BIBLE STORIES

  The King of Egypt was very happy with Joseph. He was happy with the way that he had helped to save all the people from the famine. The King was kind to Joseph and his family, the people of Israel.

 

  Some time passed, and Egypt had a new king. There were now many more Israelites living in the country. Joseph had died and the Egyptians began to forget about what he had done to save them. The new king didn’t like the Israelites. He thought that they were going to take over his country. So he started to be mean to them. He forced them to work as slaves. He made them build two big cities.

 

  The king became very angry. He decided that he would have every newborn Israelite baby boy killed. That meant that every mother and father were afraid. One Israelite family decided they would keep their baby boy. They loved him very much and he was very precious to them. They kept him hidden in their house for as long as they could. But they baby grew, and grew. He kept growing big and strong. He made lots of noise, so much so that they were afraid that someone might hear him. So his mother had an idea.

 

  She gathered together some reeds and made a basket. She covered it with tar so that it would float. The basket was like a tiny boat. She put her baby into the basket and hid it in the tall reeds which were at the edge of the River Nile. She spoke to her young daughter, “Stay nearby, and keep watch. Watch out for your brother.” So she sat and waited, and watched.

 

  Soon, the daughter of the King of Egypt came along. She was the princess, and she had come to the river to have a wash. She had brought her servant girls with her. She began to wash and then she noticed the basket. She sent one of her servants to fetch it and bring it back to her. When she opened it, she saw the baby. The baby was crying and the princess felt sorry for him. Then she said, “this is one of the Israelite babies”.

 

  Just then, the baby’s sister came out of her hiding place. She asked the princess if she wanted her to go and find someone to look after the baby. The princess thought this was a good idea. So the baby’s sister ran off. A little while later she came back with her mother, and the princess told her to look after the baby. She even gave her some money to do it!

 

  When the baby grew up a bit, and got a bit older, the princess adopted him as her own son. She gave him a name, Moses, which means “saved from the water”.

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MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES