God’s covenant with his people
key words
biblical reference
Exodus 19, 20, 23:20-33 and 24
lesson objective
To help children identify some responsibilities that are established in a covenant with God
memory verse
“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you wo not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Three months after they had left Egypt, the people of Israel came to Mount Sinai, where God had called Moses to be the deliverer of his people (Exodus 3:12).
Israel knew God because of the miracles he performed, but they did not have any rules to govern their life as a community. Every community needs laws that govern them so that they can live successfully.
For the Israelites, Moses was like a prophet and priest. God spoke to him and he made God’s divine will known to the people. But the people themselves had no personal experience of being in God’s presence.
The encounter between God and Moses was an extraordinary event, accented by thunder and lightning storms. The people had to purify themselves because they were going to be in the presence of the holy God.
Until now, many had practiced a life much like the people they had lived among; but now God was preparing them to be his chosen people, a people who would follow him. This was the starting point for the difference between the people of God and the people around them.
Israel needed rules to guide their relationship with God, as well as rules to govern their relationships with others. This covenant that God made with his people fulfilled those two great needs.
The church, formed by Christians, is God’s people, and they have a mission to demonstrate to everyone outside the church the kind of life that is possible if they have a relationship with God.
The rules that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai continue to be valid today and should be obeyed.
introduce the lesson
Activity: Responsibility?
Give your group Student Activity Sheet #271-A and have them answer the questions.
What is a responsibility? (An obligation or duty that we need to complete.)
What responsibilities do you have? (Study, help around the house, read the Bible, be a good friend.)
What responsibilities do children your age have? (Feed your pet, clean your room, do your homework.)
teach the lesson
If possible, prepare pictures of Mount Sinai at the time of the covenant, including the two stone tablets of the law. Ask your children if they have seen lightning and heard thunder before. Also, refer to agreements that are made when you celebrate an important event: like a wedding, a birthday, graduation party, etc. (How much does it cost to rent a location, buy the food, the refreshments, etc.)
Moses and all the Israelites set up their tents at the base of Mount Sinai. And Moses went up the mountain to meet God. Yahweh called to Moses from the mountain and said: “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Then Moses went back to the people and summoned the elders and he told them what God had said. And they, in turn, spoke to the people and told them what God had said. The people all responded together, “We’ll do everything the Lord has said.”
“On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.”
“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’ ”
Moses told the people all that God had told him while he was on the mountain. God gave them the Ten Commandments and warned them about what they should and should not do in order to be a holy people.
To narrate the story, invite an adult to dress up like Moses present him to the group and then have him leave the room. Tell the children he went to Mount Sinai to talk to God. Then have him return and say, “God wants you to remember everything he did to free you from your enslavement in Egypt. Now he wants to make a covenant with all of you, so that you will be his people, among all the people the world. He says “You will be my consecrated people and you will have many blessings if you fulfill the covenant.”
Have your children answer, “We’ll do what God commands.”
connect the lesson
Activity: A formal covenant
Give the group Student Activity Sheet #271-B and #271-C. Then review the lesson.
Help your children find Exodus 19:4-8 in their Bibles and complete the scripture passage by writing in the missing words in the blanks on Student Activity Sheet #271-B.
“‘You yourselves have (seen) what I did to Egypt, and how I (carried) you on (eagles’) wings and brought you to (myself). Now if you (obey) me fully and keep my (covenant), then out of all nations you will be my (treasured possession). Although the whole earth is (mine), you will be for me a (kingdom) of (priests) and a (holy) nation.’ The people all responded together, ‘(We will) do everything the (Lord) has said.’”
The shepherd gives the sheep a place of honor on the right. Tell them that this covenant indicates responsibility from both parties, God and the Israelites.
In a covenant promise between two people, there are responsibilities that both people need to adhere to. God held up His end and fulfilled his promise to His people; but when Israel did not do the same, God told them that they had just invalidated the entire covenant, and with it, they lost their blessings as well. Israel went into a downward spiral. Their enemies defeated them because God stopped helping them win their wars.
Sometimes, because children have disobeyed their parents, they encounter difficulties. If we stop attending church, we stop praising and worshiping God.
Not telling the truth also brings serious consequences, as well as when you take things that are not yours, or you speak badly about another person.
Activity: Responsibilities of the people of God
Give the group Student Activity Sheet #271-D entitled “Responsibilities of the People of God.” Ask them to make a list of responsibilities based on the commandment listed.
Second Commandment: The responsibility is to not worship idols.
Fourth Commandment: The responsibility is to attend worship.
Fifth Commandment: The responsibility is to obey your parents.
Eighth Commandment: The responsibility is to not take things that belong to someone else.
Ninth Commandment: The responsibility is to not speak badly of others (rumors, gossip).
practice the memory verse
Write the memory verse on poster board and cut out each word, like a puzzle. Mix up the pieces and then give each child a piece. Now have them come up to the board/ wall and put the puzzle pieces together so they can see the verse – use tape on the back of each piece so they will stick.
wrap-up
Pray
To finish the session, have everyone hold hands and then pray for your children aloud. Let them hear you ask God to help them to obey the covenant that they have made with each other.
Encourage
Encourage the children to fulfil their responsibilities as the People of God by obeying the ten commandments.
Invite
Thank your children for their attendance and announce something about the next lesson to increase their interest. Tell to invite friends.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™