YEA Lesson Library
Free At Last!
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches the events of the Exodus Passover and its significance of freeing us from slavery to sin.
Scriptures
Exodus 1 - 12
Exodus 6:1-6
Exodus 7:2-5
Exodus 12:3-12
Exodus 12:14
Isaiah 53:4-7
John 8:31-36
Romans 6:16-18
Romans 8:1-4
Words to Know
TRANSATLANTIC - reaching across the Atlantic Ocean
TASKMASTER - a person who assigns burdensome tasks and works people rigorously
SPEECH IMPEDIMENT - any physical defect that impedes normal or easy speech
The Lesson
You have probably learned during Black History Month about the turbulent legacy of transatlantic slave trade. Slaves were not widely used in Mexico or Canada but were imported in great numbers to the Southern states of the United States. Africans were sold as slaves and brought to this country to work on cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations. In 1808, it became illegal to import slaves to this country. This legacy of slavery molded much of European, African and North American society for almost 400 years.
This is not the only time in history that a race of people was held in slavery. Black, white, brown, and yellow people have been slaves in other countries. A similar historical event that you may not have learned about in school has also had an impact on our society.
After Joseph and his brothers died, their descendants had many children. The Israelite population was increasing very rapidly in Egypt. The new king felt this was a dangerous situation, especially if war should break out. He was afraid the Israelites would join Egypt’s enemy in the battle and escape out of the country. The king went to his people and asked for help in finding a solution to this problem.
What was the solution? Make the Israelites slaves! Put brutal taskmasters over them to wear them down. Guess what? It didn’t work! The Israelites had more and more babies. The more the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed them, the more God seemed to bless them with children.
But the Egyptians were hardheaded about this. The Israelite slaves’ lives became even more bitter. They were forced to work long and hard in the fields and to carry heavy loads of mortar and brick.
One day as Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, an angel appeared to him as a flame of fire in a bush. The bush didn’t burn up. So Moses went to investigate. God called to him, “Moses! Moses!” Well, Moses didn’t know who was calling him. So he asked, “Who is it?” God told him to take off his shoes and not come any closer – he was standing on holy ground. He had to explain that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Israelites had been in slavery for 400 years and had completely lost sight of the true God. Moses said to God, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them that their father’s God has sent me, they will ask, ‘Which God are you talking about?’” God told Moses that He would have him perform miracles so the Israelites would believe that He was the true God.
Moses wasn’t pleased with the job God wanted him to do. So he pleaded with God, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me, for I have a speech impediment.” God reminded Moses that He gave him his mouth and the ability to talk. But that wasn’t good enough for Moses. He asked God again to send someone else. God became angry. He told Moses that Aaron, his brother, was a good speaker and he would go with him to speak to Pharaoh.
The day came for Moses and Aaron to go see Pharaoh. “We bring you a message from Jehovah, the God of Israel. He says, ‘Let my people go, for they must make a holy pilgrimage out into the wilderness, for a religious feast, to worship me there.’”
Does it surprise you to learn that Pharaoh didn’t receive that message very well? Pharaoh retorted, “Is that so? . . . And who is Jehovah, that I should listen to Him, and let Israel go? I don’t know Jehovah and I will not let Israel go.”
Time and again Moses and Aaron visited Pharaoh and asked that he let God’s people go. Pharaoh kept saying no. God had sent nine plagues – the water of the Nile turned to blood, frogs, lice, flies, murrain, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness. As repulsive and as difficult as these things were on the Egyptian people, Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened.
Nearly a year had passed, spring was approaching, and God was prepared to send a tenth plague that would cause Pharaoh to let His people go have their feast. Moses told Pharaoh, “Jehovah says, ‘About mid- night I will pass through Egypt. And all the oldest sons shall die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest child of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the oldest child of his lowliest slave; and even the firstborn of the animals. . . On the evening of the fourteenth day of this month, all these lambs shall be killed, and their blood shall be placed on the two side-frames of the door of every home and on the panel above the door. . . For I will pass through the land of Egypt tonight and kill all the oldest sons and firstborn male animals in all the land of Egypt, and execute judgment upon all the gods of Egypt – for I am Jehovah.’” God promised to pass over the houses with blood on the door and spare their firstborn from death.
The wail of death resounded throughout the entire land of Egypt. “Never before has there been such anguish, and it will never be again.” This was the first Passover! “That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth; there were six hundred thousand of them, besides all the women and children, going on foot. . .” Israel was free at last! (Excerpts have been quoted from Exodus 1-12 from The Living Bible).
Student Prayer
God of Isaac, Abraham and Jacob,
Thank you for delivering your people from slavery. This is one of the most important events in all of history. Help us to fully appreciate it and learn the lessons you intend that we learn.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - John 8:31-36
Monday - Romans 8:1-4
Tuesday - Romans 6:16-18
Wednesday - Exodus 7:2-5
Thursday - Exodus 6:1 -6
Friday - Exodus 12:3, 5, 7, II, 12
Saturday - Isaiah 53:4-7
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell the story of the Exodus and the first Passover.
2. Make a comparison of the Africans being in slavery in this country with the Israelites being held as slaves in Egypt.
3. Explain that the blood the Israelites put on the doorpost pictured the blood that Christ shed for our sins – the first provided physical salvation and the second spiritual salvation.
4. Name the first ten plagues that God caused to come upon Egypt.
Topics & Themes
Angel
Angel, Death
Aaron
Blood
Burning Bush
Egypt
Israelites
Miracles
Moses
Passover
Pharaoh
Plagues
Slaves
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, any props to make the three skits more realistic, timer
How to Teach This Lesson
Every class should be opened with prayer. Divide the class into three groups. Group one should consist of only two people - one for Moses and the other for God’s voice (this person should not be seen). The second group should consist of three people – Moses, Aaron and Pharaoh. And the third group should be the remaining students in the class. As the students enter the classroom, let each one draw a slip of paper that will indicate the group in which they will participate.
Explain that each group will go to a different part of the room and prepare a skit for the subject indicated on their piece of paper. Encourage them to use their imaginations as they prepare the skit. They can use their YEA books, their Bibles and the props you provide for each skit. Give them 12-15 minutes to prepare their skits.
Set your timer for 12-15 minutes. When the timer rings, have the first group perform their skit, then the second, and then the third group.
Debrief by asking:
What comparison do you see between Israel’s slavery and Africans being bought as slaves and transported to this country? African slavery molded much of European, American and African societies for 400 years, and Israel was in slavery to the Egyptians for 400 years. The Africans were treated harshly, and so were the Israelites. The Africans had to work hard and so did the Israelites. Both were freed.
What religious impact do you think slavery had on the Israelites? They totally lost track of who the true God is.
Why do you think God brought all of the plagues on Egypt? 1) To free Egypt. 2) To show who the true God is and His power. 3) To help people today look to Christ to deliver them from sin. Read the first two paragraphs under Background.
What other reason did you learn from what I just read you that shows why God brought the plagues on Egypt? The plagues were aimed at the gods of Egypt.
What were the first ten plagues God brought upon the Egyptians? Water turned to blood, frogs, lice, flies, murrain (a pestilence among cattle), boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of the firstborn.
The Passover is historic, but it also points to Christ. How? The blood of Christ is required to free us from our sins as the blood on the doorpost saved the Israelites from death.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
What do you think of when you hear the word “celebrate”? Look up the word “celebrate’ in a Bible lexicon or Bible dictionary. Write down the Hebrew word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used. How does this impact your thoughts about keeping Passover this year?
Where in the World?
Where was Moses tending sheep for his father-in-law? How far would this have been from Egypt? Find a map of the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt region. Find out where the Midianites lived. Figure the distances. Make a note of what you learn. Photocopy or draw the map to add to your Bible notebook.
They Did What Back Then?
The Israelite slaves were used to build the store cities of Pithom and Rameses. An incredible number of bricks would have been needed for construction. Research the different types of bricks and how they were made historically. Then find out where bricks are still made today. Write a short report detailing what you have found. Share with your sabbath class and then add it to your Bible notebook.
Making It Mine
Slavery has been around for millennia! In the United States’ history, many different groups of people were enslaved: the African-Americans, Native Americans, Irish - just to name three. But slavery extends back a lot farther than in the U.S. Genesis records that Sarah, Abraham’s wife, had a slave (Hagar). There are even laws from God about how the Levitical priests would treat their slaves (Leviticus 22:11). It is so abhorrent to us to think of owning another person. So why would God have allowed this in Israel? Why would He allow His people to be taken into slavery in Egypt? Think about this and write your thoughts in your Bible notebook.
Then read Romans 6:15-18. Consider how Paul uses slavery as an object lesson to help us understand how sin entangles us. Then he contrasts slavery to sin with the attitude we should have as Christians who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Write about this in your Bible notebook.
Worldview Collisions
Secular worldviews state that some people are inferior to others - the weak are inferior to the strong. Building on this idea, this viewpoint says that if people are inferior, they can be treated with disrespect or can even be mistreated. But a Biblical worldview says Life should be respected from conception to death. This is the worldview that is a foundational idea in the Declaration of Independence. That is, all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Can you think of a scripture which would support this idea?
How do you see these two worldviews at conflict in our world today? Write about it 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
“Here I Am, Lord” is on page 85 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and hold hands. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for freeing the Israelites and for providing a way that we might be freed from the bondage of sin.
Printable Pages
