SINAI COVENANT-MOSES

Background to the call of Moses

What does the name Moses mean?
It means drawn out of water.
The historical background to the call of Moses (Exodus 1-2)
 The Israelites went to Egypt during the time of Joseph and settled in Goshen.
 During the reign of pharaohs, they were made slaves due to their high population.
 Moses was born at a time when the pharaoh had issued an order to have all Israelites
male children killed to reduce their political influence.
 The baby Moses was rescued by pharaoh’s daughter and brought up as a prince under the
care of his mother.
 Moses killed an Egyptian as a sign of identifying himself with the Israelites.
 He fled the wilderness of Median for fear of being arrested.
 In Median he lived with Jethro as a shepherd and married his daughter Zipporah.
 Moses’ experience in Egypt and in the wilderness prepared him for the future work of
leading the Israelites out of slavery.
How did God prepare Moses to be the future leader of Israelites?
i. His life was spared when he was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter
ii. He was nursed by his own mother who taught him about Yahweh and his own true
identity
iii. Life in the wilderness hardened him to be bold and to persevere hardships
iv. He learnt to be patient, keen, and responsible as a shepherd
v. He acquired leadership skills while living at pharaoh’s palace
vi. He learnt literacy and numeracy skills (Educational skills) at the palace.
vii. He was not a stranger to Pharaoh hence he could approach him freely.
THE CALL OF MOSES
 Moses was looking after his fathers-in-law sheep at Mt Horeb.
 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush which was not getting consumed.
 Moses turned to see the bush, God called his name out of the bush.
 Moses responded to God by saying, “Here I am”
 God commanded Moses not to move near and to remove his shoes because the place was
holy.
 God revealed Himself to Moses as the God of his ancestors.(Abraham, Isaac & Jacob)
 Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
 God told Moses that he had seen the suffering of his people in Egypt and had come to
deliver them. God wanted to send Moses to Pharaoh to release his people.
 Moses was reluctant to be sent to Pharaoh but God promises to be with him.
 Moses sought to know the name of God who was sending him. God revealed his name as
“I am who I am”
 God told Moses to go and gather the elders of Israel and tell them God’s message about
their deliverance.
 Moses was told to go with the elders to Pharaoh to ask for their release from Egypt.
 God promised to perform miracles to compel Pharaoh
  The Israelites will get favour from Egyptians and get jewelry.

God’s sign to Moses

Moses was given several signs by God, in case the people of Israel did not believe in him.
a) First sign was his staff turning into a snake when he threw it down. When he touched the
snake’s tail it turned into his staff
b) Second sign was God asked Moses to put his hand inside his cloak and it was as white as a
snow – leprous. He was asked to put it back into his cloak and it was restored.
c) Moses further complained that he was a stammerer. God then appointed Aaron, his brother, as
his spokesman.

Reasons why Moses was not willing to go back to Egypt after his call
i. He had killed an Egyptian.
ii. The Pharaoh had wanted to kill him/wanted for murder
iii. He feared that the Israelites would not believe that God had sent him.
iv. He was not an eloquent speaker/stammer
v. He feared the Israelites would not accept him as their leader.
vi. He lacked confidence.
vii. He did not have enough knowledge about Yahweh.
viii. He was already settled in Median and had a family.

Ways in which Moses showed obedience to God

i. He agreed to remove his sandals when God commanded him
ii. He accepted to go back to Egypt to liberate the Israelites.
iii. He accepted to perform plagues in Egypt when pharaoh refused to release the Israelites.
iv. Moses prepared people for the Passover a s commanded by God.
v. He prepared people for Mt Sinai covenant as commanded by God.
vi. He wrote the Ten Commandments as commanded by God during the renewal of the
covenant.
The Instructions that Moses was given during his call
i. To remove his shoes for he was standing on a holy ground
ii. To appoint Aaron to be his spokesman
iii. To reveal to the Israelites the God who sent him
iv. To deliver the Israelites form Egypt.
v. To perform miracles to the pharaoh to convince him to release the Israelites out of Egypt
vi. To bring the Israelites to Mt Sinai to worship God
vii. To deliver the Israelites the promised land
viii. To tell the elders of Israel that God had sent him.
What did Moses learn about God from his Calling?
Moses learnt that:
i. God is loving and caring.
ii. God is transcendent – he is beyond human understanding. He cannot be limited to
time and space.
iii. God chooses whomever he wills to carry out his plans. He chose Abraham an old
man, a moon worshipper and now Moses, a murderer, a fugitive and a stammerer.
iv. God expects total obedience and faith from those that He chooses
v. God is powerful, eternal and omnipresent
vi. God is holy.
vii. God empowers those He sends.
viii. God is mysterious – He manifested Himself in the burning bush that was not
being consumed.
ix. God sees
x. God is a deliverer.
Values that Christians learn from the call of Moses
i. Humility
ii. Courage
iii. Faith/trust
iv. Love/care/mercy
v. Honesty
vi. Obedience
vii. Reverence/respect/honour
viii. Service
ix. Holiness
x. Inquisitiveness/keenness
xi. Persistence/patience
xii. Justice

THE TEN PLAGUES (EXODUS 7:14-11:10)

During the call of Moses at Mount Sinai, God gave Moses a rod with which he could perform
mighty signs before the Israelites and before Pharaoh. Aaron was to be his spokesman. Moses
and Aaron gathered the Israelite elders and leaders to tell them what God had said to them. After
Moses had performed the miracles that God had showed him; the Israelite leaders believed him.
They then approached Pharaoh so that he may release the Israelites. However instead of
releasing the Israelites, Pharaoh became crueler. He gave Israelites harder work.
When Pharaoh refused to release Israelites, God instructed Moses to bring ten plagues upon
Egypt.
These plagues brought; great trouble and suffering to Israelites.
Ten plagues
1) The plague of blood (Exodus 7: 14 – 25)
Moses and Aaron used the rod. They struck the waters of the river as God instructed them. All
the water in the rivers, canals, and pools in Egypt turned into blood. All the fish died and there
was no water to drink. This situation lasted for seven days. However Pharaoh’s heart was
hardened. He did not release the Israelites.
2) The plague of frogs (Exodus 8:1 – 15)
God then sent Moses to tell Pharaoh that if he refused to release the Israelites the whole land
would be covered with frogs. At the command of Moses, Aaron held out the rod of Moses and
frogs covered the whole land. On seeing this, Pharaoh pleaded with Moses and Aaron to pray to
the Lord to get rid of the frogs and he would release them. They prayed and all the frogs died.
Pharaoh, however, changed his mind and refused to release the Israelites.

3) Plague of gnats (Exodus 8:16 – 19)

The lord instructed Moses to tell Aaron to strike the ground and Aaron did so and all the dust in
Egypt turned into gnats or small flies that bites. The magicians of Egypt could perform the first
two plagues.
They could not bring the plague of gnats. Egyptians acknowledged that the presence of gnats or
small flies that bites was God’s work. But even with this information, Pharaoh still refused to
release the Israelites.
4) Plague of flies (Exodus 8:20 – 32)
The Lord warned Pharaoh through Moses once more. He was told that God would send swarms
of flies to the Egyptian houses. The Israelites houses would be spared. Even after bringing the
plague of flies, Pharaoh’s heart hardened even more

5) Death of cattle (Exodus 8:1 – 7)

A plague of disease befell the Egyptian cattle. Not a single Israelites’ animal died. Pharaoh was
not moved; and he refused to let Jews go home.
6) Plague of boils (Exodus 9:8 – 12)
Moses threw ashes into the air as God had instructed. This produced boils, which became open
sores on the skin of the Egyptians. Unmoved by the suffering of his people, Pharaoh still refused
to let the Israelites leave.
7) Plague of hail (Exodus 9:13 – 35)
Moses raised his rod and there was a hailstorm with lighting and thunder. The people, animals
and plants that were struck by the lightning died. Pharaoh then promised to let the Israelites go
but as soon as Moses prayed for the hailstorm to stop, pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to
let the Israelites leave.
8) Plague of Locusts (Exodus 19:1 – 20)
Locusts covered the whole land and ate all the crops in the fields. The locusts ate all that had not
been destroyed by the hailstorm. When Moses prayed to God, for locusts to leave; Pharaoh
hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites leave.
9) Plague of darkness (Exodus 10: 21 – 29)
God then instructed Moses to stretch out his hand to heaven. There was total darkness in Egypt
for three days. But there was light where the Israelites they were living. Pharaoh remained
unmoved and would not release the Israelites out of Egypt.
10) Death of Egyptian first-born males (Exodus 11: 1 – 31).
After the plague of darkness, God sent Moses once more to Pharaoh. He was told that this time
even his family would be affected. The Lord would kill all the first-born Egyptian sons and first-
born male animals at mid-night. This plague occurred during the night of Passover. Pharaoh was
moved and allowed Israelites to leave Egypt.
What do the plagues tell us about God’s attributes?
i. God empowers His people to perform miracles and to do His work
ii. He is Almighty and more powerful than the Egyptian gods.
iii. He is determined to fulfill His plans.
iv. He is a God of justice. He protects the oppressed.
v. God gives everyone a chance to repent. Notice that each time Pharaoh
promised to release the Israelites; God relieved the Egyptians from the
plagues.
vi. He fulfills His promises – He had promised Abraham to deliver his
descendants from foreign lands.
vii. God expects total obedience and faith.
viii. God communicates His will through natural events.
ix. He is caring and loving.
THE PASSOVER (Exodus 12:1-3)
The tenth plague is called the Passover. It happened on the fourteenth day of the month. Moses
called all the elders of Israel and gave them instructions.
Instructions given in preparation of the Passover
i. On the tenth day of that month, each man had to choose either a lamb or a young goat for
his household. If his family was too small to eat a whole animal, then his next-door
neighbor were to share the animal. The animal chosen was to be male, one-year old and
without blemish.
ii. The animal chosen was to be killed on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.
The animal’s blood was to be smeared on the two door posts and the lintel of the
Israelites houses.
iii. The lamb or animal for sacrifice was to be roasted whole, that is, with its head, legs and
inner parts.
iv. The meat was to be eaten that night with unleavened and bitter herbs.
v. They were to eat the sacrificed meat after they had dressed up and packed their luggage.
vi. The Israelite women were to ask for jewellery, silver and clothing from the Egyptian
women on the eve of departure.
vii. Everyone was to remain indoors until morning in order to be protected from the angel of
death.
viii. The Passover was to be commemorated annually and its significance taught to the
coming generations.
Significance of items used during the Passover
1) Roasted Meat – this is the easiest method of preparing food since the Israelites were to leave
in a short time.
2) Bitter herbs – was a reminder of the suffering and hardships and slavery experienced in Egypt.
3) Eating while standing. Deliverance was near, hence the need to leave in a hurry.
4) Eating while fully dressed with their stuff at hand. This signified a quick deliverance; hence
Israelites should be ready to leave Egypt at once.
5) Eating unleavened bread – the bread was to be eaten and none left over hence there was no
need to add yeast for preservation.
6) Collecting Jewellery – God had promised Abraham that after slavery for four hundred and
thirty years, his descendants shall be freed with great possessions.
7) Remaining indoors – for security from death. Anyone outside was killed.
8) Blood on doorposts – a sign for deliverance. The angel of death would pass over doors with
blood.

Activities carried out by the Israelites on the night of the Passover

i. The Israelites slaughtered the animals
ii. They smeared blood on their door posts.
iii. They roasted the animal’s whole.
iv. They ate unleavened bread, bitter herbs and roasted meat.
v. They ate while standing.
vi. They dressed and packed their belongings.
vii. They burnt the left overs.
viii. They remained indoors.
ix. They choose a lamb 1 year old without blemish.
x. They borrowed jewelry from the Egyptians.

Similarities between the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter

i. In both they are annual feasts.
ii. In both sacrifices and offerings were made
iii. In both the participants remember the suffering and victory.
iv. In both blood is shed as a symbol of salvation
v. In both people remember God’s love for his people
vi. In both God used an individual in liberating His people
vii. In both they are important events which form the basis of belief in Judaism and
Christianity.
THE EXODUS
Introduction
Exodus means movement of a large number of people.

Reasons why the exodus was important to the Israelites

i. It marked the end of their oppression and suffering in Egypt.
ii. It signified that they were a special nation chosen by God.
iii. It was a fulfillment of the promises God had made to Abraham.
iv. It proved that God as more powerful than other gods.
v. It proved to them that Moses was a chosen leader of God.
vi. The Exodus united the people of Israel as a nation.
vii. It made them understand the nature of God.
viii. It taught them God needed obedience from human beings.
ix. They received the Ten Commandments which guided them in their relationships.

God protected the Israelites during the Exodus by:

i. Making them cross the red sea on dry ground.
ii. Providing water in the wilderness.
iii. Providing manna and quails.
iv. Defeating Amalekites – their enemies.
v. Protecting them from snakes and diseases in the wilderness.

The crossing of the Red sea (Exodus 14:5-31)

During the night of the Passover, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and told them to leave,
to go and worship their Lord. All the Israelites, their flocks and herds were urged to leave in a
hurry. Pharaoh took his chariot army and followed the Israelites and found them camped by the
Red Sea.
God led the Israelites over the desert towards the Red Sea. Moses took the body (bones) of
Joseph, as Joseph had requested the Israelites to do. “When God rescues you, you must carry my
body with you from this place” (Ex 13 vs. 19)
During the day the Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud (angel of God) to show them
the way, and during the night the lord went in front in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that
they could travel night and day. This pillar of cloud led the Israelites by day and night.
The Egyptian army followed Israelites and caught up with them by the Red Sea where they had
camped.
Moses asked the scared Israelites to move near the sea.
God told Moses to lift up his stick, and hold it over the sea. The waters of the Red Sea divided
and the Israelites crossed the sea on dry ground with walls of water on both sides. The angel of
God, and the pillar of cloud (who had been in front of the army of Israel) moved behind the
Israelites and provided light to them as they cross.
The Egyptians army pursued Israelites. The pillar of cloud made it dark for Egyptians who could
not see where they were going. Just before daylight, the Lord looked at the Egyptians from the
pillar of cloud and fire and God threw the army of the Egyptians into confusion. Moses was
asked by the Lord to stretch out his hand. He did so and waters returned to its normal level
drowning Egyptian army and their horses.
Provision of water in the wilderness
Israelites travelled in the desert for three days without water. The water, which they found at
Marah was bitter and could not be drunk. They called the place ‘Marah’ meaning ‘bitter’. This
made them complain. Moses prayed to the Lord.
The Lord showed Moses a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water and it became fit to
drink. God continued providing Israelites with water.
Again the Israelites lacked water and complained bitterly (Ex.17:1 – 9). God instructed Moses to
strike a rock and water came out of it. Moses called that place ‘Massah’ – which means ‘testing
‘and ‘Meribah’ –meaning ‘rebellion’. This was because the Israelites quarreled and tested God.
Provision of manna and quails (EX 16:1 – 35)
As the Israelites were travelling through the desert, they ran out of food. They were hungry and
complained to Moses. Their complaints displeased the Lord for they often told Moses they
wished he had let them die in Egypt instead of dying in the wilderness. This showed that the
Israelites did not trust God to provide for them.
In the morning, they were given Manna, which is a Hebrew word for the type of bread given to
Israelites by God. The bread looked like wafers or flakes and tasted like coriander seed.
In the evening, GOD provided Israelites with quail’s meat. The provision of manna and quails
(meat) lasted for 40 years.
On the 6th day of each week, God gave them food for two days one for the 6th day and the other
for the 7th day (Sabbath).
Defeat of the Amalekites (exodus 17: 8 – 16)
The wilderness experience was a trying one for the Israelites. They often wished they were back
in Egypt as slaves.
Apart from lacking food and water, while at Rephidim, they were attacked by men from the tribe
of Amalek. Moses had become too old to fight, so he called Joshua, son of Nun, to lead the
people to battle. Moses stood on a hill with his hands held out in prayer.
Whenever Moses’ hands were held up, the Israelites were winning the battle, but whenever
Moses got tired and put his hands down, they lost hope and the Amalekites began to win. Aaron
and Hur held Moses’ hands and eventually the Israelites won.
Challenges/problems faced by Moses as he led the Israelites during the Exodus
i. Threat from the Egyptian army
ii. Lack of water for the Israelites
iii. Lack of food for the Israelites
iv. Complains/grumbling by the Israelites/refuse to listen to Moses
v. Warring tribes in the desert
vi. Settling of disputes among the people.
vii. Travelling in harsh climatic conditions
viii. Lack of faith in the people where they worshipped the golden calf
ix. Opposition from his family
x. Bites from snake
MAKING THE SINAI COVENANT (EXODUS 19, 20: 18-21, 24:1 –8
a)How God prepared the Israelites for the making of covenant at Mt Sinai. (Exodus 19)
 God told Moses to remind the people of Israel of how he had brought them out of Egypt.
 God told Moses that He wanted to make a special relationship with Israel and make them
a kingdom of priests.
 Moses called all the people and told what God had said.
 God told Moses that he wanted the Israelites to obey him.
 The Israelites promised to do all that the Lord had said
 God promised to come down and met with the people on the third day.
 The people were instructed to consecrate themselves/wash their garments.
 Moses set bounds (boundaries of mountain) for the people not to go up the mountain.
 The people were to abstain from sexual relationships.
 On the third day, God manifested His presence in the form of thunder, lightning,
earthquake and a thick cloud of smoke that covered the whole mountain. In addition,
there was a loud trumpet blast that made the people tremble.
 Moses brought people out of the camp to meet with God and they took a stand at the foot
of the mountain.
 The Lord came down to the top of the mountain and called Moses to go up to Him.

Theophany.
God’s presence manifested itself in several ways such as:
 The burning bush (during the call of Moses)
 Pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud – Exodus story
 The mighty wind, earthquake, still small voice – story of Elijah
 Thunder, lighting, smoking mountain – Exodus of Israelites from the wilderness
 These were physical manifestations of God’s presence.

b) Sealing of the covenant.

 Moses woke up early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He
used twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
 Then he sent young men to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.
 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins and half of the blood he threw against
the altar/sprinkled on the altar .
 He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people
 All the Israelites said that they would be obedient.
 Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people.
 And he said “ Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in
accordance with all these words”
 C) The Ten commandments
i. You shall not have no other gods before me
ii. You shall not make for yourself a graven image
iii. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
iv. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
v. Honour your father and mother that your days may be long.
vi. You shall not kill.
vii. You shall not commit adultery.
viii. You shall not steal.
ix. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
x. You shall not covet your neighbours property.
Breaking The Sinai Covenant (Exodus 32:1 – 35; 34:6 –8)
 Moses went back to talk to God in the mountain.
 Aaron had been left in charge of the people.
 Moses delayed in returning and the people became impatient.
 Israelites asked Aaron to make them a God that would lead them.
 Aaron yielded to their demands of the Israelites and made a golden calf to worship.
Aaron built an altar at the foot of the mountain and made them a golden calf to worship.
 The people worshipped the calf and made sacrifices to it.
 God was angered and set to destroy the Israelites.
 Moses interceded on behalf of the people.
 When Moses came down from the mountain he was very angry with the people and he
threw the tables out of his hands and broke them.
 The Israelites were given a chance to choose between following Yahweh or the golden
calf.
 Those who followed the golden calf were destroyed.
Reasons that made the Israelites to break the covenant while at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 32:1-35)
i. Moses their leader had taken too long on the mountain.
ii. Aaron, who had been left in charge of the people was weak
iii. The Israelites wanted a god they could see.
iv. The Israelites were still influenced by the Egyptian way of worship.
v. The teachings and influence of Moses had vanished from the people’s minds.
vi. They lacked faith in God.
vii. They lacked knowledge of the nature of the true God

Renewal Of The Covenant (Exodus 34:1 – 14)

The renewal of the covenant came after Moses pleaded with God not to destroy the Israelites
after they broke the covenant. God spared the Israelites. God agreed to renew the covenant with
the Israelites. He gave them several conditions for its renewal.
Describe the renewing of the covenant between God and Israelites.
 God told Moses to cut two tablets of stone like the first one for God to write on them.
 God told Moses to be ready and go up the mountain the following morning.
 No man or flock was to up the mountain.
 Moses cut the stone tablets and went up the mountain as God had commanded.
 God descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the
Lord.
 The Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed his goodness.
 God said he was making a covenant with the Israelites.
 God gave them conditions to observe i.e. obey Gods commands
 When Moses came down from the mountain he did not know that the skin of his face
shone.
 Moses called Aaron, leaders of the congregation and talked to them. Afterwards people
of Israel came near and Moses gave them the commandments the Lord had given
Conditions for the renewal of the covenant
i. The Israelites were to obey God’s commandments
ii. The Israelites were not to make any treaty with those who lived in the land where they
were going.
iii. The Israelites were to break down their altar, smash their sacred stones and cut down
their Asherah (Idols).
iv. They were not to worship any other god
v. They were not to make idols for worship.
vi. They were to keep the feast of unleavened bread (Passover).
vii. They were not to intermarry with foreigners.
viii. They were to rest on the Sabbath day.
ix. They were to offer to God the first fruits of their harvest.
God in turn promised to:
a) Bless them. Protect and preserve the Israelites.
b) Make them prosper so much that the surrounding nations would enquire about their source of
wealth and success.
With these conditions, the covenant between God and the Israelites was renewed. From the
making and renewal of the covenant, it is clear that:
(i) God expected the Israelites to obey and have faith in Him
(ii) God wanted a personal relationship with Israelites.
(iii) God is the only one to be worshipped.
(iv) God is powerful.
WORSHIPING GOD IN THE WILDERNESS
a. God’s purpose in delivering the Israelites from Egypt was to worship and offer sacrifices to
Him in the wilderness. He also intended to fulfill his promises to Abraham.
How the Israelites worshipped God in the wilderness
i. They built altars
ii. They offered sacrifices
iii. They sang songs/danced
iv. They said prayers
v. They held festivals
vi. They gave offerings and tithes
vii. They constructed the tent of meeting/Tabernacle
viii. They observed the Sabbath day
ix. They burnt incense/burnt offerings

b. Features of worshipping God in the wilderness.

(i) The Israelites: Worshipped God through intermediaries. These were the priests who came
from the tribe of Levi.
(ii) The Israelites: Were guided in their worship and in daily living by the Ten Commandments
and other ordinances
(iii) The Ark of the Covenant was made in the wilderness. It was God’s dwelling place. It was a
special box put into the tabernacle. A tabernacle was a portable tent. The ark symbolized the
presence of God and the Israelites carried it wherever they went.
(iv) Offerings of farm products or agricultural produce were given to God. These included
among other farm products; vegetables, flour, oil and fruits.
(v) Other offerings to God were drinks, and incense. The offerings could be burnt, baked, boiled
or roasted.
(vi) There were several Sacrifices. They included:
a) Burnt offerings (Holocaust) – burning a whole animal completely
b) Sin offering /atonement – sacrifice offered when one had sinned and wanted to have his
sins forgiven.
c) Peace offering/communion sacrifice/fellowship offering – part of an animal was
offered, while the people ate part of the meat.
d) Gift offering – the best animal was given to God. It was offered as a thanksgiving
Animals such as sheep, goats, bulls and birds were sacrificed to God.
e) Meal offering/drink offering: This type of offering involved both vegetable and animal
offerings. Meal offering could be offered alone, but was usually offered together with
fresh agricultural produce.
f) Incense offering: Incense is a substance composed of sweet smelling herbs. It was burnt
before God and it was a sign of God’s holiness and His acceptance of the sacrifice.
(vii) Festivals and days. Israelites observed several festivals and feasts. These included:
a. Passover feast of the unleavened bread- This feast was held annually at the beginning
of each year
 b. Feast of weeks or Pentecost- It marked the celebration of the harvest of wheat. Later it
was conducted 50 days from the Sabbath following the Passover, hence the name
Pentecost.
c. Feast of gathering / shelters- It was celebrated during the season when the Israelites
gathered the fruits from the Orchards.
d. Feast of Tabernacles- This festival marked the end of the agricultural year; it took place
in autumn when the fruits had been harvested.
e. The Israelites kept the Sabbath day- They worshipped God through singing, worship
and dancing.
Forms of worship that were practiced by the Israelites in the wilderness which are found in
the Christian worship today
i. Obeying the Ten Commandments.
ii. Singing/dancing in the church.
iii. Praying to God
iv. Building and dedicating places of worship/consecrating the places of worship.
v. Celebration of festivals/feasts
vi. The observing the Sabbath
vii. Giving tithes and offerings
viii. Burning incense.
The Ten Commandments (Exodus. 20: 1 – 17)
a. The Commandments which guide on the relationships among human beings.
i. Honour your father and mother.
ii. You shall not kill.
iii. You shall not commit adultery.
iv. You shall not steal.
v. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
vi. You shall not covet your neighbour’s property.
b. Importance of the Ten commandments to Christians
i. The Ten Commandments safeguards Christians against idol worship/promotes the
worship of one true God.
ii. They help Christians to have the right relationship with God.
iii. They help Christians to keep the Sabbath day/celebrate the Sabbath by carrying out acts
of charity.
iv. They promote good relationship between parents and children.
v. They help Christian’s protect/preserve/respect human life.
vi. They act as guide to Christian living/ bring stability in families.
vii. The Ten Commandments help to protect people’s property/condemns all form of theft.
viii. They help to cultivate the virtue of honesty/self-control.
ix. Ten Commandments promotes good relationship with other people/enhance peaceful co-
existence.
c. Israelites understand the nature of God
The Israelites had a new and wider revelation about God. Besides GOD being a caring, loving,
and a provider, they learnt that:
i. God is a jealous God. He does not allow the worship of others gods. He alone should be
worshipped.
ii. God does not condone evil. He punishes those who cause/engage in it.
iii. God values a personal relationship with his people.
iv. God wants people to live in harmony among them.
v. God forgives those who repent. He is loving, merciful and compassionate
vi. God is a healer – he healed Israelites in the wilderness when a snake attacked them
vii. God is a God of victory. He defeated the Amalekites, Perizzites, and Hittites etc.
viii. God is faithful and can be depended upon.
ix. God is holy, slow to anger, powerful and just.
x. God demands obedience to His commands.