Ten Commandments – Exodus 19-20:21

The Story in a Nutshell

Two months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrive at the base of Mount Sinai.  Moses climbs the mountain and appears before God.  There, God gives instructions for Moses to give to the people.  Moses gathers the people and gives them God’s instructions.  The people say they will do everything God said. Moses returns and gives God the people’s answer.  God then tells Moses that he is going to come to the people in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear him speak to Moses.  Moses then prepares the people for God’s visit.  Three days later Moses leads the people to the base of the mountain for God’s visit.  The mountain shakes, smoke billows, and there is lightening and more; it is an awesome and terrifying site.  God calls Moses to the top of the mountain to give more instructions for the people.  After giving the instructions, God speaks again and both Moses and Aaron again go to the top of the mountain.  There, God gives specific instructions for the people (Ten Commandments).  Notice that the first four commandments are about loving God and the next six about loving others.

The people, at the base of the mountain, stand at a distance trembling with fear, so Moses tells the people not to be afraid.  God has come to show his awesome power.

Review Questions

After two months of travel, where did the Israelites arrive?

What did Moses do after arriving at Mount Sinai?

What did God do on the mountain and what did Moses then do?

After God told Moses that he was going to come to the people, what did Moses do?

What happened three days later?

What did God do when he called Moses and Aaron back to the top of the mountain?

What do you know about the first four commandments?  About the last six?

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