Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Vocabulary
Covenant: a contract, promises between two people
Holy: set apart, special
Mediator: a go-between, someone who talks for others
Lesson Exodus 19-20
Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai, the place where Moses talked to the Angel of the
Lord at the burning bush. Moses went up to the mountain to talk to God. God said, "I
brought you out of Egypt to be a special, holy nation. If you will obey me and keep my
law, you will be special to me."
Moses went down to the people and told them what God said. They replied, "We will do
everything that the Lord has said." Moses went to God to tell him that the Israelites
agreed to the covenant. God said to seal the agreement, he would appear on the mountain
to the people.
Meeting with God is a very special occasion. When we meet with important people, we
get cleaned up, put on our best
clothes, and act on out best behavior. God told the people to cleanse themselves for three
days, not to come too close to the mountain, and to wait for the trumpets.
Activity: Have the students act the part of the Israelites. Give them handi-wipes to
represent cleansing. Lay a string on the floor to represent the line they shouldn't cross.
God is so mighty that He cannot be approached directly. His power would kill you. So He
came close to the mountain, appearing as a stormy cloud, with thunder and lightening.
Suddenly a loud trumpet blast filled the air. The mountain shook. The people were very
scared. God called for Moses and Aaron to come to the mountain so he could give them
the law.
Graphics:
Discussion points
• Moses acted as a go-between, a mediator. He spoke to God for the Israelites, and
relayed God's will to them.
• Without a law, it is impossible to know how to please God. God gives us law so
we can know we are doing what's right.
o Activity: Take a sticker (or other small prize) in one hand. Put both hands
behind your back. Have students choose a hand. If they pick the hand with
the prize, give it to them. If they don't, don't. discuss how it's hard to know
if you're making the right choice without any guidelines. Explain that the
law guides us before we have to make choices, by telling us what is right
and what is wrong. And picking what's right is like getting the prize. This
time, tell the students which hand the prize is in, then give them the prize
when they pick it. If someone chooses the other hand, despite knowing
which hand it was in, discuss how many people choose to do what is
wrong, even when they know ahead of time.
• If meeting God was important to the Israelites, is it important to us? How should
we act when we are meeting with God in worship or prayer?
• Did the Israelites know what God's law would be before they agreed to obey it?
No. their promise was based on their past relationship with God. They knew they
would be taken care of, and did not fear promising their service to God.
linguistic questions
1. What is a covenant?
2. Explain how Moses acted as a mediator.
3. What makes a person holy?
activity questions
emotion questions
1. How did the Israelites feel when God's cloud appeared on the mountain?
2. Were the Israelites willing or unwilling to obey God?
3. Do you think God was pleased or not pleased that the Israelites agreed to the
covenant?
application questions
fact questions
review questions