YEA Lesson Library
An Awesome Event!
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that the Ten Commandments were given on Pentecost when the Israelites came out of Egypt.
Scriptures
Exodus 19:3-6, 16
Exodus 19:18-20
Leviticus 23:21-24
Psalm 1:1-3
Psalm 19:7-8
Psalm 119:165-168
Proverbs 6:23
Romans 7:12
I Corinthians 15:20-23
Words to Know
BILLOW - any surging mass
REPROOF - rebuke
CONVOCATION - commanded assembly
SHEAF - a bundle or cluster of grain
MANIFESTATION - something made clear to the eye
The Lesson
Take a moment to look up a video of when the new millennium came to Times Square in New York. What a display of fireworks! What a celebration! When compared to what happened about three months after Israel left Egypt, this pales into insignificance.
When the Israelites arrived in the Sinai Peninsula, they set up camp at the base of the mountain. “Moses climbed the rugged mountain to meet with God, and from somewhere in the mountain God called to him 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’” (Exodus I9:3-6 TLB).
God gave Moses instructions to pass on to the children of Israel. They were to wash and purify themselves in preparation of the big event.
“On the morning of the third day there was a terrific thunder and lightning storm, and a huge cloud came down upon the mountain, and there was a long, loud blast as from a ram’s horn; and all the people trembled” (verse 16). Was the millennial celebration you attended so awesome that you trembled? This event was far more awesome! Why?
God was about to give His Law – The Ten Commandments – to His people. This was probably the first Pentecost the children of Israel ever celebrated. And what a celebration it was!
“All Mt. Sinai was covered with smoke because Jehovah descended upon it in the form of fire; the smoke billowed into the sky as from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake. As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God thundered his reply. So the Lord came down upon the top of Mt. Sinai and called Moses up to the top of the mountain, and Moses ascended to God” (verses 18-20).
God told Moses to warn the people of their boundaries. They were not to come up to the mountain and try to see God or they would die. Because of God’s presence, Mt. Sinai was filled with such awesome power!
On this Pentecost Day, God began to reveal to Israel the most righteous Law man has ever known. He gave Israel the Ten Commandments. The Apostle Paul tells us, “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12). Each law shows you how to have a better life – how to keep from hurting yourself and suffering the consequences of breaking it. “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23).
In Leviticus 23 we find more instructions for celebrating Pentecost. “That day shall be announced as a time of sacred convocation of all the people; don’t do any work that day. This is a law to be honored from generation to generation. (When you reap your harvests, you must not thoroughly reap all the corners of the fields, nor pick up the fallen grain; leave it for the poor and for foreigners living among you who have no land of their own; I am Jehovah your God!)” (verses 21-24).
Pentecost is one of the three harvest festivals God gave us to celebrate. It is also called the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of First Fruits (Numbers 28:26). Pentecost literally means “fiftieth.” It is the only festival that is not a set date on the calendar – we have to count days to determine when we are to celebrate it.
“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16 NIV).
Why is this a harvest festival? Is God that interested in grain? No, people are far more important to God. He wants to make us His own sons and daughters and this day points to that. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the first fruits, then when he comes, those who belong to him” (I Corinthians 15:20-23).
Next year there will be another lesson about this great feast day. It will help you understand other relevant aspects of this celebration. In the meantime, why should you go to church on this day and not do any work?
Well, this day is so remarkable that God shook the earth with a powerful earthquake. There were other powerful manifestations. It was an enormous event in history. In future lessons we will see that on this day Christ empowered His church. Do you want power in your life? Then obey God and celebrate this festival as He commands. You can become a part of the “kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation.”
Student Prayer
Awesome God,
When I think about when you gave the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, I am awestruck. What a wonderful Law
to give to your people. You gave it to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It is for our good – to keep us out of trouble. Thank you for the Feast of Pentecost and all of its significance.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Exodus 19:18-20
Monday - Exodus 19:3-6
Tuesday - Leviticus 23:21-24
Wednesday - I Corinthians 15:20-23
Thursday - Psalm 119:165-168
Friday - Psalm 1:1-3
Saturday - Psalm 19:7-8
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. State that Pentecost means count 50 or fiftieth.
2. Tell the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments.
3. Give three names for the Feast of Pentecost.
4. Explain that Pentecost is a harvest festival and what that means.
5. Explain a possible significance for the two loaves of bread used at Pentecost.
Topics & Themes
Counting
Feast of Firstfruits
Feast of Weeks
Holy Days, Feast of Firstfruits
Holy Days, Feast of Weeks
Holy Days, Pentecost
Mt. Sinai
Pentecost
Ten Commandments
Wave Sheaf
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, two loaves of leavened bread, tray, table, flashlights, metal garbage can lids, cymbals, slips of paper
How to Teach This Lesson
Hold the strips of paper facing you and let each student draw one. Explain that the class will be putting on a drama for the lesson today. Each student will play the part that is on their piece of paper. Give the “people” the flashlights, metal garbage can lids, cymbals, and any other thing you can bring to duplicate the effects of thunder and lightning. Allow them 5 to 8 minutes to plan their drama. They can use their Bibles and YEA books. God is to call Moses to the mountain. Follow the outline in the Bible and have the play end with God giving the Ten Commandments. Those with flashlights, can lids, cymbals, etc., should do the special effects as they are called for in the Bible. The person playing God’s voice should not be seen. Turn out the lights for this drama and shine a light on Moses and/or the people as they become a part of the drama.
When the play is over, debrief by asking the following questions:
How did you feel about all of the thunder and lightning preceding the giving of the Law? Why do you think God did this?
How do you think you would have felt had you been there that day?
Why do you think God might have chosen Pentecost as the day to give the Ten Commandments? What importance do you place on the Ten Commandments being given on Pentecost?
How did the Apostle Paul describe the Law? What does your memory verse tell us about the Law?
How do we know what day we should celebrate Pentecost? What does Pentecost mean? Count fifty or fiftieth. What are the three different names Pentecost is called? Pentecost, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of First Fruits.
Did anyone notice anything interesting about the two loaves of bread on the table? What? They are leavened. Have one of the students read Leviticus 23:17 aloud. What do you think these two loaves of bread might represent? Many think it shows that God does not intend to be only the God of Israel, but of the Gentiles as well – one loaf represents Israel and the other the Gentiles.
What type of Feast is Pentecost? A harvest feast. Why is it a harvest Feast? Ask one of the students to read I Corinthians 15:20-23. Is God more interested in grain or people?
What does Pentecost show that God has in store for people? Christians will be the firstfruit of those who will be God’s sons and daughters.
Explain that this lesson about Pentecost will be continued next year and will provide other interesting aspects of the celebration.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Look up the word “way.” Write down the Hebrew word and its meaning. Do you need help finding your way in life? This verse says the Bible, specifically God’s commandments, will illuminate your way. How does this make you feel? Write about it in your Bible notebook. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used and make a note of them in your notebook as well.
Where in the World?
A quick internet search will reveal multiple ideas about where Mt. Sinai is actually located. Print a map of the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia. Pinpoint the different locations that people have suggested. Add this to your Bible notebook.
Why do you think the location is such a controversy?
They Did What Back Then?
Did you know that Pentecost is the only one of God’s holy days that is determined by counting? The rest of them are set days on God’s calendar. For instance, the Days of Unleavened Bread begin on the 15th day of the first month. The Feast of Trumpets is the first day of the seventh month. But Pentecost is counted from the day after the Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread. It marked the start of the barley harvest. Do some research to find out what grains were harvested? How many different kinds were there? In what order were they harvested? What was the last grain to be harvested? Make a pamphlet to display the information you have discovered. Share with your family.
Making It Mine
During the Days of Unleavened Bread, God’s command is to eat unleavened bread. The command leading up to Pentecost is to count. How do you count the days? Do you make a paper chain? Do you mark off the days on the calendar? Look up the Hebrew word used in Leviticus 23 for count. You might be surprised to find there’s another way to count the days to Pentecost based on what this word means! Write down what you find in your Bible notebook.
Worldview Collisions
Secular worldviews would like you to believe that each person has the prerogative of determining right and wrong for themselves. Can you think of a major problem with that perspective?! Write down the obvious problems in your Bible notebook! Then contrast that worldview with the Biblical worldview which says that God’s law is supreme. God has the right and authority to determine moral and ethical standards of conduct. Why is this? Because God is the Creator! Write a persuasive essay about the validity and intelligence of using God’s standards for our code of conduct! Be sure to include appropriate scriptures. Share with your sabbath school class. Then put your essay in your Bible notebook for future reference.
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
“Awesome God” is on page 55 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for such a wonderful Law, for the opportunity to celebrate Pentecost, and for what it means.
Printable Pages
