Bible Stories (Noah/Moses)

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to our CRE Lesson!

Have you ever been asked to do something that sounded completely crazy? Maybe your mum asked you to mix flour and water for chapati, and you couldn't imagine it would become something so delicious. Or maybe a teacher gave you a tough maths problem that seemed impossible at first. Today, we're going to learn about two incredible men, Noah and Moses, who were given some of the most difficult, unbelievable tasks by God himself. Let's dive in and see how their stories of faith and obedience can teach us a lot, even today here in Kenya!

The Story of Noah: Faith on the High Seas

Imagine a world that had become so full of naughtiness and disobedience that God was very sad. But there was one man, Noah, who was righteous and walked with God. God decided to wash the world clean with a great flood, but He wanted to save Noah, his family, and a pair of every kind of animal.

So, God gave Noah a very specific job: Build a giant boat, an Ark! This wasn't a small fishing boat like you see on Lake Victoria. This was a massive ship, and Noah had to build it on dry land, far from any ocean. Can you imagine his neighbours laughing at him? "Noah, mzee, why are you building a boat in the middle of the shamba?" But Noah listened to God, not to the doubters.

How Big Was the Ark? A Little Maths!

God gave Noah the exact measurements in a unit called 'cubits'. A cubit was the length from a man's elbow to the tip of his middle finger. Let's see how big that is in meters that we use today!

--- The Ark's Dimensions ---

1 Cubit ≈ 0.45 metres (about the length of your school ruler and a half)

God's Instructions:
- Length: 300 cubits
- Width:  50 cubits
- Height: 30 cubits

Let's Calculate in Metres:
* Length: 300 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 135 metres
* Width:   50 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 22.5 metres
* Height:  30 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 13.5 metres

To give you an idea, 135 metres is longer than a football pitch! This was a huge project!

Image Suggestion: An epic, wide-angle digital painting of Noah's Ark under construction on a vast, green Kenyan highland plain. The sky is partly cloudy. Noah, depicted as a wise African elder, is directing his sons. In the background, you can see pairs of African animals like elephants, giraffes, zebras, and crowned cranes lining up patiently. The style should be realistic yet inspiring.

The Flood and God's Promise

Once the Ark was finished, Noah, his family, and the animals went inside. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. The whole world was covered in water, but everyone inside the Ark was safe. When the waters went down, the Ark rested on a mountain. The first thing Noah did was to build an altar and thank God.

God then made a special promise, a covenant, with Noah and all living things. He promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood. And the sign of this promise? The rainbow!

    // ASCII ART: The Ark and the Rainbow of Promise

          /`-._,-'\
         /     # # \         / R \
        /     # # # \       (  A  )
       /    # # # #  \     (   I   )
      /   # # # # #   \   (    N    )
     /  # # # # # # #  \ (     B     )
    | # # # # # # # # # |(      O      )
    | # # # # # # # # # | \     W     /
    | # # # # # # # # # |  \         /
    | # # # # # # # # # |   \_______/
    \###################/
     \_________________/

The Story of Moses: From Prince to Prophet

Centuries after Noah, God's people, the Israelites, were living as slaves in Egypt. They were suffering terribly under a cruel Pharaoh. God heard their cries for help and chose a very unlikely man to rescue them: Moses.

Moses had been born an Israelite, but to save him from being killed as a baby, his mother put him in a basket and floated him on the River Nile. Pharaoh's own daughter found him and raised him as a prince! But Moses knew who his people were. After getting into trouble for defending an Israelite slave, he ran away to the desert and became a simple shepherd.

The Call of God: The Burning Bush

One day, while looking after his sheep, Moses saw something incredible – a bush that was on fire but was not burning up! When he went closer, God spoke to him from the bush, telling him to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom.

    // ASCII ART: The Burning Bush

        , - ~ ~ ~ - .
      (   '  `   '   )
     (  '  `  ' ` '  )
    ( `  ' `  '  ` '  )      <-- God calls: "Moses! Moses!"
   ( ' ` ' ` ' ` ' `  )
  ( ' ` ' ` ' ` ' ` '  )
 ( ' ` ' ` ' ` ' ` ' `  )
(_______________________)
           |   |
           |   |
           |___|

Moses was scared and made excuses. "Who am I to do this? What if they don't listen?" But God promised to be with him. This is a powerful lesson: God doesn't always choose the most confident or powerful person, but He gives strength to those He chooses.

Image Suggestion: A dramatic digital painting of Moses, depicted as a strong man of African descent in shepherd's robes, standing before the Burning Bush. The scene is set in a dry, rocky landscape similar to parts of Northern Kenya. The light from the fire is intense and holy, illuminating Moses' face, which shows a mix of awe and fear. The bush itself is a thorny acacia tree, engulfed in flames but with its green leaves intact.

Freedom and the Law

Moses went back and, with God's power, performed mighty miracles. After ten terrible plagues, Pharaoh finally let the people go. Moses led them out of Egypt, and God parted the Red Sea for them to cross on dry land! What a miracle!

Later, on Mount Sinai, God gave Moses a set of rules for the people to live by. These are the most famous laws in the world: The Ten Commandments. This was a new covenant, a promise between God and the people of Israel to guide them on how to love God and love each other.

• You shall have no other gods before me.
• You shall not make for yourself an idol.
• Honour your father and your mother.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour (don't lie!).

What Do We Learn from Noah and Moses?

These stories happened a long time ago, but they are full of powerful lessons for our lives today.

• The Importance of Obedience: Noah was saved because he obeyed God's detailed instructions, even when they seemed strange. Moses obeyed God's call to return to Egypt, even though he was afraid. Following God's way, even when it's hard, leads to blessing.
• God's Justice and Mercy: God is just and punishes wrongdoing (the flood, the plagues). But He is also merciful and always provides a way for salvation (the Ark, the escape from Egypt). He is a God of second chances.
• Faith in God's Promises (Covenants): God made a promise to Noah with the rainbow and to the Israelites through the Ten Commandments. God always keeps His promises. We can trust Him in our lives.
• God Uses Ordinary People: Noah was a farmer, and Moses was a shepherd who had run away. God chose them to do extraordinary things. He can use you and me too, no matter who we are! Think of great Kenyan leaders who came from simple backgrounds to do great things for our nation. God can use anyone who is willing.

A Thought to Ponder:

"Imagine you are Moses standing before Pharaoh. You have no army, just a shepherd's staff in your hand. But you have God on your side. Sometimes, the biggest challenges in our lives are not meant to be faced with our own strength, but with faith that God is with us."

Fantastic work today! You have journeyed from a great flood to a burning bush and across the Red Sea. Remember the faith of Noah and the courage of Moses. Let their stories inspire you to listen to God, obey His word, and trust in His amazing plans for your life. Keep up the great work!

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to Today's CRE Lesson!

Have you ever been asked to do something that seemed impossible? Maybe your parents asked you to clean the whole compound by yourself, or a teacher gave you a very difficult maths problem. Today, we are going to learn about two incredible individuals, Noah and Moses, who were given tasks by God that were so big, they changed the world! These are not just stories; they are powerful lessons about faith, obedience, and God's amazing power. Let's begin our journey back in time!

Part 1: Noah - The Man Who Built a Boat on Dry Land

Imagine this: The world had become a very noisy and chaotic place, full of disobedience. It was like a marketplace where everyone is shouting and no one is listening to the rules. God was saddened by this. But amidst all the chaos, there was one righteous man who listened to God. His name was Noah.

God gave Noah a very specific, and very strange, instruction: Build a massive boat, an Ark, because a great flood was coming to wash the world clean.

Genesis 6:14 (NIV): "So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out."

People must have laughed at Noah! Building a huge boat far from any sea or large river? It would be like seeing someone trying to build a dhow in the middle of Nairobi! But Noah had faith. He obeyed God without question.

How Big Was the Ark? A Little Kenyan Math!

The Bible tells us the Ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. But what is a cubit? A cubit is an ancient measurement, roughly the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger (about 0.45 metres).

Let's do the calculation to understand its massive size!

--- Let's Calculate the Ark's Length ---

1. Given measurement in cubits: 300 cubits
2. Conversion factor: 1 cubit ≈ 0.45 metres

Calculation:
300 cubits * 0.45 metres/cubit = 135 metres

Result: The Ark was about 135 metres long!

--- How does that compare? ---
A standard football pitch, like the one at Kasarani Stadium, is about 105 metres long. 
This means the Ark was LONGER than a football pitch! It was truly enormous.

Noah built this giant vessel and gathered two of every kind of animal—lions, elephants, giraffes, even the tiny chameleons—and his family, and they all went inside. Then, the rains came.

Image Suggestion:

An epic, wide-angle digital painting of Noah's Ark. The Ark is massive, made of dark gopher wood, resting on dry land under a stormy, grey sky. A long ramp leads up to a large door on the side. A diverse procession of animals (giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, monkeys) is walking up the ramp in pairs. Noah, an elderly man with a long white beard, stands at the top, guiding them in. The style should be realistic but awe-inspiring.

The Covenant of the Rainbow

After the flood, when the waters receded, God made a special promise or a covenant with Noah and all living creatures. He promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood. The sign of this everlasting promise is the rainbow. So every time you see a beautiful rainbow after the rain, remember it is a sign of God's faithfulness and mercy.

• Lesson 1: Obedience. Noah obeyed God even when the command seemed strange and people mocked him.
• Lesson 2: Faith. He had faith that God's plan was real and just.
• Lesson 3: God's Justice and Mercy. God judged the wickedness of the world but showed mercy by saving Noah, his family, and the animals.

Part 2: Moses - The Prince Who Became a Liberator

Now, let's travel forward in time to ancient Egypt. The descendants of Abraham, the Israelites, were living as slaves under a cruel Pharaoh. Their lives were full of hardship, like carrying heavy bricks under the hot sun all day with no rest. They cried out to God for a deliverer.

The Burning Bush: A Leader is Called

God chose a man named Moses. Moses was an Israelite who, as a baby, was saved from death and was raised in the Pharaoh's own palace! One day, while he was shepherding sheep in the desert, he saw something incredible: a bush that was on fire but was not burning up!

This was God calling him. God spoke to Moses from the bush, telling him to go to Pharaoh and demand, "Let my people go!"

             ,d88b.d88b,
             88888888888
             `Y8888888Y'
               `Y888Y'
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          (   The Burning   )
          (      Bush       )
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
               /  |  \
              /   |   \
             /    |    \
            '-,_,-"-,_,-'

Moses was scared. He felt he was not a good speaker. But God promised to be with him. This teaches us that God doesn't always call the most qualified people, but He qualifies those He calls. He gives us the strength we need to complete the task, just like in a Harambee, where everyone pulls together to achieve a big goal.

The Plagues and the Exodus

Pharaoh was stubborn. He refused to free the Israelites. So, God sent ten powerful plagues upon Egypt to show His power. These included turning the River Nile to blood, swarms of frogs and locusts, and finally, the passing over of the firstborn sons. After the tenth plague, a terrified Pharaoh finally let the people go.

But he changed his mind and chased them! The Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. It seemed like the end. But Moses, trusting God, lifted his staff.

Image Suggestion:

A dramatic and cinematic scene of Moses parting the Red Sea. Moses, a powerful figure with a staff raised high, stands on the shore. Before him, the sea is split in two, creating a dry path with towering walls of water on either side. The Israelites, a large crowd of men, women, and children, are walking through the path in awe and relief. In the distance, the Egyptian army's chariots are visible, just beginning their pursuit. The lighting should be powerful, with sunbeams breaking through dark clouds.

God parted the waters of the Red Sea, and the Israelites walked across on dry ground. When the army followed, the waters crashed back down on them. God had delivered His people!

The Ten Commandments: A Covenant of Law

Later, on Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. This was a new covenant, a set of divine laws to guide the people on how to live rightly with God and with each other. These laws are the foundation of morality and justice that we still learn about today.

• Lesson 1: Courage. Moses stood up to the most powerful man in the world, Pharaoh, because God was with him.
• Lesson 2: God's Power. God showed his supreme power over nature and earthly kings to save his people.
• Lesson 3: Importance of Law. God provides rules and guidance (like the Ten Commandments) to help us live in peace and harmony.

Conclusion: What Can We Learn from Noah and Moses?

Both Noah and Moses were ordinary men called by God to do extraordinary things. Noah's story teaches us about faith in the face of ridicule, while Moses' story teaches us about courage in the face of oppression. Both show us a God who is just, merciful, and all-powerful, a God who keeps His promises (covenants).

As you go through your own challenges, remember these great heroes of faith. Trust that, like them, you can achieve great things through obedience and courage. Well done for today's lesson!

Giants of Faith: The Stories of Noah and Moses

Habari mwanafunzi! Welcome to our lesson. Have you ever been asked to do something that seemed completely impossible, something so big that you didn't know where to start? In our CRE lesson today, we are going to explore the lives of two incredible figures from the Bible, Noah and Moses. These were ordinary men who were called by God to do extraordinary things. Their stories are not just ancient tales; they are filled with powerful lessons about faith, obedience, and leadership that are still very important for us here in Kenya today. Let's begin!

Noah: Faith in the Face of a Flood

Imagine a time when the world had become so full of wickedness and corruption that God was deeply saddened. But in the midst of it all, there was one righteous man: Noah. The Bible says Noah "walked faithfully with God" (Genesis 6:9). Because of his righteousness, God chose Noah for a monumental task: to build a giant boat, an Ark, to save his family and a pair of every kind of animal from a great flood that would cleanse the earth.

Think about it like this: Imagine if today, someone was asked to build a ship the size of a modern stadium in the middle of Nairobi or Kisumu, far from the ocean, and then tell everyone that a great flood is coming. People would laugh and call them crazy! This is the kind of faith and courage Noah had. He obeyed God even when the world thought he was foolish.

The Ark: A Floating Marvel of Engineering

The Ark wasn't just any small boat (or mtumbwi). It was enormous! God gave Noah specific instructions for its size, measured in 'cubits'. A cubit was an ancient unit of measurement, roughly the length from an adult's elbow to the tip of their middle finger.

Let's do some simple math to understand its true size. We'll assume 1 cubit is about 0.45 metres.

**Calculating the Ark's Dimensions in Metres**

Given: 1 Cubit ≈ 0.45 metres

Dimensions from Genesis 6:15:
- Length: 300 cubits
- Width:  50 cubits
- Height: 30 cubits

Step 1: Calculate the Length
   300 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 135 metres
   (That's longer than a standard football pitch!)

Step 2: Calculate the Width
   50 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 22.5 metres
   (That's wider than most roads in our towns!)

Step 3: Calculate the Height
   30 cubits * 0.45 m/cubit = 13.5 metres
   (That's as tall as a 4-storey building!)

This massive structure had three decks and was built to withstand a global flood. It was a symbol of God's plan for salvation and Noah's incredible obedience.

      +-------------------------------------------------+
      |                 Upper Deck                      |
      +-------------------------------------------------+
      |                 Middle Deck                     |
      +-------------------------------------------------+
      |                  Lower Deck                     |
      +-------------------------------------------------+
     /                                                   \
    /_____________________________________________________\

Image Suggestion: [A dramatic, wide-angle shot of Noah and his sons working on the massive, half-finished wooden ark. The landscape around them is dry and sunny. Other villagers are in the background, pointing and laughing. The style should be realistic and epic.]

The Covenant of the Rainbow

After the flood, God made a sacred promise, or covenant (agano), with Noah and all living creatures. A covenant is much more than a simple promise; it's a binding agreement. God promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood. The sign of this everlasting covenant was the rainbow.

Every time we see a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky after the rain, perhaps over the Great Rift Valley or the hills of Makueni, it's a reminder of God's faithfulness and His promise of mercy.

Lessons from Noah

• Faith and Obedience: Noah trusted God completely, even when the instructions seemed strange.
• Righteous Living: Standing for what is right, even when you are alone, is pleasing to God.
• God's Judgment and Mercy: God judges sin, but He is also merciful and always provides a way for salvation.

Moses: The Reluctant Leader

Hundreds of years after Noah, God's people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt. Their suffering was great. It was in this setting that another great leader was born: Moses.

A Dangerous Start and a Divine Call

To escape being killed as a baby by the Pharaoh's decree, Moses' mother placed him in a basket and set him afloat on the River Nile. He was found and raised by Pharaoh's own daughter! Though he grew up as a prince, he was a Hebrew.

Image Suggestion: [A serene, sunlit scene on the River Nile. A beautifully woven basket with a baby inside floats gently among the papyrus reeds. In the background, a young girl (Miriam) peeks from behind the reeds, watching over the basket with a concerned expression. The style should be warm and painterly.]

As an adult, Moses fled Egypt after defending an Israelite slave. He became a shepherd in the wilderness. It was here that God called him in a dramatic way—through a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames. God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom.

Moses was hesitant and full of self-doubt. He gave God excuses:

• "Who am I to go to Pharaoh?" (I am not important enough)
• "What if they do not believe me?" (I am not convincing enough)
• "I am slow of speech and tongue." (I am not a good speaker)

This shows us that even great leaders feel fear and inadequacy. But God promised to be with Moses and help him every step of the way. This is an encouragement to us when we feel we are not good enough for a task.

The Exodus and the Ten Commandments

Moses returned to Egypt and, through God's power demonstrated in the Ten Plagues, he led the Israelites out of slavery. This great departure is called the Exodus. It is a powerful story of liberation and freedom (uhuru), much like the stories we learn in our own Kenyan history about the struggle for independence.

In the wilderness, at Mount Sinai, God gave Moses a set of laws to guide the newly freed nation. These are the Ten Commandments (Amri Kumi). They were a covenant between God and His people, teaching them how to live in a right relationship with Him and with each other. They are the foundation of moral law.

       Two Tablets of the Law
  +----------------+  +----------------+
  |    Love God    |  |  Love Others   |
  |----------------|  |----------------|
  |  I. No other   |  |  V. Honour     |
  |     gods       |  |     parents    |
  |  II. No idols  |  |  VI. No murder |
  |  III. God's    |  |  VII. No       |
  |      name      |  |      adultery  |
  |  IV. Sabbath   |  |  VIII. No      |
  |      Day       |  |      stealing  |
  +----------------+  +----------------+

Lessons from Moses

• God uses ordinary people: Moses was a simple shepherd, but God equipped him to be a great leader.
• Courage and Perseverance: Leading people is not easy. Moses faced many challenges, from the Pharaoh to the complaints of his own people, but he never gave up.
• The Importance of Law: Just like Kenya has a constitution to guide our nation, God gave the Israelites laws to create a just and holy society.
• God is a Deliverer: God hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to set them free.

What Do These Stories Mean for Us Today?

The stories of Noah and Moses are more than just history. They teach us about the character of God and how we should live. They show us that with faith, one person can make a huge difference. Whether you are facing a challenge that seems as big as an ark or you feel too small to lead, remember Noah's obedience and Moses' courage. God is with you, and He can empower you to do great things.

Think about this: In what small way can you show faith and obedience in your life this week? At school, at home, or with your friends? Keep learning, and may you be encouraged by these great giants of faith!