PATHFINDER WEEK OF PRAYER READING

GROWING IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING

From September 12-19, 2020 Introduction de la semaine de prière

Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord. We are living in a time of peril, a time of temptation, of despondency. Everyone, adult, young people, children, all generations fervent in prayer should press together to resist his power. Philippians 2:2 « Then make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. » When unity prevails, the church advances from success to success, regardless of age everyone will be in one accord to experience the new Pentecost. We need to humble ourselves before God during these perilous times. Nothing matter the must then seeking the face of our God in prayer and supplications. The privileges that He has given us, the promises He has made, the advantages He has bestowed, should inspire us to prioritize our spiritual life in every choices we`re making. Pathfinders, are you willing to live a life worthy of being a light for God in this confused world? Is your faith pure and strong? To those who feel that they have failed of their spiritual life, the opportunity is given to you during this week of prayer to plead with God. The Bible says: Isaiah 1:18: « “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. » Do you desire to break the chains of doubts that hold you and be victorious? Wake up and come to pray with your pathfinder club, whether you feel like it or not. It is then you are going to grow spiritually. God will bless those who thus are pushing themselves further to development a personal relation with Him. God expects from those who claim to be His children to have this intimate relation with Him because they are no longer strangers or slave when they have been freed by the blood of the Lamb. I pray that the Lord will guide you on the path during this week. May each of you, children, Pathfinders, young adults, adults all have a personal testimony at the conclusion of this week of prayer for the Pathfinders. May God help us to stay in the channel of light, to work with our eyes fixed on our leader, and to move forward patiently and with perseverance until victory is won. Abner Theodore, Director Youth Ministries Department of the Quebec Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

-1- Sabbath A Complementary group 1 Kings 12:1-14

«1 And Roboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had 13 Then the king answered the people roughly, goven to Shechem to make him king. and rejected the advice which the elders had given 2 So it happened that Jeroboan the son of Nebath him. heard it (he was still in Egypt), for he had fled from 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice the presence of King Solomon and had been of the young men, saying, “My father made your swelling in Egypt. yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father 3 that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam chastised you with whips, but I will chastised you and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke with scourges!” to Rehoboam, saying: Roboam takes over his father. In Ecclesiastes 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now 2:18-19, He asked himself to whom he was going therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your to leave it to. With a matter as important as that, father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and he needed only three days to make a final decision. we will serve you.” The son of the most wisest of men has no 5 So he said to them. “Depart for three days, then understanding. D’un sujet aussi capital, il ne lui a come back to me.” And the people departed. fallu que trois jours pour une décision finale. Le fils 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who du plus sage des hommes est dépourvu stood before his father Solomon while he still d'intelligence. Even though wisdom was availabe lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to to Roboam, he did not exploit it in order to be answer these people?” ready, at age 40, when he had become a leader, to 7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a be able to lead and decide properly. servant to these people today, and serve them, At a pivotal moment, where his response was and answer them, and speak good words to them, vital, to be able to keep unity in the kingdom, then they will be your servants forever.” Roboam was not able to make the good decision. 8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had He prefered to follow the foolish advice from given him, and consulted thee young men who people from his generation. It caused a lot of had grown up with him, who stood before him. suffering for the people. We have to notice that 9 And he said to them, “What advice do you give? the elders were Solomon’s former ministers. They How should we answer this people who have were like, if we can say, a continuity of Solomon’s spoken to me, saying, “Lighten the yoke which reign. They had been, according to 1 Kings 4:2-6, your father put on us?” with the king at Schechem. So those elders had 10 Then the young men who had grown up with acquired many experiences with Solomon. Theire him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak experience could have been être complémentaires to this people who have spoken to you, saying, a la fougue et a la détermination du jeune roi “Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make Roboam ont été refusées, il a préféré les mépriser. it lighter on us” – thus you shall say to them: My This is a reality, the gap between general is not little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!. something new. This made its way for so many 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke generations before us. Is thesituation more on you, I will add to your yoke; my father problematic today than it was yesterday, or do we chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you have a simple a more sensitive skin ? with scourges!” This issue is surely still present in our society. It 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to is so much present that the generations co- Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, existence, whether in families, in chruch, in the saying, “Come back to me the third day.” work place, is often a source of conflicts.

-2- Never before the picture of the Church’s active given us gifts. It is true that there are differences population has ever been so diverse. In fact, between generations that we can not deny but the where three generations historically met, we now reality is that the mission of our Church has never find five: the silent one, the baby-boomers, the X changed and will never change. The most generation X, the Y generation Y and finaly, the Z important thing is that we are all called to get generation. Five generations with different values involved with our diversity. and aspirations that have to learn to live with one Joel the prophet is very clear to show the another in a society that is transforming quickly. complementarity of all generations’ efforts. Joel 2 It is important to understand that all : 28 : generations have different needs. One view of the « And it shall come to pass afterward that I will church and of spirituality that is not always the pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your same, values and piorities on which they do not all daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall agree upon. This creates so many passions and dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.» discussions in our churches. However, we manage We have certainly come to the most important at times where a reconciliation has necessarily to moments where the Church as a whole must be contemplated. recognize that the Lord does not put anybody aside. Joel is telling us that all generations have Philippians 3 :15, 16 : been entitled for the mission : «your sons and your « Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, visions» Whether we are from the X, Y, Z’s God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to generation, you are extremely important for God’s the degree that we have already attained, let us plan. The Lord needs your contribution for the walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. development of his work. Do not be discouraged. » Do not think that your help is not necessary. On It is true that sometimes differences may the contrary, your help is a piece of the puzzle. collide. One may seem arrogant; the other one “Your old men shall dream dreams” the silent moralizing. Wether you are of the silent generation and the Baby-Boomers, you are as generation, the Baby-Boomers, the X generation, much important for the work of God. The the Y generation, the Z generation, the coexistence contributions can and should be different, however between individus is perfectly possible. It is not the Lord is welcoming all of them at the same only possible, it must be done because Jesus level. himself is the initiator. In Jesus, we are one. In Remember what Paul is teaching is in the first Jesus, whether we are Jews, or Greek, or old.... In epistle of Corinthians, chapter 3 and verse 9 : « For him, “we are united as a single body. » (John 11 : we are God’s fellow workers…» We are working 52). He has given extraordinary gifts to each with God in his mission on our way to heaven. In generation. We have to use them all for God’s the meantime, we have to grow in all respects. people’s development and its edification. There is One of the way the Lord has chosen for us to no one more important than the other. The grow, is by growing together in his Church. So let Churches’ five generations have different way to us use the generational chock to sharpen our see things, but our eyes are fixed in the same patience, our endurance, our tolerance, our direction, on Jesus-Christ of Nazareth. So the end empathy, our sympathy. Let’s work together to result will be the same. « There are diversities of achieve our mission. gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of In our text of 1 Kings, Roboam preferred to ministries, but the same Lord.» 1 Corinthians 12:4, disregard the advices of the elders and accepted 5. the advices of the young people without thorough We are all called to get involved in one way consideration. This attitude is very common even or another for the proclamation of the Good today. Many young people will more likely ready News. This must be done respectfully and listen to those who are the same age as they are harmoniously. This is the reason why the Lord has than to their parents or other people who are

-3- older. Many of the older people will disregard the Conclusion : advices of the young people with the pretext that We are in this part of the history where ire ou they are mature enough. It is a tendency that is la divergence entre les individus issus des very dangerous. Whether it is coming from the différentes générations suscite une tension et ceci younger people or the older people, we have to même dans l’église. Il est important pour nous take the time to consider those advices. «Test all chrétiens de comprendre que nos différences ne things; hold fast what is good» (1 Thessalonians 5: devraient pas créer de distanciation entre nous. Au 21). We must recognize that the coexistence in contre, nous devrions les utilisées au profit de Jesus-Christ’s Church is there for our development. notre commune mission puisqu’elles sont The difference between generations is « for the complémentaires. Prions le Seigneur et demandons- equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, lui de nous enseigner à nous aimer les uns les autres for the edifying of the body of Christ» (Ephesians 4 afin de croitre même avec nos différences. :12). – By Abner Théodore

-4- Sunday Hang on to Jesus Mark 10:46-52

The story about Bartimaelus, the blind beggar keeping you from following the Savior, to hang on in Mark 10:46-52 is well known. There is no to Him. doubt that you have read it before. In short, in verse 51, Jesus said to Bartimaelus: This story starts with a geographical What do you want me to do for you? And the indication : leaving Jericho, last stage of Jesus’ blind man said to him “Master, let me receive my pilmigrage before going to Jerusalem. Bartimaelus, sight.” and in verse 52, Jesus said to him: “Go the blind beggar, son of Timaeus was sitting by the your way, your faith has made you well.” roadside, aware that he was poor and seeming It is very important to remember that the blind desperate, destined to be blind until death. man had asked to Jesus to have mercy on him, we According to Mark 10:47, when he heard that it must understand that we are saved through faith was Jesus of Nazareth, he cried out and said : and without it, according to Hebrew 11:6, it is “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” impossible to please him. Dear brethren, dear Pathfinders, we notice in Dear Brethren, dear Pathfinders, the text is verse 48 that many rebuked him, telling him to be telling us: “And immediately he received his sight silent; but he cried out all the more: Son of David, and followed him (Jesus) on the way”. have mercy on me!” Dear young people, this double mention of the The blind man calls Jesus by clearly giving him way, at the beginning and at the end, is showing us a messianic title : Son of David, and he is the first that a change happened: The blind man has not one to do it in the Gospel of Mark. only regain his sight, but he gone from a static Dear friends, dear Pathfinders, Bartimaelus position which means that he was sitting at the used the first right words while hanging on to Jesus dynamic position, he followed, technical term that asking him to have mercy on him in spite of the convey the action of the disciple. people rebuking him and telling him to be silent. If the road (way) for Bartimaelus was initially Dear Pathfinders, we have to notice that representing only the place where Jesus, the Bartimaelus, the blind man, used the right moment disciples and the crowd was going through, it has to ask Jesus to have mercy on him and in verse 49, now a new meaning for him. At the beginning, he Jesus stopped and said : « Call him. » only had the right to be at the roadside, after It is interesting here that Jesus has stopped meeting Jesus, he is on his way, following Jesus on because he heard the desperate cry of the poor the road. He became a disciple. blind man. – By Dominique Mercéus Yes, if we cry out to Jesus, our despairs, our problems that we can not manage to solve, our illnesses that the doctors can not do anything about for us, he stopped to help us out in our time of need, yes our pleas will never fall on deaf ears. Dear Pathfinders, verse 50 is telling us : The blind man is “throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus”, see with what eagerness, he obeys to the call, throwing off his mantle, hurrying to come to Jesus. Yes, I am sure that Jesus is calling you today, eventhough you are not in the same physical situation that Timae’s son was, but spiritually, there might be another handicap

-5- Monday Hidden Treasurer

In the smallest drop of water, in the night of competent officials to keep the various the Amazon, there is a shining star. departments running smoothly. Companies are In Tajikistan, beneath the soil of a country looking for exceptional candidates to lead them to ravaged by poverty, there is gold to be found. success. Men and women are looking for If the angry oyster can turn a grain of sand into honorable partners to secure better days. And the a beautiful pearl, know that in the smallest of eyes of God roam the earth, seeking the one God's children there is a prince/princess in the whose heart is all his, to sustain him. making. There are so many rich and famous who come It was a difficult time. Because the locals felt from poor families living in misery. threatened, believing that these slaves might And we see that, disturb and eliminate them, the country's rulers Egypt found the solution to their famine in the decided, since they have the power to kill, that mouth of a prisoner accused of attempted rape they would eliminate the threat by reducing the (Joseph). slave population. The only way they had thought Jacob's descendants found their leader in a of doing this was to kill the children; male children rush crate, floating on a river (Moses). in particular. So since this decision all male children Israel found its hero in a teenager with a were destined for death. Intended for death from slingshot (David). birth. The enemy wanted to kill hope from birth; The children of Abraham found their salvation it was wanting to kill hope in the bud. in the intervention of an orphan (Esther). The child's mother, having seen the beauty in And humanity has found its savior in a her son's face, decided to hide this beauty in a manger; Feeder for animals, more particularly for basket; in a rush box, far from view, far from the sheep (Jesus Christ). soldiers. She hid him as God hides gold in the The environment you grew up in doesn't rocks, the diamond in the earth, the water lily in a determine who you are. No matter what swamp, a savior in a stable. prejudices surround you, you can be successful. It The child was in the crate without knowing was said of Jesus, isn't he the carpenter's son? why. He was surrounded by reed without knowing On the cross you were redeemed. And since why. He was far from his mother without knowing then, every child is born with a lot of potential. why. He was carried away by the waves without The sooner you realize it, the sooner you can knowing why. activate, benefit from the value of this potential, of Because of what the mother saw, she decided this privilege which is yours. to hide it. Because Pharaoh's daughter saw and To benefit from this privilege, heard, she decided to save him. I. Know the person who put it in you David's Now he was spared, fed by his mother in advice to Solomon - 1 Chronicle 28: 9. complete safety, educated by his mother in all And you, Solomon, my son, know the God of simplicity, there he was growing up in freedom your father, and serve him with a devoted heart because they had seen in him something that and with a willing soul, for the Lord searches all attracts favor, attention. What they had seen had hearts and penetrates all purposes and all thoughts. enough value for them that they invested their If you look for him, he will let himself be found by know-how, their dedication, their resources to you; but if you abandon it, it will reject you ensure a better future. forever. In this endangered world, universities are looking for students who will “boost” their II. Know the value of work - Proverb 12:27. reputations. Governments are looking for

-6- The lazy person does not roast his prey; But a 1 Timothy 4:16. Watch over yourself and your man's precious treasure is activity. teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing so you will save yourself, and you will save those III. Know the value of perseverance - Titus 4:14 who listen to you. Do not neglect the gift which is in you, and The boy who was condemned to die from which was given to you by prophecy with the birth is now in heavenly realms. He met God, laying on of hands of the congregation of elders. worked hard, and persevered to the end. No 1 Timothy 4:15 Take care of these things, give matter where you come from, know the Lord your yourself entirely to them, that your progress may God, work hard, persevere (endure) to the end. be evident to all. You will be blessed now, and for all eternity. – Pastor Marc Bouzy

-7- Tuesday An Untimely Intervention Texte : Esther 4:13-17

13And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do 2. Haman’s conspiration in order to destroy the not think in your heart that you will escape in the Jews king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 3. Esther and Mordecai succeed to save the Jewish 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, people relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from 4. Establishment of the Pourim’s Feast) another place, but you and your father’s house will Of her real name Hadassah which means perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to ‘’Myrtle’’, a nice little un joli petit arbre aux fleurs the kingdom for such a time. 15 Then Esther told blanches et parfumées décrit aussi comme la plante them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the aux mille usages, Esther was an orpan, originally Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; from Judea. Brought up by her cousin Mordecai she neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. lived in Suhshan, the Medo-Persian Empire’s capital My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go (now Iran). Her name was changed to Esther when to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, she was accepted to the royal harem and means : I perish!” 17 So Mordecai went his way and did mysterious, seductress, secretive, star… according to all that Esther commanded him. Have you ever asked yourself this question: An untimely intervention, Why me? So you know you are not the first person A. God created the circumstances, Queen Vashti’s to ask this question, at least once ou more in his/her defiance and the crowning of Esther life. All along human history, this question is asked. As the king Ahasuerus, Xerxès 1st, made a feast Even today in different situations come this question lasting seven days for all the people who were again. Sometimes, when we are going through present in Shushan, in the court of the garden of the some terrible times in our lives, we are asking this king’s palace; queen Vashti, his wife, also made a question; facing a dilemma, when it is very had to feast for the women in the royal palace. The last make an informed choice or other times when day of the feasts, according to the king desire, he people are coming to us to do a task either at commanded to bring Queen Vashti before the king, home, at school, at the Pathfinder club or wearing her royal crown,in order to show her somewhere else. With regard to this last aspect, beauty to the people and the officials, for she was know that it doesn’t depend on your social status or beautiful to behold. But Queen Vashti refused to your IQ or your rank in the family or even your come at the king’s command. Therefore the king spiritual level. It is neither because there is was furious, and his anger burned within him. something in you that makes you better qualify than What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to others. Most of the times, when they are requesting law, because she did not obey the command of you, it means that at that particular time, God King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs? If it wants to use you and that you are the person He is pleased the king, let a royal decree go out from choosing that could make the difference. It was the him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the case for Queen Esther, wife of Kingi Ahasuerus. Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be Who was Queen Esther? We all know this altered that Vashti shall come no more before King story, don’t we? Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position In the Bible, the book of Esther is part of the to another who is better than she. historical books. It is written in Hebrew and it was After these things, when the wrath of King originally called Meguilat. Nowadays, the book Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what bear the name of its main character (Esther) and she had done, and what had been decreed against presents : her. Then the king’s servants who attended him 1. Queen Vasthi’s challenge said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the

-8- king; Then let the young women who pleases the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above king be queen instead of Vashti. This thing pleased all the princes who were with him. And all the the king, and he did so. In Shushan the citadel there king’s servants who were withing the king’s gate was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai, a bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king Benjamite, had been carried away from Jerusalem had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai with the captives who had been captured with would not bow or pay homage. When Haman saw Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, king of Babylon had carried away. He had brought Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him she had neither father mother. The young women of the people of Mordecai. Instead Haman sought was lovely and beautiful. When her father and to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the mother died, Mordecai took her as his own whole kingdom of Ahasuerus – the people of daughter. Mordecai. Esther pleased Hegai, the custodian of the Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus “There is women and she obtained his favor; so he readily a certain people scattered and dispersed among the gave beauty preparations to her, besides her people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their allowance. Then Seven choice maidservants were laws are different from all other people’s, and they provided for her from the king’s palace and he do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not moved her and her maidservants to the best place fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases in the house of the women. Esther had not the king, let a decree be written that they be revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of charged her not to reveal it. And every day silver into the hands of those who do the work, to Mordecai paced in front of the court of the bring it into the king’s treasuries. So the king took women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, what was happening to her. Each young woman’s the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had Haman, “The money and the people are given to completed twelve months’ preparation, according you, to do with them as seems good to you.” And to the regulations for the women. Esther was taken letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace. The king provinces, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all loved Esther more than all the other women, and the Jews, both young and old, little children, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than women, in one day, and to plunder their all the virgins, so he set the royal crown upon her possessions. head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Pathfinders, do you obtained grace from your C. Esther’s intervention to king Ahasuerus parents? To the people you come into contact with? and the Jews’ deliverance Do you bring them joy? Do you make them And Mordecai told Hathach, one of king’s happy? Do you resist to bad influences? eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend Esther, all that had happened to him, and the sum of B. Jealousy and Haman’s Conspiracy money that Haman had promised to pay into the In those days, while Mordecai sat within the King’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave king’s gate, tow of the king’s eunuchs, doorkeepers, him a copy of the written decree for their became furious and sought to lay hand on King destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he Ahasuerus. So the matter became known to might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther that he might command her to go in to the king to informed the king in Mordecai’s name. And when make supplication to him and plead before him for an inquiry was made into the matter, it was her people. Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; gave him a command for Mordecai: “All the king’s and it was written of the chronicles in the presence servants and the people of the king’s provinces of the king. After these things King Ahasuerus know that any man or woman who goes into the promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he

-9- has but one law; put all to death, except the one to lifted up, as Jesus said : But he who is greatest whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that among you shall be your servant. And whoever he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles go in to the king these thirty days.” So, they told himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11, 12). Mordecai Esther’s words. Esther’s faith was tested. She was scared, but she In Prophet and Kings Sr. Ellen G. White in did not let herself be intimidated by threats. In spite Chapter 49 made this comment. of the threats, she took actions and succeeded In the providence of God, Esther, a Jewess who through God’s grace. feared the Most High, had been made queen of the Let’s reflect on all the situations where, because Medo-Persian kingdom... In their extremity they we were afraid, we said no or we took so much decided to appeal to Xerxes in behalf of their time to think before giving an answer to the person people. Esther was to venture into his presence as who did the work for us. an intercessor. “Who knoweth,” said Mordecai, Pathfinders, have you made the difference in “whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a this planet trying time? Have you thought about time as this?” Esther 4:14. … your salvation more than ever before? Have you Esther was facing such a crisis and a decision made plans to intervene with your friends, with the had to be made quickly. But she knew, as Mordecai people you know if the circumstances seem also did, that if God was not intervening powerfully inopportune to present this Jesus who has a in their favor, their action will be in vain. Esther solution to all problems, who loves them and is spent part of her time in communion with God in coming soon? If you hear this voice like Isaiah a particular manner. She commended Mordecai which says “Whom shall I send, and who will go for “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in us”? Pathfinders, what will your answer be? Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for You just have to make the first step, to say the three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast first word. Our Lord Jesus, who is always ready, likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is will do the rest. Then we will conquer fear for the against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther hour of our deliverance will ring and the victory 4:16. will be complete in Jesus-Christ. Then things happened quickly: Esther appearing Pathfinders, let’s respond together, Lord, I am before Ahasuerus, she found favor in the king’s ready, here I am, send me”. sight, the king and the queen’s banquet with Haman May God bless you all! as the only guest, the king sleepless night, the honor or dignity bestowed to Mordecai, Haman’s Other similar biblical characters humiliation and fall from grace when his conspiracy Abraham – Jacob – Joseph – Moses – Giddeon – was discovered — all of this is part of a story that is Rahab – David - the young girl who waited on very familiar to us. God worked wonderfully in Naaman’s wife - the three young hebrews – Daniel - favor of his repenting people, and the king’s decree John the Baptist - Mary, Jesus’ Mother – Stephen – alllowing Jews to protect their lives was quickly Peter – Paul – John - Etc. communicated all over the kingdom by couriers – By Pierre-Michel Joseph who rode on royal horses “Hastened and pressed on by the king’s command”. “And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.” Esther 8:14, 17. End of the quotation.

D. Our response to God’s call The one who pursue power as an end rather than an end in itself will end his/her life like Haman, and the one who uses power like Mordacai will be

-10- Wednesday Deemed faithful in the face of accusations Texts : Genesis 39:7-20

Among the Bible’s role model, Joseph is one of “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, the most extraordinary ones. The chapters 37-50 and fled and ran outside. An so it was when she of the book of Genesis tells his lifetime’s story saw that he had left his garment in her hand and Fourteen chapters to talk about him. This is surely fled outside, that she called to the men of her a very important story for us. house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has In this Pathfinders’ Week of Prayer, we are brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in going to learn from his convictions, his fear and his to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud faithfulness towards God. We will talk mainly voice. And it happened, when he heard that I about his time in Potiphar’s house. lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So Reminder : Joseph’s brothers did not like him very she kept his garment with her until his master came much. For Joseph was his father’s favorite. In home. Then she spoke to him with words like addition, he had dreams. Dreams that had his these, saying, “The Hebrew servant who you brothers believe that he embraced the desire to rule brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it over them. «These dreams were an outrage made happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that towards Joseph’s brothers and they decided to get he left his garment with me and fled outside.” So it rid of him - which they finally made it happened ». was when his master heard the words which his Joseph experienced rejection from his brothers, an wife spoke to him, saying “Your servant did to me attempt on his life and the cruel and unfortunate after this manner.” that his anger was aroused. experience of being sold twice as a slave. Fist to the Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into Ismaelites and then to an Egyptian called Potiphar. the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were How did he manage to remain faithful facing confined. And he was there in the prison. » accusations? How did it, facing all those difficulties with flinching? A look at Joseph’s story will give us Context : Joseph has just known the horror in his some key elements and attitudes to have to have life. God had promised him, in his dreams, a success in those times. glorious future. However, in fact, he had rejection, humiliation and almost died. Arriving first as a Text : Genesis 39:7-20 slave in Egypt, he feels God’s hand on him et his future starts to be brighter. Everything goes so well « And it came to pass after these things that his that his master made him overseer on all that he master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she had. He caught his master’s attention because how said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his serious he was and how he made things prosper, master’s wife. “Look, my master does not know etc. what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no The temptation : Here comes a much more one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept serious problem for Joseph. God wanted that such back anything from me but you, because you are a story be written, like the one about king David his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, downfall in 2 Samuel 11 or Samson towards Dalila and sin against God?”. So it was, as she spoke to be part of the Scriptures. Satan is using treacherous Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie women, Potiphar’s wife, to try to seduce Joseph: with her or to be with her. But it happened about «Lie with me» (verse 7). this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying

-11- His attitude facing adversity : and sin against God?” when facing temptation. Joseph did not know what was going to happen. 1. Asking myself what is the spiritual meaning of He hoped maybe that God would intervene this difficulty? quickly so that he does not go to prison. Non, it In verse 9, Joseph refuse to do what is wrong was not God’s plan! His plan was better. But in and he gives his motivation : « How then can I do order to obtain it, prison was a part of it. this great wickedness, and sin against God? » For his 5. God always rewards faithfulness. adultery is not only something wrong done to your God had promised Joseph a glorious future. neighbour, but it is first a sin against God. His His brothers wanted to interfere in this plan. They spiritual life influences his aspect of his existence: prepared a wicked plan for him. But never forsook his work, his relationships, his desires and his him. Satan, through Potiphar’s wife advances hobbies. wanted to cast aside God’s project. Joseph 2. Never abandon your values: To persevere! remained faithful. His faithfulness was rewarded. We see in verse 10, this woman harassing In Genesis 37:5-8, the dreams told that he Joseph «day by day». Repeatedly she is prowling would be reign over his family. These revelations around Joseph and impels him to sin. The more he have come to pass accurately (Genesis 43:25-26). is resisting, the more her desires to lie with Joseph «Then they (Joseph’s brothers) made the present grow. He does not listen to her, he watches out to ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard make sure he is not left alone with her. And when that they would eat bread there. And when the most dangerous moment comes, he fled and Joseph came home, they brought him the present ran outside (verse 12). His attitude is entirely what which was in their hand into the house, and bowed Paul urges us to do: « Flee sexual immorality” down before him to the earth.» (1 Corinthians 6 : 18). Ellen White writes : « But like the stars in the 3. Remind myself that God is all along with me. vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s purposes know no haste and not delay» (Desires of Ages, p. All over chapter 39, Moses is constantly 29). Joseph stood strong facing temptation not mentioning that the Lord “was with Joseph”. « The because he was scared of Potiphar, but because he Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful deeply loved his God and wanted to honor him in man; he was in the house of his master the everything. He resisted to temptations because his Egyptian » (verse 2). integrity came before everything else. « So ti was, from the time that he (Potiphar) Dear Pathfinders, the fall was not inevitable. had made him overseer of his house and all that he The power of the Lord is there to keep us. «No had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for temptation has overtaken you except such as is Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on common to man; but God is faithful, who will not all that he had in the house and in the field » (verse allow you to be tempted beyond what you are 5) able, but with the temptation will also make the Even after these accusations… When he was way of escape, that you may be able to bear it» (1 put into the prison because he was faithful… Corinthians 10 : 13). If we follow Joseph’s Instead of having Joseph speak, Moses insisted : example et ask God to grant us his grace, it will «But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him also be possible to glorify him as Joseph’s did. mercy, and he gave him favor in the sight of the May the Lord give you strength and perseverance! keeper of the prison». Never forget that God is – Pastor Edson Joseph always present, ready to help you go through the difficulties. 4. If God allows it, he has a plan to deliver me. To keep his relationship with God at the expense of his relationship with the others was the most important thing for Joseph. Is it the same for us when we are facing temptation? Can we say like Joseph "How then can I do this great wickedness,

-12- Thursday Victory in the ordeal Text: 1 Samuel 1:12-17

INTRODUCTION: 2. Hannah Seeks Solution – Hannah does not I want to tell you a story today. A story from dwell on her misfortune and wallow in self-pity, the Bible. It is a story about a woman with a but instead she looks for a solution to her ordeal. problem an ordeal. But better than that, it is the Hannah prayed to God earnestly – “and it story about a woman who looked to God for the happened as she continued praying before the Lord solution to her problem, who found a solution and Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her who followed through with everything that she heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not needed to do to take hold of that solution and heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli who found that God not only solved her problem said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put but bless her beyond her request or expectation. your wine away from you! And Hannah answered The story of Hannah and Samuel recorded in and said “No my Lord, I am a woman of sorrowful the book of Samuel gives clear evidence that God spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating answer sincere, prayers from the heart. Often drink, but have poured out my soul before the when we talk about Hannah it is just a simply Lord. “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked prelude to the story of her son Samuel; a prelude woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint which helps us to see that God was constantly and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli working in Samuel’s life from the beginning and answered and said, “Go in peace and the God of prepares us to see how God used Samuel as a Israel grant your petition which you have asked of mighty prophet in the history of the Israelites. Him”. (1 Samuel 1:12–17). The beginning of But today I want to focus on Samuel’s mother Hannah’s prayer is understandable, Hannah asking Hannah. And look at her problem and how she God to understand her situation and her pain and overcome. to give her a child. Hannah promised God that the child would serve Him his whole life. To 1. Hannah’s Problem – Hannah’s problem can understand Hannah’s prayer, Hannah must have be best seen by looking at her family tree. Hannah looked back into Israel’s history and find out how was married to a man named Elkanah. As far as we God dealt with barren women in the past. Women know he was a good and righteous man who like Samson’s mother and others. worshipped God. We also know that he loved Hannah. It was not with her husband, Elkanah that 3. Hannah’s Victory – Hannah had a problem Hannah’s problem lay, but slightly lower down in she looked for a solution relying on her knowledge the family tree with their children. They did not of God and she found the answer. She prayed and have any. They had tried but she could not have she promised God gave her what she asked for a any children. The Bible tells us “the Lord had son, and she kept her side of the bargain and I am closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5). Which does not sure God knew she would. But her victory did not necessarily imply that God had deliberately chosen end there, towards the end of the second chapter for her to be barren, but simply that she was of the 1 Book of Samuel we are told that Hannah clearly barren and that God being in control of all went on to have three more sons and two things was in control of her womb as well. daughters. She had not asked for a large family Hannah’s problem was not only that she would only for one child. But God is gracious and God is like to have children but could not, but also her loving and God chose to reward Hannah’s neighbors and friends would be likely to look faithfulness by giving her more than she hoped for; down on her because of this inability. by giving her a large family.

-13- Conclusion: 2. Secondly Jesus assures us that God loves to give We can conclude in the story that there is a good gifts to his children, but that He likes us to message here for anyone of us who has a problem ask for them and particularly he likes us to ask that seems to be more than we can manage. according to his will. Hannah pray a prayer that Whether it is a problem with health, school or with was exactly in accordance with God’s way, because relationships, whether it involves financial concerns it was firmly based on what God had done in the or concerns for our future, there is a lesson we can past (1 John 5: 14). No matter what our ordeal, learn from Hannah. there is someone in the Bible who has had a need that is similar or at least comparable. If we look at 1. Firstly we are reminded that there is a God who how God worked in their lives, we won’t know cares. A God who can enter into our sorrow and how exactly God will work for us, but we will pain. A God who knows how we hurt and long to have a basis on which to pray. be healed. The knowledge of such a God was the Finally if we, like Hannah can humbly accept basis, the starting point of Hannah’s prayer, and it God’s way even when it would not be our first can be the start of ours too. choice and can faithfully stay with it even when it is not very easy, we can be sure that the race we run will not be in vain and that God will give us the victory again and again and His blessing will be awaiting us, both here on earth and eternally in heaven. – Pastor Orlando Patterson

-14- -15- Friday Looking up to Jesus Text : Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From gave a holy dimension to the community that walks whence comes my help? My help comes from the towards Canaan. Lord, Who made heaven and earth. In fact, Mount Sinai was completely in smoke Psalm 121 highlights the height notion in terms because the Lord descended upon it in fire setting of degrees that serves as baseline elements to the boundaries to Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:11-20). Les eschatological vision of the various blessings directives du Sinaï conditionnent l’entrée à la terre manifested towards humanity. These degrees are to promise (Exodus 19:6-18). present a vision of the reality of the word to come. Monter sur la montagne implique l’idée de It is a song of praise sent to the Lord in terms of possession, de sanctification, de sainteté. C’est le gratitude towards the Most High “El Elyon” lieu de rencontre privilégiée, de bénédiction (Genesis 14:19-20. The psalmist expresses his anticipée. Ainsi donc, la montagne de Séir a été gratitude for God’s blessings of humanity. donnée en possession à Ésaü en signe de béné- We are talking about song of ascents because diction (Deuteronomy 2:2-5). this conception concerns the biblical theophany, the La montagne est aussi un signe de protection. heavenly vision. For this is where God blessings are C’est un moyen de transcender l’être de Dieu. coming from, everlasting life. L’Éternel étend ses ailes sur la montagne de To look upward, towards the Lord’s mountain “Jabbok” afin que les enfants d’Ammon puissent allow us to contemplate our God’s sublime realities jouir de la bonté de l’Éternel (Deuteronomy 2:37). and the possibility to meditate on the height and Il en est de même quand Moïse monta vers Dieu. depth of his infinite grace. This look fixed upward Il communiqua à son serviteur sa bienveillance is giving us the ability to be connected with the envers le peuple disant que je vous ai portés sur des divine power while having the vision on the ailes d’aigle, et je vous ai amenés vers moi afin mountains of eschalological deliverance that opens d’établir mon alliance avec vous et tous les peuples the way towards everlasting salvation. se trouvant sur la surface de la terre. C’est à Sinaï Today, we have the opportunity to identify que le choix des peuples a été notifié, et l’élection seven great moments about the power of God’s du royaume de sacrificateur a été signifié invigorating grace. (Deuteronomy 19:3-4). After the Jourdain’s crossing on this side of the En fait, c’est sur le Mont Garizin que Dieu en Jordan facing “Mount Horeb” by way of “Mount Jésus-Christ a fait la distinction du lieu d’adoration, Seir “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in de rencontre privilégiée. Ce n’est plus la mon- a flame of fire from the midst of a bush (Exodus tagne, mais le coeur de l’homme régénéré, en esprit 3:2-5). The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, et en vérité (Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:11-13; John saying: “You have dwelt long enough at this 4:20-24). Car la finalité de l’oeuvre de Dieu mountain” (Deuteronomy 1:6, 8), the order to s’accomplit sur le mont Calvaire, à Golgotha (Mark possess the land which the Lord swore to your 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17). fathers – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is near. Le regard fixé en haut vers le ciel, la patrie As a matter of fact, it is on Mount Horeb, in the éternelle ne vise plus une montagne d’où viennent midst of flame that God reminds his wishes to the les bénédictions, mais ce sont les écluses des cieux children of Israel. He opened the way towards qui s’ouvrent, laissant Jésus-Christ entrer dans les Mount Sinai in order to conclude a covenant with lieux élevés où Dieu le Père le reçoit afin de his people. This is there that God established retrouver la demeure éternelle qui est réservée aux commandments, laws and statutes in order for the élus (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11). children of Israel may enjoy a profound intimacy – Dr. Leduc Pierre-Louis while obeying the Almighty’s orders. Mount Sinaï

-16- Saturday Faithfulness during a trial Text: James 2:2-4

« Consider it pure joy, my brothers and moved to a town where there was no Adventist sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 school. So Bonhang enrolled in the public school. because you know that the testing of your faith Most government schools in South Korea hold produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its classes from Monday through Saturday. Mother work so that you may be mature and complete, not told Bonhang that she did not have to go to school lacking anything.» on Saturday; she could attend Sabbath School on Whether you like it or not, consciously or Sabbath and do her homework on Sunday. unconsciously, every day you have to make choices. Bonhang was glad; she wanted to be in church with Know that your decisions are extremely important her parents on Sabbath. On the first Friday of to your future. This morning, even when you wake school, Bonhang told her teacher that she would up, you must have made a choice. And some of not be in class on Saturday; she was going to these choices, even though they were good choices church. have caused you quite a bit of difficulty. «But you must attend class every day,» the How many choices does someone make per teacher said. day? «But Saturday is the day I worship God,» In fact, some sources suggest that the average Bonhang explained. person makes 35,000 startling choices a day. Classes are dismissed at noon,» the teacher says Assuming that most people sleep about seven hours without smiling. «You can go to church in the a day and therefore have complete freedom of afternoon.» choice that makes about 2,000 decisions per hour Bonhang took her seat. She didn’t know what or one decision every two seconds. to do. That evening Bonhang told her parents what This is a great reason why making conscious the teacher had said. Mother explained that choices is essential. Beyond the success or failure of Adventists follow all of God`s commandments and the resulting actions, it determines the feeling of that makes them different from other Christians. control, involvement and commitment in your own And sometimes being different creates problems. life. And ultimately, it conditions your well-being On Sabbath morning, Bonhang didn’t go to and your life satisfaction. From our choices, our school; she went to church with her parents. The position, our belonging, our convictions must be following Monday the teacher asked Bonhang why visible. “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or she had not been in class on Saturday. Why does ‘No…” Matthew 5: 37. Too often, our choices she ask me that? Bonhang wondered. I told her I depend on the circumstance or who we hang out was going to go to church. with. To avoid certain difficulties, we opt for the Some of the children teased Bonhang about decision of the majority because it seems to make skipping classes; some called her lazy. Even the life more pleasant. We often forget that “the test of teacher made her feel bad that she was not at your faith produces patience”. I invite you to school on Saturday. Bonhang studied even harder, consider the story of Bonhang from South Korea. hoping to please her teacher. South Korea is a modern country, and people The next Sabbath, Bonhang again went to are free to become Christians if they wish. But church. freedom to believe does not always make it easy to Atfter Sabbath, Bonhang called a classmate to be a Christian. Bonhang started first grade in an ask her for the assignments the teacher had given Adventist school in South Korea. She went to classes that day. But the girl said the teacher had not given Monday through Friday, but on Saturday she went any homework. Bomhang called another classmate, to church. When she was eight years old, her family and she said the same thing. When Bonhang hung

-17- up the telephone, her mother asked her, « did you to tell her parents! «When will the program be? » get your assignments?» Mother asked Bonhang. «The teacher did not say, » «No,» Bonhang answered. «My friend said Bonhang answered. «She will tell us later. » Then there was no homework.» Bonghang hurried to her room to practice her But on Monday morning the teacher stopped at dance. Bonhang’s desk and asked her, «Where is your Several days later the teacher announced that homework?» the festival would be the following Saturday Bonhang told her teacher that she was told morning. Saturday! Bonhang sat silently in her there were no assignments. The teacher told that chair, but her heart cried out, «Why Saturday?» because she did not do the assignments, she would Bonhang’s feet felt heavy as she walked home receive a zero for the day. from school. Her mother asked if she was sick. Bonhang’s throat grew tight. She tried hard not «No, » Bonhang answered. «The teacher told us to cry. It isn’t fair», she thought to herself. «I would that the festival will be Saturday.» Bonhang put her have done the homework if someone had told me books down on the table and went to change her what was the assignments. clothes. The next Sunday when Bonhang needed to get Friday evening came. After worship, Bonhang’s her assignments, Mother suggested they go to visit mother said, « Bonhang, it’s your choice whether to her classmate`s home and ask for the assignments in go to the festival tomorrow or go to church. Do person. When they arrived, her friend was surprised what your heart tells you to do.» to see her. When Bonhang asked her what the class After breakfast Bonhang went to her room to did on Saturday, the girl told her that they finished dress. Mother wondered if Bonhang would choose the assignment in class, and there was no her Sabbath dress or her lovely Korean costume. A homework. few minutes later Bonhang came out of her room Bonhang asked her what assignments they did wearing her Sabbath dress and carrying her Bible. in class, but the girl said, «I don’t remember.» Finally Mother felt a tear slip down her cheek. Even Father Mother and Bonhang went home. could not speak. «Why is this happening?» Bonhang asked her After church the family went for a walk in a mother. «What have I done to make them hate beautiful park. Bonhang’s parents hoped that it me?» would help her to feel better about missing the On Monday Mother visited the school to learn festival. At sundown, Father led the family in why the children would not give Bonhang the worship to close the Sabbath. The Mother asked assignments. Mother was surprised when the Bonhang, « Are you sorry that you missed the teacher said, «I have told the children to not give festival»?» assignments to anyone who skips classes on «I wanted to be in the festival,» Bonhang Saturdays.» answered, « But I wanted to spent Sabbath with you The children continued to tease Bonhang for and Daddy and Jesus.» skipping school on Saturdays. How would you feel On Sunday morning the telephone rang. It was if your friends teased you for doing what you knew Bonhang’s teacher. She asked Mother to come to was right? school on Monday. Mother wondered if the teacher Bonhang studied hard and received good would punish Bonhang for not attending the grades in school in spite of the missed assignments. festival. One day the teacher announced that the school On Monday, Mother went to the school and would have a special festival. It would include found the teacher. sports events and traditional Korean dancing. The « I need to tell you, » the teacher said, « I have children were excited about the festival. They watched Bonhang for several months now. No practiced for the sporting events and tried out for matter how I punished her, she was determined to the traditional dance program. Those who were worship God on Saturday. Even when her chosen could wear beautiful Korean costumes. classmates teased her, she did not give in. When I To her surprise, Bonhang was chosen to be the gave her the part in the festival, I was testing her. lead in the traditional dances. She could hardly wait Bonhang practiced so hard that I was sure she

-18- would come to the festival.» « Thank you, Father, » she whispered. The teacher was smiling now. Bonhang had made a choice to be faithful to « But I decided to have another girl practice for God. It was difficult, and people did not the part, just in case Bonhang did not come.» understand. But her faithfulness helped her Mother’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to classmates and her teacher see God’s love in her life. this teacher who had given her daughter so much Sometimes it is difficult to do what we know is trouble. The teacher took hold of Mother’s hands. right. But when we are faithful to God, he blesses us « I have never met such a sincere child as Bonhang. in ways we cannot imagine. She may continue to worship on Saturday; I will not – Pastor Abner Théodore punish her anymore for missing classes.» Mother walked out of the school with a heart full of joy.

-19-