Moses and the Ten Commandments

Once upon a time, there were some special people called the Israelites. They’d been on a long journey in the desert for three whole months, just a bit longer than your summer vacation from school.

And then finally, they reached a place called Mount Sinai. A great place to set up camp because the mountain offered them fantastic shelter. They decided to stay there for a while and get some rest.

Among them was a wise man named Moses. He had been on a long journey with his people in the desert, and now he had an important job to do.

Moses knew it wouldn’t be easy because he was already over 80 years old. But he was determined! He decided to climb up the mountain to have a chat with God.

Now, God, being all-knowing, knew that Moses was on his way.

He spoke to Moses and said, “Tell your friends, the Israelites, to get ready for something special.”

Moses went back down the mountain and gathered everyone around.

He told them, “Listen everybody! God wants us to be all clean and shiny. So, take a nice bath and put on your best clothes!”

So, by doing all this cleaning up and dressing nicely, the people were getting ready to hear some really important words from God. It’s a like when we go to church and wear our best clothes. It helps us be on our best behavior and show respect to God.

Now, let’s talk about what happened next. On the third morning after Moses had a chat with God, something incredible took place. The Israelites were busy making their breakfast, just like how we make our cereal or pancakes in the morning.

But then, out of nowhere, there was a big rumble, like a giant tummy growling, and a super bright flash of light over the mountain. It was so surprising that anyone who was still sleeping jumped out of bed in an instant! 🌄💥😮

Everyone rushed outside to see what was happening. Right over the mountain, there was lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. A super thick cloud covered the mountain, like a fluffy blanket, so you couldn’t even see the tippy-top. The whole mountain even shook, like it was doing a little dance, and the sound of trumpets grew louder and louder, like a big, musical surprise.

Moses, being the brave leader he was, decided to go back up the mountain to talk with God again. This time, God had some important instructions.

He said to Moses, “Moses, go back down to the people and tell them not to follow you up the mountain. It’s a special place because I’m right here.”

So, Moses did just that.

He warned all the people, “Please, friends, don’t go too close to the mountain or touch it. It’s extra special right now because God is there.”

And the people listened and stayed back, knowing that the mountain was a special place with God’s presence. 🌄⛰️📜

Now, here’s what happened next, my young friends: Moses climbed back up the mountain again. But this time, he didn’t come down quickly.

He stayed up there for a super long time, can you believe it, 40 whole days and 40 nights! God had a lot of important things to tell him.

You see, God wanted to teach the people how to live their lives in a good and happy way. He had some rules and advice that, if followed, would help them have less sadness and more joy. God’s rules were like a big shield to protect the people, just like how your parents might give you rules to keep you safe.

So, Moses stayed up there, listening to all the wonderful things God had to say. 🏔️📜😊

We’ll talk about the first ten special rules that God shared with Moses. These rules are super important for us today.

Now, here’s a really cool thing to remember: all ten of these rules are equally important. None of them is more important than the others. It’s like having ten slices of your favorite pizza, and each slice is just as tasty as the next! So, let’s learn about these special rules that help us live in a good and happy way. 🍕📜😊

The very first commandment or rule from God is all about putting Him first. That means God should be the most important thing in your life. Even those fun hobbies you love, the TV shows or video games you enjoy, and yes, even your wonderful friends and family – none of them should come before God.

Here’s the second important commandment or rule from God, my young friends. It’s all about worshiping only Him. This one is a bit like the first rule because God really wants our love, and He doesn’t want us to bow down and worship statues or anything else just because we can’t see Him.

In simpler words, God is the one and only special someone we should talk to when we pray. It’s like having a best friend you share all your secrets with because you trust them the most. That’s how God wants us to feel about Him – like our most trusted friend. 🙏

Now, let’s chat about the third rule from God, my dear young listeners. This rule is quite important, but sometimes people forget it.

God says, “Use my name with respect.” You see, some folks use God’s name when they’re angry or frustrated, a not-so-nice word. But God wants us to use His name when we’re talking to Him or telling others about Him, but in a kind and respectful way.

As we grow up, life can get pretty busy, right? There’s always something to do, like homework, chores, and more. But here’s the thing: God tells us, “Hey, my little ones, I want you to take one day every week, just like I did when I made the world. It’s a day to rest, relax, and spend time with your family and me.”

So, my friends, always remember the fourth rule: Take a day off, rest, and remember God’s special Sabbath. It’s a day filled with love, happiness, and a little break from our busy lives. Isn’t that a wonderful rule to follow? 😊🌞

Alright, my little pals, let’s talk about the fifth rule from God. This one is all about showing love and respect to your parents. Sometimes you might get a little frustrated because your parents have their rules.

But here’s the cool part: your parents were once kids, just like you!

Yup, they went through all the growing-up stuff too. And you know what they’re doing? They’re looking out for you, making sure you’re safe, and helping you avoid some of the bumps and scrapes they faced when they were kids.

The sixth commandment tells us to be kind and gentle, to treat others the way we want to be treated. Imagine this for a moment – what if every single person in the big, wide world followed this rule just like God asks us to?

Picture it: no one hurting anyone else, no fights, no mean words. Wow! It would be like a world filled with happiness and peace. We might not even need jails because everyone would get along so well.

The seventh commandment is all about people who are married. God says, “Hey, when you grow up and find that special someone to marry, be faithful to them.” That means loving your husband or wife, even if they sometimes do things that might bug you, and treating them with lots of respect.

Now, here’s the eighth commandment: “Don’t steal.” That’s a big no-no. It means we should never, ever take something that doesn’t belong to us. It’s all about being honest and fair.

Almost there, my pals!

The next commandment is all about telling the truth. It’s a good one. See, it’s always better to tell the truth, and here’s a little secret: if you don’t do things that make you want to lie, life is simpler. Your parents usually know when you’re fibbing, and guess what? Even if you don’t get caught, God sees and hears everything. So, honesty is the best policy!

Let’s talk about the very last commandment, my young friends.

It’s all about not feeling jealous of what others have. That means we shouldn’t wish we had the cool stuff someone else does.

I get it, there’s always a new toy or a fun game that we really, really want. But here’s the magical secret: those things, they’re not the most important. You know who’s the most important? God! Remember, that’s the very first commandment – God comes first, always.

Now, here’s something important to know. It’s okay if we sometimes slip up and don’t follow these rules perfectly. Even I make mistakes sometimes! But you know what? We can talk to God and say, “I’m sorry,” and ask for forgiveness. Then, we can try our very best not to do it again.

When we don’t follow a commandment, whether it’s a tiny fib or something bigger, God sees it all the same way. Even a small lie is noticed by God, just like if someone did something really hurtful.

I know, sometimes we think, “Oh, it’s just a little lie, no big deal,” or maybe we hope God won’t notice. He does notice, and it makes Him feel sad when we don’t do what’s right.

But here’s the good news! When we make a mistake, we can always say sorry to God, and if we’ve hurt someone, we can say sorry to them too. Then, we can try our very best to be a better person next time. God loves it when we learn from our mistakes and try to do better.