May 29, 2022 – Deuteronomy 27 – 30

Lesson Date: May 29, 2022

Focal Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 27:12-26; 28:1-14; 30:15-19

AIM: To lead students to describe the choices God placed before the ancient Israelites and the results of those choices, and to discuss choices we face and possible results of our choices.

Before class: Read the notes on Deuteronomy 27 – 30 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Get two water bottles.  Write or print the word “POISON” in large red letters on a piece of paper and wrap it around one of the bottles, covering the bottle’s label.  Display the two bottles at the front of the class.  Get enough copies of the “Curses and Blessings” handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the two bottles.  Tell them one bottle contains cool, refreshing, purified water, but the other contains deadly poison.  Ask: “Which would you rather drink, purified water or deadly poison?” (purified water).

Ask: “What will happen if you drink the purified water?” (your thirst will be quenched and you will feel refreshed).  Ask: “What will happen if you drink the deadly poison?” (you will die).  Ask: “Why would you rather drink the water than the poison?” (because the result of drinking the water is much better than the result of drinking the poison).

Tell the class that God gave the ancient Israelites some choices that were just as clear and obvious as the choice between water and poison.  They could live and be blessed if they obeyed God, or they could suffer and even die if they disobeyed Him.

Tell the students we face choices every day we live.  Some of those choices are just as clear as choosing water instead of poison.  The result of our choices can be blessing or suffering.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is The Choice is Yours.  As we study Deuteronomy 27 – 30, we will see that God urged His people to obey Him so they could enjoy blessings.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell the students we are nearing the end of the book of Deuteronomy.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (tithing).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Mal. 3:10).
2. The Vivid Object Lesson.
   • Remind the class that God, through Moses, was giving the Israelites instructions for how they were to live once they settled in the Promised Land.
   • Read Deuteronomy 27:12-14.
   • Explain the following:
     • The Israelites were to assemble on two adjacent hills in the central part of the land.
     • Locate Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim on the Map of the Promised Land.
     • Half of the tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim and the other half were to stand on Mount Ebal.
     • The Levites were to stand in the valley between the two mountains and speak with a loud voice so all the Israelites could hear.
     • The mountains and the valley between formed a natural amphitheater, making it possible for everyone to hear.
   • To get the full effect of the “object lesson” God planned for the Israelites, you could have half the students sit or stand at one side of the room with the rest of the students at the other side of the room. You could stand between in the place of the Levites.
   • Summarize: God planned a vivid object lesson for the Israelites to illustrate the clear choice between the cost of disobedience and the blessings of obedience.
3. The Curses.
   • Give everyone a copy of the “Curses and Blessings” handout.
   • Tell the class the Levites were first going to describe behaviors that bring God’s curse.
   • Read Deuteronomy 27:15-26 one verse at a time.
   • Tell the students to say “Amen!” after you read “And all people shall say” at the end of each verse.
   • After reading each verse, ask: “What behavior brings God’s curse?”
   • Refer to the handout for a brief description of each behavior.
   • After reading each verse, ask: “What kind of problems does that behavior cause today?”
   • Summarize: God gave His people a clear list of behaviors that would bring His curse upon them.
4. The Blessings.
   • Ask the students to turn their handouts over to the side that says, “Prerequisite for Receiving God’s Blessing.”
   • Ask a volunteer to read Deuteronomy 28:1-2.
   • Ask: “According to verse 1, what were the Israelites required to do to receive God’s blessings?” (hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord and obey everything He says).
   • Explain the following:
     • 1b – If the Israelites listened to and obeyed God, He promised to make them the greatest nation on earth.
     • 2 – God promised His blessings would overtake the Israelites, like a hunter relentlessly pursuing his unsuspecting prey.
   • Read Deuteronomy 28:3-14 one verse at a time.
   • After reading each verse, ask: “What did God promise to bless if Israel obeyed Him?”
   • Refer to the handout for a brief description of each area in which they would be blessed.
   • After reading each verse, ask: “What would it look like if God blessed us that way today?”
   • Summarize: God promised to bless His people in every area of life if they diligently listened to and obeyed His Word.
5. The Choice.
   • Explain the following:
     • God went on to describe more curses that would come upon Israel if they were disobedient.
     • He even told them that hundreds of years later they would be invaded by foreign powers, lose their land, and be scattered all over the earth.
     • God repeatedly told Israel that obedience to His Law would bring blessing, but disobedience would bring a curse.
     • After doing that, He gave them a very clear choice: obey Him and be blessed or disobey Him and be cursed.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Deuteronomy 30:15.
   • Ask: “What were their possible choices?” (life and good or death and evil).
   • Read Deuteronomy 30:16.
   • Ask: “What did Israel have to do to be blessed?” (love the Lord, walk in His ways, and obey His commandments).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Deuteronomy 30:17-18.
   • Ask: “What would happen if they turned away from Him to follow false gods?” (death and removal from the land).
   • Read Deuteronomy 30:19.
   • Ask: “Who did God call to witness Israel’s choice?” (heaven and earth).
   • Stress the fact that God was giving them a very clear choice.
   • Ask: “What did God urge them to choose?” (life, for their own good and for the good of their descendants).
   • Explain the following:
     • We face choices every day we live.
     • Some of our choices will affect our children and grandchildren.
     • It is very important to make the right choice!
   • Summarize: God gave His people the choice of obeying Him and being blessed, or disobeying Him and suffering

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Use the handout to briefly review the behaviors that bring God’s curse and the blessings that come from obeying God.  Ask: “If you were the ancient Israelites and God gave you that choice, which would you choose?” (blessings).

Unfortunately, history reveals that Israel chose God’s curse.  His prophecy of their future was fulfilled.  For thousands of years, they have experienced curses rather than blessings.

Ask the students to name some choices we face.  As each choice is named, ask them to suggest the possible good or bad results of that choice.  After each choice is named and discussed, ask: “Which would you choose?”

Tell the students we have all made bad choices in the past.  We must confess those sins and ask God to help us make wise choices in the future.  We must also abstain from behaviors God said would bring a curse.

Tell the class the most important choice any of us face is about what we will do with Jesus.  We can choose the blessing of eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, or we can choose hell if we reject Him.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Ask: “Have you chosen eternal life, or are you destined for hell?  If you want to receive Christ, confess your sin and give Jesus control of your life right now.”  Encourage everyone to commit to make wise choices so they can avoid God’s curse and experience His blessings.

Voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Deuteronomy 30:19.  Tell them if there are any behaviors in their life that could bring God’s curse, they should stop them immediately.

Be sure everyone has a copy of the Sunday School Member Quarterly for the new quarter.  Tell them next week we will finish out the book of Deuteronomy, and then continue into the books of Joshua and Judges.