Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 1 - Political freedom for the Israelites

TERM: 3^RD TERM

WEEK: 4

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 1

AGE: 12 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Political freedom for the Israelites

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) Mention all the plagues sent by God upon Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go

2.) Discuss the content of the song of deliverance sung by the people of Israel after their deliverance from Egypt

3.) Give an account of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 1

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

NOTE

POLITICAL FREEDOM FOR THE ISRAELITES

The Deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt

The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt is a pivotal event in biblical history, illustrating God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here is an account of their deliverance:

1. God’s Calling of Moses: God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery. After a series of miraculous signs to confirm his mission, Moses returned to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.

2. The Plagues: Moses and Aaron, his brother, went before Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites. When Pharaoh refused, God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, progressively demonstrating His power and judgment. Each plague increased in severity, yet Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. The plagues are as follows:

1. Water Turned to Blood (Exodus 7:14-25): God turned the Nile River into blood, killing fish and making the water undrinkable. This plague affected the Egyptians' water supply and highlighted the impotence of the Nile god, Hapi.
2. Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15): A plague of frogs swarmed Egypt, invading homes and fields. This caused great distress, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to release the Israelites.
3. Gnats (Exodus 8:16-19): Dust turned into gnats, infesting people and animals. The Egyptian magicians acknowledged it as the "finger of God," but Pharaoh remained obstinate.
4. Flies (Exodus 8:20-32): Swarms of flies invaded the land, causing chaos and filth. God spared the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, showing a distinction between the Egyptians and His people.
5. Livestock Pestilence (Exodus 9:1-7): A disease struck the Egyptian livestock, killing horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Again, the Israelites' livestock remained unharmed.
6. Boils (Exodus 9:8-12): Painful boils broke out on the Egyptians and their animals. The magicians could not stand before Moses due to the boils, but Pharaoh still refused to yield.
7. Hail (Exodus 9:13-35): A devastating hailstorm struck, destroying crops and killing livestock in the fields. Those who feared the word of the Lord brought their servants and livestock indoors.
8. Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20): A massive swarm of locusts consumed any remaining vegetation in Egypt, leaving the land barren. Pharaoh admitted his sin but hardened his heart once more after the locusts departed.
9. Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29): A thick darkness enveloped Egypt for three days, signifying judgment against the sun god, Ra. The Israelites had light in their dwellings.
10. Death of the Firstborn (Exodus 11:1-10; Exodus 12:29-30): The final and most severe plague involved the death of every firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of prisoners. This plague led to the institution of the Passover.

3. The Passover: As the final plague loomed, God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on their doorposts. This act signified their obedience and faith in God’s promise of protection. When the Angel of Death passed through Egypt, He spared the homes marked by the blood of the lamb, leading to the death of the Egyptian firstborn.

4. The Exodus: Following the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh finally relented and urged the Israelites to leave. The Israelites left Egypt in haste, taking unleavened bread and valuable goods given to them by the Egyptians.

5. Crossing the Red Sea: As they fled, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them. God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. When the Egyptians followed, the waters returned, drowning Pharaoh's army.

6. God’s Guidance: After their deliverance, God led the Israelites through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, ensuring their protection and guidance toward the Promised Land.

The Song of Deliverance

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and witnessed the destruction of the Egyptian army, they sang a song of deliverance, known as the "Song of Moses," which can be found in Exodus 15:1-18. The song is a celebration of God’s power and faithfulness and highlights several key themes:

• God’s Victory: The song begins with praises for God's triumph over the Egyptians. “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:1).
• God’s Strength: The lyrics emphasize God’s strength and might, describing Him as a warrior who fights for His people.
• Divine Deliverance: The song recounts how God saved the Israelites and how their enemies were thrown into the sea. It expresses deep gratitude for their liberation from bondage.
• God’s Sovereignty: The song declares God’s sovereignty over the earth and foretells that nations will tremble at the mention of His name.
• Future Promises: The song reflects the hope and promise of entering the Promised Land and serving God there

EVALUATION:   

1. What role did Moses play in the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, and how did his encounters with God shape his mission to free the people?
2. Discuss the significance of the Ten Plagues as both a means of judgment against Egypt and a demonstration of God's power. How did each plague contribute to Pharaoh's eventual decision to release the Israelites?
3. Evaluate the importance of the Passover in the context of the Israelites' deliverance. What does the Passover symbolize for the Israelites, and how does it relate to themes of obedience and faith?
4. Examine the crossing of the Red Sea as a pivotal event in the Israelites' liberation. What does this event represent in terms of faith, divine intervention, and the establishment of the Israelites as a free people?
5. Identify and analyze the key themes present in the Song of Moses following the crossing of the Red Sea. How do these themes reflect the Israelites' understanding of their relationship with God and their newfound freedom?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively