Long ago, a great and wonderful thing happened on a tall mountain called Mount Sinai. The people of Israel had just come out of Egypt, where they were slaves. They were very tired and maybe a little scared, but God loved them so much. He wanted to teach them how to live happily and safely.
One day, Moses, the leader of the people, climbed up the mountain to talk with God. The mountain was covered with thick clouds, and lightning flashed like bright fireworks. The thunder rumbled like a big drum, and the whole mountain shook! The people at the bottom felt afraid and wondered, “What is happening up there?”
God spoke to Moses with a voice that was strong and kind. He gave Moses two big stone tablets. On these stones, God wrote ten very important rules. These rules are called the Ten Commandments. They are like a special guide to help people love God and love each other.
The first commandment tells us to love God more than anything else. God said, “You shall have no other gods before me.” This means God wants to be the most important in our hearts. The second commandment says not to make pictures or statues to worship because God is everywhere and in everything.
God also told the people to use His name with respect. He said, “Don’t use my name in a bad way.” This shows God’s name is very special and should be treated with love. Then, God said to keep the Sabbath day holy. That means one day every week should be a special day to rest and think about God.
The other commandments help people live happily together. They say to honor your parents, which means to love and obey them. God said, “Respect your father and mother.” He also said, “Don’t hurt others,” and “Don’t take things that aren’t yours.” These rules help us be kind and fair.
God also told the people not to tell lies or want what belongs to someone else. He wants everyone to be honest and happy with what they have. These commandments are like a big hug from God, showing us how to live in a way that makes Him smile and keeps us safe.
When Moses came down from the mountain, his face was shining bright like the sun! The people saw the light and felt God’s love shining through Moses. They were amazed and happy because God had given them a wonderful gift.
The Ten Commandments help us remember that God loves us very much. They teach us how to love God and love others. When we follow these rules, our hearts feel peaceful and full of joy, like a warm sunny day.
Isn’t it wonderful that God gave us these special rules? What do you think it would be like to live by God’s commandments every day? How can you show love to God and to your family and friends?
Questions to think about
- What did God give to Moses on the mountain?
- Why should we love God more than anything else?
- What does it mean to keep the Sabbath day holy?
- How can we be kind to others like the commandments teach?
- Why is it important to tell the truth?
Message of the story
God loves us very much and gives us the Ten Commandments to help us love Him and each other in the best way.
Bible passage
Exodus 20:1-17 (WEB)
1 God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 You shall not bow down to them,
