These are the Character resources provided for: Miriam’s song – the Red Sea (Exodus 15)
For each passage, there is a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page. All other graphics are extra’s!
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The story of passing through the Red Sea is such a well referenced one, what immediately follows is Miriam’s song. It is actually quite dark at points, and yet the idea of spontaneously breaking into song as a response to something inexplicably deep is one that still prevails to this day. This retelling takes a little artistic licence with the order of things but also leads the kids through the joy and panic, fear and relief of the Israelite’s.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice. Main Passage : Exodus 15 Additional Passages : Exodus 14 + 16
Miriam stood near her brother Moses watching the pillar of cloud move round the camp of Israelite’s. There was a distant figure leading it, the Angel, not that Miriam had ever managed to get close enough to see. Miriam wasn’t the only one watching, everyone seemed to be standing staring. The strange pillar had been ahead of them, a great marker of where they should go, soft and white during the day and burning with fire, bright enough to light the sky, thorough every night. What did it mean that it was moving?
Suddenly, a shout went up, not a shout of joy but of fear. On the horizon there was the great dust cloud of an army approaching. The Egyptians were coming to reclaim their slaves. Panic rose in the people, there was nowhere to escape, death or capture were the only options. Moses was quickly surrounded by a crowd of angry family leaders. Miriam looked around at the chaos in the camp and the growing dust cloud, panic was everywhere, then she remembered the pillar of cloud.
“Look” she shouted as loud as she could, “look at the pillar” She grabbed her timbrel and banged it’s skin fiercely, continuing to shout until Moses saw her. He followed her gaze and saw the cloud moving into the path of the army. The cloud seemed to grow even brighter that evening, there was no fire, and its calm glow soothed the worried camp as they packed their belongings.
Miriam, Moses, and their brother Aaron walked down to the water’s edge. Handing Miriam his staff, Moses stretched his hands over the water and lifted his face to heaven. Moments later, Miriam dug the staff into the ground to stop herself from being blown over. From the east a tunnel of wind came pushing the water into gigantic arcs.
“Aaron, go tell the people we must walk through as soon as the land is dry enough” shouted Moses above the roar of the wind. Staring at the shapes in the waters, Miriam saw the ground appear, first like dry puddles in the sea, then the puddles grew and joined to form a path with giant walls of water on each side. “Come Miriam” shouted Moses, taking the staff from her hands.
The Israelite’s stood on the banks of the sea with faces of fear, shock, and wonder. Aaron ran up to Moses, shouting breathlessly; “They will not move”. Miriam knew just what to do. She grabbed Moses by the hands and dragged him into the pathway, them she turned around, lifted her timbrel and started to sing;
“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him!”
She repeated her song, then started to walk through the pathway with Moses by her side. Their voices raised in song together. Behind them, the fear softened, and the people started to join in with the song as they passed through the water lined route.
As the sun rose, the pillar of cloud seemed to fade and the horses and chariots of the Egyptian army could be seen clearly camped on the other side. They, too, saw the last of the Israelite’s walking through the strange pathway in the sea. Grabbing their belongings and readying their horses, the army shouted and rushed towards the water. The chariots found the mud and stones difficult to pass over, the horses sunk in the soft ground, but the army didn’t not stop pouring into the path. Miriam noticed Moses walk calmly to the water’s edge and once the last Israelite had left the pathway in the sea, he stretched his hands over the sea and the giant walls of water collapsed. A cheer went up from the Israelite’s and Miriam once again lifted her timbrel and started to sing a song of praise.
“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.”
Today’s hero is Miriam, she shows us the gift of Song.
A simple split pin Palm Sunday craft won’t phase even the most nervous of teachers, grab a craft knife and prepare the slit in advance for an even smoother craft time. Watch Jesus as he leaves the edge of the village and the crowds greet him, travelling the stem of a palm leaf!
This Palm Sunday magic window craft shows the sudden change in the environment, pace and atmosphere that the triumphal entry into Jerusalem is so well known for. The fixed point for this image is the donkey with Jesus riding, the quiet of the edge of the village turns into the crowded street of palm waving, people praising, coat dropping celebration.
This worksheet follows the donkeys journey from it’s home on the edge of the village, to Jesus and towards the city of Jerusalem. It encompasses a range of skills from consulting bible text to drawing key elements of the story and even naming the donkey. This worksheet would work well as an extension activity or review, for an individual or as small group work.
To complete the worksheet you will need a bible (the gospel of Luke) some colored pens or pencils and to turn your thinking caps on!
The PDF can can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
