WEEK 3 – SUMMARY & STUDY QUESTIONS
This week’s Scripture reading begins with the growing discontent of an impatient people. Their leader disappeared up the mountain for too long, and the people had grown weary of waiting. They needed visible proof, along with tangible assurance that they had not been abandoned in the wilderness. The people were camped at the foot of the mountain, and since they could not see God, their impatience quickly dissolved into rebellion. Up to this point the people had personally witnessed God’s powerful movement on their behalf. He heard their distress, raised up Moses and Aaron as leaders, and delivered them from captivity. The people exited Egypt, fully armed with God’s promise of protection and provision. God supernaturally intervened when anything hindered their departure, including large bodies of water. He parted the Red Sea and the people escaped from Pharoah’s army across dry ground. He provided everything they needed along the way, as He led them through the wilderness to the foot of the mountain. The people set up camp, God called Moses up the mountain, and… tick-tock, the waiting began. As time passed, the people grew restless. They became impatient and decided that Moses was not coming back. Rebellion took root in their hearts and minds. They questioned God’s plan and decided to do their own thing. This week we will follow a cycle of rebellion, restoration, and renewal – beginning with “The Golden Calf.” We will read about the continued rebellion of God’s people and the consequences they faced. We will learn about the men that God placed in leadership – Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, and Samuel. We will deepen our understanding of how God faithfully keeps his promises to His people.
WEEK 3 – READING SCHEDULE
JULY 12 The Golden Calf Exodus 32:1-35 JULY 13 Moses Loses His Cool Numbers 20:1-29 JULY 14 Joshua, Joshua Joshua 1:1-18; 3:1-17 JULY 15 The Promised Land Joshua 8:1-35; 11:1-23 JULY 16 Gideon Judges 6:1-7:25 JULY 17 Samson Judges 13:1-25; 16:1-31 JULY 18 Samuel 1 Samuel 1:1-28; 3:1-21 DAY ONE READING Scripture: Exodus 32:1-35
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Did God protect the people and provide them with everything they needed? Why did the people become impatient?
Read Exodus 32:9-10: What does God mean by, “indeed it is a stiff-necked people?”
Have you ever been a “stiff-necked” person?
2. How did Moses respond to God’s words in Exodus 32:9-10? Compare with Genesis 18:16-33.
3. Even though God relented, were there still consequences? How does this apply today?
Bonus: Read Romans 8:1-39. On how many levels does this passage connect with today’s reading?
DAY TWO READING Scripture: Numbers 20:1-29
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Why did the people come against Moses and Aaron in Kadesh?
2. How did Moses and Aaron respond to the situation? What does it mean to “fall face down before the LORD?”
3. Did Moses obey God’s command?
4. Even though Moses disobeyed, did God still provide water? Were there consequences for Moses’ sin?
Bonus: Read Numbers 20:14-20. Who is Edom? (Clue: Read Genesis 25:29-30. The word Edom references a place with red sand. It is also a reference to the Edomite people group – Descendants of Esau). DAY THREE READING Scripture: Joshua 1:1-18; 3:1-17
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Who is Joshua and why did God choose him replace Moses? Note: Joshua was one of the 12 spies, but what else to we know? (Exodus 17:8-16; Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11)
2. What did God promise Joshua?
3. What did the people promise Joshua?
4. Joshua 3:7: And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
What do you think God means by the words, “I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel…”?
Bonus: How does the crossing of the Jordan River compare with the crossing of the Red Sea? What is the benefit of this kind of reminder?
DAY FOUR READING Scripture: Joshua 8:1-35; 11:1-23
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Read Joshua 8:1-2 and Joshua 7:1-5. Compare the passages. How do they differ?
2. In Joshua, Chapter 8 -- What was Joshua’s battle strategy? How did Joshua formulate his battle strategy?
3. What did Joshua do after the defeat of Ai? (Joshua 8:30-35) Why did he do this?
4. Read Joshua 11:15 and 11:23 – What did Joshua do? What land did Joshua take? (See Genesis 15:18-21).
Bonus: Read Joshua 7 – What was Achan’s sin? Was Achan able to hide his sin? What were the consequences of Achan’s sin? DAY FIVE READING Scripture: Judges 6:1-7:25
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. In Judges 6:1-6 – What did Israel do? What did God do? What did Midian do?
2. How did God prepare Gideon for battle? How many men did Gideon start out with? How many men did God allow him to take into battle? Why so few?
3. What does Judges 7:9-18 show you about God? How did this affect Gideon?
4. How does this passage apply to us today?
Bonus: Read Judges 6:36-40 - What was the purpose of the fleece? Why did Gideon need a sign? Read Mark 8:11-12 – Why did the Pharisees ask for a sign? What did Jesus say to the Pharisees?
DAY SIX READING Scripture: Judges 13:1-25; 16:1-31
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What was God’s purpose for Samson?
2. What was Samson’s weakness?
3. What was the true source of Samson’s strength?
4. How was Samson’s strength displayed? How did Samson die?
Bonus: Learn about the Nazirite vow. Read Numbers 6:1-21. DAY SEVEN READING Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28; 3:1-21
STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. What vow did Hannah made to the LORD? Was it a Nazirite vow? Did Hannah keep the vow? (1 Samuel 1:11; 26-28)
2. How did God call Samuel? Why did Samuel not recognize God’s voice? (1 Samuel 3:7)
3. 1 Samuel 3:19-21: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
How does God reveal himself today? (Romans 10:8-15)
4. How did God reveal Himself to you?
Bonus: Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-14. Can anyone understand the things of God, without God’s help?