Lesson Note on Provisions: God’s Provision and Obedience for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 9
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Divine Provision
Previous Lesson: Protection: God’s Protection for Israel and Individuals.
Topic: Provisions
Subject Matter: Meaning of divine provision (God supplying needs), God provided for his people (food, Exodus 16:1-21, water, Exodus 17:1-7, light for night journey, Exodus 13:20-22, shade for sunny days journey, Exodus 13:20-22), God provided sustenance for Elijah and Zarephath widow during drought (I Kings 17:1-16), God requires our obedience to effect his provisions (Abraham, Genesis 22:1-13, Elijah, I Kings 17:10-16, Israelites, Exodus 16:19, Zarephath widow, I Kings 17:10-16), why provisions were stopped (Joshua 5:11-12, I Kings 4:1-6)

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define divine provision.
• Identify examples of God’s provision for His people in the Bible.
• State the conditions God requires for His provisions.
• Explain reasons why divine provisions were sometimes stopped.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate God’s faithfulness in providing for His people.
• Develop faith in God’s ability to provide for their needs.
• Show gratitude for God’s provisions.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Narrate at least two biblical accounts of God’s provision.
• List key instances where God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Social Domain:

• Share personal or observed examples of God’s provision.
• Encourage others to trust in God’s provision through obedience.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Christian Religious Studies for Senior Secondary Schools 2
• https://www.biblegateway.com/
• https://www.biblestudytools.com/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A Bible
• A chart showing pictures of God’s provision (e.g., manna, water from rock)
• Pupils’ textbooks

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how God provides for His people. It teaches them about God’s faithfulness and the importance of obedience and gratitude for receiving and sustaining His provisions in their lives.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of God as the Creator and Sustainer of life.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Provisions

Meaning of Divine Provision

Divine provision refers to God’s act of supplying all the needs of His people. It is God’s faithfulness in ensuring that His children lack nothing essential for life and godliness, often in miraculous or unexpected ways.

Examples of God’s Provision

The following are examples of God’s provision for His people:

• For the Israelites in the Wilderness:
  • Food (Manna and Quails): When the Israelites complained of hunger, God provided manna from heaven daily and sent quails for meat (Exodus 16:1-21).
  • Water: God miraculously provided water from a rock to quench their thirst at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7).
  • Light for Night Journey: God led them with a pillar of fire by night, giving them light to travel (Exodus 13:20-22).
  • Shade for Sunny Days Journey: God led them with a pillar of cloud by day, providing shade and guidance (Exodus 13:20-22).
• For Elijah and the Zarephath Widow:
  • During a severe drought, God commanded ravens to feed Elijah by the Brook Cherith (I Kings 17:1-6).
  • When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow in Zarephath, whose small amount of flour and oil miraculously did not run out until the drought ended (I Kings 17:7-16).

Obedience as a Condition for God’s Provision

God often requires obedience to effect His provisions. Examples include:

• Abraham: God promised to bless Abraham and make him a great nation, but this was contingent on his obedience, as shown when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-13).
• Elijah: Elijah had to obey God’s command to go to the Brook Cherith and later to Zarephath for provision (I Kings 17:1-16).
• Israelites: God commanded the Israelites not to keep manna overnight, except on the sixth day for the Sabbath. Their obedience was necessary for continuous provision (Exodus 16:19).
• Zarephath Widow: The widow had to obey Elijah’s instruction to make him a small cake first, even with her last meal, for her flour and oil to be multiplied (I Kings 17:10-16).

Reasons Why Provisions Were Stopped

Divine provisions were sometimes stopped due to specific reasons:

• For the Israelites: The manna stopped when they entered the Promised Land and began to eat the produce of the land (Joshua 5:11-12). This signifies a transition from miraculous provision to provision through their own labour in the land.
• For the Widow’s Sons: After the death of her husband, a widow’s sons were about to be sold into slavery to pay debts. Elisha intervened, and her empty jars were miraculously filled with oil, which she sold to pay her debts and live on the rest (I Kings 4:1-6). The provision of oil stopped when all available jars were filled, indicating that the supply was for a specific purpose and not meant to be endless if not managed.

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Bible Reading

• Exodus 13:20-22
• Exodus 16:1-21
• Exodus 17:1-7
• I Kings 17:1-16
• Genesis 22:1-13
• Joshua 5:11-12
• I Kings 4:1-6

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reviews the previous lesson. The teacher then asks pupils what they think the word “provision” means in their daily lives, helping them connect it to the idea of God supplying needs.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greetings, recall the previous lesson, and offer their ideas on the meaning of “provision.”
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and connect the topic to their experiences.

Step 2: Meaning of Divine Provision

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of divine provision as God supplying the needs of His people. The teacher then discusses basic human needs like food, water, and shelter, asking pupils how God provides for these.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the explanation and discuss how God meets basic human needs.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concept of divine provision.

Step 3: God’s Provision for Israel

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates biblical examples of God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness, using the Bible to read relevant passages like Exodus 16:1-21 (manna and quails) and Exodus 17:1-7 (water from the rock). The teacher also mentions the pillar of cloud and fire.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the biblical accounts and identify specific instances of God’s provision.
Learning Point: Pupils identify specific examples of God’s provision for the Israelites.

Step 4: God’s Provision for Elijah and the Zarephath Widow

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narration/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of God’s provision for Elijah through ravens and the Zarephath widow through multiplied flour and oil, reading from I Kings 17:1-16. The teacher highlights the faith demonstrated by both Elijah and the widow.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the stories and discuss the lessons of faith and trust in God.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about God’s provision through Elijah and the Zarephath widow.

Step 5: Obedience as a Condition for God’s Provision

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses how God requires obedience for His provisions, using examples such as Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Elijah’s obedience, the Israelites’ instruction regarding manna, and the Zarephath widow’s act of obedience.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and discuss the acts of obedience required in each example for the provision to manifest or continue.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the link between obedience and divine provision.

Step 6: Reasons Why Provisions Were Stopped

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the reasons why provisions were stopped in some cases, such as the manna ceasing in Joshua 5:11-12 and the oil provision for the widow’s sons in I Kings 4:1-6. The teacher emphasizes responsibility and gratitude.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note the reasons for the cessation of provisions.
Learning Point: Pupils learn that provisions can stop due to changed circumstances or specific purposes being fulfilled.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is divine provision?
2. Mention two ways God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.
3. How did God provide for Elijah during the drought?
4. State one condition God requires for His provisions.
5. Give one reason why divine provisions were sometimes stopped.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating God’s faithfulness and the importance of obedience. The teacher then assigns homework: pupils should identify two instances of God’s provision in their personal lives or community.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding and apply the lesson to their lives.

Lesson Keywords

• Divine Provision – God’s act of supplying the needs of His people.
• Manna – The miraculous bread God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.
• Obedience – Compliance with an order, request, or law; a key factor in receiving God’s provisions.
• Zarephath – The town where God sent Elijah to a widow for sustenance during a drought.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research other biblical examples of divine provision. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified summaries and direct them to specific Bible verses for easier comprehension.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to share personal testimonies of God’s provision in their lives, fostering an atmosphere of faith and gratitude. Emphasize that while God provides, He also expects us to be responsible and use our resources wisely.