Lesson Two

THE FIRST C0MMANDMENT (1)

YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS
(Exo. 20:1-3; 1:11, 14, 16)

Burden to Impart:

In this lesson we see how the Lord, Jehovah (God, looked upon the miserable, sorrowful affliction of the children of Israel and answered their prayers and groaning. As a great and powerful eagle He delivered them from the land of Egypt, the house of bondage, and brought them safely to Mount Sinai to Himself. No Egyptian god ever cared about them, helped them, or answered their prayers. Only He, the true and loving God who rescues us when we call, should be our God.

Memory Verse:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3).

Facts to Teach:

  1. The first thing that the Lord wanted to show His people about Himself was that He alone was their God.
  2. What God is He? He is the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He was the only One who cared about them, who loved them, who answered their prayers, and had compassion in their sufferings and afflictions. Their God is the real God, a loving God, a powerful God, a God who saw their needs and cared about them, and rescued them when they cried out to Him.
  3. "The Egyptians worshipped and served many so-called gods. They had a sun god, a moon god, star gods, and a Nile River god. They had gods they believed in and would pray to, to help them and protect them. The Jews had lived so long among the Egyptians that they were greatly influenced by their customs and beliefs. They even believed m the Egyptian gods and prayed to them, but no answer came. No Egyptian god helped them a hit. They continued in sorrow and in slavery. Their fate seemed hopeless and their situation was helpless.
  4. But the Lord looked upon their sorrow and heard their groaning their prayers). He had compassion upon them and kept His covenant with their fathers (Exo. 2:23-25). He sent ten terrible plagues upon Egypt, defeated Pharaoh and all of his armies, and opened up the Red Sea so they could cross over on dry ground to safety. Like a great eagle He snatched them up out of the house of bondage and brought them to safety (Exo. 19:3-4). Was not He alone their God? Surely they should have no other god.