The Prince of Egypt - LAUNCHING GROUND

Disclaimer:

At Launching Ground we don’t recommend you show movies to kids without understanding the content they will be exposed to. We have the responsibility to balance both their protection and preparation. To make it easier, here is a helpful reviews:

The Prince of Egypt Movie Review and Parental Guidance at Plugged In

Movie Description:

“The Prince of Egypt” is an animated musical film from DreamWorks Animation that tells the story of Moses, who learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the deliverer of his people from Egypt. The film shows how Moses goes through a journey of self-discovery, facing many challenges, but ultimately, through his perseverance, hard work, and faith, he sees his hope of the Israelites from by the power and grace of God.

You can discuss a number of character traits with this movie. Depending on which one you’d like to discuss, follow along with these helpful Launching Ground Movie Guides:

Delayed Gratification (Self-Discipline: Week 3)
Standing up for the Weak (Courage: Week 3)
First to Act (Courage: Week 4)

Discussing “Delayed Gratification”:

In “The Prince of Egypt,” the main character Moses goes through several instances of delayed gratification:

Moses is raised as an Egyptian prince, but he learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew slave. He initially wants to take immediate action to free his people, but he must first connect with God and trust Him before he can take action.
Moses must face many challenges and obstacles on his journey to free his people. He is opposed by the Pharaoh and his army, but he never gives up on his goal. He perseveres and endures through these difficulties, even when it seems like his goal is out of reach.
Moses also has to sacrifice his privileged position as an Egyptian prince to become a leader of his people, showing that he is willing to give up immediate pleasure for the greater good.

All these instances in the movie show how Moses must delay his gratification in order to achieve his goals and ultimately free his people from slavery.

Discussion Questions for “Delayed Gratification”:

You don’t have to ask all the questions but you can encourage your kids to express their thoughts and feelings about the movie, and help them to understand the concept of delayed gratification and help them apply it in their own lives:

How did Moses feel and act when he first learned that he was a Hebrew slave? Why do you think he responded that way?
What challenges did Moses face on his journey to free his people? How did he overcome these challenges?
How did Moses’ relationship with God change throughout the movie? How did his faith play a role in his journey?
Why do you think Moses had to wait so long before he could lead his people to freedom?
How does Moses demonstrate delayed gratification in the movie? What does he have to give up in order to achieve his goals?
How does Moses’ experience with delayed gratification relate to your own life?
What are some things that you have to wait for or work for in your own life? How does this relate to the story of Moses?

Discussing “Standing Up for the Weak”:

“The Prince of Egypt” shows the value of standing up for the weak in several ways:

Moses, as a prince of Egypt, initially is unaware of the plight of the Hebrews, but as he discovers his true heritage and learns about their suffering, he feels compelled to take action. He decides to stand up for them and fight for their freedom, even though it means going against the powerful Pharaoh and risking his own life.
The movie also shows the importance of standing up against injustice and oppression. Moses is able to rally the Hebrews and inspires them to fight for their freedom, showing that one person can make a difference and standing up for the weak is important.
The movie also shows the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, Moses is willing to put his own life at risk for the sake of his people, he stands up for his beliefs and his people, he does not back down even when faced with the might of the Pharaoh.

These themes in the movie can provide a great opportunity for parents to discuss the importance of standing up for the weak, empathy, unity, and the power of one person to make a difference, with their children. Helping children understand these values will help them to become more empathetic, compassionate and responsible citizens.

Discussion Questions for “Standing Up for the Weak”:

How does Moses feel about the Hebrews when he first learns about their situation? How does his attitude change as he learns more about them?
Why does Moses decide to stand up for the Hebrews? What motivates him to take action?
What challenges does Moses face as he tries to free the Hebrews? How does he overcome these challenges?
How does Moses inspire the Hebrews to fight for their freedom? What does this tell you about the power of one person to make a difference?
How does Moses demonstrate courage in the movie? What risks does he take to fight for the freedom of the Hebrews?
How does Moses’ experience with standing up for the weak relate to your own life? How can you apply this value in your own life?
What can we learn from Moses’ example about the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult?

Discussing “First to Act”:

In “The Prince of Egypt,” Moses demonstrates the value of being courageous and the first to act in several ways. He does need to listen to and trust God but when God called him, He eventually was the one to act in faith. Here are some examples of being first to act:

When Moses discovers his true heritage as a Hebrew slave and learns about the suffering of his people, he doesn’t wait for someone else to take action. He decides to take matters into his own hands and be the first to act. He decides to leave his privileged life in Egypt and go to the Hebrews to understand their situation and help them.
Moses is the first to confront the Pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people. He doesn’t wait for others to join him or for someone else to take the lead. He takes the initiative and is the first to speak out against the oppression of the Hebrews.
Moses is the first to rally the Hebrews and inspire them to fight for their freedom. He doesn’t wait for them to come to him, he goes to them and gives them hope and a sense of purpose. He is the one who starts the journey to freedom.
Moses is the first to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, he doesn’t wait for the Pharaoh to change his mind, he takes the initiative and leads the way.
Moses is the first to lead his people through the wilderness and teach them how to survive, he is the one who starts the process of building a new society.

God is really the first to act but He calls us to be obedient to follow Him and lead others. All these instances in the movie show how Moses demonstrates the value of being the first to act in obedience to God: he initiates the change, he starts the journey, he doesn’t wait for someone else to take the lead, this value is an important one and can inspire children to take initiative, to be the first to act, to be proactive and not wait for things to happen as they do what is right.

Discussion Questions for “First to Act”:

You don’t have to ask all the questions but you can encourage your kids to express their thoughts and feelings about the movie, and help them to understand the concept of being the “first to act” and help them apply it in their own lives:

How does Moses’ willingness to be the first to act help him to lead his people?
How does Moses’ being the first to act inspire others to join him in his quest?
How does Moses’ experience with being the first to act relate to your own life?
What are some examples of when you have been the first to act? How did it make you feel?
Are there any situations in your life where you wish you had been the first to act? Why?
How can you apply the quality of being the first to act in your own life to make a difference?
What can we learn from Moses’ experience about the importance of being the first to act?