SINAI COVENANT: MOSES
5.1.0: Specific objectives
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:
a) Describe the call of Moses.
b) Explain how God saved His people from Egypt.
e) Discuss and appreciate the attributes of God learnt from the ten plagues
d) Give an outline on how God cared for the Israelites during the Exodus
e) Describe how the Sinai covenant was made, broken and renewed
f) Explain the Ten Commandments and show how they should be applied in a Christian’s daily life
g) Describe how the Israelites worshipped God in their life in the wilderness
h) Explain the new understanding that Moses gave his people about the nature of God
i) Be motivated to live by the laws of God.
5.2.1: The call of Moses (Exodus 3:1-22)
5.2.2: The ten plagues (Exodus 7:14 -11: 1-10)
5.2.3: The Passover (Exodus 12:1-31)
5.2.4: The Exodus
a) The crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:5-31)
b) Provision of water (Exodus 15:22-29 17:1-6)
c) Provision of Manna and quails (Exodus. 16: 1-35)
d) Defeat of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16)
5.2.5: a) The making of the Sinai Covenant (Exodus 19; 24:1-80)
b) The breaking of the Sinai covenant (Exodus 32:1-35)
c) The renewal of the Sinai covenant (Exodus 34:1-35)
5.2.6: The worship of God by the Israelites in the wilderness
5.2.7: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
5.2.8: Israelites new understanding of the nature of God
1. What does the name Moses mean?
“Drawn out of the water”
2. Describe the call of Moses
A call means being chosen by God to perform a specific task.
Moses was herding his father-in-law Jethro’s flock in Midian near Mt. Sinai when he saw a
burning bush. Though the bush was burning, it was not consumed by the fire.
While Moses moved closer, the voice of God called and told him to remove his shoes because
he was standing on a holy ground.
God introduced Himself as God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses hid his face because he
was afraid to look at God.
Moses honoured God by bowing and removing his shoes
God told him He had heard the cry of the Israelites in slavery in Egypt and He was sending
him to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Moses was reluctant and felt incapable of performing the huge task yet God assured him of
His presence and protection
Moses complained that he was not an eloquent speaker. God appointed Aaron, his brother, as
the spokesperson
God gave Moses an assurance that the Israelites would come to worship Him in Mt. Sinai.
Moses said he did not know the name of God who was sending him. God told him, “I am who I
am”
God promised to perform wonders to force the pharaoh to release the Israelites.
3. Why was Moses reluctant to accept God’s call?
He was not fluent in speech
Moses was afraid to face the Pharaoh who wanted to kill him for killing an Egyptian
He feared that pharaoh would not grant his wishes
He doubted whether the Israelites would accept or even believe him as their leader
He lacked adequate knowledge of God of Israel who had sent him
He lacked confidence in himself
Moses doubted the power of God and His mighty works that would convince the pharaoh
He did not want to leave his family behind
4. From the call of Moses, what do Christians learn about the nature of God?
God is holy
God hears and responds to the cry of His people
God is powerful
God is beyond human understanding (transcendent)
God is faithful to His promises
God is just and punishes those who sin against Him
God is everlasting
God is all-knowing
God is merciful, loving and caring
God knows us by our names. He called Moses by name.
5. Give five reasons why the Israelites left Egypt
To fulfill God’s promise to Abraham
Moses rescued them from Slavery as ordered by God
To prepare them to inherit the promised land of Canaan
The pharaoh ordered them to leave Egypt after the plagues
To go and worship God at Mt. Sinai
6. How did Moses’ early life prepare him for the role leadership?
Moses was spared when Israelite baby boys were killed.
Moses was nursed and raised by his own mother Jochebed from whom he learnt the customs
of the Jews, his people.
Moses was brought up in the Pharaoh’s palace from where he leant leadership and literacy
skills
His experience as a Prince enabled him to handle the Pharaoh. He knew Egypt and the
palace.
Having killed the Egyptian, he fled to the desert. This enabled him to know the desert routes
Desert life hardened him to persevere hardships especially handling troublesome Israelites
In the wilderness, he took care of his father-in-law’s flock. As a Shepherd, he learnt to be
patient, keen and responsible.
Moses was married to Zipporah, Jethro’s daughter. His experience as a father helped him to
show love, tolerance, care and concern to the Israelites in the wilderness
His knowledge about God enabled him to teach Israelites about Yahweh and Monotheism
7. List the ten plaques that God inflicted on the Egyptians in the order of occurrence
The plague of blood
The plague of frogs
The plaque of gnats
The plague of flies
Plague upon cattle
Plague of boils
Plague of heavy hailstones with thunder and lightning
Plaque of locusts
Plague of darkness
Plague of death of Egyptian firstborns
8. What was the significance of the plagues to both the Egyptians and the Israelites?
They proved that Yahweh was more powerful than the Egyptian gods
They showed that Yahweh was aware of the suffering of the Israelites
They showed that Yahweh was determined to fulfill His promises and liberate Israelites
They proved that Yahweh was working through His prophet Moses
They showed that Yahweh was just
God’s presence was manifested in the form of the plagues and nobody would doubt it
They softened the heart of the pharaoh to release the Israelites
They strengthened the faith of Israelites in God and Moses
Israelites learnt to be obedient to God
They showed that God communicates his will through natural events
God punishes the enemies to his people
9. Explain the relevance of the ten plagues to Christians today
They teach Christians not to give up
They remind Christians that God is very powerful
God punishes sinners for their disobedience just as He did to Pharaoh
A stubborn leader like pharaoh may bring disaster to the whole country
