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Wednesday, August 5, 2020

God's Covenant With Abraham, Senior - I, Lesson - 7

SENIOR

AGE GROUP: 14 - 15 YEARS

STANDARD (GRADE): IX & X

Permission is granted only for free distribution among Sunday School children.

No part of this document can be modified, sold or used for any commercial purpose.

LESSON – 7

GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

God Calls Abraham 

Abram (later called Abraham) was the son of Terah. Abram lived with his wife Sarai in a land called Ur of the Chaldees, presently situated in Iraq. They did not have any children. One day, God told Abram to leave the place where he was staying and to go to the land, He would show him. God also made a covenant with Abraham.

Covenant

A covenant is an agreement between two persons or parties. There are two types of covenants. They are unconditional and conditional. An unconditional or unilateral covenant is an agreement between two persons or parties, but only one of the two persons takes the lead in fulfilling the responsibilities and nothing is expected from the other person or party. Nothing is required of the other party.

A conditional covenant is an agreement that is binding on both parties for its fulfillment which means that there are certain responsibilities to be fulfilled by persons on both sides. If any one of them fail to meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken and neither party has to fulfill the expectations of the covenant. An example of this conditional covenant was made between Laban and Jacob (Genesis 31:44 - 54). We can learn about some of the rituals that were done while making a covenant from this passage. 

Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

 A stone pillar (31:45), such as Jacob had set up in Bethel.

·        A heap of stones (31:46-49) which they named Mizpah (watchtower) and Galeed or Jegar Sahadutha (witness heap).

·        Calling upon the LORD as witness and guarantor of the covenant: "May the LORD watch between you and me...." (31:49b).

·        A Promise from Jacob not to mistreat his wives, nor to take rival wives to displace them from their status (31:50).

·        A Peace treaty: "I will not pass beyond this heap to you …...... for harm" (31:51-52).

·        An oath in the name of God (31:53).

·        A sacrifice and meal together (31:54).

There are so many other references in the Bible about making covenants wherein all these steps or atleast most of these steps are mentioned.

The Abrahamic covenant

John Paul Stanley / YoPlace.com.

The covenant God made with Abraham is called Abrahamic Covenant. God’s covenant with Abraham is regarded as generally unconditional based on Genesis 12: 1-3 and Genesis 15th chapter, but it was followed by another covenant that was conditional in Genesis 17. It required Abraham to be righteous and blameless before God for God's promises to be fulfilled. God also established the ritual of circumcision as part of the covenant. 

Rite of Circumcision

God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:9 - 14). All males who descend through Abraham were to be circumcised and thus carry with them a lifelong mark in their flesh that they were part of God’s covenant. Any descendant of Abraham who was uncircumcised was outside of God’s covenant.

The three main features of Abrahamic Covenant 

1. The promise of land - God called Abraham to a land that He would give him (Genesis 12:1). 

2. The promise of descendants - God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him (Genesis 12:2). Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God promised him numerous descendants. This promise was amplified in Genesis 17:6 where God promised that nations and kings would descend from Abraham. 

3. The promise of blessing and redemption - God promised to bless Abraham and nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). 

Abraham Believed in God

God changed the name of Abram to Abraham which meant “Father of many” because he was going to become the father of many nations. His wife’s name was changed from Sarai meaning “Princess” to Sarah which meant “Mother of Nations”. God changed Abram and Sarai's name even before their son, Isaac was born. Abraham believed in God's promises without any doubt and Abraham's faith pleased God. Abraham was even called as a "friend of God".

God's Promises Fulfilled

God blessed Abraham with the promised son, Isaac, when he was 100 years old and Sarai was 75 years old. Through Isaac and his descendants, many great nations in the middle east, including the nation of Israel were formed. Kings and rulers also came through his descendants. The messiah “Jesus Christ” was also revealed through Abraham’s descendants. 

Abrahamic Blessings for the Gentiles

The Abrahamic blessings pronounced on Abraham and his descendants can be inherited by gentiles also. Gentiles mentioned in the Holy Bible are people who are not part of the Abrahamic covenant. The English word “Gentile” is derived from the Latin word “Gentilis” which referred to non-Israelite people. Through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the Jews and gentiles were made as one. Anyone who puts his faith in Jesus Christ can be an heir of the promises God made to Abraham and receive the blessings of Abraham. Galatians 3:6-9 states that “So also Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness... So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:29 also makes this clear: "If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise." We are children of Abraham if we live by faith in the promises of God summed up in Christ. The gentiles can become beneficiaries of the Abrahamic blessings through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Bible Reference: Genesis 12, 15, 17, 21:1-8 

Memory Verse: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise (Hebrews 11:8, 9 NKJV) 

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

I.      Fill in the Blanks:

1. …………………….. was later called as Abraham.

2. Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God promised him numerous ………………………………. .

3. God gave Abraham the rite of ………………………… as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant.

4.  ……………………….. are people who are not part of the Abrahamic covenant.

 

II.  Give short answers:

1. What is a covenant?

 

 

2. Why was the rite of circumcision given?

 

 

3. How did God fulfill His promises to Abraham?

 

 

4. What should gentiles do to receive the Abrahamic blessings?

 

 

III.          Give brief answers:

1. Write in brief about Abrahamic covenant and it’s three main features.

 


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Aaron, The First High Priest, Intermediate - I, Lesson - 7

INTERMEDIATE

AGE: 12 - 13 YEARS

STANDARD/GRADE: VII & VIII

Permission is granted only for free distribution among Sunday School children.

No part of this document can be modified, sold or used for any commercial purpose.

LESSON – 7

AARON, THE FIRST HIGH PRIEST

Click this link to get the other Intermediate Lessons

Aaron was the elder brother of Moses. When God appeared to Moses on the burning bush at Mount Horeb and told him to go to Egypt to free the children of Israel from slavery, Moses was reluctant to go. So, God told Moses to take Aaron along with him, since he was a good speaker and Aaron was appointed as Moses’ spokesman. Aaron went along with Moses to meet the Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. Aaron was 83 years old and Moses was 80 years old when they met the Pharaoh. Pharaoh let the children of Israel go after God displayed his mighty miracles. Aaron had a significant role to play in the deliverance and journey of Israelites towards Canaan.

Aaron assists Moses

When the children of Israel were on their way to Canaan, they camped at a place called Rephidim. When a group of people called the Amalekites heard that the Israelites have camped nearby, they came to attack the Israelites. So, Joshua led the children of Israel in a battle against the Amalekites. Aaron’s brother Moses stood on a hill overlooking the scene of the battle holding the rod of God in his hand. As long as Moses held up his hand, the Israelites had the advantage, but Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. Aaron and another leader named Hur found a stone for Moses to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So, Moses’ hands held steady until sunset and Joshua defeated the Amalekites in the battle.

Aaron makes a mistake

After a little while, when the Israelites camped at the Sinai Desert, God called Moses to climb up the Sinai mountain to receive the stone tablets on which the ten commandments were inscribed. Moses had to stay on top of the mountain for forty days and nights and the Israelites were left in the care of Aaron and Hur. But even before the forty days were over, the Israelites were worried that something might have happened to Moses and they told Aaron to make a god for them who could go before them and lead them in the desert. Aaron told them to bring their gold ear rings. Aaron melted them and made an idol in the shape of a calf. God was angry with Aaron and the Israelites that he wanted to destroy them. They were only spared because of the intercession of Moses.

Aaron anointed as the High Priest of Israel

Even though Aaron had made a terrible mistake, God forgave him and told Moses to set apart Aaron as the High Priest of Israel. Aaron was the first anointed Priest and the first High Priest of Israel. Aaron and his descendants were specially chosen for Priesthood. Before Aaron was appointed as the High Priest, there were no Priests in Israel and the head of the family (usually the father or the Patriarch) led his family members in worshipping God by building an altar and offering a sacrifice. We could see that from the life of Noah, Abraham, Jacob etc. During their days of slavery in Egypt there is no recording of Israelites offering sacrifices and worshipping God. That’s why Moses told Pharaoh that they wanted to go to the desert and offer the sacrifices because the Egyptians considered the sacrifices as an abomination (Exodus 8:26). As the High Priest of Israel, Aaron had specific duties and responsibilities. He wore a special richly decorated robe, which on his death passed to the person who succeeded him as the High Priest. 

High Priest

A High Priest was specially appointed to represent the Israelite people before God. He had to make atonement for the Israelites and acted as a mediator between them and God. The High Priest had to be without any physical defects and holy in his conduct. The most important duty of the High Priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month of every year. There was a special place called the “Most Holy Place” in the Tent or Tabernacle where the Israelites went to worship God. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God. Before entering the Most Holy Place, he had to offer a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, the “God’s throne”. He did this to make atonement (to ask for forgiveness of sins) for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended. 

Aaron’s Sons punished by God

Aaron and his sons were specially consecrated (purified) by God to do the priestly duties. But God had given them specific instructions on how to do it.  The day after they were consecrated, Aaron’s two oldest sons Nadab and Abihu took their respective firepans, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered a strange fire before the Lord, which God had not commanded them to do. Strange fire means a fire that was ignited according to their own wish and not commanded by God. Nadab and Abihu were punished for that. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and burnt them and they died before the Lord.

Aaron’s Death and his successor

On one occasion, the people complained that there was no water and that they would die of thirst. God told Moses to take the rod, assemble the Israelites, and speak to the rock in front of them and the rock would give them water. But Moses and Aaron assembled the whole community, Moses could not control his anger and his frustration, so he raised the rod and struck the rock twice with it. Out came a great stream of water, and the people and the animals drank their fill. But God reproved Moses and Aaron, by saying that they will not lead the congregation into the land which God had given them as a punishment, instead Joshua would lead them. Thus, Aaron died on Mount Hor, near the southern end of the Dead Sea when he was 123 years old. The Israelites mourned him for 30 days. Aaron was succeeded as High Priest by his son Eleazar. Even though Aaron had done many mistakes, God forgave him and gave him many rare privileges and he is still revered as one of the greatest leaders of Israel.

Bible Reference: Exodus 4:14, 27-30; 17:8-13; 32 chapter; Leviticus 8 & 9;                                                        Numbers 20:8-13, 23-29 

Memory Verse: For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ………………………….. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4)

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

Fill in the blanks:

1. Aaron was ……….. years old and Moses was …………… years old when they met the Pharaoh.

2. …………………. was the first High priest of Israel.

3. …………………. and …………………. took their respective firepans, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered a strange fire before the Lord,

4. Aaron was succeeded as High Priest by his son ……………………..

 

Give short answers:

1. How did Aaron and Hur assist Moses during the battle at Rephidim?

 

2. Why did Aaron make a golden calf?

 

3. Why did God punish Nadab and Abihu?

 

4. Why didn’t God allow Aaron to enter the promised land?

 

Answer in brief:

1. Who is a High Priest? What are his roles and responsibilities?

 

 

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