The Sinai Covenant with Moses
Background Information:
• Moses was born during a time when the Israelites were being oppressed by the Egyptians
Israelites were descendants of Abraham
Jacob (grandson of Abraham) was given the name Israel by God
Therefore, Jacob’s people became known as the Israelites, “the People of God”
• The Pharaoh (Egyptian ruler) was afraid of the numbers and might of the growing population of
Israelites, so he had them put under extreme bondage and slavery
• The Pharaoh then put out an order to have all the male Israelite babies killed, but to let the girls
live
• He feared that they were growing too large in number and would one day rebel and take over
• Moses’ mother put him in a basket and sent him down the river in an attempt to save his life
• The daughter of Pharaoh saw the child and took Moses in as her own
• She named him Moses, because it means “drawn out of the water”
• When Moses was grown up, he learned of his Israelite heritage
• After seeing a slave being beaten by an Egyptian, he intervened and killed the Egyptian
• Moses then fled into the dessert to escape being punished
• Moses marries Zipporah
The Burning Bush:
While Moses was out tending sheep, he saw a bush burning but not being consumed by the fire.
Curious, he approached and God spoke to him.
God said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob. I have heard my peoples’ cry and am sending you to free them from the Pharaoh.”
Moses’ Struggles:
• Moses spent many attempts trying to get the Pharaoh to release the Israelites, but he would not
listen
• God sent down ten plagues to convince the Pharaoh
The plagues were different forms of punishment given to the Egyptians
The Last Plague:
The last plague became known as “The Passover”
The Israelites were to smear their doors with the blood of a lamb, in order for the spirit to pass
over their house and leave them alone.
Those houses who did not have the blood on the door had their first born sons struck down by
the Lord
The Escape:
• Unfortunately, Moses and his people did not get very far before the Pharaoh decided to pursue
and kill them
• The angel of God made it possible for Moses and the Israelites to cross the sea onto dry land
while the Egyptians drowned
Doubts:
• Moses and his people were hungry after so much travelling
• God sent them bread from heaven
• The Israelites questioned God but God continued to send signs that He heard their cries
The Sinai Covenant:
• Moses spoke directly to God at Mount Sinai
• God gave Moses the Ten Commandments –known as the Sinai Covenant
Moses’ Anger:
• When Moses returned from the mountain, he found his people worshipping false gods
• God was furious with them but Moses implored the Lord to save them
• When Moses saw them worshipping a golden calf, he dropped the tablets with the
commandments on them in anger
• Moses called together those who were on the Lord’s side and told them to kill those who were
not
• They killed about three thousand
• Moses went back up the mountain and asked for forgiveness for his people
God’s Commands:
• God tells Moses he will punish them for their sins
• God tells Moses to go to the land which he gave Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
• Once Moses and the people reach the promised land, God tells Moses to cut two new tablets of
stone and He will write the original commandments on them
• God makes the covenant with Moses and His people
