Unit 7, Session 4: Moses' Farewell

Decades had passed since God used Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery and lead them toward the promised land. The Israelites had not trusted God then and had refused to enter the land.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were once again at the edge of the promised land. But this time, it was a whole new generation of Israelites—many of whom had not even been born when the people left Egypt and came to this land the first time. Their leader, Moses, was 120 years old.

Moses wrote the Book of Deuteronomy to tell the people all that God had done for them and to repeat the laws and instructions that God had given His people. At the end of the book, God told Moses that Moses would soon die, never setting foot in the promised land because of his disobedience. (See Num. 20:12.) Instead, God chose Joshua to lead Israel into the land.

God also revealed to Moses that even though Israel had just endured 40 years of punishment for not trusting Him, the people would abandon God again. Having the laws written out would not be enough to keep the Israelites from breaking their covenant with God. Moses emphasized that obedience would lead to blessing and life, but disobedience would lead to curses—namely, exile from the land.

Moses went up to a mountain where he could see the land that God had promised to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses died there.

Emphasize to your children that Moses wasn’t perfect, but Moses was a good leader for God’s people. No other prophet in Israel was like Moses—until Jesus came. The Bible says Jesus deserves more glory than Moses. Jesus is our perfect leader. He died and was raised so that Moses and every believer in all of time can enter the promised land of God’s kingdom.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

• Babies and Toddlers

  • We can trust God.

  • Moses led God’s people to the promised land.

  • Moses reminded God’s people to love and obey God.

  • God promised to be with His people.

• Preschool

  • What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.

  • Moses reminded the people of God’s promise.

• Kids

  • What does it mean to sin? To sin is to think, speak, or behave in any way that goes against God and His commands.

  • Moses reminded the people to keep God’s covenant.
    

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (Proverbs 3:5 for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers)