NBC Sunday School Manual For October 9, 2022 :Topic – Song Of Moses
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NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Sunday, October 9, 2022
TOPIC: SONG OF MOSES
Devotional Reading: Exodus 14:21-31
Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47
Lesson Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:3-6, 10-14, 16-18
GOLDEN TEXT
“I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is: he.” Deuteronomy 32:3-4
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
i. Identify what necessitated Moses’ song as found in the passage;
ii. Explain some reasons people easily forget God’s faithfulness to them;
iii.Reflect on the kindness of God towards them and their families and develop an attitude of gratitude to God.
INTRODUCTION
Every stage in the life of Moses was significant. Though adopted and raised in the palace of King Pharaoh, he did not forget to identify with the Hebrews. He grew and finally became an instrument through whom God delivered the people of Israel from their taskmasters in Egypt. He successfully led the Israelites all through their journey in the wilderness, and even through the Red Sea. In chapter 31of Deuteronomy, God told Moses he would not enter the Promised Land, and predicted Israel’s rebellion against Him when they enter the Promised Land and His plan to forsake them. Thereafter, God gave Moses a song and instructed him to teach it to the Israelites as a witness against them when they have settled in the Promised Land and break
His covenant with them. Moses was obedient to God’s command as he taught the song to the Israelites from the beginning to the end (v.30). He made a passionate appeal to the people to hear his words, which he described as rain that descends like dew, showers on a new grass and abundant rain on tender plants (Deuteronomy 32:1-3).
The focus of today’s lesson is the song of Moses to the Israelites. The lyric of the song was to be sung by the children of Israel not for merriment but as historical facts about God’s dealings with the nation of Israel and the consequent response of the people. More importantly, it was to be passed from one generation to another.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. Moses Proclaims God’s Faithfulness Deuteronomy 32:3-6
Moses had led the Israelites for a very long time and was about to handover to his successor before the people enter the Promised Land. God gave him a song to teach the whole assembly of Israel. The song is a reflective act of God’s faithfulness to His people. Moses made a declaration to proclaim the name of the Lord and to praise His greatness. He further described God as: the Rock, whose words are perfect, and a faithful God, who does no wrong but is upright and just. He described Israel as a people who have acted dishonestly towards God. In other words, they were dishonest and did not keep the covenant relationship God had with them. Moses took time to remind them of how God rescued them from the hands of their taskmasters in Egypt. He affirmed that the Israelites were a crooked generation who should not be called God’s children (v.5). He, however, expressed his displeasure and asked some rhetorical questions in verse 6,”Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made and formed you?
The Israelites were not consistent in their relationship with God just as their rebellion was predicted, they rebelled against the Lord when they entered into the Promised Land. They forgot God’s deliverance from their Egyptian slave masters and all the wonders He performed while they were in the wilderness. They forsook God, broke His covenant, which He had made with them and began to worship the gods of the land. Despite that the attitude of the Israelites was not encouraging, Moses recognised the great works God did on their behalf and this necessitated Moses’ song of proclamation and praise to God, our Creator for His faithful dealings with His people. The song was supposed to be a reminder for them not to forget the mighty acts of God so that it will keep them from rebelling against Him but unfortunately, the song did not fulfil the purpose for which it was taught i.e. the song was expected to stick to their hearts and be passed on to the other generations. The Bible says, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits….” (Psalm 103: 2) The lesson is a reminder for believers in Christ to constantly reflect on God’s work among them and, thereafter acknowledge Him as a faithful God who does no wrong. Such gratitude must be done whole- heartedly without any restrictions.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Discuss why people easily forget God’s faithfulness to them and how to help such people develop grateful hearts.
2. How would you personally describe God, considering what He has done for you and your family?
B. God’s Goodness Emphasised. Deuteronomy 32:10-14
Having proclaimed the faithfulness of God to the people of Israel, Moses further emphasised God’s goodness to them. He painted a clear and distinct image of God’s activities in the history of Israel from the time they left Egypt throughout their journey to the Promised Land. According to the passage, Moses identified specific areas God demonstrated His love and care for the people of Israel:
▪︎ Protection and care: Throughout their journey to the Promised Land, God watched over Israel like an eagle spreading her wings over her young ones.
▪︎God alone led them without the assistance of any foreign god.
▪︎ Provision and nourishment: Throughout their journey, the people were fed with fruits, nourished with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag. They fed on curds and milk from their flock and the best kernels of wheat. They also drank from the foaming blood of the grape.
God’s care and protection to His people cannot be over emphasised. As it has been clearly stated, in His divine sufficiency, the entire Israelites, while on transit to the Promised Land, were adequately taken care of. They were pampered with everything they needed to the point of enjoying heavenly food and meat. Sometimes, our gratitude to God may not be total until we itemise them one after the other for the purpose of clarity and gratitude. Believers should not be tempted to forget the goodness of God to them but emulate King David who said; “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1) When we continue to express God’s kindness, we direct the attention of people to God.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Why do some Christians find it difficult to appreciate God’s kindness, especially in times of need?
2. Does God still care and provide for His people like in the days of Moses? State some practical examples.
C. Israel Forgot God. Deuteronomy 32:16-18
Having enumerated the goodness of God to Israel, Moses also revealed how unfaithful they were to God. They sacrificed to demons and gods their forefathers did not know, thereby provoking God to anger (vv. 16-17). He said to them, “You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.”(v.18). The words, ‘deserted’ and ‘forgot’ are used to emphasise the gravity of neglecting their God who had shown them favour and kindness from the time they left Egypt. Instead of the people to reciprocate with thanksgiving and total obedience to God, they chose to worship strange gods, as their maker and sustenance.
Even today, some Christians still exhibit the attitude of ungratefulness to God, despite His countless blessings. The story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus shows that the act of showing gratitude to God is important. According to the passage, Jesus said to the one that came praising God, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Luke 17:11-18). In other words, Jesus expected all of them to show appreciation. Unfortunately today, some Christians easily forget God’s faithfulness to them, especially during difficult times when it seems their prayers are unanswered. Other reasons why some people fail to show gratitude to God could be as a result of the death of their loved ones, prolonged ailment and other challenges of life. But the psalmist warned in Psalm 103:2 that… forget not all his benefits.” Therefore, no excuse is tenable for being ungrateful to God, for His daily benefits to us, even in things we do not deserve.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Suggest other factors that may be responsible for the act of ingratitude to God among Christians.
2. How can the virtue of thanksgiving be instilled in our children and family members as well as church members?
Commitment: Make a commitment to always be grateful to God, obey and live by God’s commandments.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
▪︎ Encourage each class members to relate in specific terms the goodness of God they have enjoyed since the beginning of the year. Lead them to sing some songs of praise to God.
Prayer Points
▪︎ Pray that your life will proclaim God’s goodness.
▪︎ Pray for grace not to take the faithfulness of God for granted.
▪︎ Pray that you will be a faithful in your assignment.
Take Home:
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson.