Political Freedom for the Israelites – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Political freedom for the Israelites was their release from slavery in Egypt, after God sent ten plagues on Egypt and Pharaoh let them go.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what a plague is;
2. name the ten plagues that God sent upon Egypt;
3. describe the effects of each plague on the Egyptians;
4. state the content of the song of victory sung by the Israelites;
5. state the part Miriam played in the celebration.

Who was Moses?

Moses was the Israelite leader whom God chose to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt.

• Tribe: both of his parents belonged to the tribe of Levi.
• Birth: his mother hid him for three months, then placed him in a basket by the River Nile.
• Brother and sister: Aaron was his brother and Miriam was his sister.
• Flight: he fled from Egypt to Midian after killing an Egyptian.
• Family in Midian: he married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, his father-in-law.

Why did God send plagues on Egypt?

God sent plagues on Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go.

Bible references: Exodus 7:14 to 12:32 (the plagues) and Exodus 15:1-21 (the song of victory).

• God’s instruction: God told Moses to go to Egypt and ask Pharaoh to let Israel go.
• Moses’ obedience: Moses did as God commanded him.
• Pharaoh’s response: Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused to release the people.
• Result: plagues came upon the Egyptians one after another.
• Timing: all the plagues took place before Pharaoh released the Israelites.

What is a plague?

A plague is a sudden disaster or trouble that brings great suffering to many people.

• Common meaning: an infectious disease that kills many people.
• Bible meaning: a punishment sent by God to make Pharaoh free the Israelites.

What were the ten plagues of Egypt?

There were ten plagues of Egypt, and each one brought suffering to the Egyptians.

1. River Nile turned to blood for 7 days: it began with the river and spread to streams, ponds and pools of water.
2. Frogs: frogs came up in great numbers and filled houses, bedrooms and fields.
3. Gnats (lice): the dust of the land became lice on people and animals throughout Egypt.
4. Swarms of flies: flies filled the houses of the Egyptians and ruined the land, making life hard for them.
5. Death of animals: a strange ailment killed the cattle, camels and sheep of the Egyptians, but the livestock of the Israelites was spared.
6. Boils on people and animals: Moses took a handful of ashes from the furnace and threw it into the air. It became fine dust and caused painful boils on people and animals.
7. Heavy hailstones with thunder: hail, thunder and lightning struck Egypt and destroyed crops and trees.
8. Locusts: a strong wind blew all day and all night, then brought locusts that ate the plants left after the hail.
9. Three days of darkness: the darkness was so thick that the Egyptians could not see one another or move from their places for three days.
10. Death of the Egyptian firstborn: every firstborn died, from the firstborn of Pharaoh on the throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon.

How were the Israelites protected from the last plague?

The Israelites were protected from the last plague by the blood of a lamb on their doorposts.

1. Each Israelite family killed a lamb.
2. They put some of the blood on the two sides and the top of the door frame.
3. The angel of death passed over every house marked with blood.
4. The firstborn in the Israelite houses were spared.
5. Pharaoh then called Moses and Aaron and told the Israelites to leave Egypt.

How did the Israelites cross the Red Sea?

The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground when God divided the water.

1. Pharaoh changed his mind and chased the Israelites with his army.
2. The Israelites were trapped between the army and the sea.
3. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.
4. A strong wind divided the water, and the Israelites walked through on dry ground.
5. The Egyptian army followed, and the water closed over them.

What was the song of victory?

The song of victory was the song of praise that Moses and the Israelites sang to God after crossing the Red Sea.

The content of the song includes these lines:

1. I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and the rider He has thrown into the sea.
2. The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His name.
3. Thy right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, thy right hand shatters the enemy.
4. Who is like unto thee, O Lord?

What part did Miriam play in the celebration?

Miriam, the prophetess and sister of Moses, led the women to sing and dance in thanks to God for their freedom.

• Role: she led the women in praise.
• Action: the women sang and danced with tambourines.
• Reason: they were thanking God for their freedom.

Evaluation

1. Name the ten plagues sent upon Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let Israel go.
2. Narrate the first five plagues that God used to attack the Egyptians.
3. State the song of victory which the Israelites sang on the day they crossed the Red Sea.
4. Discuss the last plague against the Egyptians.
5. Name the brother and the sister of Moses, and state the part the sister played in the celebration.

Assignment

Reading assignment

1. Christian Religious Knowledge for JSS, Book 1-3, by A. F. Bello, page 127.
2. Christian Religious Knowledge for JSS, Book 1, by T. N. O. Quarcoopome et al., page 231.
3. Christian Religious Education for JSS, Book 1, by A. A. Adeyinka, pages 63-66.

Weekend assignment

1. Moses’ parents were both of the tribe of ___ (a) Bethlehem (b) Levi (c) Judah (d) Moab.
2. How many months did Moses’ mother hide him? (a) 4 months (b) 3 months (c) 2 years and 2 months (d) 1 month
3. Moses fled to ___ (a) Midian (b) Haran (c) Jericho (d) Jerusalem
4. What is the name of Moses’ father-in-law? (a) Elijah (b) Jethro (c) Lot (d) Joshua
5. ___ is the name of Moses’ wife. (a) Zipporah (b) Rachel (c) Leah (d) Mary

Theory

1. Write down one of the verses of the songs of victory sung by the Israelites after their freedom.
2. How did God preserve the firstborn of the Israelites from being destroyed by the angel of death?