Bible Reading
Isaiah 40:27-31 “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God'? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
[55:41]1 Kings 17:8-16 “Then the word of the LORD came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.' So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, 'Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.' And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, 'Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' And she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.”
[01:09:42]John 6:5-13 “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, 'Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.' So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.”
[01:10:17]Observation questions
- What complaint does Israel voice in Isaiah 40:27, and what does that complaint reveal about how the people feel before God’s answer? [01:00:10]
- What descriptions of God are given in Isaiah 40:28, especially in contrast to the weakness of people?
- According to Isaiah 40:29-31, who receives strength from God, and what three pictures are used to describe renewed strength? [01:17:02]
- In the accounts of the widow’s oil and the feeding of the multitude, what limited resources were available before God provided abundantly? [01:09:42]
Interpretation questions
- Why does God answer Israel’s feeling of being overlooked by reminding them who He is rather than by explaining the length of their exile or giving them a detailed plan? [01:02:32]
- Isaiah says that God gives power to the faint and strength to those with no might. What does this show about whether exhaustion means a believer has failed in faith? [01:11:36]
- What is the difference between passive waiting and waiting on the Lord with hopeful dependence? What might hopeful dependence look like while a person is still facing an unresolved problem? [01:18:03]
- Why might Isaiah place walking after flying and running? What does this suggest about the kind of strength God often gives in ordinary, difficult seasons? [01:19:50]
Application questions
- Where does tiredness show up most clearly right now—emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, in relationships, or in another area? What has made that burden feel especially heavy?
- Israel believed God was real, but wondered whether He still saw their situation. Is there an area of life where it has been hard to believe that God sees and cares? What honest words could be brought to Him about it? [01:00:30]
- Human strength has an expiration date. What burden has been carried mainly through personal effort, worry, or trying to control the outcome? What would it look like to place that specific burden in God’s hands this week? [01:14:30]
- God’s ability is not measured by empty seats, limited finances, aging bodies, or small numbers. What “limited inventory” has tempted someone in the group to believe that hope is gone? How does God’s power change the way that situation can be viewed? [01:09:00]
- Waiting on the Lord means, “Lord, I do not know what You are doing, but I am not leaving You.” What practice could help someone remain near to God during a season with no clear answers—honest prayer, Scripture, worship, rest, asking for help, or something else? [01:18:10]
- Most days involve walking rather than soaring. What is one faithful “next step” that needs strength this week—making a call, attending an appointment, praying again, serving quietly, resting, or simply showing up? [01:20:21]
