The Kingdom Promised: His Rules, Part One

Week thirteen | March 30 – April 5

The Israelites experienced God’s miraculous rescue from Egypt. As they watched God destroy their enemies in the waters of the Red Sea, “they feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and his servant Moses.” But what next? How would they live as a nation without a land of their own? God is preparing his people for the land that he promised. As we continue reading in Exodus, we see another part of the Abrahamic Covenant take form as God establishes what it looks like to live under his rule and blessing. He does this by giving his people another covenant through Moses. This covenant— also referred to as the Mosaic Covenant or the Law—is given out of love for his people, as a way to teach them how to relate to himself and others and be set apart from other nations. The spark of hope carries on in this covenant as God’s people learn how to live as his people in his kingdom under his rule and blessing. Through this, God is preparing the way for a greater rescuer than Moses, a perfect King who will free his people from the slavery of sin and fulfill God’s law perfectly. Jesus would make it possible for all who believe in him to live under God’s rule and blessing, just as he designed it to be.  

Memory Verse

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Exodus 34:6

Worship

Day One

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about God reminding his people of all that he has done in order to prepare them for the covenant he is going to give them:

Exodus 19:1-12

Exodus 19:1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, 10 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

God, it is so good to remember what you have done for us! You have called us your treasured possessions, a kingdom of priests, just as you did Israel, because of our adoption into your family through faith in Jesus. Thank you for calling us your own, for loving us, giving us a new holy identity in you. May we live as such in all we do. In Jesus name, amen.

Day Two

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about the Ten Commandments that God gave to his people through Moses:

Exodus 20:1-21

Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

God, you are the great Ruler of all. Thank you for giving us your law so that we can know how to relate to you and others. Help us see your law as good and beautiful instead of restricting and a burden. It is meant to bring life. We know we can never obey it perfectly but through Christ we are set free from the punishment we deserve for not obeying it perfectly. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to live in obedience! Thank you for helping us. You are a good, good Father! Amen.

Day Three

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about how God renewed his covenant with the people.

Exodus 24:3-8, 12-13, 15-18

Exodus 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 

15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

God, we stand in awe of your holiness. As we picture this scene of Moses offering a sacrifice to you and then being in the cloud which was your presence, it is a reminder of how holy you are. We are unworthy of what you have done for us, yet you made a way for us to be in your presence through Jesus. Help us live in awe and reverence to your holiness. In Jesus name, amen. 

Day Four

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about Moses’ encounter with the Lord on Mount Sinai:

Exodus 34:6-10; 29-31 (ICB)

Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “I am the Lord. The Lord is a God who shows mercy and is kind. The Lord doesn’t become angry quickly. The Lord has great love and faithfulness. 7 The Lord is kind to thousands of people. The Lord forgives people for wrong and sin and turning against him. But the Lord does not forget to punish guilty people. The Lord will punish not only the guilty people. He will also punish their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren and their great-great-grandchildren.” 8 Then Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped. 9 Moses said, “Lord, if you are pleased with me, please go with us. I know that these are stubborn people. But forgive our evil and our sin. Take us as your own people.” 10 Then the Lord said, “I am making this *agreement with you. I will do miracles in front of all your people. These things have never before been done for any other nation on earth. The people with you will see my work. I, the Lord, will do wonderful things for you. 

29 Then Moses came down from Mount Sinai. In his hands he was carrying the two stone tablets of the agreement. But Moses did not know that his face was shining because he had talked with the Lord. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw that Moses’ face was shining. So they were afraid to go near him. 31 But Moses called to them. So Aaron and all the leaders of the people returned to Moses. Moses talked with them. 32 After that, all the people of Israel came near him. And he gave them all the commands that the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

*Agreement refers to the covenant God was making with His people

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

God, we repeat what Exodus 34 says, You are a God who shows mercy and is kind. You don’t become angry quickly. You have great love and faithfulness. You are kind to thousands of people. You forgive people for wrong and their sin of turning against you. But you also do not forget to punish guilty people. Help us to respond as Moses did in reverent worship! Let us not forget you and turn away from your goodness as Israel did. In Jesus name, amen. 

Day Five: Family Sabbath

Be Present

Set aside distractions (electronics, work, chores, etc.) and spend time with God and each other. 

Pray

God, thank you for giving us rest. You created us with limitations and command us to rest to remember You and all You provide. Help us rest in You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Play

Choose a fun activity to do together as your family rests from work. 

• Write a short story retelling what you learned this week to help your friends understand God’s law.
• Have a pillow fight
• Play soccer

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