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Discussion guide
**Bible Reading:**
1. Exodus 3:7-8 (ESV)
"The Lord said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them into a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey...'"
2. Genesis 16:13 (ESV)
"So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'You are a God of seeing,' for she said, 'Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.'"
3. Daniel 10:12 (ESV)
"Then he said to me, 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.'"
4. John 8:12 (ESV)
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
**Observation Questions:**
1. In Exodus 3:7-8, what are the four actions God says He will take in response to the suffering of His people?
2. How does the name Hagar gives to God in Genesis 16:13 reflect her experience, and what does it reveal about God's character?
3. What does the angel's message to Daniel in Daniel 10:12 tell us about the nature of prayer and God's response to it?
4. According to John 8:12, what is the result of following Jesus, the light of the world?
**Interpretation Questions:**
1. Reflecting on Exodus 3:7-8, what does it mean for God to be concerned about our pain, and how does this understanding affect the way we view our own struggles?
2. Considering Hagar's encounter with God, what can we learn about God's presence in our own moments of feeling unseen or abandoned?
3. In light of Daniel's experience with prayer, how should we approach times when we feel our prayers are met with silence?
4. What implications does Jesus' claim of being the light of the world have for those who find themselves in dark or uncertain circumstances?
**Application Questions:**
1. Recall a time when you felt God saw and understood your situation. How can you draw comfort from that experience in your current challenges?
2. Identify a situation where you felt unheard or ignored. How can you apply the lesson from Daniel's prayer to maintain faith in God's attentiveness to your prayers?
3. Think of a recent instance where you or someone you know walked through a 'dark' season. What specific steps can you take to follow Jesus, the light, more closely during such times?
4. Choose one area of your life where you need guidance. What is one practical way you can seek God's direction this week, trusting in His promise to lead you?
© Pastor.ai