It is one thing to talk about and learn about faith. But, it is an entirely different thing to live it out. So, what do we do in times when our faith is tested? What do we do when the seemingly insurmountable difficulties arise, or we find ourselves at a dead-end? This is the question we are answering today as we study the life of Moses, a man who held unbelievable faith in God in the most challenging circumstances.
When was a time where adversity brought out the best in you?
Bible Study Questions
1. What circumstances today do you think are testing people’s faith?
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2. Read Exodus 3:1-12. What was the calling demonstrated to Moses in these verses? What questions or excuses did Moses have, and how did God respond?
Exodus 3:1-12 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
Exodus 3:1-12
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
3. Read Exodus 14:5-14. These verses take place after the Israelites had been freed from Egypt. Why did God allow this situation to take place? (see verse 17).
Exodus 14:5-14
When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’ ”
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
4. Read Hebrews 11:24-29. How was Moses’ faith solidified through adversity?
Hebrews 11:24-29 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
Hebrews 11:24-29
It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
Application
1. Just as God gave Moses a passion and a dream, is there a passion or dream God has given you? What is it?
2. Is there an area in your life where you need deliverance? If so, what is it?
3. What is one way that God wants to stretch your faith like Moses this week?
When challenges and difficult times arise, our faith has the chance to truly be tested. During the weekend message, Todd mentioned 5 phases of faith we might find ourselves in:
1. Dream: This is when God gives us a passion, dream, or calling in our lives.
2. Decision: This is when we decide if we will act on the dream God has given us.
3. Delay: This is a phase where it seems like there is a delayed process as we seek to act on the dreams that God has given us.
4. Difficulty: This is when challenges arise as we seek to carry our God-given dreams.
5. Deliverance: This is where we experience God’s faithfulness in helping us pursue the dreams He has given us.
Where do you find yourself in your faith journey today? Why? Share this with your group. After sharing, pray for your group. Ask God to give you the confidence to trust God’s faithfulness in each one of your lives.
As incredible as the story about Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt was, this deliverance was only a picture of what was to come. You see, Moses’ leadership and deliverance pointed to a future, better deliverer who would rescue the entire world from the bondage of sin and death: Jesus Christ. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how Scripture teaches that Moses was a picture of the deliverance and salvation that was to come through Jesus Christ.
Read Deuteronomy 18:15-19, words from God spoke to the Israelites through Moses.
• What promises did God give in these verses through Moses? Have a group member write these down on a sheet of paper or the notes app on their phone.
Read Matthew 17:1-8, a story that took place on a mountain. Remember, Moses was on a mountain when he received the 10 Commandments from God.
• Look back at Deuteronomy 18:15 and then read Matthew 17:5. Compare the commands from God given in these verses. What do you think the repetition of the command was meant to teach us?
• Read this note about Matthew 17:5 from the NET translation of the Bible about the repetition of this command “Listen to Him.”
The expression “Listen to Him” comes from Deuteronomy 18:15 and makes two points: 1) Jesus is a prophet like Moses, a leader-prophet, and 2) they have much to learn from Him.
• How does this note on Matthew 17:5 from the NET translation of the Bible help you better understand the connection between Moses and Jesus?
Read Hebrews 3:1-6.
• What similarities do you find between Jesus’ mission and Moses’ mission? How was Jesus’ mission, particularly His deliverance, better?
o Questions to consider when answering this question:
1. How did Moses help deliver his people? How did Jesus deliver His people?
2. Why is Jesus’ deliverance better than Moses’?
We are going to turn now back to the weekend message for just a bit. Todd gave us 5 phases of faith that God uses to call us to action, and prepare us for action. These phases are: Dream, Decision, Delay, Difficulty, and Deliverance. With this in mind:
1. Which stage are you at today? Why do you believe that you are in this stage?
2. How are you doing trusting God and following Him in this stage? What do you do well with? What do you struggle with?
3. Is there anywhere in the call God has placed on your life where you are making excuses for not moving forward or accepting that call? What do you need to do today to change this?
4. Thinking back to Moses’ prophecy about Jesus and the magnificent way this prophecy was fulfilled/revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration over 1,400 years later, how does this example of God’s faithfulness give you courage and resolve to persevere in the call God has placed on your life?
These passages of Scripture we have read today remind us of an important truth. We have everything we need in Jesus. Therefore, whatever we face, and whatever phase of life we find ourselves in, we can be confident in Christ and His provision. Because of this, we can trust Him completely when He gives us a task that seems uncomfortable, overwhelming, or impossible. God is and always will be faithful to see us through.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8
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