Week 5, January 28 - February 3, 2018

The last half of Exodus includes some of the commands the Lord gave Israel and the description He gave Moses for building the tabernacle.  At the end of Exodus the tabernacle is completed and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  In Matthew the disciples saw Jesus perform miracles and show compassion, while He taught them about forgiveness and Christian leadership.

Sunday, January 28, Exodus 21 - 23, Matthew 17

• In Exodus 21, why did God limit a Hebrew who was purchased as a servant to 6 years of service?
• Why did God command in Exodus 22:21, "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner"?
• In Exodus 23:11 God commanded that fields be left unplowed and unused during the 7th year.  Does this principle apply to you?  If so, how?
• In Matthew 17:11-12, Jesus said, "Elijah comes..." and "Elijah has already come."  How are these statements both true?
• Jesus provided a simple method for Peter to get four drachmas to pay the temple tax for Peter and Jesus.  Does God's ability to provide for you free you from worry and allow you to be generous?

Monday, January 29, Exodus 24 - 26, Psalm 15

• Exodus 24:16 says that on the 7th day that Moses was on the mountain God called to him.  If you had been Moses, what would you have been doing for the first six days?
• What was the purpose of the sanctuary God begins to describe in Exodus 25?
• Exodus 26 describes a series of curtains for the tabernacle.  Why did God have them build a movable tabernacle instead of getting to the promised land and building a permanent structure?
• Psalm 15 says that the person whose walk is blameless can live in God's presence.  What hope is there for us since the Bible teaches that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?

Tuesday, January 30, Exodus 27 - 29, Matthew 18

• Exodus 27:21 says that the priests were to keep lamps burning all night.  Why would God require this?
• Why was the priest required to wear bells that could be heard when he was in the Holy Place (Exodus 28:35)?
• In Exodus 29:45 God says, "Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God."  What does it mean for God to be your God?  What do you need to do to have Him dwell with you?
• In Matthew 18:3 Jesus told us we need to become like little children.  What does this mean?
• Matthew 18:15 teaches that if there is a sin you need to confront someone about you must first speak just between the two of you.  Why is this important?
• In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus tells a parable of someone who was forgiven a huge debt and then refused to forgive someone else a small debt.  Jesus told this story to show us how foolish and wrong it is for us to refuse to forgive others.  Is there anyone you need to forgive?

Wednesday, January 31, Exodus 30 - 32, Psalm 16

• In Exodus 30 God told how to make a sacred anointing oil to be used to anoint the articles in the temple and the priests.  Why did God command that no one was to use this oil for other things or to make their own oil using this formula?
• In Exodus 31 God explains that He had given Bezalel and Oholiab and other skilled workers the ability to make the things that God had told Moses to have made.  Do you trust the Lord when He tells you to do something to also make a way for it to happen?
• In Exodus 32 the people of Israel became impatient waiting for Moses and got Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship.  Why would anyone want to worship something that was made by human hands?
• David wrote in Psalm 16:4, "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more."  What other gods could people be tempted to pursue today?

Thursday, February 1, Exodus 33 - 35, Matthew 19

• Moses said to God, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."  (Exodus 33:15)  Why did Moses consider God's presence to be essential?
• Why did God tell Moses in Exodus 34 that Israel was not to make a treaty with those who lived in the land He was giving to Israel?
• According to Exodus 35 where did the materials for making the tabernacle come from?
• How would you summarize God's definition of marriage from Matthew 19:4-6?
• What do you think the disciples were thinking in Matthew 19:13 when they rebuked those who were bringing children to Jesus?
• Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "with God all things are possible."  Do you believe this when you pray?

Friday, February 2, Exodus 36 - 38, Psalm 17

• In Exodus 36 the people were stopped from bringing materials for making the sanctuary.  Why weren't the extra materials used for something like making the sanctuary bigger?
• Why did the ark, the table, and the altar of incense described in Exodus 37 and the altar of burnt offering described in Exodus 38 all have poles?
• What three metals were used in building the tabernacle?
• What is David praying for in Psalm 17?

Saturday, February 3, Exodus 39 - 40, Matthew 20

• When Moses inspected items for the tabernacle at the end of Exodus 39, what was he looking for?
• What was the importance of the cloud that covered the tabernacle in Exodus 40?
• What is the point of the parable in Matthew 20:1-16 where a landowner hired people the last hour of the day and paid them the same as those who had worked all day?
• According to Matthew 20:25-28, how should leadership among Christians be different from leadership as it is known in the world?
• In Matthew 20:32, why did Jesus ask the two blind men what they wanted?  Shouldn't it have been obvious?