YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:

1. Describe how God spoke to Moses ni the wilderness.

2. Tell what God told Moses to do.

3. Explain how God speaks to them today.

4. Name some things that God tells them to do.

Topics & Themes

Bible
Burning Bush
Consequences of Sin
Egypt
Fear
God’s Law
God’s Plan
God’s Presence
God’s Voice
Goshen
Moses
Murder
Obedience
Pharaoh
Punishment
Shepherd

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, attendance and memory verse chart, stars, music player, CD or cassette tape, phone (toy, cell or regular), potted bush, small (2") clay pots, florist's clay, small tree (5") limbs with several branches, tissue paper, tacky glue

Preparation

Primaries are just beginning to develop the logical skills needed to interpret a series of statements. They are still learning how to listen and follow directions. They are more likely to talk to friends than to listen to your instructions. To help the children learn this skill, you must first get their attention and encourage them to listen carefully. In today's lesson, God enlisted this technique when He spoke to Moses. The burning bush captured his attention. He further captured Moses’ interest by speaking his name and giving Moses something to do, “Do not come any closer... Take off your sandals" (Exodus 35: NIrV). What God had to say to Moses was of utmost importance, so it was imperative that he pay close attention.

Before you come to class, collect enough 5" limbs with several branches so that each child will have one. Cut or tear red, orange and yellow tissue paper into 1" pieces. Place a ball of florist's clay in the bottom of the clay pots.

How to Teach This Lesson

Whenever God speaks, it is in our best interest to pay attention. His promises to us are true. His laws are for our benefit and protection. His admonitions will correct wrong behavior. His words of love encourage us. And His instructions will lead us into His Kingdom.

Object Lesson - Bring in a small potted bush and a toy telephone, cell phone, or regular telephone to use in this object lesson. Show the children the phone. Ask: Do you all know what this is? What is it used for? We all know that a phone is used to call people and talk to them. When it rings, what do you do? We are not surprised when a phone rings - that is what it is supposed to do to get our attention. And what happens if you do not answer the phone? You will miss the call. You won’t know what they wanted to say. But, do you expect to smell something cooking over the phone? Or, can you touch the person who is talking to you over the phone? Neither can you taste or see over the phone.

Show the children the bush.) Ask: Do you know what this is? What does it do? Sometimes bushes have flowers on them that smell good. They are nice to look at. Sometimes birds make their nests in them. But, would you expect to be able to talk to someone through a bush? And what if this bush caught on fire - what would happen?

Moses In The Desert- Moses had run away from Egypt because he killed an Egyptian soldier who was beating one of his people. NowMoses was living in the Midian desert. He married and became a shepherd. One day while out tending his father-in-law's sheep, Moses got a call from God. No, he didn't have a cell phone. God used something very strange to talk to Moses - He used a bush!

A Burning Bush - This was no ordinary bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire. When he went closer, he saw the bush was not burning up. That was weird! This was no ordinary fire, either. Then Moses heard a voice coming from the bush - it was the voice of God! Sometimes God used unusual things to talk to His people. Sometimes He sent angels, sometimes He spoke in dreams, and one time He even spoke through a donkey! But, this time He spoke through a bush.

God's Message To Moses - First God told Moses not to come any closer. He told him to take his shoes off because the very ground he was standing on was holy. Then God said He had an important job for Moses to do. He wanted Moses to lead the Israelite people out of Egypt. God was going to give them their own land that would be full of good things to eat. They wouldn't have to be slaves to the Egyptians any longer. Moses' job was to go and tell Pharaoh to let the people go. Ask: How would you feel if you heard God speaking to you through a bush? Would you be afraid? Moses was. He hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

God Speaks To Us - Today, God doesn't speak to us through bushes. He doesn’t use the telephone. But, we can still hear from God. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. The Bible is His message to us. Ask: Can you think of some things that God says to us in the Bible? He gives us His commands in Exodus 20 (Ask a good reader to read the commandments). He also tells us that we don't have to be afraid because He is with us. He tells us how we can got o live with Him in His Kingdom.

Will You Listen? - God has so many important things to say to you and me. They are for our good. If you obey Him, you will be happy and will make Him happy. Will you listen?

Review Questions

1. Why was Moses living in the desert?

2. What was his job?

3. What strange sight did Moses see while tending the sheep?

4. Whose voice did Moses hear?

5. What did God tell Moses to do?

6. How does God talk to you today?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Give each child a small clay pot with florist's clay in the bottom. Have them push the limb into the clay to make it stand upright. Tell them to wad up the tissue paper pieces, dip the tip into the Tacky glue and stick the paper onto the branches of the twig. Use as many as needed to make it look like it is aflame.

REACH Activity

Materials needed: tempera paint, paint brushes, package of colorful construction paper, string, glue, tape, Kids Classics Collection songbook and/or CDs, Bible, YEA book, Bible notebook, black permanent marker, watercolor paints, 11 x 17 drawing paper, card stock, pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, ruler, index cards, CEM Hymnal, Bible dictionary, concordance, access to encyclopedia or the Internet, Bible encyclopedia, Bible map or Bible atlas, dictionary, red crepe paper, twig or stick, video recorder, styrofoam cup

Bible notebook: A spiral bound notebook will be used as a Bible notebook. This is a good place to write and keep all of the writing activities.

1. Moses killed an Egyptian soldier for hitting a Hebrew man. Moses knew what he had done was very wrong. Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever done something wrong and knew it, and thought no one was looking? Did someone see you? What happened? Write about it in your Bible notebook.

2. Moses was so afraid that he ran away! Running away from problems is not a wise choice. No one is perfect. Everyone makes bad choices. Talk to your parents and talk to God. Pray that you will always seek help from your parents and God. Pray that He will help you make wise decisions.

3. When Moses ran away he hid in the desert. He did not want Pharaoh to find him. Pharaoh was very mad! Use a Bible and Bible map to find the desert that Moses hid in.

4. Moses became a shepherd. What is the job of a shepherd? Find more information about shepherding. Share with your Sabbath School class or family.

5. Make a burning bush from twig or stick, green construction paper for the leaves, and red crepe paper for the fire. Use a styrofoam cup to hold the burning bush. Turn the cup upside down and poke the twig/stick through the bottom of the cup.

6. Draw Moses and the burning bush. Write the memory verse across the bottom of the drawing as the caption.

7. A rebus sentence has words and pictures that substitute for words. Make rebus sentences of the memory verse. For example, instead of the word people, there would be a picture of people. Practice until verse is memorized.

8. Read Exodus 2:11 to 3:12. Role play the events.

9. Write a newscast for this lesson. Breaking news: there’s a bush that is burning but is not being burned up. Interview specialists who try to explain what is happening. Involve your family. Be sure to video tape the newscast and rewatch it as a family.

10. How does God get your attention? What is the burning bush in your life? Write about it in your Bible notebook.

11. Have you ever been to a bonfire? They are very large open fires. Sometimes people build bonfires to keep warm or toast marshmallows. Eventually the bonfire burns out and only ashes are left. Moses saw a burning bush out in the open desert, but the bush was still whole. The branches weren’t even burning up! There would be no ashes after this fire. God was trying to get Moses’ attention. Do you think God has ever tried to get your attention? Discuss this question with your family. Pray as a family that you will read and study the Bible to learn and know more about God.

12. Sing: “Trust and Obey” on page 193 of the CEM Hymnal; “Guide Me, O Thou Great Eternal” on page 14 in the CEM Hymnal.

13. Write in your Bible notebook how one of the songs from R.E.A.C.H. activity #12 relates to the YEA lesson.

14. Moses was afraid and sometimes you may be too. God wanted Moses to do something for Him and God wants you to do something, too. He wanted Moses to go back to Egypt and help free his people. God wants you to read and study the Bible and tell others about Jesus Christ. Moses did not have to be afraid. You do not have to be afraid. God was with Moses. He will be with you. In your Bible notebook write down one or two ideas that you believe would help others know about Jesus. Your way of helping might be different from someone else’s idea. Share your ideas with your Sabbath School class and family.

15. In this YEA lesson you learned that the Bible tells you how to obey God. For the next week, keep a journal in your Bible notebook of ways that you have obeyed God. Remember it isn’t always easy, but God knows what is good for you. Pray each day and ask for His help as you need it. 


16. Memory work activity for book: To help with the memorization of Psalm 23, give each student 13 4 x 6 cards. On one side of the card the student should write one phrase of each verse. For instance, one card will have: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The next card would have: He makes me lie down in green pastures. The third card would be: He leads me beside still waters. Continue with each phrase of the psalm. On the other side of the card the student should draw a picture that will help them remember that phrase. Since the students will be expected to recite Psalm 23, the cards should be made after YEA Lesson 1. After each of the subsequent lessons, the student should practice the psalm until memorized. Provide a reward for their hard work!

Song

“The B-I-B-L-E” is on page 18 of Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Tell the children that God speaks to them through His Word, and they speak to God in prayer. Lead them in prayer, thanking God for speaking to Moses through the burning bush and for speaking to them through His Word. Ask God to teach them to listen and obey.