his brothers, where he relayed his dreams of ruling over them. But he definitely didn’t deserve to be thrown in a pit and then sold as a slave by his own family members! Can you imagine how he must have felt when his brothers ripped off his colorful robe? This robe represented the special bond he had with his father and his brothers, in their jealousy, destroyed it.Have you ever seen something you treasured be ripped apart before your eyes? Maybe it was a tangible object like Joseph’s robe, or maybe it was a long-treasured dream that you saw crumble. In those moments, it’s easy to ask, “Where are you, God? Don’t you see me?”One thing we can learn from Joseph’s life is that God never leaves us. Even when we can’t see Him or feel Him, He is there and He is working on our behalf. Joseph must have wondered what God was up to as he was being led off to Egypt as a slave, but he didn’t waiver in his trust and obedience to God.Questions to think about:How does it feel to be mistreated when you have done nothing wrong?What do you learn from Joseph’s life that can help you respond to people who mistreat you or are jealous of you?Do you ever struggle with envy like Joseph’s brothers did? If so, what are some healthy ways you can deal with it?

Have your parents ever told you to do something that you didn't want to do? Of course, everyone has been there. But what did you do? God told Jonah to do something that he didn't want to do, so he ran away!

Jesus had some friends who need help that only he could give. One of his friends was really sick so his friends asked him to come to their town and heal Lazarus. But Jesus took too long to get there and Lazarus died! You'll never believe what happened next!

Jesus And The Wise MenHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, Jesus and the Wise Men, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw?What did the wise men follow to find Jesus?A star! God put a star in the sky so the wise men could know where to go to worship Jesus.How did King Herod feel when he heard about the new king’s birth?He was angry! He wanted to be the only king, so he tricked the wise men and tried to find out where Jesus was so he could go kill him.What does it mean to worship? How did the wise men worship Jesus?Worship is anything we say, do, or think that brings praise and thanks to God. The wise men bowed and brought Jesus gifts to show they worshiped him as the one true King.What are some ways you can worship Jesus this Christmas?You can sing Christmas songs about Jesus and the first Christmas to worship and praise him. You can help your family get the house ready for Christmas. As you do, you can think about why Christmas is important and say thank you to God for sending Jesus at Christmas. You can read the Christmas story and think about why it is so important, and you can bring an offering to church to worship Jesus with a gift like the wise men did. An offering is money you choose to give to Jesus by giving to the church.Parent DevotionalHey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this Bible story for yourself. We encourage you to read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadElementary Coloring Page and Activity Sheet - Christmas Each week we have new activity sheets and coloring pages to help your child remember the week’s Christmas lesson.DownloadNavigating Parenthood - Christmas Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this Two-Minute Tip all about the importance of celebrating the big and small things as you strive to bring fun into your home this season!Download

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22Matthew 4:18-20; 16:13-19; Acts 10:34; 15:7-11Peter began his story in the Bible as just a plain fisherman who was invited by Jesus to follow Him. When Jesus came into his life, he became a new person and everything changed for him. While he never became a perfect person, he was always the Peter that Jesus had loved from the start. Peter was called the rock that Jesus built His church on because Peter recognized who Jesus was. Although he was untrained and started out from quite an ordinary existence, people were amazed at how boldly he spoke. Even after the ascension of Jesus to heaven, it was recognized by the people hearing Peter that he must have been with Jesus from the way he spoke and carried himself. How incredible the change must have been for people who did not know him to see Jesus at work in his life? Peter was transformed and given new purpose and meaning because he now belonged to the family of God. Since he had been accepted by God, he knew that God showed no favoritism and went on to fight so that everyone would be accepted into God’s family just like he had been.Belonging to the family of God means that we are part of a new life with God. He gives us a new reason to live, helps us become more like Jesus and gives us brothers and sisters to be in community with through it all. The life of Peter shows us how Jesus looks for real people, calls out to us, invites us into His family and believes in us even if we fail over and over again. He was full of heart and passion and God knew it. God sought Peter out exactly for who he was, not for what he had done or failed to do.Peter was the first great voice of the gospel both during and after Pentecost. He goes on to show us how to invite others into the family of God by extending the invitation to everyone. He was called by God to minister to the people that nobody else would go to and offered them the chance to know Jesus. He fought on behalf of Gentile believers to the Jerusalem church that did not know what to do with them. He pressed on so the new believers would be granted respect and an equal place at God’s table and it was because of this fight that helped people see God’s love was truly available to everyone. What a life changing moment in the course of history that helped made it possible for all to enter into God’s family! Remember, some people want to feel they belong before they believe so allow your family to grow and you will see God shine through it.Questions to think about:Is there anyone who could use you as an advocate so they might be included in the great things God is doing?Part of being in the family of God is realizing that we are all in it together. What Christian relationships exist in your life that would benefit from viewing them as family members instead of outsiders? How does this change your interactions with them?Think about the people in your life. Who among them may struggle with feelings of loneliness or a lack of a caring and supportive community? These are the people you can invite into the family of God. Think of some ways to do this that focus more on loving them than trying to make them believers.

Jesus Calms the Storm“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)Mark 4:35-41Jesus told us in scripture that we will face many trials in this life (John 16:33). This is a fact of life – not an “if,” but a “when.” Maybe you have not experienced trials yet or maybe you have been through more than your fair share of struggle. Whatever the case may be, God can handle it.Jesus demonstrates His power to the disciples by effortlessly calming a raging storm after suggesting He and the disciples cross the lake in a boat. Soon after setting off on their journey, a storm, described as “fierce,” comes upon them. The boat began to fill with water and, understandably so, the disciples began to panic. They looked around for Jesus, but could not find Him. Eventually, they found Him sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat. He was unfazed by the storm because He was not afraid. The disciples began yelling, “Don’t you care that we are going to drown?” Jesus woke up and using only His voice, instructed the waves and wind to be still. Immediately, the storm subsided.Once the storm had ended, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” In the midst of a raging storm, Jesus felt peace because He knew He was stronger than the storm. He would not let it bring down the ship. Yet, the disciples let fear consume them when they faced the storm, not believing that Jesus could save them.When trials or “storms” enter our lives, it is easy to let our fear lead us. Let this miracle be a testament to the power of Christ in our lives. By calming the dangerous storm, He showed us that He can calm any type of storm we are facing. When something scary happens, we do not have to be afraid because Jesus has proved that He is more powerful than anything we will face, including nature.Questions to think about:What storm are you facing?What stands in the way of you handing over your fear to Christ?Is there a time in your life when Jesus has calmed a storm you faced? Trust that He can do it again.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28Genesis 1-2Have you ever house-sat before? Usually it includes a long list of responsibilities like checking the mail, watering the plants, rolling trashcans in and out and caring for animals while the owner is away. It is a big undertaking, but it proves how much the owners trust you if you are asked to take care of their home and everything in it while they leave. In the same way, when God created the Earth, He asked humans to take care of it. Talk about a big responsibility!It only took God six days to create the Earth and everything in it: light, darkness, sky, land, seas, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals and finally man and woman. When He brought humans into this world, God told them that He had created this place for them! What an awesome gift! However, it was Adam and Eve’s responsibility to care for it and be good stewards of what He had entrusted them with.This may seem like a big job for us to continue fulfilling this today, but since humans were created in the image of God, we have been given characteristics of God that naturally make us want to care for the things He cares for. When we become followers of Christ, we begin to take on many of His qualities and desires. One of these being the desire to care for the Earth. We do this in both big and small ways by throwing away our trash, not wasting food, being gentle and loving toward animals and even something as simple as watering the plants!God put a lot of thought and care into this beautiful world He created for us and the least we can do is put the same thought and care into appreciating and maintaining it.Questions to think about:What does it mean to be created in God’s image?What is something God created that makes you feel His presence and appreciate His power?What is one way you can do your part to be a good steward of God’s creation?

John 6:5-13 New International Version5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

“God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” Exodus 2:24-25Exodus 1-2We all want to know how our lives are going to turn out. We want to know where to go to school, what career we’re supposed to pursue, who we’re supposed to marry, how many kids we should have… the list goes on and on. The thought of the future can be overwhelming and terrifying, because it is unknown and out of our control. This causes lots of anxiety in us because we like control. Not only do we like it, but we crave it. It makes us feel powerful and safe.We feel like if we only knew what we were supposed to do, if we only knew what God wanted for us, we would be less anxious and more ready and willing to trust that He really does have our best interest at heart. Trusting God is already hard enough, so why does He seem to be so silent on the big life decisions we have to make? In Exodus 1-2 Moses’ future was at risk from the very beginning of his life. From being born an Israelite and put into a basket to save his life from Pharaoh to growing up in an Egyptian household, Moses’ life was largely unknown and out of his control; but God protected him because He had great plans for him. At the same time that Moses was growing up in scary and uncomfortable circumstances, God was working within Moses to raise Him to rescue the Israelites from their slavery. To the Israelites in slavery, it probably felt like God wasn’t listening to them. Nothing about their circumstances changed to show that God was even listening to their cries, and they were less in control of their future than they had ever been before, but God was in control and working for their good so that they could be freed. The same is true about our lives and current circumstances. Our futures may seem out of our hands and far from God, but the God that protected Moses and had a great future in store for him is the same God that can be trusted with our future as well. Questions to think about:When you think about your future, do you tend to feel more anxious or at peace?How do you typically respond when things in your life feel out of control?Where in your life can you choose to let go and trust God more?

This story is based on Luke 7:36-50Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.[a] 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver[b] to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion’s DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion’s den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion’s mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

The Walls Of JerichoHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, The Walls of Jericho, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw?What instructions did God give Joshua?He told Joshua to gather his soldiers and march around the city of Jericho for six days. Seven priests were in front – their job was to blow the horns. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, blowing horns and giving a great shout.Did that seem strange?That must have sounded strange that a big wall would fall just because of some horns, shouts, and marching. But it happened because of God’s power!What should you do when God gives you instructions?Listen and obey like Joshua and the Israelites obeyed. It’s always the right choice to obey God.Take some time to pray with your child. You might pray something like this:Dear God, thank you that you always know what’s best for me. Please help me to listen to you and obey so that I can follow your best plan. I love you! Amen.Parent Devotional - Big and Strong Week 1Hey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this week’s Bible story for yourself. Read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadColoring Page and Activity Sheet - Big and Strong Week 1Each week we have new activity sheets and coloring pages to help your child remember the Bible story and learn more about our big and strong God.DownloadNavigating Parenthood - Big and Strong Week 1Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this blog post all about how to foster healthy obedience in our children that comes from a place of love and respect rather than rules they follow out of obligationDownloadPlus, check out resources to help you win as a parent with our parent devotions and various videos, blog posts, and podcasts just for you from Saddleback Parents!Stories of the Bible is a part of the Lumivoz Podcast Network. For more great shows like Stories of the Bible Jr and others, just search "Lumivoz" in your favorite podcast app!

Jesus and the disciples met a man who couldn't see. Why would God make someone who was blind? Did the man do something wrong? Did his parents? And also... what a weird way to perform a miracle!

Talk It OverJesus Walks On WaterHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, Jesus Walks on Water, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched?What amazing thing did Jesus do in the Bible story?Jesus walked on water.What happened when Jesus invited Peter onto the water?Peter had faith and stepped out of the boat. He walked on water with Jesus! When he looked around and saw the storm, he began to feel scared and started to drown, but Jesus saved him.What does faith mean? Who can you have faith in?Faith is believing even when we can’t see. We can have faith in God when we believe in him even though we can’t see him!Take some time to pray with your child. You might say something like this:Dear God, thank you for loving me. Thank you that you are always with me. Help me to have faith that you are with me and will help me no matter what. I love you! Amen.Parent Devotional - Step Up Week 4Hey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this week’s Bible story for yourself. Read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadColoring Page and Activity Sheet - Step Up Week 4Each week we have a new coloring page and activity sheet for your child to remember the Bible story for the week and learn more about our Big Idea.DownloadNavigating Parenthood: Step Up - Week 4Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 4 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.DownloadToday's story comes from Matthew 14:22-33 ESV (from Bible Gateway)22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[b] from the land,[c] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[d] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[e] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”For more great podcasts and stories, visit https://lumivoz.com

Hey parents! Every week the friends at Happy Harbor learn a new lesson about God's love. Your toddler can join Arlo the bear, Tilly the penguin, and Kelby the octopus as they learn that God made you, God loves you, and God wants to be your friend!And parents, the show notes contain fun activities and resources for you to use for FREE with your little one for a fun activity. Share God's love with your kids today!

Noah And The FloodHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week’s lesson, Noah and the Flood, with your child after they’ve watched the video service!What was your favorite part of the video we just watched? Do you have any questions about what you saw?How was Noah different from the people around him?Noah was the only man on Earth who still walked with God and made the right choices. All of the other people were evil and were doing things God says are wrong.What were God’s instructions to Noah? Why might that have seemed strange?God told Noah to build a boat and put two of each animal on it. It was strange because God warned of a flood, but it had never even rained like that before! Noah had to have faith and trust God’s plan.What did God promise Noah? How did he show this promise?God promised he would never flood the Earth again, and he put a rainbow in the sky to show his promise.What are some of God’s plans for me?To love him forever, to love other people, and to be a part of his family.Think about this part of our Bible verse: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” What does it mean that God directs your path?It means he tells us what is best and the right way to live. He does that by speaking to us through the Bible, through his helper the Holy Spirit, by talking to us through other Christians, or by talking to him in prayer.Parent Devotional - Step Up Week 3Hey parents! We have something just for you to enjoy this week’s Bible story for yourself. Read over this devotion sometime this week as a way for you to reflect on the Bible story your child saw from Church at Home. We love you!DownloadStep Up Week 3: EL Coloring page and Activity SheetEach week we have new activity sheets and coloring pages to help your child remember the Bible story and learn more about how they can step up in faith.DownloadNavigating Parenthood: Step Up - Week 3Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 3 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.DownloadToday's Bible Story Comes Genesis 6-8 (from Bible Gateway)6 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw the beautiful women[a] and took any they wanted as their wives. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with[b] humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”4 In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord.The Story of Noah9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!14 “Build a large boat[c] from cypress wood[d] and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.[e] 16 Leave an 18-inch opening[f] below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.The Flood Covers the Earth7 When everything was ready, the

Hey parents! Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7We are proud to present podcasts for all ages! Don't forget to check out these other kids and parent podcasts from Saddleback:🎧 Happy Harbor - Join Arlo the bear, Tilly the penguin, and Kelby the octopus each week as they learn that God made you, God loves you, and God wants to be your friend!🎧 Stories of the Bible Junior - Bible stories for your toddler... and you to enjoy!🎧 Parent Skills Podcast - A podcast for parents from Saddleback church. With experts on each stage of development from infants through adult children and parents just like you, you'll find something for you in each episode.Helpful links:https://saddlebackkids.comhttps://www.youtube.com/c/SaddlebackKidshttps://saddlebackparents.comToday's story comes from Exodus 3 and 4. Here's the passage courtesy of Bible Gateway!Moses and the Burning Bush3 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,[a] the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,[b] the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered.5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father,[c] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship[d] God at this mountain.”13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[e] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.16 “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.19 “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”Miraculous Signs for Moses4 Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.3 “Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and

Hey parents! Download this FREE kid’s ministry resource 12 FREE Bible Stories here: https://bit.ly/2UAS1w7We are proud to present podcasts for all ages! Don't forget to check out these other kids and parent podcasts from Saddleback:🎧 Happy Harbor - Join Arlo the bear, Tilly the penguin, and Kelby the octopus each week as they learn that God made you, God loves you, and God wants to be your friend!🎧 Stories of the Bible Junior - Bible stories for your toddler... and you to enjoy!🎧 Parent Skills Podcast - A podcast for parents from Saddleback church. With experts on each stage of development from infants through adult children and parents just like you, you'll find something for you in each episode.Today's story comes from Exodus 1 and 2. Here's the passage courtesy of Bible Gateway!Israel Oppressed in Egypt1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his family:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.5 The total number of Jacob’s descendants[a] was seventy;[b] Joseph was already in Egypt.6 Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation eventually died. 7 But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them.8 A new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and powerful than we are. 10 Come, let’s deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and when war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” 11 So the Egyptians assigned taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread so that the Egyptians came to dread[c] the Israelites. 13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly 14 and made their lives bitter with difficult labor in brick and mortar and in all kinds of fieldwork. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives—the first, whose name was Shiphrah, and the second, whose name was Puah— 16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?”19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.”20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very numerous. 21 Since the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Pharaoh then commanded all his people, “You must throw every son born to the Hebrews into the Nile, but let every daughter live.”Moses’s Birth and Adoption2 Now a man from the family of Levi married a Levite woman. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son; when she saw that he was beautiful,[d] she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with asphalt and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 Then his sister stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him.5 Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe at the Nile while her servant girls walked along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds, sent her slave girl, took it, 6 opened it, and saw him, the child—and there he was, a little boy, crying. She felt sorry for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew boys.”7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a Hebrew woman who is nursing to nurse the boy for you?”8 “Go,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. So the girl went and called the boy’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses,[e] “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”Moses in Midian11 Years later,[f] after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people[g] and observed their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your neighbor?” [h]14 “Who made you a commander and judge over us?” the man replied. “Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”Then Moses became afraid and thought, “What I did is certainly known.”15 When Pharaoh heard about thi