God’s Fence of Protection

Props: small garden fence or picture of a fence

Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time. Deuteronomy 4:40 (NIV)

Deuteronomy 11; 28

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1 (NIV)

            Today we will begin learning about the Ten Commandments.  Long ago, when God brought His people out of a land of slavery, He knew they would need a list of rules to follow.  He loved them so much that He wrote the rules down on stone tablets and gave them to Moses, the leader of the people.  God loved the people so much that He gave them rules.  Many of you may think that rules are mean or unfair.  How can rules be a sign of love? 

            To help you understand, look at this fence.  Let’s say I have young children who like to play in the yard.  I want to put a fence up to make sure they stay in the yard.  Otherwise, they might run out in the street and get hit by a car.  So if I put a fence up in my yard, does that mean I don’t love my children?  (Allow for response).  Of course not!  It’s because I do love my children that I want to put a fence up. 

            God’s commandments are like a fence.  Some people think God is only trying to keep us from doing what we want to and having fun when He gives us commandments.  That’s not true.  God loves us and He wants to keep us from getting hurt.  So He gives us rules to live by; those rules will keep us safe. 

            As we study the commandments, remember that they are God’s fence of protection for our lives.  If we live by them, we’ll be safe.