Wanderings- Gods Grand Story #2

Leader’s Notes for Discussion Guides

Moses and Pharaoh

Read Exodus 2:23–3:15. What does God’s perspective on His people’s condition show us about His heart? What is His purpose for them? What does Moses’ response tell us about him?

The end of Exodus 2 gives us a stunning picture of God’s heart. Verse 23 speaks of the long years of suffering of the people of God and says they “cried out.” This verb refers to the desperate cry or shriek of someone in raw anguish. Notice God’s four-fold response. Verse 24 says He heard their cries (their prayers were not bouncing off the ceiling). It says He remembered His covenant. (Though the people of God may have felt forgotten, they surely were not!). The text goes on to say God “saw” their situation (it did not escape His notice). Finally it assures us that He was concerned about them (God’s nature is pure compassion). The next words in chapter three? “Now Moses …” The suffering Israelites could not and would not have known about all these divine responses. But clearly God was aware of their pain and at work in their lives (at least in the background). Deliverance was on the way!

Read Exodus 6:1-9. What stands out to you about God’s announced intentions? Look at verse 9. Note the people’s response. Can you relate? Are there divine promises that, given your current situation, seem too good to believe? Share an instance when you’ve struggled to hope for good things because you’re surrounded by bad things.

Someone has observed that at any given moment, God is working out His good and perfect will in an uncountable number of ways—and we may, if we’re fortunate, be able to see a glimpse of only one or two of the ways He is working. In other words, behind and even in the midst of life’s tough stuff, God is still on the throne of the universe, orchestrating events and working things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Thus the importance of focusing not on the things that we can see, but trusting in the things that we cannot see (see 2 Corinthians 4:18).

Just a side note: If it comes up, some participants may have trouble with the idea of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. This is a good discussion to have, so you may want to let it play out for a bit. But before it’s over, draw a distinction between fatalism (God predestines every decision without regard to human will) and sovereignty (God does not turn hearts in any direction they aren’t already inclined to go).

Passover and the Red Sea

Read Exodus 12:21-28. Why do you think God chose to deliver Israel from Egypt in such a visually symbolic way? How do you think these people were impacted by having to kill a lamb and splash its blood around their door frames? What was the lesson for the Israelites? for us?

The Egyptians (and most of the surrounding nations) were polytheistic. That is, they worshipped many gods. These assorted deities were believed to affect fertility and agriculture and every other aspect of life. Thus the ten plagues (Exodus 7:1412:30) were designed to be a testimony to the captive Israelites of God’s supreme power and faithfulness. They also served as a “wake-up call” to the nation of Egypt (and the world) that Yahweh, the God of Israel was the one true God. Each plague was both a judgment on one of Egypt’s gods and a merciful message of grace: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).

God, via a cloud by day and a column of fire by night, led Moses and the people to the edge of the Red Sea—a place of extreme vulnerability. They seemed completely trapped between a huge body of water and an intimidating army. Why do you think God didn’t lead them straight out of Egypt and into the Promised Land? In what areas of your life—spiritually, relationally, or in your circumstances—have you felt yourself to be boxed in or trapped? What does this event say about God’s ways with His people?

In more places than we can count, the Bible makes it clear that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. Otherwise the moment we put our faith in Christ, He would take us straight to heaven! God doesn’t just want us to converted, He intends to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). He means to transform us. As Jesus was tested and tried through temptation and suffering, so we too face hardships. Nothing builds character like persevering under trials (Romans 5:3-5). We grow in faith when we turn to God in the trials and troubles of life.

Glory, Covenant, and Presence

The first of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Why do you think this commandment comes first? What relevance do you think the Ten Commandments have for us today?

John Calvin said: “The human heart is an idol factory... Every one of us from our mother’s womb is an expert in inventing idols.” He’s right. We are natural-born worshippers. We cannot not worship. The essence of sin is that we reject the one true God, the God who is, and we exchange Him and His glory for something or someone else. And so, the Ten Commandments begin with the call to worship God alone. It’s probably true, as someone has noted, if we followed this first commandment perfectly, there’d be no need for the other nine.

Note: The thorny issue of law vs. grace could turn this into a very long discussion. After some fruitful discussion, you may want to point out that Scripture condemns both legalism and lawlessness. The goal is a changed heart that becomes naturally consistent with God’s character—law, perhaps, but internalized rather than outward constraint.

At Mount Sinai, God demonstrated His power with lightning, thunder, smoke, a loud blast, and other awe-inspiring manifestations. Yet in Exodus 33:18, Moses asked to see God’s glory. Why do you think Moses thought he had not seen God’s glory yet? Of all the ways God described Himself in Exodus 34:5 when passing in front of Moses, which one is most meaningful to you? Why?

The word glory has to do with God’s weight or essence. In the “divine fireworks” at the top of Mount Sinai, Moses had seen the “after effects” (if you will) of the glorious presence of God—much as we do when we stare at the night sky or stand open-mouthed at the Grand Canyon. In Exodus 33, Moses was asking to see the very essence of God, not just His handiwork.

Read Exodus 40:34-38 and 29:43-46. What does it say to you that the God of the universe wanted to designate a place where His people could meet with Him? Where are the modern-day people of God supposed to meet with Him?

The ancient Israelites, as per God’s instructions, built first a tabernacle (a portable “worship center”) and then later a Temple (in Jerusalem). These were powerful symbols of the truth that God wanted to dwell in the midst of His people and have a relationship with Him. Now, under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ is the Temple (John 2:19), or the “place” where we meet God. And since Christ lives in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17), we are temples (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are living temples, and our lives should be “places” where others can approach and find God.

God’s presence among His people is one of His strong and consistent desires. It may help us to tie this back to the relational capacity He gave us by creating us in His image.

12 Spies

Read Numbers 13:30–14:11, then read Hebrews 3:7-12. How would you have reacted to the situation if you had been one of the spies exploring the land? All the spies saw the same thing; what enabled Caleb and Joshua to interpret the

situation differently? What words did God and the writer of Hebrews use to characterize the response of the 10 spies?

Caleb and Joshua were willing to trust the promise of God. The other spies chose to focus on what they could see rather than what God had said. The issue was— and still is—faith. Faith doesn’t ignore physical obstacles or deny financial troubles or downplay relational difficulties. It sees those things and then looks beyond them to an all-powerful, all-good God. Faith—not circumstances, not the so-called “experts”—gives God the final word. The only question is will we trust God’s heart enough to live by His word. Hebrews 11:6 gives us this sobering reminder, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

The Wilderness Experience

Many Israelites complained about the journey to the Promised Land and wanted to go back to the ease and fruitfulness of Egypt—forgetting both the pain of their slavery in the past and the promised blessings of their future. In what ways do we tend to do the same thing? How does focusing on God’s promises help us with adversity? with temptation? with contentment? with the battle between faith and unbelief?

When we are frustrated or suffering in the present, it is human nature to look back and glamorize the past, to accentuate positive memories and to forget or gloss over negative experiences. How else can we explain the Israelites gushing over the onions and garlic they left behind in Egypt (Numbers 11:5) and forgetting the horrific treatment and suffering they experienced there (Exodus 3:7)?

In what ways does God provide for us day by day in “desert” situations?

Session 3

Joshua, the Jordan, and Jericho

Read Joshua 1:7-9. What are the benefits of this promise? What are the conditions? How would you apply these verses, which were originally about entering a physical Promised Land, to our lives today?

We have to be careful as we interpret the Bible to remember that not every promise in the Bible applies to all the people of God for all time. Some promises (for example, God’s promise of a son to Abraham) were made to individuals.

Others were given to the nation of Israel (for example, the promise of Canaan). We always need to look at the context of a verse or divine pledge before we start drawing conclusions or “claiming promises.” What we can glean from any and every promise is insight into the heart of God as well as truths about His character. And those are things we can hang on to in every situation of life.

Joshua 3:15 says that the Jordan was at flood stage when it was time for Israel to cross it. Why do you think God chose those virtually impossible conditions? What does this tell us about His ways? How and where have you seen Him do this in your life?

At times God seems to enjoy “stacking the deck” against us. Not only does this stretch and test our faith, but when the needed help/rescue finally comes, it is more obvious that what we are experiencing is supernatural.

In order to conquer Jericho, the people had to march around the city for days and shout the last time around. How would you have felt if God gave you instructions like this? Would you have seen the wisdom in following them? Why or why not?

So much of the life of faith is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. Jesus said the poor in spirit are actually blessed, that giving is better than getting, that the way to lead is to serve, that we find our lives by losing our lives. In attacking Jericho, God’s instructions likewise seemed upside-down, nonsensical, the recipe for absolute humiliation. Here is a good reminder that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).

Conquest of the Land

When the people were faithful to God, they had great victories in their battles. When they were not faithful—or even when only one or two of them were not faithful—they often experienced defeat. Is it fair for God to do this—to cause an entire people to suffer for the actions of a few? Why or why not?

The question of was it fair for the whole nation to suffer due to the sin of one man overlooks an important truth: we are connected to others whether we like it or not. The football kicker who misses a chip-shot field goal costs his entire team the victory. The citizen who commits a heinous act in another country gives his entire nation a black eye. A tiny kidney stone in one part of my body affects my entire body. As much as we want to be autonomous and independent, we are not … especially as the people of God. My sins affect my brothers and sisters in Christ— thus the added incentive to say no to temptation.

It’s easy to interpret the pattern in Joshua—victory when faithful, defeat when unfaithful—as a works-oriented approach to our spiritual lives. Remind participants that God covers and forgives our sins in Christ, and those who believe are always His children. That doesn’t change. But we experience more of His goodness when He isn’t busy correcting us. Faithfulness does have benefits.

Read Joshua 14:6-15. What does this story say about God’s faithfulness? How does it challenge our assumptions about aging and the “prime of life”? What do you think Caleb might say about our modern notion of retirement?

Instead of talking and dreaming of “retirement,” maybe we should be championing the idea of “reassignment.” What if millions of Christians saw the end of their careers or jobs, not as an end of work, but a transition to a different kind of work? What if we used our final years (after leaving the marketplace) to serve God and others? to mentor younger people? to volunteer? to travel? (not just to see sights, but also to use skills and share expertise with others). Imagine the impact of a generation of Calebs, looking for ways to bless others instead of looking for lost golf balls and/or bargains at the outlet mall.

The Judges Cycle

Describe the “Judges Cycle” (that occurs seven times in the book). How does this play out in your own life? Do you tend to cry out to God only when you’re in trouble? What are the dangers of this pattern? What benefits and blessings are we missing when we relate to Him this way?

If you have someone in your Sunday School class or small group who monopolizes the discussion, you need to say something like this: “Sarah, you have a lot of good insights, but let’s hear from some of the folks who haven’t said much.”

If you have a group that seems reluctant to talk, you may want to start with a fun icebreaker type question: “Hey, if you could eat lunch with any one of the Old Testament characters we’ve studied, who would it be and why?”

Deborah, Gideon, and Samson

There were many judges in Israel in this era, but three of the most prominent— Deborah, Gideon, and Samson—were also the most surprising. Deborah was a woman, Gideon was fearful, and Samson had moral weaknesses. Why do you think God chose them to be leaders? What does this tell us about God’s ways? How does this relate to our expectations for the people He chooses? Which one of these would you have had the hardest time following? Why?

There is a pernicious myth in the minds of many churchgoers that “God can never and will never use me because I’ve screwed up too many times or because I’m ____ (shy, uneducated, divorced, inexperienced, a recovering addict—take your pick).” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God always chooses and uses broken, flawed people to accomplish His purposes. Moses was a murderer. Noah was a drunk. Jacob was a deceiver. Peter was a big mouth. Thomas was a doubter. You get the picture! God’s grace is always greater than our sin.

Ruth

Read Ruth 1:16-17. Considering Ruth’s background as a Moabite (a Gentile from a nation at times hostile toward Israel), why is this a surprising statement? What longings are represented in this plea? Where have you seen this kind of fierce commitment?

God’s plan was always much bigger than Israel. God’s heart was, is, and always will be for the whole world. We see this in the promise to Abraham, that through his descendants “all the nations” would ultimately find blessing. We see it in God’s mercy to Rahab (at the beginning of the book of Joshua). We see it here in the gracious inclusion of Ruth in the family tree of King David, and ultimately of Jesus, the King of kings.

The book of Ruth begins in bitterness and ends with deep contentment. In what ways is this a picture of God’s purposes? What can we do to position ourselves for this kind of experience with God?

The gospel says we are more sinful than we can imagine. We don’t need some words of wisdom or a brief stint in rehab. We need rescue from death! The gospel also says we are more loved than we can ever imagine, loved by a God who will not stop pursuing us or loving us. The gospel redeems and restores. And that’s what we see in the ancient story of Ruth. It’s the gospel told in the form of a love story.

Session 4

Samuel

Hannah prayed for a significant blessing (a son) but offered an enormous sacrifice in return (giving the son back to God). God gave her Samuel. Hannah gave Samuel back to God. God used Samuel to transform a nation. What do you think was greater? God’s gift or Hannah’s sacrifice? Why? What’s a sacrifice you’ve offered to God?

Christians need to be careful about giving to God in order to get from God. This is self-centered giving, giving with an ulterior and selfish motive. The right motive or attitude is to give from a heart full of gratitude. Paul calls this cheerful giving (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). Sadly many Christians believe that our pledges or gifts

“obligate” God—that if we make sacrificial gifts, God is somehow compelled to bless us in return. We cannot coerce God or manipulate Him into blessing us. Nor should we try!

Read 1 Samuel 8:6-9. Why do you think God took Israel’s desire for a king personally? What does this reveal to you about God’s heart?

We sometimes forget that God is personal, that our triune Creator not only has a mind and a will, but also emotions. God feels. The life of Jesus shows us this. Jesus wept. He felt deep compassion for those who were hurt and lost. He got righteously angry at prideful, hard-hearted religious leaders. As He faced the cross, He felt fear and great anguish. In asking for a human king, the nation of Israel was, in a real sense, rejecting God as their king. Someone has observed that when we sin, we don’t just break God’s law, we break His heart. Here we see an instance of that.

Spend some time in this discussion thinking about the opportunity the people missed—to be governed directly by God Himself. What would that have looked like? How would it have impacted the world? Do we (as individuals or families, if not nations) have that opportunity today?

King Saul

Read 1 Samuel 15:20-26. Why didn’t Saul’s defense sway Samuel (or God)? Can you think of a time when you said the words of repentance even when your heart wasn’t truly repentant?

Saul did what so many of us do when confronted with our sin. He rationalized (“I did obey”) and blamed (“the people did it”) and justified his actions (“We only kept that stuff so we could offer a big sacrifice to God”). The right response when we see our sin is to own it, to call it what it is, and to humbly cast ourselves on the mercy of God.

The Old Testament word for repent means to turn around or return. The New Testament word means to change your mind. Thus biblical repentance is thinking differently about your sinful actions (refusing to downplay them or deny them or justify them), doing an about-face, and going a different way—i.e., following God’s way.

We can’t judge whether Saul’s “repentance” was genuine, but in the next chapter when Samuel anoints David, God emphasizes that He can see the heart (16:7). Apparently from what He saw in Saul’s, more chances would not have produced a different result.

“It is possible to obey God without loving Him, but it is not possible to love Him without obeying Him.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Which is God more interested in: our love or obedience?

Jesus equated love for God with obedience to God. “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them” (John 14:21, NLT). The Apostle John said the same thing: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3, NASB).

Saul vs. David

Read 1 Samuel 17:20-33. In what ways does this passage portray the differences between the hearts of David and Saul? What is the current state of your “heart for God”?

David had an overwhelming desire to see God’s name glorified and exalted (this is obvious when you read the many psalms he composed). David had an angry reaction whenever God’s name was belittled or His authority was challenged. David’s heart was not perfect. He sinned in some very public and painful ways.

But notice the difference when David was confronted with his sin (Psalm 32, Psalm 51). David’s repentance was genuine. Saul’s was superficial—he merely wanted to save face in the eyes of the people.

In 1 Samuel 24 and 26, David twice had opportunities to kill Saul, the man who had been zealously trying to kill him, yet David refused to touch “the Lord’s anointed.” What do these stories tell us about David’s character? How might you have reacted in this same situation?

Oftentimes in good Bible discussions, participants will tell an anecdote or ask a question that gets the group off track. While leaders always want to be sensitive to people and what God is doing in their hearts, sometimes it is best for the class for the leader to say, “Susan, that is a GREAT point/question! I’d love to explore that more. Let’s try to finish our discussion here, and come back to that if we have time.” (Of course, it’s important to remember to do that!)

King David

Read 2 Samuel 6:12-23. In what ways is David’s passion for God reflected in this story? What other concerns took a back seat to his worship? How is this a model for you?

Worship isn’t primarily about bodily posture or actions (kneeling, standing, raising hands, closing eyes, etc.). Worship is a matter of the heart. Instead of worrying about how you look to others externally, focus on how God sees you internally.

David’s famous sin with Bathsheba not only involved adultery but also a cover-up that included arranging for her husband’s death. He later repented, but why did this sin not disqualify David from being king? from writing Scripture (several psalms after the event)? from being in the Messiah’s lineage? How does this episode affect his reputation as “a man after God’s own heart”?

We need God, and we are called to pursue Him at all times. We should draw near to God’s heart when we have been faithfully walking with Him. We should also draw near to His heart when we have strayed from Him (and especially then!) Whatever our circumstances, in spite of any spiritual successes or failures, we are to be people who pursue God’s heart. The better we understand the gospel, the more inclined we will be to turn to God in our failure (vs. running away from Him).

King Solomon

Because Solomon asked for wisdom instead of riches, a long life, and victories in battle, God gave him “all of the above.” How does Solomon’s request reflect God’s heart? In what ways do your prayer requests reflect His heart?

Jesus calls His followers to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and assures us that if we will put spiritual priorities first, He will provide all the material things we need (and more). Solomon followed this same inside-out principle. By asking for supernatural wisdom, he was, in essence, saying, “God, Your heavenly gifts are far more important to me than mere worldly blessings.” We would do well to reflect on this truth and begin praying less for temporal stuff and more often for enduring character traits like joy and patience. We should also encourage our children to pursue God’s eternal resources that can never be taken away.

Read 1 Kings 11:1-8. How does Solomon’s behavior contradict God’s heart? Which is a greater offense: that he violated God’s law or that he violated the relationship? In what ways is our behavior a relational matter with God?

Some people like to point out that the Bible doesn’t overtly and strongly condemn polygamy. The truth is the Bible depicts marriage as the union of “a man” and “his wife”—in short a union of the “two” (Genesis 2:24). Additionally the stories of the Old Testament describe great marital tension in homes marked by bigamy or polygamy. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 17:17 explicitly forbids Israel’s kings from having multiple wives. Solomon would have known this divine edict. Yet he ignored it.

Session 5

Rift and Rebellion

Read 1 Kings 12:26-30. In what ways did Jeroboam’s misplaced priorities, shortterm thinking, and impulsive decision-making shape Israel’s future? What big decisions are you facing that could affect others deeply and what can you learn from Jeroboam?

Jereboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom, feared that the tribes loyal to him might switch their allegiance to Rehoboam in the south if they traveled constantly to Jerusalem to worship and offer sacrifices. So Jereboam “modified” and sought to “update” and “improve upon” the religious system revealed by God. He built altars in the north, hired new priests (not from the tribe of Levi), and initiated new and different festivals than those prescribed by God. This “new and improved,” convenient version of (supposed) Yahweh worship ended up leading the people of the north astray. We need to remember that “new” doesn’t always mean “better.” And “improved” is only that when we are implementing a positive change commanded by God.

Have you ever been part of a church split or some other big public conflict that separated close Christian friends? Why do you think God allowed His covenant people to be divided?

In numerous places, the Bible tells of tense interactions, rival factions, even sharp disagreements among the people of God, occasionally leading to the severing of relationships. God’s will, of course, is that we might be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Jesus, in His great High Priestly prayer in John 17, prayed passionately for the unity and oneness of His followers. From this we gather that things like disunity and division and divorce sadden the heart of God. Thankfully, because God is sovereign, good, and omnipotent, He is able to bring good even out of our most painful interpersonal conflicts. Relational ruptures, whether individual or national, do not catch guard God off guard and do not thwart His perfect will. Such things may cause terrible heartache but they do not prevent His plans from coming to pass in our lives.

Good Kings, Bad Kings

At times during the era of the divided kingdom, the book of the law—the history and instructions revealed by God through Moses—was lost and forgotten, a relic of ancient history. Why do you think no one kept the faith going during these times? In what similar ways do you wrestle with forgetting or neglecting God’s Word?

In a fallen world, things break down. They move slowly but surely toward disorder. Paint peels, muscles atrophy, sidewalks crack, gardens get weedy. Guess what? This same law of entropy (i.e., gradual decline into disorder) is at work in our hearts. Spiritually, we tend to get complacent, we lose passion, we become sloppy. This is what happened to the ancient people of God. And if we are not actively pursuing God, we too will passively drift away from Him.

Why do you think there were some good kings in the south but none in the north? Why do you think you have some “good spiritual days” and some “bad spiritual days”?

No one can say for sure why, out of 19 kings, the northern kingdom had zero godly kings, whereas the southern kingdom had eight good kings out of 20. Perhaps this had to do with the fact that the temple and its God-ordained system of worship were located in Jerusalem (i.e., the heart of the southern kingdom). What is undeniably true is that godly leadership exerts a powerful influence. Leaders inevitably reproduce who and what they are. Healthy leaders leave behind healthy systems. Dysfunctional leaders leave behind dysfunctional systems. As the leader goes, so goes the nation (or the company, institution, church, or home).

Why do you think this part of the Bible—the history of kings and the prophets—is one of the least-read portions of Scripture today?

There’s an old joke that says, “Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to never get around to reading the minor prophets in the Bible, and then get to heaven and have Habakkuk come up to you and say, ‘Hey, what did you think of my book?’ ” Even if there’s no embarrassment in heaven, there’s loss here and now for not reading the parts of the Bible that detail Israel’s divided kingdom era. The histories of the kings contain some amazing character and cultural studies while the prophetic books give us glimpses of both God’s heart and Israel’s future.

Elijah and Elisha

Read 1 Kings 17:1. How is Elijah’s statement consistent with God’s previous revelation? If someone today said these words, how do you think we would respond to him? Why?

In Leviticus (26:18-19) and Deuteronomy (11:16-17; 28:23-24), God had warned Israel through Moses that blessings like rain would be withheld if the people turned away from Him and began worshiping other gods. We can only assume that God had somehow communicated to Elijah that these warnings were applicable to his day, and that such judgment was imminent.

In 2 Kings 2:9, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Why did Elijah call this “a difficult thing” (2:10)? What are the costs of having a significant calling in God’s kingdom? What are the benefits? Would you ask for a double (or even a single) portion of Elijah’s spirit? Why or why not? What are the costs—and benefits—of having a significant calling in God’s kingdom? Whose spirit would you like to have a double portion of and why?

Elisha was not asking for material prosperity but for spiritual influence. And he wasn’t necessarily asking for the ability to do twice as much as Elijah or to see double the number of miracles (although he did do about twice as many). Really, his prayer reveals a desire to build upon the ministry of his predecessor and mentor, to expand that godly influence.

Prophets Speak—and Write

Scripture refers to many people as prophets, from Abraham to members of the New Testament church. Why do you think God sent so many prophets to His people during this period of history? What was so urgent about His message? Do you believe God is sending prophets today?

We are wise to see the offices of “Prophet” and “Apostle” as taking a couple of forms: the literal, technical, full sense of the terms, describing biblical characters who were endowed with special ability—in the case of Prophet—to foretell future divine actions and realities; and in the case of an Apostle—those leaders who had been granted the privilege of having personally seen the resurrected Christ who were sent out by God to pioneer His kingdom work. When we speak of modernday apostles (small “a”), we typically refer to those with an apostolic gift of leadership and/or church-planting. Modern-day prophets (small “p”) are those who tell-forth (rather than foretell in a predictive sense) the truth of God, calling God’s people to repentance.

Read Isaiah 6:9-13. How did God expect His people to respond to His messages? Are you moved by and do you respond more readily to thunderous messages of rebuke or thoughtful messages of encouragement? Why?

God told the prophet Isaiah what had to be discouraging news: the people would not heed his message. Their hearts would only become harder, and eventually judgment would come. The one note of hope? That a remnant would remain (verse 13). Here, against a backdrop of stubborn people who could not believe because they would not believe, we see the sovereignty of God, the mercy of God, the patience of God, the lengths to which God will go to win His people back.

Judgment

Why do you think God judged His own chosen people? What could they have done to avoid His judgment? How does God want us to respond to Him?

Imagine a world in which there are zero consequences for wrong acts. Would you want to live in such a world? A holy God must judge sin or chaos ensues and God ceases to be just. Imagine a family in which the children are run amuck, allowed to do whatever, whenever, however, to whomever. Would you want to be part of that family? Or be neighbors with that family? In the same way that a good parent corrects his/her child in order to shape their heart and character and teach them the right way to live, so God disciplines and corrects His children. God’s desire isn’t just for outward compliance to rules, but hearts that humbly submit to His perfect and pleasing will.

Session 6

Captivity

Read Psalm 137, an honest reflection of Jewish sentiments in captivity. What feelings does it describe? Can you relate? Why or why not? What aspects of God’s perspective seem to be missing in this psalm?

Just as we often associate certain popular or praise songs with “this period of my life” (or with “that former sweetheart”), so the Jews connected certain hymns and psalms with better times in their history. Psalm 137 was written during the period of the exile. It pictures the Jewish people far from home in distant Babylon, thinking with sadness about their former lives in the land of Israel. Though prompted by their captors to sing some of the “oldies but goodies,” they were in too much pain to engage in singing the ancient songs of the people of God. You will notice that Psalm 137 also expresses righteous anger against Edom and Babylon for their ruthless and cruel destruction of the Jewish homeland.

Both Ezekiel and Daniel saw overwhelming, hard-to-decipher visions of God during the captivity. Why do you think God revealed Himself so openly during this time? If you were suffering in exile in a distant land because of your own sins, what attributes of God would you need to see most clearly?

Theologians and Bible scholars often disagree about the precise meaning of the strange and vivid imagery in the prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel. But there can be no disagreement about this one central fact: Through these visions God was reminding His exiled people that He exists, that He sees, that He doesn’t forget His promises, that He communicates to His people, and that nothing can thwart His will. God is in control of history. In the most basic, literal sense—history is His-story. This is a great reminder to anyone who is suffering. Reassurances about the future won’t take away our pain, but they do remind us that one day our pain will be no more.

Return

Daniel realized from reading Jeremiah’s prophecies that the time for Judah’s return was near. Why do you think he prayed so desperately for the release of the captives if God had already foretold it? What does this tell us about the need for and effectiveness of our prayers?

Regarding the mystery of prayer, the Bible reveals the triune God commanding people to pray, teaching His followers how to pray, prompting believers to pray, hearing the prayers of the humble, delighting in the prayers of the upright, answering prayer, and using the prayers of men to accomplish His purposes on earth. We will probably never understand this side of heaven—when it comes to the issue of prayer—how to reconcile God’s absolute control over all things with the assorted responsibilities He gives us. But there is no question, though God is in complete control of all things, our prayers somehow matter in the unfolding of God’s plan. We should remember the honest words uttered by an anonymous old believer: “When I pray, I see God do amazing things. And when I don’t pray, not much happens.”

Read Psalm 126, which depicts Judah’s return from captivity. In what ways is this psalm a reflection of God’s purposes for all of us? In what ways have you experienced the truths of this psalm? What feelings or longings does it stir in you?

Psalm 126 was part of a group of hymns (Psalms 120-134) called “the psalms of ascent.” As the Jewish people would make their way up Mount Zion to the capital city of Jerusalem for one of their national feasts, they would sing these “prayerpoems.” These were great reminders, celebratory songs of God’s faithful love and care for the Jewish people. Psalm 126 recounted His goodness in bringing back His people from decades of captivity in Babylon. The psalm pictures this experience as being like a dream come true, a national nightmare giving way to a party.

Restoration

Read Ezra 3:10-13. Why were some of the people weeping while others were joyful? Are you more likely to focus on your past or to focus on your future? Why?

Some of the older priests and Levites in this crowd remembered the glory and splendor of the original temple—i.e., Solomon’s temple, destroyed some 50 years earlier in 586 B.C.). Comparatively speaking that first temple may have been more impressive and the site of more spectacular worship services than the one being constructed by Zerubbabel and his helpers. As such, these old-timers were battling the common human tendency to elevate past experience (i.e., “the good ole days”) over present-day experience.

Read Zechariah 8:2-3. In what ways is this passage surprising? How does God feel about His people? What does He intend to do for them? Do you think this is an accurate reflection of His heart toward us today? Why or why not?

In multiple places in Scripture, God reveals Himself as jealous. (Imagine your new spouse slipping out during your honeymoon to be with a former sweetheart or someone he/she just met, and you get the idea.) We were made by God and for Him, so there is a kind of holy jealousy that is right and pure. Here in Zechariah 8, we see the God of Israel jealously vowing to live in the midst of His people. Jesus, prophesied first by Isaiah and then identified by Matthew, as “Immanuel” (i.e., God with us) fulfilled this prophecy when He “became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14). Now, because the Spirit of God indwells believers in Jesus, we too are able to experience intimacy with the God who is not only with us, but in us. This should preclude us from chasing after lesser gods or loving anything or anyone more than we love God.

The Scattered

The book of Esther is a story of how the Jews were delivered from extinction, written about those who were scattered across the empire and for their benefit. It does not mention God, nor does it stress His instructions for His people (dietary laws or feasts and Sabbaths, for example) like other writings of this era do. Why do you think it’s so different from the words written to the returnees to Jerusalem? What can its story tell us about God without mentioning Him?

The book of Esther is a great story of suspense. Even though God is not overtly mentioned, we see evidence of Him working behind the scenes and orchestrating a series of unlikely events. Esther’s story is a great reminder to us of so many theological truths: God is in the details of life; God is at work even when we can’t see Him working; God keeps every promise He makes; God can use both promotions and setbacks to accomplish His plan; godly people can have huge influence in ungodly cultures.

What does Mordecai’s statement in Esther 4:14 tell us about God’s sovereignty? about human free will? about how His sovereignty and our free will interact? Do you have any examples of how God worked in and through your actions to accomplish something you never could have foreseen?

Esther 4:14 is a marvelous statement to ponder. God will use us to accomplish His will on earth, if we make ourselves available to Him. On the other hand, if we balk or disobey, God’s work is in no way bothered or hindered. He will simply bring about His purposes through other means and other human instruments. This should motivate us to want to be part of what God is doing in the world. You are where you are for divine reasons, not merely due to coincidence or because of purely human scheming and striving. Will you let God use you for His purposes?

The Coming Kingdom

Read Haggai 2:7 and Malachi 3:1. What concept do these verses have in common? According to these verses, what do human beings desire? How does God fulfill that desire in you?

Haggai 2:7 and Malachi 3:1 speak of the future glory of God’s temple. Ultimately, these prophecies will be fulfilled most fully and gloriously when Jesus Christ returns again to reign and rule upon the earth—and when every eye sees His splendor and bows before Him. However, during his first coming, Jesus was brought into the temple by His parents as an eight-day-old infant. An older, godly man named Simeon saw Him, and praised God, calling the Christ child, “the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:32, NASB). As present-day, living temples, we are “most glorious” when Jesus Christ lives and reigns in our hearts.

Why do you think there were 400 years without written, scriptural prophecy after the Old Testament writings?

The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, depicts the people of God as spiritually indifferent if not hard-hearted. It is for this reason that God stopped sending prophets: His people were merely going through the motions of serving Him. They weren’t listening, and they surely did not have a passion to live in such a way that people from other nations would be drawn to worship their God. Not until John the Baptist cried out, “Repent!” some 400 years later would God directly speak to His people through a prophet.

© 2015 by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries.