MEMORY VERSE: Exodus 34:35 "And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all of the books of the Old Testament. If the students learn them at this young age and practice every now and then, they will remember them for a lifetime. This is our goal!
PRAYER: May our friends and neighbors know just by looking at how we behave that we are trying to serve the LORD. Let us never be ashamed of trying to do what God wants us to do. (Rom. 1:16). May others see that there is something different--something better--about us because we are serving the LORD.
SPECIAL SONG: This Little Light of Mine (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: TV Box (see directions and thoughts February - Visual Aids #1 on this blog)
LESSON POINTS:
- Do we remember what happened to the two tablets of stone that God had written His commandments? That's right! When God told Moses that He needed to go and check on the people at the bottom of the mountain and Moses saw that the people were worshiping a golden calf that they had made, Moses was so angry, what did he do? He threw down the tablets that he had in his hands and they broke in pieces. God told Moses that he needed to hew--or to cut with a cutting tool--two tablets of stone just like the first ones that Moses had broken. God said to be ready the next morning and come up to the top of Mount Sinai and for Moses to present himself there. Moses was to make sure that no one went up with him and, in fact, no man could be seen on the mountain at all, not even the cattle or sheep could eat by the mountain. God only wanted Moses.
- So Moses cut two new stones that were just like the first ones and got up early the next morning and, taking the stones with him, he went up into the mountain. God came down on the top of the mountain and Moses bowed his head and worshiped Him. That's what we do when we talk to God, isn't it? We bow our heads and pray, worshiping God! Moses, again, asked God to forgive him and the people and to take them to the Promised Land. God answered that He was going to make a covenant or a serious promise that He was going to do marvels that had never been done before. God was going to drive out the people that lived in the Promised Land, so that His people could live there. The children of Israel had to go in to the land and destroy all of their altars, break their idols, and cut down their groves where they worshiped their idols. God said AGAIN that the people should worship no other god, but the LORD God. (Ex. 34:14). He did not want his people worshiping the other people's idols. He also didn't want them to marry the sons and daughters of the people that were in the Promised Land because they might be influenced to worship the idols instead of the LORD God. AGAIN, God said that he was a jealous God.
- Do you remember how long Moses had stayed up in the mountain when the people didn't think he was coming back? That's right! Forty days and forty nights! Guess how long Moses stayed this time up in the mountain? That's right, too! Forty days and forty nights! What did Moses do for all that time? He listened to God and wrote on the tablets of stone. Moses, also, did not any eat any bread or drink any water in all those forty days and forty nights! That's a long time!
- When Moses finally came down the mountain with the two new tablets that were not broken, he did not know that his face shone from talking to God. All of the people were afraid to come close to Moses. Moses talked to Aaron and the rulers of the people, then he called all of the people together and told them all of God's commandments. When Moses was done talking to the people, he put a veil on his face, but took it off when he went into the tabernacle to talk to God. He only wore the veil when he was with the people.
- What are some reasons why God did not want the Israelites to marry the people that lived in Canaan? One of the biggest reasons is that God wanted His people to remain pure and not be corrupted by the Canaanites and others that lived there. The Canaanites were idol worshipers and offered sacrifices to idols made out of wood and stone and gold. If the Israelites married someone who worshiped an idol, then they, too, might be persuaded to worship an idol and not serve the LORD God. (Ex. 34:14-17) Remember God said that He was a jealous God. (Ex. 34:14)
Materials needed: 4" x 8" piece of tan construction paper, 2" x 3" gray construction paper, scissors, crayons.
- Hand out tan paper to students.
- Students draws the front of Moses with arms down.
- Color Moses.
- Turn Moses over and draw Moses' back.
- Color the back of Moses.
- Cut out Moses.
- Write "Moses And The Two New Stone Tablets" and "Exodus 34."
- Draw two tablets on gray paper.
- Make little pretend writing lines on both sides of tablets.
- Cut out tablets.
- Cut Moses arms up his sides, but not too far!
- Place tablets under Moses' arms and push a bit more so that tablets stay under his arms. Optional: Glue tablets under Moses' arms.
