YEA Lesson Library
Don’t Give Up
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that God’s Law (including the Ten Commandments) are a gift which makes life work better if followed.
Scriptures
Exodus 19:1-8
Psalm 1:1-2
Psalm 119:92-104
Isaiah 59:1-8
1 Peter 2:9
1 John 3:4
Words to Know
UNISON - in perfect agreement
DISSENTING - to differ in opinion
CODIFICATION - to reduce to a code
The Lesson
"One day a young man was walking along an isolated road when he heard something like a crying sound. He couldn't tell for sure what the sound was, but it seemed to be coming from underneath a bridge. As he approached the bridge, the sound got louder and then he saw a pathetic sight. There, lying in the muddy river bed, was a puppy about two months old. It had a gash on its head and was covered with mud. Its front legs were swollen where they had been tightly bound with cords.
"The young man was immediately moved with compassion and wanted to help the dog, but as he approached, the crying stopped and the dog snarled his lip and started to growl. But the young man did not give up. He sat down and started gently talking to the dog. It took a long time but eventually the dog stopped growling, and the man was able to inch forward and eventually touch the dog and begin unwrapping the tightly bound cord. The young man carried the dog home, cared for its wounds, gave it food and water and a warm bed. Even with all of this, the dog continued to snarl and growl every time the young man approached. But the young man did not give up.
“Weeks went by and the man continued caring for the puppy. Then one day, as the young man approached, the dog wagged its tail. Consistent love and kindness had won and a lifelong friendship of loyalty and trust began" (Stories For The Heart, Don't Give Up, retold by Alice Gray on page 110).
Do you recall how God looked down from heaven and heard the deep sorrow of His people in Egypt and heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh taskmasters? God called Moses from the burning bush and told him that He had come to "deliver them from the Egyptians and to take them out of Egypt into a good land, a large land, a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.'" The suffering Israelites were a lot like this poor, dirty puppy that had been bound and thrown into the muddy river. God had compassion on His people as the man did with dirty, hurting puppy. At first it seemed the puppy didn’t appreciate what the man was trying to do for it. Time and again, we’ve seen where the Israelites didn’t appreciate what God was trying to do for them either. They growled like the puppy and complained that God was trying to kill them.
Three months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the base of Mt. Sinai and set up camp there. This was probably just before Pentecost.
Mount Sinai is a very rugged mountain. Moses climbed that mountain to meet with God. Can you imagine having a meeting with God? Somewhere in that mountain God called to Moses and said, “Give these instructions to the people of Israel. Tell them, ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I brought you to myself as though on eagle's wings. Now if you will obey me and keep your part of my contract with you, you shall be my own little flock from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth is mine. And you shall be a kingdom of priests to God. a holy nation.’”
This meeting with God was very important. God had a plan for the Israelites that far exceeded the plan Jethro gave Moses. God thinks big! He had a vision for the Israelites to become a kingdom of priests to Him - a holy nation. Now that is awesome!
After the meeting was over, Moses went back down the mountain and called a meeting of all the leaders of the people and told them what God had said. They responded in unison without a dissenting voice, saying, "We will certainly do everything he asks of us.” Then Moses told God what the people had agreed to do.
The stage is being set for the most major drama in the history of man to take place. God is getting ready to give His beloved people the best gift He can possibly give them, short of giving His own Son. The gift will be the codification of His Law - The Ten Commandments. This Law will show people how to live so they will be happy, healthy, and prosperous. It will be a light to their path to keep them out of trouble.
You have probably heard about God's law all of your life. Do you look upon it as one of the best gifts God could give you? Can you say with David, "Oh, how I love thy law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your law, for you yourself have taught me" (Psalm 119: 97-102 NIV).
If you truly want to obey God, as the Israelites agreed to do, and to keep your part of the contract with God, you are truly on your way to God's Kingdom. Spend time each day of your life studying God's Word and thinking about His law. Psalm 1:1- 2 says, ”Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Don't Give Up! Walk in God's law. Apply God's law to every part of your life. Live His law every day. Life will work better for you.
Student Prayer
Awesome God,
Thank you for bringing the Israelites safely to Mount Sinai for Moses to receive your law. Help me to make your law a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path all the days of my
life.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Psalm 119:97-104
Monday - Psalm 1:1-2
Tuesday - Exodus 19:1-8
Wednesday - Isaiah 59:1-8
Thursday - 1 John 3:4
Friday - 1 Peter 2:9
Saturday - Psalm 119:92-95
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell the story of Moses climbing the mountain to talk with God and the Israelites agreeing to His covenant.
2. Personally agree to God’s contract.
Topics & Themes
Covenant
Follow God
God’s Law
Kingdom of Priests
Obedience
Sin
Ten Commandments
Materials Needed
Bible,YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, butcher paper, markers, prize
How to Teach This Lesson
Open the class with prayer. Appoint three team leaders and divide the class into three groups. Have each team leader select one of the assignments you wrote on pieces of paper. Explain that students will teach today's lesson by drawing a mural consisting of three scenes. They can also use cartoon balloons or simply write things that can't be expressed with drawing. Give each student a marker. Tell them they can use their YEA lessons and Bibles to help with their drawings. Tell them there is a picture of Mount Sinai on the Pattern Page. They will have 25 to 30 minutes to draw the scenes. When time is up, or they complete their drawings, have them vote on the best one and give the prize. Have students return to their seats.
Debrief - Ask: How did you feel about drawing your scenes as a means for learning the Bible? How many different senses have you used in doing these drawings? How do you feel that using all of your senses will help you remember this portion of the Bible longer? Ask each student to tell what has been the most memorable scene they have drawn so far. What lessons have you learned from today's drawing?
Mount Sinai - Ask: Would you have liked to have been the one to climb Mount Sinai? Why or why not? How far up do you think Moses had to go before God started talking to him? What part of the mountain do you think God spoke from?
The Contract - Ask: Did you expect every Israelite, without one dissenting voice, to agree to the contract God wanted to make with them? Ask a student to read Exodus 19:5,6 aloud. Ask: How many of you will agree to make this contract with God today?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Go over the Activity in the Students' Book with your class.
Remind the students their 10-week project is due next week. They can choose to memorize ten verses which give encouragement when facing difficulties or display those verses in a power-point presentation, a mural, a picture book, or some other way.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight: Psalm 1:1-2
Look up the word “meditates.” Write down the Hebrew word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used.
How would you define meditation in your own words? Do you meditate? Is meditation an important part of your relationship with God? Should it be? Write your conclusions in your Bible notebook.
Where in the World? Mt. Sinai
There is a great deal of controversy about the location of Mt. Sinai. Do some research. See what you can find. Look at the arguments for the different locations. Talk about it with your parents. What do they think? Write down what you find.
They Did What Back Then? We Will Do
When God told the Israelites in Exodus 19 that they would become a kingdom of priests for Him and that He expected them to obey His laws, the people completely agreed to the covenant. They told God that everything He told them to do, they would do. How long did that last? Not long. Why? Why was it that the people could not seem to keep from breaking God’s laws? What do you think? This might be an excellent family topic for around the table on Friday evening. After a family discussion, write down your conclusions - including how you, as a family, can persevere in doing what pleases God.
Making It Mine: Covenant
The covenant that God makes with His people is one-on-one. You can’t get into His kingdom based on your parents’ faith or be kept out of God’s kingdom by their lack of faith. Your best friend can’t pull you into the Kingdom of God by his actions, no matter how noble and good they are. Becoming part of the family of God, having the hope of eternal life in God’s kingdom, depends completely upon a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.
Do you believe that God exists? That’s a good place to start, but even the demons believe God exists. And they won’t be part of God’s family.
Do you believe that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him? That’s good. You see that your actions have consequences. You understand that God isn’t just going to open the doors and let anyone wander in.
Do you believe that God has the right to tell you what to do? He’s the Creator of the universe. Of course, He has the right to tell you what you can and can’t do! To think otherwise is just stupid. I heard a lady say once that she had given up so much for God. She just didn’t think that she should also have to give up eating bacon. She didn’t believe that God has the right to tell her what she should do.
Do you believe that God’s laws are for your good? Do you believe that God wants only your best? If you haven’t already discovered it, let me tell you: God’s laws are for your good. They make life work. Your observance of God’s laws benefits you. Once you know that, really know that in your heart, then you are willing to accept God’s direction in your life. You are willing to submit to His will.
Do you believe that you have sinned and are subject to God’s punishment? If you believe that God is the Creator and the Judge, and you believe that He has the right to tell you what to do, then the next step is realizing that you haven’t done what He requires. You deserve the punishment required from not observing His laws. What is that? Transgression of God’s laws is punishable by death.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ was perfect and innocent? Do you believe that He, as Creator with God the Father, is worth more than all of creation? Do you believe that His death is more than sufficient to pay your sin debt? Do you believe that God is willing to forgive you because of what Jesus has done? Then it’s time to go have a long conversation about all of this with your parents and your pastor.
Worldview Collisions: Baptism
There is a worldview collision between different Christian organizations about the proper time and age for baptism. Some churches do not baptize until a young person is at least 18. The rationale is that, until they are no longer living at home, they really don’t know if it’s their faith or just their parents’ religion. They haven’t had to make some of those hard choices to follow Jesus no matter what.
Other churches believe a young person needs to be able to explain why they want to be baptized, clearly able to define sin, repentance, forgiveness, commitment, and covenant. Some churches believe a person can be as young as five and be able to understand these concepts. Other churches don’t believe that a five year-old completely understands what sin is.
Still other church believe in infant baptism. The child is baptized when they are a few days old. The responsibility lies on the parents to rear that child to know and love the Lord.
What does your church believe? What is the rationale behind their stance? Do you know? Do you think it’s accurate? Which worldview about baptism do you hold? Write about this in your Bible notebook.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
"Glory and Praise to Our God" is on page eight of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students join hands in a circle. Ask: Who can tell us what the Israelites agreed to in their contract with God and what agreeing to it would gain them? Lead in prayer telling God that we all want to be a part of His holy nation and to obey Him and follow His commands. Ask for God's help for each student.
Printable Pages
