Session 13-14: God teaches his people

Teresa
Aug 13, 2019
6 min read

Updated: Mar 14, 2020

After God frees his people from Egypt, he doesn't just leave the Israelites to make their way to the promised land (Canaan) as individuals. He teaches them how to live as a community and gives them laws on how to worship him and live in harmony with each other. In the desert, he prepares them and forms them as a nation before they are ready to enter the promised land.

Session 13: The 10 Commandments

Exodus 15-20

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogfVBP35U-U

Discussion

After the Israelites cross the Red Sea, what happened which led the Israelites to complain (see Exodus 16)? What did God instruct them to do, and what is he teaching them?

The Israelites are hungry and thirsty and they started to complain that they should have stayed in Egypt, for at least they had bread to eat.

God rained bread from heaven (manna). He commanded them to collect only enough for the day and twice as much on the sixth day, so that they could rest on the Sabbath. He also provided water from a rock. God was teaching the Israelites to trust in him, that he would provide for them every day.

Reflect: Do we worry unnecessarily? Do we trust in God, that he will provide for us and look after us?

Discuss the 10 commandments with the kids. Ask the children if they know what they are, and how they are applicable in their daily lives.

The commandments teach us how to love God and love each other. Here is a simplified (kid friendly) version of the 10 commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods before me.

Is there anything which you put before God? Ourselves? How about our mobile devices? Our things?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

God’s name is special. Do we use God's name in a disrespectful way?

3. Keep holy the Sabbath day

God rested on the seventh day, and he wants us to rest too. How do we spend our Sundays? Do we make sure we spend time with God, with our family and loved ones?

4. Honor your father and mother

Do we treat our parents with respect and love?

5. Do not kill

This is not just about murder. Have we done anything which hurts ourselves or others? (e.g. unkind words or actions). How can we always be life-giving to others?

6. Do not commit adultery

You can discuss the sacrament of marriage and what it means to be a good husband/wife. Depending on the age of your kids, you can also talk about modesty, chastity, and respecting our bodies.

7. Do not steal

Everything we have comes from God, and we should be grateful for what we have. Sometimes we can be tempted to take things which are not ours. However, we should try to focus on giving, not taking. What can we give or share with others?

8. Do not bear false witness against your neighbour

Do we say hurtful things about others, or tell lies about them? Do we bully or gossip, whether in person or on social media?

9. Do not covet your neighbour's wife

Can be discussed together with #10 for kids

10. Do not covet your neighbour's things

Do you look at others and wish you had their stuff, or where they live?

Are we grateful for what we have, or do we wish we had someone else's things?

God gives Israel the 10 commandments (as well as 52 additional laws) to teach them how to worship him, and live harmoniously with each other.

Remember God's covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis (Chapters 12, 15 and 17), where his descendants would be a blessing to all nations?

In Exodus, this covenant is renewed. God promises them that if they obey him and his commandments, he would make Israel "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). They would be God's people, shaped by his teachings and love, and show all the other nations how to live and what God was like. He also promised them that he would "guard [them] on the way and bring them to the [promised land] (Exodus 23:20) and "be an enemy to [their] enemies" (Exodus 23:22).

Session 14: Moses goes up to Mt Sinai

Exodus 24-32

Source: Crossroads Kids Club on YouTube https://youtu.be/aX28nAB4S7A

Discussion:

What do the Israelites do when Moses is on Mt Sinai? How does Moses deal with the situation?

Moses was on Mt Sinai for 40 days. The Israelites got impatient waiting for Moses, and asked Aaron to make a god for them to worship. Aaron gave in to their demands and used their jewelry to make a golden calf. This was in direct violation to the first commandment.

Moses pleaded with God to spare the Israelites. He said reminded God that he had brought them out of Egypt with "great power and a mighty hand", and killing them would only enable the Egyptians to say that he had brought them out with evil intent, only to kill them in the mountains. He also reminded God that he had promised Abraham, Isaac and Israel that he would give them many descendants. God relented and forgave his people.

When Moses saw the calf, he was so angry he broke the tablets upon which the commandments were written. He took the calf, burnt it, ground it into powder, mixed it with water and made the Israelites drink it.

Moses asked the Israelites - "Who is on the Lord's side?" (Exodus 32:25). Aaron and the sons of Levi responded immediately and gathered around him. They took up arms and obeyed his order to slay the men who had betrayed God. Because of what they did, the tribe of Levi would be ordained priests. (Before this, the firstborn of each family unit acted as priests. Henceforth, the priests would only come from the tribe of Levi).

The Ark of the Covenant

On Mt Sinai, God doesn't just give Moses and the Israelites the 10 commandments and other laws on how to live. He also gives them very detailed instructions on building an ark and tabernacle, a place where God can reside amongst the Jews. Watch the following video about the ark and tabernacle:

Source: Faith Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCTNy58bFB0

God gives really detailed instructions about how to build the tabernacle and how to worship him (Exodus 25-30). He wanted to live among the people and to build a relationship with them. Every morning, Moses would pitch the tent of the meeting outside the camp (Exodus 33:7), enter the tent and talk to God face to face, just as one would talk to a friend. When Moses entered, a pillar of cloud would stand at the door of the tent, signifying the presence of God. Only Moses and the priests could enter the tent, anyone else who sought God had to stand at the door of the tent.

How do we build a relationship with God today? What is different?

Today, we are able to pray and speak with God directly, as if speaking to a friend (just like Moses). Because Jesus died for us on the cross - he is the sacrificial lamb and he has shed his blood for our sins.

Mary is often referred to as the new Ark of the Covenant. Just as the ark was engulfed by a pillar of cloud of God, Mary was overshadowed by the holy spirit (Luke 1:35) to be a dwelling place for the Lord.

As God led the Israelites out of Egypt, he did not just leave them to wander to the promised land as individuals. He formed them as a people and gave them all they needed: