God’s Rules
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lead not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
Read: Exodus 16-17:6
God’s people had been travelling on their journey from Egypt for over two months. They arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai. The Israelites spread their camp in the desert in front of the mountain. Moses went up onto the mountain to speak with the Lord.
Moses remembered this place because it was where he used to be a shepherd for his father-in-law. It was also where he had seen the burning bush. Moses remembered how God had promised to lead Israel out of Egypt. He knew that the Lord always did what He said He would do.
On the mountain, God spoke to Moses and gave him a message for the people of Israel. Moses called the people’s elders and told them what the Lord had commanded him to say. This was the message: “If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations, you will be my treasured possession.”
When the people heard God’s message, they responded: “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
The Lord gave special instructions to Moses for the people. They were to wash themselves and their clothing and be ready by the third day. On that day, the Lord was going to come down on Mount Sinai. The people were not to touch the mountain. Anyone who touched the mountain was to be put to death.
On the morning of the third day, the people assembled before the mountain, dressed in their newly cleaned clothes. As they gazed at the mountain, they saw God’s power demonstrated once more.
A thick cloud was on the mountain. Lightning flashed, and thunder rolled down its slopes. Then fire burst out of the mountain, and there was a loud trumpet blast. The people trembled with fright when they saw this awesome display of God’s power. The trumpet sound kept getting louder and louder. Then, God spoke to Moses. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments that He wanted His people to obey.
These are the Ten Commandments from the Lord:
1. You must not have any other gods except me.
2. You must not make for yourselves any idols.
3. You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly.
4. Remember to keep the Sabbath as a holy day.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You must not murder anyone.
7. You must not be guilty of adultery.
8. You must not steal.
9. You must not tell lies
10. You must not want to take anything that belongs to someone else.
God gave these Commandments to His people because He knew they needed a plan for living. He was preparing the Israelites to become a great nation. God knew that a nation could not be great unless there were good laws. The laws would guide them in how they were to worship God and how they were to treat other people. If the people obeyed the laws, then they would be happy, and they would show the other nations that the nation of Israel followed God.
God’s rules were also a symbol of the important agreement or covenant God had with His people. They would obey Him, and He would take care of them. God wrote this agreement on stone so Moses could take it down the mountain and show the people.
Questions:
- Who did God give the Ten Commandments to so he could tell the people?
(Moses) - What did God write the Ten Commandments on?
(Tablets of stone) - Why did God give His people commandments?
(The commandments would help His people live in ways that pleased Him and would help them be a godly nation. Their lives would be better if they followed these laws) - What special relationship did God and Israel make?
(A covenant) - What is a covenant?
(A covenant was a special agreement between God and the Israelites that the Israelites would follow God and they would be His people. They agreed to love each other)
Main Point:
God gives us rules to live by because He knows they will help us live a good and happy life.
Crafts
Make “stone” tablets out of salt dough.
