Week 24 Approach the Storm Differently
As adopted brothers and sisters of Christ we should walk as He walked
“Your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Passage
29The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the Lord.
30Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship;
32to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze,
33and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.
34“He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35“He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.
Exodus 35:29–35 (NASB95)
Background
Quote- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German: [ˈdiːtʁɪç ˈbɔnhøːfɐ] 4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential; his 1937 book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic. Apart from his theological writings, Bonhoeffer was known for his staunch resistance to the Nazi dictatorship, including vocal opposition to Adolf Hitler's euthanasia program and genocidal persecution of the Jews. He was arrested in April 1943 by the Gestapo and imprisoned at Tegel Prison for one-and-a-half years. Later, he was transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp.
Bonhoeffer was accused of being associated with the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler and was tried along with other accused plotters, including former members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office). He was hanged on 9 April 1945 during the collapse of the Nazi regime.
Passage-The book of Exodus consists mainly of two genres, Narrative History and Laws. It was written by Moses about 1450-1410 B.C. The key personalities include Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Aaron, and Joshua. It was written to record the events of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It describes the events to the reader in chronological order and also lists the Laws that God has given to the Israelites, in order to guide them in their relationship with Him.
"Storm clouds over war cross, Wytschaete cemetery" by R/DV/RS is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Tumult and storms will always be a part of worldly living. We will have to have to work for our bread “In the sweat of they face” (Gen 3:19.) But how does that change our approach to dealing with adversity? Should it? I think God thinks it should.
Ask: What was the storm going on during the time of Exodus?
Point: As the summary says, “It was written to record the events of Isarael’s delivereance from slaverin in Egypt.”
Ask: What form did that deliverance take?
Point: Please read the following:
7The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.
8“So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
9“Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:7–10 (NASB95)
Ask: How would the World have “delivered its people” differently?
Point: Secualr deliverance typically involves force of arms, violent revolution, and military intervention.
Ask: How did God deliver His people differently?
Point: Please read the following:
15“Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and station yourself to meet him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.
16“You shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now.”
17‘Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.
Exodus 7:15–17 (NASB95)
Ask: Is God going to send a “Moses” to inflict “plagues” on the people causing our problems?
Point: No He is not, most likely but there is a catch to that statement.
Ask: What if we are the cause of our own problems? Does God send plagues upon us?
Point: It is unfortunate, but possible. Please read the following:
5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
Hebrews 12:5 (NASB95)
Job 5:17; Prov 3:11
Ask: Is personal punishment “good news?”
Point: Yes it is for two reasons. First, because we are then our own solution once we figure out what to correct. Second, Please read the following:
6For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
Hebrews 12:6 (NASB95)
Prov 3:12
Ask: How does all this direct us as Christians to “Approach the Storm Differently?
Point: Please re-read Today’s Passage:
29The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the Lord.
30Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship;
32to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze,
33and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.
34“He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35“He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.
Exodus 35:29–35 (NASB95)
Ask: Where is direction to approach the storm differently in Today’s Passage?
Point: Verse 31 shows God filling them with His Spirit, the Holy Spirit in His wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to do things His way.
Ask: How does that apply to us today in the troubles we may be facing?
Point: Please read the following (at the top of the next page)
31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31–34 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
Ask in prayer from the Lord God what you need and it shall be given unto you. Not what you want, what you need. Christians are supposed to be different, set apart, a light shining into the darkness to illuminate a way out, to a path that is a better way. If we look, act, talk, and walk just like the people of the World, they don’t see a difference. They see hypocrisy because they can read scripture too. What you look for, you will find. God has given us His ways and they are not the ways of the World.
6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.Isaiah 55:6–11 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Review Hebrews 12:5-6 from today’s lesson then read the Job and Proverbs entry provided at the end of the lesson. As you read, consider that you are the adopted child of the Most High God which means you are a brother or sister to Jesus Christ.
Question 2 What implications do your readings have for you as the adopted brother or sister of Jesus?
Question 3 Does being the brother or sister of Jesus mean you should change anything or do anything differently in your life?
Question 4 Read the Book of James for more context considering the writer of that book was the half-brother of Jesus.
Job 5:17-27 Job rejoices in his afflictions
17“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18“For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19“From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you.
20“In famine He will redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.
21“You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22“You will laugh at violence and famine, And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
23“For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24“You will know that your tent is secure, For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
25“You will know also that your descendants will be many, And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26“You will come to the grave in full vigor, Like the stacking of grain in its season.
27“Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself.”
Job 5:17–27 (NASB95)
Proverbs 3:11-12 Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding from God
11My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,
12For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.
14For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.
16Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.
19The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.
Proverbs 3:11–19 (NASB95)