GOD'S PROMISE OF HELP

4 30. GOD'S PROMISE OF HELP. Exodus 5:22 to 6:9.

Teacher's Aim. Make familiar to every pupil the language and incidents of this story, which so mightily impressed Hebrews and Christians of all succeeding ages.

Review the previous lesson about the bricks without straw in such a way as to connect with and prepare for this lesson.

2. (a) Then Moses returned to Jehovah and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou dealt ill with this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. And Jehovah said to Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh; for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

(b) Then God said to Moses, I am Jehovah; and I appeared to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty. But by my name, Jehovah, I was not known to them. I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan where they sojourned. And I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say to the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in to the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage; I am Jehovah. And Moses spoke so to the children of Israel; but they hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

3. Tell the story substantially in scripture language, explaining briefly the unfamiliar phrases, and have it retold,

selecting subtitles and name for the story. Lay emphasis on the clear assurance which Moses had that Jehovah was supporting his cause.

4. Conclusion. In spite of opposition from both king and people, Jehovah gives Moses a sure promise of success. 5. Text. I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6: 6.

6. Show the picture of Moses speaking to the people, Tissot, O., 39.

7. Place in the notebooks the title and subtitles, reference, conclusion 4, text 5, and the picture.

4 31. THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. Exodus 7 to 12.

Teacher's Aim. The chief aim is to make every pupil familiar with this story and able to tell it. It should be so told as to emphasize God's power to enforce obedience when he chooses.

1. Rehearse the previous lesson so as to connect it with this and prepare the mind for it.

2. (a) After the request of Moses and Aaron had been refused by the king, and the tasks had been made heavier on the children of Israel, Jehovah said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee to Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out to the river; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand. And thou shalt say to him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews hath sent me to thee saying, Let my people go, that they may worship in the wilderness. Hitherto thou hast not hearkened. In this shalt thou know that I am Jehovah. And Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded. And Moses lifted up the rod and struck the water of the rivers, in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. And all the waters were turned to blood; and the fish died; and the

THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT

river became foul; and the Egyptians could not drink from the river; and the blood was throughout the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.

(b) When the king still refused to let the children of Israel go to worship Jehovah in the wilderness, Moses brought other plagues upon Egypt, ten in all. There was a plague of frogs, and a plague of lice, of flies, of cattle disease, of boils, of hail, of locusts, and of thick darkness. Sometimes the king would promise to let them go; but when the plague passed away, he would break his promise and harden his heart again. But the last of the ten plagues was the death of the first-born son in every Egyptian's house, beginning with the king's son. When this came, Pharaoh drove all the children of Israel away quickly out of Egypt.

3. Tell each part and have it reproduced and named. If there is time give some details of the several plagues. Those who read best may be able to read the story in the Bible at home, Exodus 7 to 12, but do not require it from the class. The picture of Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh in 3 15 may be looked at. The passover story will come up in the Sixth grade, and so need not be touched upon here.

4. Conclusion. Jehovah stood by his servant Moses in the great struggle with Pharaoh, and compelled him to obey.

5. Text. Jehovah spake unto Moses saying, I am Jehovah; speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee. Exodus 6:29.

6. Show Tissot's picture, Pharaoh and his Dead Son, O., 44.

7. Choose a name for this story, and place it in the notebooks with the subtitles, reference, conclusion 4, text 5, and the picture.

If there is not going to be time to review this year's work, as well as that of former years, it is better not to take up the last stories, but give the time to reviews.

WILDERNESS TALES

4 32. THE QUAILS.

Numbers 11.

Teacher's Aim. The aim shall be to fix the story in the memory, and to impress the pupils with the conclusion (4). 1. Review briefly the "Tales of Bondage."

2. (a) For a long time the children of Israel had eaten only the one kind of food which God had given them in the desert. They were no longer thankful for it; but they wept and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which it cost nothing to eat in Egypt. We had cucumbers, and melons, and onions, but now our soul is dried away, and there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.

Moses was angry at their murmurings, and complained bitterly to Jehovah, for he thought the whole burden of finding food for the multitude had fallen upon himself alone. (Compare 3 35). But Jehovah promised to give them all the meat they could eat for a whole month, until they should become sick of it, because they were saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

(b) Moses told Jehovah it would be impossible, because his people were so many. But Jehovah answered, Has my arm grown short? You shall soon see whether my word to you shall come to pass or not.

And there went forth a wind from Jehovah and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp. The quails were so tired from flying across the gulf of Suez, that they were flying only a yard from the ground, and men could easily take them with their hands. For miles along the during two days, and

shore the people were gathering them spreading them out in the sun to dry. But they were hungry for meat, and they soon ate too much, and did not chew it properly. So it made them sick; and many of the greedy ones died from the plague.

3. Draw or show a map of Sinai peninsula with the two arms of the Red Sea, and the line of march down the east

THE QUAILS

side of the Gulf of Suez. Show how the west wind brought the quails across the gulf from Egypt.

4. Conclusion. The people cared more for a full stomach than for freedom and a country of their own; and their gluttony destroyed them. Read Proverbs 23:19-21.

5. Have the class work out a good title for this story, and write it in the notebooks together with the subtitles of a and b, the reference, the conclusion 4, the map, and any other matter desired, such as a picture of some quails, if it can be found.

4 33. THE WANDERING. Numbers 13:30 to 14:45.

Teacher's Aim. The aim is to fix strongly this story of the people's lack of confidence in God and their leaders, and the result of their cowardice.

1. Recall the way God provided meat for the children of Israel when they were ready to rebel against their leader, Moses, on account of food.

Do not use the story of the spies here, as it is a lesson by itself (6 41), except the part in 13:30 ff. Omit other details not necessary for these two units. Have each part of the story given back correctly, and the parts fairly named, before going on.

2 (a) When the children of Israel thought they were nearing the end of their journey, they sent spies into the land of Canaan to explore the country. When they came back, two of them, Caleb and Joshua, said, Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are able to overcome it. But more of them brought back an evil report of the land. It is a land which eats up its inhabitants. We saw men of great stature, and we looked like grasshoppers beside them. And the people wept, and murmured against Moses and Aaron, and said, Would that we had died in Egypt. Why has Jehovah brought us here to die by the sword, and our wives and children with us? Let us choose another captain and go back to Egypt.