Another great lesson tonight. But I guess you can't go wrong with Moses.
1 - Do you agree or disagree with this statement:
"The destiny of the word is determined less by the battles that are lost and won than by the stories it loves and believes in."Personally I do not agree with that statement, but there is not denying there is some level of truth to that saying. A person is shaped is by what he believes in (whether it is true or not). He may win or lose a war but if he does not value the outcome of the war, its value it diminished. If we believe stories we have heard/read about better days (or worse days) ahead, we are going to live our life according to the story, not the outcome of the battle.
2 - "...the skills you have gained over the years in reading and understanding stories can be put to work in reading the Old Testament".
True, with one HUGE exception. These stories are true. The recording of these stories in the Old Testament were inspired by God (2 Timothy 3.16). A God who has given us the Holy Spirit who is here to help us understand the Word of God. We must read these stories (and any other part of the Bible) under His guidance and direction.
Exodus 2-3
3 - What was the purpose of these stories about Moses? What did you learn about him?
I think the purpose of these stories was to show us that God was with Moses from the beginning. What some may see as abandonment by his mother was God's protection/providence of him. His fleeing from Egypt and finding Midian was not a coincidence. The burning bush. These were all steps in God's plan to prepare Moses for delivering the Jews from Egypt.
4 - What characteristics about God are portrayed in this story?
- He is a promise (covenant) keeper. T'he land he was about to give them was promised to Abraham.
- He hears and sees our oppression. .- He is able and willing to deliver us from our "Pharaoh" IN HIS TIME not ours. This is about God and His glory not ours
- He is "I AM" not "I WAS" or "I WILL BE" but "I AM"
5 - What does God value?
- Obedience. The instructions given to Moses were detailed instructions. If Moses followed them he would succeed.
- Patience/Trust. He told Moses that this would fail the 1st time, but God would do His thing to convince Pharaoh.
6 - What was God's agenda at this point in the Old Testament?
Easy, to deliver His people out of bondage to the Egyptians into a land of milk and honey flowing.
So now the fun part. Responding! I gave you an acrostic on Tuesday (SPACEPETS) to help you understand some the items to looks for in an OT story (agenda, characteristic of God, etc). This acrostic is also very helpful in applying Scripture to our life. Go back to Week 1 - Listening, Understanding, and RESPONDING. So let's walk through this.
Sin to Confess: Impatience and lack of faith. I know Moses didn't have a view of the big picture at this point, but we do have that now. We know that God has a plan for us, I just can't wait sometimes nor can I understand and that causes me to doubt. So what areas of you life are you impatient with?
Promise to Claim: God made a promise to Abraham and his descendants to give them a land of their own. Now they are in slavery, but Sunday's a comin'. God does fulfill His promise, just not always on our time table. This could also be a Truth to Believe
Example to Follow: Be open to your "Burning Bush"
Something to Praise God for: A God who sees our oppression and hears our cries for help. A God who is able to deliver and is willing to deliver, just in His time not our own.
See you here, there, or in the air...just not at 114 and Story (inside joke)
Wag
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