Lesson: Moses Delivers God’s Message

Saturday, 1 October 2011 — 14 kids were present

Note:

• We can’t be in the fellowship hall today — some people will be setting up for Mrs. K’s birthday open house. We can still prepare snacks in the kitchen but bring them into the catechism room.
• We’re going to divide into older/younger (during the lesson part only)
• There is a new plastic set of drawers (thanks Lorene!) in the supply room — we can organize our stuff into that

Volunteers: Paul, Alyssa, Ally, Laura

Driving: 10am and 12pm: Cheryl/Adam

Scriptures: Exodus 4:19 — 6:9

Memory Verses:

1. Review 1 Peter 5:7 (“Turn all your worries over to God, because he cares about you”) and 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (“Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.”)
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways remember him, and he will make your paths straight.”)

Songs: this week, add verse 2 to Hymn 44:

hymn 44 stanza 2 -- original image at flickr.com/photos/iboy/4336121276/

Extra Supplies:

• map page for each child to write labels on and color (in bin, from last week)
• two coloring pages (Paul will bring)
• Flashcards book (in bin)
• Hymn 44:2 song print — there are new mini-albums for the 4×6 prints
• 6 cardboard footprints for gospel activity (Chris preparing)
• 10 cardboard footprints for tic-tac-toe game
• play-doh for making bricks

Outline

• (10:00am) collect guardian names/telephone and food allergies for any new children
• Hand out maps, colorings, and hymn prints
• together: Matthew 6 “Lord’s prayer“
• Sing Hymn 44 stanzas 1 and 2
  
• Alyssa and Ally to little lambs with younger kids; Paul and Laura with older kids in catechism room:
  
• memory verse activity (see p. 21) — note: our text (see above) different from CEF
  
• gospel activity — “steps out of slavery”
• Bible Lesson
• (~11:00 am) snack and break
  
• (~11:20 am) “tic-tac-toe” review game p. 25 (Ally, Laura)
• label and color maps
• craft/activities (play-doh bricks), and finish coloring
• stickers/bookmarks
• Sing Hymn 1 — apostles’ creed
• Pray: (Alyssa)
• (11:50 am) tidy

Lesson Notes

Review:

• Moses had run away from Egypt to Midian (because Pharaoh wanted to kill him).
• Moses started a family in Midian.
• God heard the cry of the people of Israel because of their slavery.
• the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush.
• God told Moses his plan, promised his presence, and gave Moses the ability to do three miracles. (staff/rod turning into a snake; hand turning leprous under coat; water from Nile to blood.)
• God appointed Aaron to speak for Moses, and told Moses to take the wooden staff with him.

God said to Moses: “Go back to Egypt. All of the men who wanted to kill you are dead.” (NIRV)

Moses went to his father-in-law (Jethro) and said: “Let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I want to see if any of them are still alive.” Jethro said, “Go. I hope everything goes well with you.”

Wife and sons on donkey; took the wooden staff; started the journey back to Egypt.

(Show on map — Moses in Midian, Aaron in Egypt, and the desert between.)

The Lord said to Moses: “When you return to Egypt, do all of the miracles I have given you the power to do. Do them in the sight of Pharaoh. But I will make his heart stubborn. He will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, ‘The Lord says, “Israel is like an oldest son to me. I told you, ‘Let my son go. Then he will be able to worship me.’ But you refused to let him go. So I will kill your oldest son.” ‘ “

God told Aaron (in Egypt) to go into the desert wilderness to see Moses. It had probably been 40 years since they had seen each other.

Aaron and Moses met at “the mountain of God.”

Aaron greeted Moses with a kiss.

Moses told Aaron everything that God had told him to say, and about the miraculous signs.

Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt.

Moses and Aaron gathered the elders of Israel, and told them everything the Lord had said to Moses, and showed the miracles.

The elders believed, and bowed down and worshiped God.

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh: “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Let my people go [so that they can] hold a feast in my honor in the desert.’ “

Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don’t even know the Lord. And I won’t let Israel go.”

Moses and Aaron said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he might strike us with plagues. Or he might let us be killed with swords.”

Pharaoh said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work! … There are large numbers of your people in the land. But you are stopping them from working.”

Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers: “Don’t give the people any more straw to make bricks. Let them go and get their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t lower the number they have to make. They don’t want to work. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to our God.’ Make them work harder. Then they will be too busy to pay attention to lies.”

The slave drivers told the people of Israel that they’d have to get their own straw, and that they’d still be required to make the same number of bricks.

The people of Israel scattered all over Egypt to gather any pieces of straw that were left in the fields.

The slave drivers kept making the people work hard: “Finish the work you are required to do each day. Make the same number of bricks you made when you had straw.”

But the people of Israel were too busy now, and weren’t able to make the same number of bricks as before.

So the slave drivers whipped the appointed Israelite leaders: “Why didn’t you make the same number of bricks yesterday or today, just as before?”

Those Israelite leaders appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated us like this? You didn’t give us any straw. But you told us, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being whipped. But it’s the fault of your own people.”

Pharaoh said, “You just don’t want to work! That’s why you keep saying, ‘Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ Now get to work. We won’t give you any straw. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.”

The Israelites who were in charge of the people realized they were in trouble. They also realized that Pharaoh was doing this in response to what Moses and Aaron had said.

When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them.

They said to Moses and Aaron: “May God curse you for what you have done — you have given Pharaoh an excuse to kill us!”

Moses returned to the Lord: “Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me? I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name. Ever since then, he has brought nothing but trouble on these people. And you haven’t saved your people at all.”

The Lord said to Moses: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. Because of my powerful hand, he will let the people of Israel go. Because of my mighty hand, he will drive them out of his country… I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the Mighty God. But I did not show them the full meaning of my name, The Lord… I also made my covenant with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan [...] where they lived as outsiders. Also, I have heard the groans of the Israelites [who are slaves in Egypt]. But I have remembered my covenant… So tell the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord. I will throw off the heavy load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders. I will set you free from being slaves to them. I will reach out my arm and save you with mighty acts when I judge Egypt…. I will take you to be my own people. I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God when I throw off the load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders… I will bring you to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. [...] The land will belong to you. I am the Lord.’ “

Moses told the Israelite people, but they didn’t listen to him — they had lost all hope.

But could their lack of faith undo the faithfulness of God?

(Talk to the kids about trusting God when 1. we don’t understand a difficult situation, and/or 2. our prayers don’t seem to be effective.)

CBS Ideas September 2011

• Starting next class (Oct 1, since Sept 24 is cancelled for an event), we’re going to split the class into older/younger groups during lesson time — we’ll come back together for review,  crafts, activities, and snacks
• Some class we’ll try to have a “guest speaker” — Mr. Justin is open to the idea; we might also ask Mr. Nap again; I’ve left Jan 21 open for this possibility
• We may plan a field trip to a farm for one class

Lesson: God Calls Moses

for Saturday, 17 September 2011 — 15 children present

Volunteers: Lorene, Kathryn, Tara, Josie

Driving: 10am: Nora; 12pm: Nora

Scriptures: Exodus 2:11 – 4:18

Memory Verses:

1. Review 1 Peter 5:7 (“Turn all your worries over to God, because he cares about you”) — there are 4×6 prints of this
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (“Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.”)

Songs: Hymn 1; Hymn 44:1; etc.

Extra Supplies:

• map page for each child to write labels on and color (in bin, from last week)
• two coloring pages (Paul will bring)
• possibly more song prints (Josie)

Outline

• (10:00am) collect guardian names/telephone and food allergies for any new children
• Hand out maps, colorings, and hymn prints
• together: Matthew 6 “Lord’s prayer“
• Sing Hymn 44:1 (and maybe another)
  
• memory verse and “Frozen Fun” p.15 (Kathryn) — note: our text (see above) different from CEF
  
• gospel activity (Kathryn)
• Bible Lesson (Lorene)
• (~11:00 am) snack and break
  
• (~11:20 am) “follow the leader” review game p. 19 (Tara, Josie)
• label and color maps
• craft/activities, and finish coloring
• begin assembling scrapbooks?
• stickers/bookmarks
• Sing Hymn 1 — apostles’ creed
• Pray: (Lorene)
• (11:50 am) tidy

Lesson: Moses is Born

Saturday, 10 September 2011 — 10 children present

Volunteers: Paul, Alyssa, Julie & Carolyn, Josh

Driving: 10am: Fran; 12pm: Sheila

Scriptures: Exodus 1:1 – 2:10

Memory Verse: Turn all your worries over to God, because he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Songs: Hymn 1; Hymn 44:1

Extra Supplies:

• map page for each child to write labels on and color:

egypt and canaan, unlabeled

• two coloring pages (Paul will bring)
• color cross puzzle (Chris will give to Alyssa)
• food (Lorene will bring before Saturday)
• memory verse and song prints (PJ)
• Moses’ basket craft pattern (PJ)

Outline

• (10:00am) collect guardian names/telephone for each child; ask about food allergies
• Hand out hymn print, memory verse, map, and colorings
• together: Matthew 6 “Lord’s prayer“
• Sing Hymn 44:1
  
• memory verse (Alyssa) — note: our text (see above) different from CEF
  
• gospel activity (Alyssa)
• Bible Lesson (Paul)
• (~11:00 am) snack and break
  
• (~11:20 am) “No Worries” review game (Carolyn, Julie, Josh)
• label and color maps
• Moses’ Basket craft, and finish coloring
• stickers/bookmarks
• Sing Hymn 1 — apostle’s creed
• Pray: (Paul)
• (11:50 am) tidy

Lesson Keywords/Notes

1500 years before Jesus was born, God’s people were living in Egypt.

They were the “people of Israel,” the descendants of Jacob, sometimes called Hebrews.

There were twelve families of Hebrews, named for the twelve sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher, Joseph.

The people of Israel had many children — they filled the land. There might have been about two million of them in Egypt.

(Have the kids write Goshen and Canaan on their maps.)

A new king, called the Pharaoh, came to power in Egypt.

(Visual 1-1)

(Say PHAY-row together.)

He said to his people, “The Israelites are far too many for us. We must be careful — we don’t want them to become too many. What if they fight against us in a war and then leave the country?”

The Egyptians put slave drivers over the people of Israel, who beat them down and made them work hard.

One of the jobs they did was making bricks using mud and straw. They also worked in the fields, and they built two store cities named Pithom and Rameses.

But the Israelites increased their numbers and spread out — the Egyptians became afraid of them and made them work hard — made them suffer with hard labor.

The Egyptians didn’t show them any pity at all. They made them work very hard.

Shiphrah and Puah were two Hebrew women who helped other women who were having babies.

Pharoah: “When you are helping other Hebrew women have babies, let the girls live, but kill the boys.”

But Shiphrah and Puah feared God, so they didn’t kill the boys.

Pharaoh: “Why have you let the boys live?”

Shiphrah and Puah: “Hebrew women are stronger than Egyptian women — they have their babies before we can even get there.”

God was kind to Shiphrah and Puah. God gave them families of their own.

The people of Israel increased their numbers even more.

Pharaoh’s order to all his people: “Let the baby girls of the Hebrews live, but throw every baby boy into the Nile River.” (Show on map)

(It reminds us of the danger to baby boys when Jesus was born.)

A family from the tribe of Levi: Amram, Jochebed, and their children Miriam (teenaged), Aaron (toddler).

(Visual 1-2)

(Say together: AM-ram, JAH-kuh-bed, MEER-ee-um, EHR-un)

Jochebed became pregnant, and Amram and Jochebed wondered if the baby was a boy or a girl. If they had a boy, the Egyptians would kill him.

A healthy baby son born to them.

Jochebed hid the baby boy for three months.

(How long is three months from now?)

It became too difficult to hide him any longer.

Jochebed got a basket made of woven grass reeds. She coated it with tar to make it waterproof.

(Visual 1-3)

Jochebed put the baby in the basket, and put the basket in the Nile in the tall grass reeds along the bank.

(It reminds us of the ark that Noah built.)

(Visual 1-4)

Miriam was watching.

Pharaoh’s daughter, an Egyptian princess, went down to the Nile River to take a bath, while her servants walked along the bank.

Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket in the reeds. She sent one of her servants to get it.

She opened it and she saw the baby boy, who was crying.

(Visual 1-5)

“This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

She might have drowned him in the river, but instead she felt sorry for him. She disobeyed her father’s law. She decided to keep the Hebrew baby.

Miriam to Pharaoh’s daughter: “Do you want me to go and get one of the Hebrew women? She could feed and take care of the baby for you.”

“Yes. Go.”

Miriam went and told her mother Jochebed everything that had happened, and then they returned to Pharaoh’s daughter.

Pharaoh’s daughter to Jochebed: “Take this baby and nurse him for me. I’ll pay you.”

(Visual 1-6)

Jochebed took the baby and fed him and cared for him, probably for a few years. She didn’t need to hide him anymore — in fact, she would be paid to look after him!

Jochebed took him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.

She named him Moses, because, she said, “I pulled him out of the water.” Moses means “drawn out.”

It was God who made sure that Moses lived. God had plans for Moses.

Since God decided to keep baby Moses alive, do you think that Pharaoh and all the armies of the world could have possibly killed Moses?

Our memory verse: “Turn all your worries over to God, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Do you ever worry about things? (When you are sick, when you are away from your parents.)

But God cares about us, so it doesn’t make sense to worry.

What does it mean to “turn all our worries over to God”?

• know that He is God
• ask Him for help, in prayer
• trust Him, because His is good and powerful

(Could go over the memory verse using “Crazy Stand-Ups” on page 9.)