Faith Through Trials: Lessons from Exodus
Summary
### Summary
Welcome back to our study on the book of Exodus. Today, we resumed our journey through this pivotal Old Testament narrative, picking up from where we left off in chapter 12. We explored the significance of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which God instituted to ensure that the Israelites would never forget their deliverance from Egypt. These rituals serve as a perpetual reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of remembering His acts of salvation.
We also delved into the peculiar practice of binding God's commandments on the hand and forehead, a tradition that some Jewish sects still observe today. This practice underscores the importance of keeping God's law at the forefront of our daily lives. We then moved on to discuss the route God chose for the Israelites, which was not the shortest path to the Promised Land but was designed to protect them from immediate conflict with the Philistines. This detour, though longer, was necessary for their spiritual and communal development.
The narrative then took us to the dramatic moment when Pharaoh's army pursued the Israelites, leading to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. This event not only demonstrated God's power but also tested the Israelites' faith. Despite witnessing God's mighty acts, the Israelites quickly succumbed to fear and doubt, a common human tendency when faced with new challenges.
We concluded by reflecting on how these ancient stories apply to our lives today. Just as the Israelites had to go through the Red Sea to reach their deliverance, we too must often go through our struggles to grow in faith. God's guidance and presence are constant, even when the path seems difficult. Our faith journey involves remembering God's past faithfulness and trusting Him to lead us through present challenges.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Remembrance: God instituted the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to ensure that the Israelites would never forget their deliverance from Egypt. This act of remembrance is crucial for maintaining faith and understanding God's character. In our lives, remembering God's past faithfulness helps us trust Him in present and future challenges. [02:37]
2. Keeping God's Law Close: The practice of binding God's commandments on the hand and forehead, as seen in some Jewish traditions, emphasizes the importance of keeping God's word at the forefront of our daily lives. This physical reminder serves to integrate God's law into our actions and thoughts, guiding us in our daily walk. [04:39]
3. God's Guidance in Detours: The route God chose for the Israelites, though longer, was designed to protect them from immediate conflict and to develop their faith and community. Similarly, the detours in our lives, though seemingly inconvenient, are often God's way of preparing us for greater challenges and blessings ahead. [09:23]
4. Facing Fear and Doubt: Despite witnessing God's mighty acts, the Israelites quickly succumbed to fear and doubt when faced with new challenges. This mirrors our own tendencies to forget God's past faithfulness when confronted with difficulties. It's a reminder to continually trust in God's provision and guidance. [13:25]
5. The Way Through is Often Through: The story of the Red Sea parting teaches us that sometimes the only way out of our struggles is to go through them. God uses these experiences to transform us, strengthen our faith, and prepare us for future challenges. Trusting in God's presence and guidance is essential as we navigate these trials. [20:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Recap of Exodus Journey
[02:37] - Significance of Passover and Unleavened Bread
[03:37] - Binding God's Commandments
[04:39] - Modern Observance of Phylacteries
[05:29] - Importance of Remembrance
[06:31] - Human Tendency to Forget
[08:00] - Holy Communion as Remembrance
[09:23] - God's Chosen Route
[10:17] - Carrying Joseph's Bones
[11:18] - Pillar of Cloud and Fire
[12:25] - Pharaoh's Pursuit
[13:25] - Israelites' Fear and Doubt
[14:20] - Leadership Struggles
[15:45] - Time to Move On
[16:42] - Parting of the Red Sea
[17:49] - Applying Lessons to Our Lives
[20:01] - The Way Through is Through
[22:28] - Closing Remarks and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 12:40-42 - "Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come."
2. Exodus 13:9 - "This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand."
3. Exodus 14:13-14 - "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give the Israelites regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread? ([01:10])
2. How did the Israelites respond when they saw Pharaoh’s army pursuing them? ([12:25])
3. What was the significance of the Israelites carrying Joseph’s bones with them? ([10:17])
4. How did God guide the Israelites during their journey, and what were the symbols used? ([11:18])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did God institute the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and what does this tell us about the importance of remembrance in our faith? ([02:37])
2. What does the practice of binding God's commandments on the hand and forehead signify about the integration of faith into daily life? ([03:37])
3. Why did God choose a longer route for the Israelites instead of the shorter path through Philistine territory, and what can this teach us about God's guidance in our lives? ([09:23])
4. How does the Israelites' quick shift from faith to fear when faced with new challenges reflect our own tendencies, and what can we learn from Moses' response to their fear? ([13:25])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in your life. How can you create a personal "remembrance" practice to help you recall God's past faithfulness during challenging times? ([02:37])
2. How can you keep God's word at the forefront of your daily life? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to remind yourself of God's commandments? ([03:37])
3. Think about a "detour" in your life that seemed inconvenient at the time. How did it contribute to your spiritual growth or prepare you for future challenges? ([09:23])
4. When faced with fear and doubt, what steps can you take to remind yourself of God's past deliverance and provision? How can you strengthen your trust in God's guidance? ([13:25])
5. The story of the Red Sea parting teaches that sometimes the only way out of our struggles is to go through them. Can you identify a current struggle in your life where you need to trust God's presence and guidance? ([20:01])
6. How can you support others in your community who are facing their own "Red Sea" moments? What practical steps can you take to encourage and remind them of God's faithfulness? ([17:49])
7. Moses reassured the Israelites while also crying out to God in private. How can you balance being a source of encouragement to others while also seeking God's guidance for your own challenges? ([14:20])
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Remembrance
Description: God instituted the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to ensure that the Israelites would never forget their deliverance from Egypt. These rituals were not just historical commemorations but were meant to be living reminders of God's faithfulness and His mighty acts of salvation. In our lives, remembering God's past faithfulness helps us trust Him in present and future challenges. By recalling how God has worked in our lives and in the lives of others, we can find the strength and faith to face new difficulties. [02:37]
Exodus 12:14 (ESV): "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast."
Reflection: Think of a specific instance in your life where you experienced God's faithfulness. How can you create a tangible reminder of this event to help you remember God's goodness in future challenges?
Day 2: Keeping God's Word Close
Description: The practice of binding God's commandments on the hand and forehead, as seen in some Jewish traditions, emphasizes the importance of keeping God's word at the forefront of our daily lives. This physical reminder serves to integrate God's law into our actions and thoughts, guiding us in our daily walk. By keeping God's commandments close, we allow His word to shape our decisions, attitudes, and behaviors, ensuring that our lives reflect His will. [04:39]
Deuteronomy 6:8-9 (ESV): "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can keep God's word at the forefront of your daily life? Consider a specific habit or practice you can start today to remind yourself of His commandments.
Day 3: Embracing God's Detours
Description: The route God chose for the Israelites, though longer, was designed to protect them from immediate conflict and to develop their faith and community. Similarly, the detours in our lives, though seemingly inconvenient, are often God's way of preparing us for greater challenges and blessings ahead. These detours can be opportunities for growth, learning, and deeper reliance on God. Trusting in God's guidance, even when the path seems unclear, is crucial for our spiritual development. [09:23]
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when your plans were disrupted, and you had to take an unexpected path. How did this detour shape your faith and character? How can you trust God in your current or future detours?
Day 4: Overcoming Fear and Doubt
Description: Despite witnessing God's mighty acts, the Israelites quickly succumbed to fear and doubt when faced with new challenges. This mirrors our own tendencies to forget God's past faithfulness when confronted with difficulties. It's a reminder to continually trust in God's provision and guidance. By focusing on God's past deliverances and promises, we can combat fear and doubt, allowing faith to lead us through uncertain times. [13:25]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Identify a current fear or doubt you are facing. How can you remind yourself of God's past faithfulness to overcome this fear? What specific promise from Scripture can you hold onto today?
Day 5: The Way Through is Often Through
Description: The story of the Red Sea parting teaches us that sometimes the only way out of our struggles is to go through them. God uses these experiences to transform us, strengthen our faith, and prepare us for future challenges. Trusting in God's presence and guidance is essential as we navigate these trials. By embracing the journey through our difficulties, we allow God to work in us and through us, leading to spiritual growth and maturity. [20:01]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a current struggle you are facing. How can you shift your perspective to see this struggle as an opportunity for growth? What steps can you take to trust God more deeply as you go through this challenge?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "Because when things go well, it's easy for us as human beings to forget God. And when things go poorly, we also have a human tendency to doubt God. And so through these commands to keep these feast days, God is calling the Israelites to remember God's past faithfulness and not doubt. Instead, to be focusing on God's heart and God's character is the way to set their minds right and remember what it means to be God's chosen people in good times and in bad." [06:31] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sometimes, sometimes, many times, the way out is through. Sometimes, the only way, the only way out or around challenges is for us just to go right through them. This great story of deliverance and Exodus is a powerful reminder to us as people and as individuals disciples that God will make a way through for us, even when there seems to be no way. God's called us. We need to continue on. God's gracious and powerful presence will lead us and accompany us and protect us, until God gets us safely to where God wants us to be." [20:01] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so when this happens to us, it's so important for us to remember that maybe the struggle we are facing is not something to be delivered from. Maybe it's something to be transformed through because we know God uses things we go through to transform us to the way we think, the way we, we have our faith and you know, our, our circumstances and in ourselves, all of that works together and changes us and who we are as people helps us grow." [20:01] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so ultimately the choice is up to us. We're going to allow our circumstances to shape us. Are we going to continue in faith? And remember is sometimes many times the only way out is through God will make a way where there seems to be no way and going through these struggles is really how we grow in a faith." [21:07] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "And so I have a question, though. Why? I mean, not why do they wear the boxes on their foreheads, but really, why all of this? This whole section. I mean, why is this here? Particularly at this time. Why? Why is this here? I think it's kind of awkwardly almost inserted right in the middle of the telling of the Exodus story. Some people might say it's just sort of stuck in there. I mean, it was about to get good, you know. And suddenly, all these instructions about feast days. Why did God think this was important? And here, seriously, I believe it's because God wants them, beginning right then and for all time, God wants them to. Remember what they've been through. That they have been rescued and delivered. And God wants them to remember that." [05:29] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so through these commands to keep these feast days, God is calling the Israelites to remember God's past faithfulness and not doubt. Instead, to be focusing on God's heart and God's character is the way to set their minds right and remember what it means to be God's chosen people in good times and in bad. And by remembering what God had done, the Jewish people would remember God's character. Now, as Christians, we also have a holy meal, right? That Jesus instituted at the Last Supper. Which, by the way, as he did, what were they celebrating? The disciples around that first table, Jesus, they were celebrating Passover. And Jesus was presiding over that meal. And that's when he broke from the liturgy and he instituted Holy Communion. And he asked us to remember him in that meal. Holy Communion is very much a way of faithful remembrance of the Savior." [06:31] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so Moses does his best to reassure the people, and notice then these next few verses, because I think they reveal something about the dichotomy of leadership, the struggles that all leaders go through at one time or another. I know I've gone through this struggle. And perhaps if you've been in a position of leadership, particularly church leadership in the past, you've experienced it too. But I guarantee you, we pastor types, I mean, we face it a lot. Because you see Moses, reassuring the people, and watch what he says. He says, The Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still." [14:20] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. In other words, God's saying that there is a time to pray and be still, but there is a time to move on. There's a time for action. There's a time when we get off of our knees and we start moving. And don't hear me wrong in this, because being still and praying is super important. God has a time for us to pray for sure. But then there's also the time when we need to get up off our cans and start moving and face those obstacles that are in our path." [15:45] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Have you ever had this experience of sensing God calling you to do something, to step out in some way, something that was going to require you maybe to take a huge leap of faith? Yet when you did step out, I mean, almost immediately, you seem to hit all sorts of roadblocks. I mean, you are trying to follow God, but there is this stuff, this bad stuff that started happening to you and makes you question maybe if you'd heard correctly. Or maybe it makes you even question why you ever stepped out in faith in the first place. And if you're like me, when this kind of thing happens, you can have this overwhelming feeling that you just want to turn around and just go back to whatever was before." [17:49] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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