This blog contains:
- Community group/family study
- Daily bible studies
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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY 2: FAITH UNDER
PRESSURE
On life’s journey we face times when things are
difficult. In His wisdom, for our growth, He will allow things to be good or
bad as He sees fit. In this study we will be looking excerpts from Exodus 15:22-17:7. Pray that God would
speak to you from His word.
THE CHALLENGE OF HUNGER AND THIRST
•
Exodus 15:22-24; 16:2-3;
17:2-3 – Have you experienced a period of need that challenged your faith? How
did you deal with or learn through it?
•
Exodus 15:25, 27; 16:11-12,
35; 17:6 – have you experienced miraculous provision?
THE LORD HEALS
•
What does God promise to the
obedient in Exodus 15:26?
God promises them freedom from all curse and sickness
if they will obey Him. Unfortunately this journey will reveal their sinful
hearts and so they will experience sickness and judgement! What do these words
mean for us today? We have obeyed God in that Jesus fully obeyed the Father in
our stead; therefore Christians are perfectly righteous in Christ and will
never come under God’s wrath! Gal. 3:13. What about healing, can we expect to
live lives free from all sickness? The answer is no! (Gal. 4:13-14; Phil. 2:27;
2 Cor. 4:16) The promise is for our complete healing when Christ comes again,
but we should pray to God for healing knowing that He hears us.
• James 5:14-16 is a helpful verse in regard to healing. Do not
over-complicate healing! If you or someone else needs healing, know that you
have access to God through Christ to pray for healing.
GRUMBLING
•
Exodus 15:2, 7, 8, 9, 11. Why
were they and what causes us to grumble?
•
What positive alternatives
do we have to complaining?
NOW PRAY AND WORSHIP TOGETHER
•
Spend some time thanking God
and praying together out of today’s text and discussions.
DAILY BIBLE DEVOTIONAL
PERSONAL BIBLE STUDIES WEEK 2 – EXODUS 15:22-17:7
MONDAY: GOD’S LEADING OFTEN HAS THE PURPOSE OF OUR
PURIFICATION
Exodus 15:22-24 Then Moses led Israel
from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they
traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah,
they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is
called Marah. So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to
drink?” (see also 16:1-3)
God’s leading us does not mean that it will be easy and enjoyable. In
fact, God will put us through challenges in order to bring our true attitudes
to the surface so that we can grow in holiness. Challenge is the crucible of
our growth.
TUESDAY: MIRACULOUS WATER IS AVAILABLE
Exodus 15:25 Then Moses cried
out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the
water, and the water became fit to drink.
This is a picture of the gospel. Through the cross we are given ‘living
water’ to drink. Through this ‘piece of wood’ we are given life and
sustenance.
John 4:10 Jesus answered
her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you
would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
WEDNESDAY: I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU
Exodus 15:25-26 There the Lord
issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If
you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if
you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on
you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who
heals you.”
I’ve heard this passage quoted as proof that God heals all diseases
if we have faith, but is this what is being promised here? I believe that God
can and does heal today; but it’s clear that, in His mysterious will, He
doesn’t heal on all occasions. Too many live like God is like a difficult puzzle:
if we say and do the right things in the right way we will get the solution -
healing. Jesus said,
Matthew 6:7-8 And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what
you need before you ask him.
I’ve heard many good intentioned people over complicate the simplicity
of simply asking our Father to heal people and trusting that He hears, that He
can, and that He will heal according to the mystery of His own will.
THURSDAY: GIVE THANKS WHEN LIFE IS GOOD
Exodus 15:27 Then they came to
Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped
there near the water.
There are challenges in life, but there are also many incidences of
grace and joy; seasons when life is easy. Too often we fail to enjoy life
because we doubt God in difficulty and fail to thank God in days of blessing.
FRIDAY: GOD PROVIDES WHAT WE NEED IN HIS WAY
Exodus 16:4-5 Then the Lord
said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to
go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them
and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they
are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they
gather on the other days.”
God is our provider. He knows our needs and meets them - it’s a promise!
The manna that God provides us may not be exactly what we want, but it is
always what we need.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first
his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.
SATURDAY: HOWEVER, NEVERTHELESS,
Exodus 16:20, 27-28 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses;
they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to
smell. So Moses was angry with them… Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath,
there will not be any.” Nevertheless,
some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found
none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my
commands and my instructions?
Disobedience will be a recurrent theme on this journey. No matter what
they see God do, they are very slow to trust and obey Him. Faith in God’s
goodness is at the root of our obedience. Believing in God’s existence is not
enough, we must also believe in His loving kindness if we are to obey. This is
particularly relevant in regard to trusting God to provide and our obeying Him
(being generous) with what He gives - only those who know God as a loving
Father will trust and obey in regard to wealth.
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