Week 4, January 21 - 27, 2018

The name Exodus means departure.  The book describes the remarkable story of the departure of the descendants of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  It begins with the birth and unique preparation of Moses, who became the one who led the people out of bondage.  In Matthew 13 Jesus begins a series of parables.  The other chapters in Matthew this week describe some key events that shaped the lives of the disciples, including the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000, Jesus walking on water, and Peter recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.

Sunday, January 21, Exodus 1 - 3, Matthew 13

• Exodus 1:17 says, "The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do."  They could have had reason to fear Pharaoh, but feared God more.  What does it mean to fear God?  How does this impact the way you live?
• Exodus 2:23 says, "During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God."  If God was hearing their cry for help, why was there a "long period" of slavery?
• Why did Moses object, in Exodus 3, to what God was calling him to do?
• In Matthew 13 Jesus speaks of four kinds of soil.  What do you need to do to be like good soil?
• What does the pearl of great value in Matthew 13:46 represent?

Monday, January 22, Exodus 4 - 6, Psalm 11

• In Exodus 4:13 Moses asked God to send someone else.  Have you ever been called by God to do something and wish that someone else would do it?
• There is a puzzling story in Exodus 4:24-26.  Why hadn't Moses circumcised his son before this?
• In Exodus 5, when Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, things got worse for the Israelites.  How should you respond if you obey the Lord and things get worse?
• In Exodus 6:1-8 God renewed His promises to Moses and reminded him of the big picture of what He was doing. When Moses passed this along to the Israelites in 6:9, why didn't they accept it?
• Psalm 11:4 says, "He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them."  Why does it sometimes seem slow for God to judge evil and injustice?

Tuesday, January 23, Exodus 7 - 9, Matthew 14

• In Exodus 7, Moses turned water into blood.  Why did the magicians do the same thing?
• In Exodus 8:10, why did Pharaoh choose to spend one more night with frogs?
• God had Moses tell Pharaoh in Exodus 9:16, "I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."  How was this purpose fulfilled through Pharaoh?
• Why was John the Baptist put in prison?
• How was Peter able to walk on water?  Why did he start to sink?

Wednesday, January 24, Exodus 10 - 12, Psalm 12

• In Exodus 10:7 even Pharaoh's officials advised him to let the Israelites go.  Why wouldn't he?
• What plague did God say in Exodus 11 would be the last?
• What did Israelite families have to do to be spared the death of the firstborn?
• Why do you think the Lord commanded in Exodus 12:46, "It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house"?
• Psalm 12:6 says, "And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times."  Do you think of God's Word this way when you read it?

Thursday, January 25, Exodus 13 - 15, Matthew 15

• According to Exodus 13, why didn't God lead Israel on the shortest road to the promised land?  Do you see examples of God leading you in ways that recognize what you're ready for?
• In Exodus 14, at the first sign of difficulty the Israelites complained to Moses and questioned why he had brought them out of Egypt.  He answered, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." (Exodus 14:13)  In what situations do you need to stand firm and not fear?
• After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in Exodus 15, they sang of their deliverance from the Egyptians.  However, by Exodus 15:24 they were grumbling again about the lack of good water.  Why was their confidence in God so weak?  How can you avoid having weak faith in God?
• In Matthew 15:18 Jesus said, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them."  What do you need to do to have a pure heart?

Friday, January 26, Exodus 16 - 17, Psalm 13 - 14

• In Exodus 16 God provided manna in a way that required simple trust on the part of the people.  He only gave them enough for that day except the day before the Sabbath.  Jesus taught us not to worry about what we will eat, but to trust God to provide it.  Do you exercise simple faith in trusting God to provide your needs?
• In Exodus 17:11 Moses was in a situation where he had to ask for or accept help from others.  Why would God put him in that situation?  Is there help you need to ask for or accept that you have been trying to get by without?
• Psalm 13 begins with, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" and ends with, "I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me."  How could David both feel forgotten and praise God for His goodness?
• Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  What effect does telling oneself there is no God have on a person?

Saturday, January 27, Exodus 18 - 20, Matthew 16

• If Moses was a man who heard from God, why did he need his father-in-law to tell him that what he was doing wasn't good in Exodus 18:17?
• In Exodus 19:5-6, what did God say He wanted to do with Israel as a nation?
• Why does God say in Exodus 20:5 that He is a jealous God?
• In Matthew 16, who did Jesus say had revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah?  Why did Jesus order His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah?
• How could Peter have God-given revelation of who Jesus is and later in the same chapter (Matthew 16) be called a stumbling block by Jesus?