Use this story as part of a God-time at home, or as a bedtime story. It can also be used alongside this month’s Together sessions.
You could learn the repeated refrain (in italics) before you read the story, encouraging the children to join in every time the refrain comes around.
Moses wandered with his sheep,
High upon a mountain steep.
There he spied a bush that burned.
And so he stopped, and so he turned.
Orange, yellow, red and white,
The fire flamed both hot and bright.
And while it was an awesome sight,
It did not set the bush alight.
From within the bush there came
A voice addressing him by name.
“Moses!” called the shrubbery.
And so he answered: “Yes that’s me.”
The voice replied: “Now stay away.
Remove your sandals, don’t delay.
You’re standing on a holy place.”
So, trembling, Moses hid his face.
“I’m the God of Abraham,”
So said the voice. “That’s who I am.
The God of Isaac, Jacob, too,
Of every Hebrew, just like you.”
Orange, yellow, red and white,
The fire flamed both hot and bright.
And while it was an awesome sight,
It did not set the bush alight.
“And I have watched my people die.
And I have heard my people cry.
So now I come to set them free
From Pharaoh’s cruel tyranny.”
“And then I’ll give them their own land,
Guide them there with my own hand.
A land where sweet green grasses grow.
A land where milk and honey flow.”
Orange, yellow, red and white,
The fire flamed both hot and bright.
And while it was an awesome sight,
It did not set the bush alight.
“But I’m a no one,” Moses cried.
“You’re my servant,” God replied.
You’ll use my power to set them free.
For ‘I am who I am’ you see!”
“What kind of power?” Moses asked.
And so God answered: “Drop your staff.”
It turned into a squiggly snake!
“There’s my power, no mistake.”
“Now put your hand inside your shirt.
Then pull it out, ooh, it looks hurt!
Now stick it back inside and then
You’ll see that it’s been healed again!”
“And when you touch the river Nile,
You’ll see it turn blood-red and vile.
Show them that and they will see
That all your power comes from me.”
Orange, yellow, red and white,
The fire flamed both hot and bright.
And while it was an awesome sight,
It did not set the bush alight.
“But I’m a rubbish speaker, see,”
Said Moses. “Please just let me be.”
But God said: “Aaron is your bro.
He’s good with words, that much I know.”
“So, Moses, go and speak for me.
Say to Pharaoh: ‘Set them free.’
Lead my people faithfully,
And bring them out of slavery!”
Orange, yellow, red and white,
The fire flamed both hot and bright.
And while it was an awesome sight,
It did not set the bush alight.
