We read a lot about Moses in the book of Exodus, but sometimes focus more on his Egypt years and forget the remarkable accounts of how he led God’s people in the wilderness. In this lesson, consider what happened to Moses after he received God’s law (the second time), and how he was transformed by his encounter with God. The people knew by looking at him that Moses was different, profoundly impacted by the Most High Lord. When people look at us as Christians, they should see something different. We might not have faces that literally shine, but through our actions and attitudes we should uniquely stand out and should shine the light of God’s love.
Jesus changes us from the inside out. Sometimes the difference is visible, but more often it’s evidenced by the way that we live. When others look at us, they should see the Lord’s power reflected. And we have even greater hope than the ancient Israelites. They saw God’s power and His covenant given through the Commandments. We have the New Covenant of God’s Son, and see His promises fulfilled in Christ. The shiny face of Moses didn’t last long-term, but we can be a light every day!
Sunday School Lesson on Exodus 34 for Children: Moses face was Shining
Passage: Exodus 34:4-10, 27-35
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (variable for activity emphasis)
Materials Needed: Construction paper, scissors, decorations, glue, tape, paper plates, aluminum foil, paper towel tube, markers or crayons, flashlights or headlamps, glow sticks, cloth, Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson considers how Moses was transformed by his encounter with God. As the face of Moses was shining, we can shine with God’s love and be a light to others. Here are some activities to get kids thinking. Choose one of the following or come up with ideas of your own.
- Glow Stick Hide-and-Seek: This game is extra fun for older students, and if you have a large play area that can get somewhat darkened. Before class, hide several glow sticks around a room or area, and have student see how many they can find. Or split students into pairs or teams, and allow them to hide the glow sticks for other students to locate.
- Flashlight Tag: Get a room as dark as possible, and have one student take a flashlight or headlamp as “it.” Invite students to hide, and try to sneak out from their places. The “it” will try to shine the light on them before they get to “base.”
- Mirror Miming: Moses reflected God’s glory with his shining face. Invite students to be a reflection of one another. Have them partner up and stand in front of one another to copy every action that the other does, in reverse, as though looking in a mirror and miming what is done in front of them. Discuss ways that we can reflect God’s love for others to see.
- Who’s Behind the Veil? Have a large curtain for students to stand behind. Select one student at a time to be the guesser and leave the room temporarily. While that student is gone, select another to go behind the veil and hide their faces like Moses did. When the guesser returns, have the hidden student say a verse and try to disguise their voice. The guesser will see if they can figure out which student is speaking.
- Ten Commandments charades: Have students roll dice to select one of the Ten Commandments, and then act out (or draw Pictionary-style) the Commandment for other students to guess.
Bible Lesson (Exodus 34:4-7) The New Stone Tablet
Explain that the story in this lesson involves a time when Moses was in the presence of God receiving the Commandments and Covenant. As a result, his face was shiny!
Bible Lesson: This Old Testament passage features Moses and the remarkable and transformative encounter he had with God. The story could potentially be acted out, though it doesn’t lend itself as much to role play as some. Read the verses, or have older students take turns reading them out loud. As you go, discuss the meaning and importance of them.
So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” -Exodus 34:4-7
This was actually the second time that Moses had received the Ten Commandments on stone tablets from God. Moses broke the first set of tablets because Israel had broken the covenant. God was making a new Covenant with the people, though, and it was time to give Moses the Covenant and a new set of tablets. In these verses, God reminded Moses of who He was. He was so mighty and powerful that He only passed before Moses. That was as much glory as Moses could take, as a human. God also emphasized some of His character attributes. He was steadfast and full of love and faithfulness, forgiving sins and willing to renew His promises.
Ask: Have you ever broken a rule at home and been forgiven by your parents? How does that feel?
And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” 10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. -Exodus 34:8-10
Moses knew that He was unworthy of God’s glory and power. He bowed in awe of the Lord, and begged Him to still be with the people, despite their mistakes and sins. God promised that He would continue to be with them, and would do awesome and mighty things for them. God did not negotiate terms for His covenant, but dictated what the people of Israel should do and how, and promised to do marvelous and awesome things for them.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. 29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. -Exodus 34:27-30
Being in God’s presence was such a marvelous and miraculous experience that Moses didn’t even eat. Being near to the Lord was food enough. When he returned to the people with the tablets, there was something remarkable about him. His face shone, so much so that the people were afraid to go near him. Moses didn’t even realize that was happening to him, but being with God had physically impacted his appearance. He had been transformed by being in the presence of the Lord.
But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. -Exodus 34:31-35
Moses delivered the law as given by God, and the covenant. This was a renewed covenant of God’s promises, and hopefully would be followed by the Israelites. Of course, the real fulfillment of the covenant would come later, with the sending of God’s son, Jesus. He established a New Covenant that would be forever and for all people.
Although Moses had to cover his face for the people, it continued to shine with the radiance of God’s glory. God wants us to shine with His glory, too. We should be transformed by knowing and loving Him. Even though others might not see us physically shining like Moses, our faces often show the joy and light of God. Our actions, words, and attitudes can also demonstrate that God is with us and influences us every day.
Ask: Do you know anyone who shines with God’s light and love? How can you “shine” before others?
Close with a prayer thanking God for His love and promises, and asking for His help to shine before other people.