7. Do Not Take Any Lives

(For instructions on how to use this study, see Welcome to The Ten Commandments)

NOTE: You will need to preorder some supplies for this week's family activity sheet. For more information, read the explanation of the Family Activity for the week.

Commandment: "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13 NET)

Bible Story: 12 Men Went to Spy on Canaan (part 2) - Numbers 14

Goals-

Cognitive: The children will learn about the Israelites' lack of faith in God which resulted in their spending the next 40 years in the desert.

Affective: The children will understand God is slow to anger BUT He will judge and one day, it will be too late.

Books to know this week:

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude Revelation

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon

Key passage(s) to know this week:

The 10 Commandments - Exodus 20

The Model Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13

A Messianic Psalm - Psalm 22

Imitating Christ's Humility - Philippians 2:1-11

A Priestly Blessing - Numbers 6:24-26

Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7

Praise and Worship Time (15 minutes)

1. Opening prayer

2. Sing songs of choice

Review Bible Books and Key Passages (5 minutes)

Have the children find the following books/passages in the Bible:

· Esther

· Revelation

· Psalms

· Matthew

· Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

· The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

Tell the Bible Story (15 minutes)

1. Prepare to teach

Review last weeks' Bible study notes

Read Numbers 12-14

Read all the Bible story notes prior to teaching

2. Teach

Assign the following passages/verses to be read by the children:

a) Numbers 14:1-4

b) Numbers 14:7-9

c) Numbers 14:10

d) Numbers 14:20-23

e) Numbers 14:44-45

Review where we left off last week:

· Twelve men went to explore the land in Canaan.

· They returned after 40 days and reported it was all God said it would be.

· BUT, they also reported the people who live there were powerful and their cities were fortified

This is a warning for us... there should be no `buts' with God.

· They commented "we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes."

· How sad, for if they had seen thing through God's eyes, things would be very different.

Allow the teams to work together in a small group for this first part. Instruct the small groups to read Numbers 14:1-4. They will be asked to describe/list the response of the people. What were they doing? After a few moments, have them report to the large group.

· They raised their voices and wept.

· They grumbled.

· They said `if only we had died in Egypt.'

· They wanted to choose a leader and go back to Egypt.

Have a child read Numbers 14:7-9

· Moses and Aaron were not happy.

· Joshua and Caleb (the 2 that were good) urged them to not be afraid. The men believed God was with them and they could take the land.

What is the response of the people this time?

Have a child read Numbers 14:10

· The people wanted to stone the men! How very sad and disappointing.

· The people had this attitude before.

· They were, in essence, accusing God of making a mistake in delivering them from Egypt.

We do not have to imagine what God's response was to this.

Have a leader should read Numbers 14:11-12

· God was ready to strike them down again... just get rid of them all.

· BUT Moses, He cared too much about God.

· Moses was concerned that the Egyptians would hear about the Israelites death and think God was not powerful; that He could not save the people. Moses did not want other nations to think badly about God so he asked God not to destroy the people.

NOTE: Moses was concerned about God's name and reputation more than about the people. Remember this...it will be important next week.

When pleading with God, Moses used God's own words:

He reminded God of what He told Moses in Ex 34:6 that God is slow to angr and abounding in love.

Moses asked God to forgive the people.

In verse 20, God agreed He would forgive them, BUT, there were consequences.

Have a child read Numbers 14:20-23

· God determined that everyone over the age of 20 who grumbled would not enter the Promised Land.

· They would wander the desert for 40 years...one year for every day the men explored Canaan

· The ten that spread the bad reports died (v.37)

· Only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Promised Land (v38)

The people heard all this and recognized they messed up. They want to go ahead and battle (Numbers 14:40). Moses told them not to because God was not with them and they will not succeed!

BUT, have a child read Numbers 14:44-45

· They went anyway and were defeated badly.

· They acknowledged their sin, but didn't take to heart the seriousness of God's judgment.

· It was simply too late.

What can we learn from this:

· The land was all God said it would be BUT the people were afraid and didn't want to take the land.

· God forgave them BUT the adults were going to die in the desert and would not enter the Promised Land

· God is slow to anger and abounding in love BUT He will judge and one day, it will be too late.

Review the commandment: You shall not murder. Some Bible translations use `kill' but `murder' is a more appropriate translation. Does this include war? What about this...what God wanted the Israelites to do? What exactly does this commandment mean?

· Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being - usually (but not always) premeditated.

Why should we not murder?

· God created human beings in His own Image.

· He values the life He created and we should too.

What does Jesus teach about this commandment?

· Jesus warns us against hate (Matt 5:21) because He understands hate can lead to more violent behavior like murder

· We need to guard against anger that turns into hate.

· Jesus goes a step further and suggests when we are wronged, we should `turn the other cheek' (Matthew 5:39). God's justice is always far better than our own.

3. Pray

Praise Him for who He is, the Creator of heaven and earth and the giver of all life.

Thank God for the life He's given you.

Ask Him to help you love as He does and to value life as He does.

4. Introduce the Family Activity Sheet.

Because God value the lives He has created, this week we are going to work at helping to sustain life. Rather than taking a life, we are going to give so that a life might be saved.

Watch the Rice Bowls video: www.ricebowls.org/video (or choose another charity focused on sustaining or extending life).

Explain to the children that at the end of the night, you will be handing out rice bowls (which you will need to preorder) for them to collect funds over the next month. As they fill their bowls, they are to return them to you. At the end of your Rice Bowl campaign, total the money and send it to the Rice Bowl organization.

You may choose another charity organization committed to sustaining or extending life if you prefer. Included with this lesson will be two versions of the family activity sheet. One will have the Rice Bowl announcement; the other will have a blank space where you can announce your charity of choice.

Weekly Challenge (20 minutes)

In this week's challenge, students will attempt to keep water balloon `grenades' from exploding.

1. Before the challenge

Gather as many water balloons as you can. The more you have the longer you can play. The recommendation is to gather approximately ten per child participating.

Fill the balloons with water and divide them evenly among the teams. Mark out a space for each team that spans 10 feet.

2. The challenge

The team leader (adult) will stand at one point and the children will stand approximately 10 feet away. On your whistle blow, the leader will toss water balloons to his/her team. The team that catches the most water balloons (unpopped) in the allotted time wins the challenge. The teams will then move indoors to complete the books of the bible part of the challenge.

Hand out the key passages and books of the Bible cards (NT and Genesis - Song of Solomon). The teams are to put the books of the Bible in the correct order, match the key passages with the correct scripture reference and locate the passages in the Bible. When the team has completed the task, they are to raise their flag letting you know they are done.

3. Apply the challenge

Just as we worked at keeping the water balloon `bombs' from `exploding', we want to control our temper and our emotions so that we do not explode and react in anger or hatred. The Israelites were so angry at Joshua and Caleb that they wanted to stone the men simply because these two wanted to trust God at His word and proceed into the Promised Land. We are all created by God and therefore, like God, we should value all life.

Closing (10 minutes)

1. Award this week's medals based on the week's challenge.

2. Assign this week's memory work:

Books of the Bible:

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation,

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges,Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

Key Passages:

· The 10 Commandments - Exodus 20

· The Model Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13

· A Messianic Psalm - Psalm 22 (`Messianic' means about Jesus)

· Imitating Christ's Humility - Philippians 2: 1-11

· A Priestly Blessing - Numbers 6:24-26

· Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7

· The Creation Story - Genesis 1

3. Explain the Key Passage

We believe in the beginning God created the earth and everything on it including mankind. The world will try to teach us that mankind evolved from a lower form of mammal into what we are today, but that is contrary to what the Bible teaches. Our belief in God's creation of the heavens and the earth as well as His creation of man is fundamental to our faith. Purpose to accept what Scripture teaches in faith and in spite of opposition and hold tight to your beliefs. God will honor your commitment to Him and His word.

4. Closing prayer

5. Closing song of choice