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Series 3:
Lesson 43: |
MOSES
THE LAW OF GOD |
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Passages to Study: Exodus 19 and 20.
To read with the class: Exodus 20:1-21.
Memorization Text: Younger children - Romans 3:10 “It is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one.”
Older children - Romans 3:20.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To show that God’s holiness is evident in the Law which He gave to Moses.
2. To teach that the holiness of God means that He is different from any created being; He
is perfect and must be feared.
3. To explain that due to their imperfect condition, it is impossible for men and women to
fulfill God’s demands.
4. To remind the children that all have sinned and the Law has no power to save the
sinner.
5. To teach that due to a broken law standing between the sinner and his God, the sinner
needs a Saviour.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS. The Israelites watch as Moses climbs Mount Sinai.
DEVELOPMENT:
- First God speaks to His people, reminding them (ch. 19:4) that they have been objects of
His grace, something that did not depend on any merits they might have.
- Now He is about to establish a new covenant with them.
- Other covenants (pacts) had existed previously, with Adam, Noah and Abraham.
- The covenant with Abraham did not depend on anything he might have done, his salvation
and security depended on his faith in God and His Word. (Gen. 13:14-17, 15:1-7,
18-21, Rom.4:3, Gal.3:6)
- The new covenant now being made was not forced upon the people but was accepted
voluntarily by them. (Ex.19:8, 20:19).
- With mistaken confidence the people said, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do”,
failing to realize that they were incapable of living a holy life.
Cmt. The purpose of the law was that of setting the divine terms by which the people would
be a special treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for God.
Cmt. It might be difficult to teach the previous point but it shows that God had a
plan for His own.
Apl. It is for this reason that God wants to save sinners. See Titus 2:14.
- On account of their lack of obedience up to now, the people ought to have realized
that they were incapable of fulfilling what the law demanded.
- Moses goes up into the mountain alone to receive the law, while clouds, thunder,
lightening, and the sound of a trumpet accompany the giving of the commandments.
Cmt. These phenomena showed the overwhelming power of the One who was speaking.
- God showed the people His holiness in different ways. See Ex. 19:12-13, 22-25.
He set limits for the people so that they would not touch the mount on pain of
death.
Cns. With this display of His power, the people were made aware of the importance of the
event.
- The law reveals the moral demands God makes of mankind, that is to say, it shows what
God expects of His creatures.
Cmt. The Law deals with the relation of humankind with God and also the
relationships that ought to rule in society.
- Its purpose is to teach the holiness of God, the sinfulness of human beings and, due to
its demands, serves as a “schoolmaster” (guardian or caregiver) to bring sinners
to Christ.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS: Write each commandment on a separate tablet and find a figure of
someone who either fulfills or disobeys it. Suggestions with explanation below:
1. Ex. 20:3 Some examples of idols used as gods.
2. Ex.20:4-5. A person making an image or bowing before one.
3. Ex.20:7 Young people mocking God, or acting foolishly.
4. Ex.20:8 People in a meeting or taking time to read the
Scriptures.
5. Ex.20:12 A rebellious child refusing to obey the parents or one being
obedient.
6. Ex.20:13 A picture of Cain when he killed Abel.
7. Ex.20:14 A young couple talking together.
8.Ex.20:15 A child robbing money or some item from a store.
9. Ex.20:16 A person speaking against another while a third person listens and
shows shock or surprise.
10. Ex.20:17 One child plays with his toy while another plots how to take it
from him.
Note: Teachers must take into account the children’s level of understanding and
apply the following teaching accordingly.
1. A false god is not necessarily a plaster or wooden statue, but is anything that takes
the place of God in one’s life.
2. To make any figure of divine persons in order to adore them is idolatry.
Apply this to the use of images of the virgin and of saints today. To pray
before these is idolatry for what pertains to God alone (worship) is being given to them.
3. Stress the evil of dirty or corrupt language. This starts with not taking God
into account. To curse another person who has been created by God is a mockery of
God’s work. To take God’s name in vain occurs when one says “if God
wills it” when He is not truly being taken into account.
4. Sunday is “the Lord’s Day”. The activities of this day should be
different than those of other days. Explain how the Israelites used the Sabbath and
why the first day of the week is kept by the saints today.
5. A child acting in rebellion to his parents is very commonly seen today. If the
child has no respect for the parents he can see, how will he respect God, whom he cannot
see?
6. See Matt. 5:22; 1 Jn. 3:10-12. Hatred that turns into murderous thoughts is
considered by the Lord to be same as murder.
7. Something that begins as a normal friendship can lead into a very compromising
situation. (In the classes of older children, there should be warning given about
these dangers.)
8. Theft or robbery occurs not only when one takes something that does not belong to
him/herself, but it also occurs when one retains something that belongs to someone else.
This happens when one keeps back that which belongs to God. Cp. Deut. 22:1, 2.
Mal. 3:8.
9. Tall stories, exaggerating what really happened, evil speaking, gossip, in fact,
anything that demeans another is sin.
10. To want what belongs to another and make plans to get it or to take from another what
is his by rights, is covetousness.
TO SUM UP:
1. The main purpose of any law is to establish norms by which it is possible to live with
others in society. The law prohibits, permits and protects.
2. Law is good to those who obey. It exists to punish those who offend.
3. The law of God was designed to show people what God expected of them in moral matters.
4. The law makes manifest that human beings are incapable of obeying it, due to the
sinfulness of the flesh.
5. The law leads the sinner to Christ. A perfect Being, the Lord Jesus Christ kept
it perfectly and thus the glory of God was seen in Him. The sinner falls short of
the glory of God.
6. The condemnation that the law imposes is taken away only when a sinner finds a
substitute to pay the consequences of a broken law. Christ is that Substitute.
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