Covenant: a contract, promises between two people

Holy: set apart, special

Mediator: a go-between, someone who talks for others

Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai, the place where Moses talked to the Angel of the Lord at the burning bush. Moses went up to the mountain to talk to God. God said, "I brought you out of Egypt to be a special, holy nation. If you will obey me and keep my law, you will be special to me."

Moses went down to the people and told them what God said. They replied, "We will do everything that the Lord has said." Moses went to God to tell him that the Israelites agreed to the covenant. God said to seal the agreement, he would appear on the mountain to the people.

Meeting with God is a very special occasion. When we meet with important people, we get cleaned up, put on our best

clothes, and act on out best behavior. God told the people to cleanse themselves for three days, not to come too close to the mountain, and to wait for the trumpets.

Activity: Have the students act the part of the Israelites. Give them handi-wipes to represent cleansing. Lay a string on the floor to represent the line they shouldn't cross.

• God Approaches Mount Sinai
• Moses, the Mediator

• Moses acted as a go-between, a mediator. He spoke to God for the Israelites, and relayed God's will to them.
• Without a law, it is impossible to know how to please God. God gives us law so we can know we are doing what's right.
  • Activity: Take a sticker (or other small prize) in one hand. Put both hands behind your back. Have students choose a hand. If they pick the hand with the prize, give it to them. If they don't, don't. discuss how it's hard to know if you're making the right choice without any guidelines. Explain that the law guides us before we have to make choices, by telling us what is right and what is wrong. And picking what's right is like getting the prize. This time, tell the students which hand the prize is in, then give them the prize when they pick it. If someone chooses the other hand, despite knowing which hand it was in, discuss how many people choose to do what is wrong, even when they know ahead of time.
• If meeting God was important to the Israelites, is it important to us? How should we act when we are meeting with God in worship or prayer?
• Did the Israelites know what God's law would be before they agreed to obey it? No. their promise was based on their past relationship with God. They knew they would be taken care of, and did not fear promising their service to God.

Exodus 19:8 "Everything the Lord has spoken we will do."

1. What is a covenant?
2. Explain how Moses acted as a mediator.
3. What makes a person holy?

1. Put the first five books of OT in order.
2. Quickly draw a picture of God's cloud on the mountain.
3. Have a student act as a go-between for you and the class by handing out something.
4. Play two commands of Simon Says with that student.

1. How did the Israelites feel when God's cloud appeared on the mountain?
2. Were the Israelites willing or unwilling to obey God?
3. Do you think God was pleased or not pleased that the Israelites agreed to the covenant?

1. Does God require a commitment out of us?
2. How should we act when we are before God?
3. Are rules good or bad things?

1. Who acted as a go-between for God and the Israelites?
2. What frightened the Israelites?
3. How did the people do to prepare to meet God?

1. What did the Israelites agree to do?
2. What did God promise to make of the Israelites?
3. What did God give the Israelites to help them be special?