The Gospel Project Faith Talk - Exodus 17-18
Sunday: December 29, 2024
Lesson: Unit 4 Session 5
Scripture: Exodus 17-18
Lesson: Unit 4 Session 5
Scripture: Exodus 17-18
Because Life Groups did not meet this week, we encourage you to gather as a family to read the Scripture passages and discuss the Review Questions together. This allows you to stay on track with the material while creating a meaningful opportunity to explore God's Word with your family. For those with children, it's also a great way to demonstrate the importance of Scripture in our daily lives. We're praying for your family as you study God's Word together.
Preschool
Main Idea: Moses Led the Israelites (Exodus 17:8-16; 18:17-23)
Summary
Review Questions
- A man named Amalek and his army wanted to fight God's people.
- Joshua led God's people while Moses, his brother Aaron, and a man named Hur watched from a hill.
- When Moses held up his staff, God's people started winning the fight. When he put it down, Amalek's army started to win.
- Moses' arms got tired, so Moses sat down, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands with the staff. God's people won the fight!
- The next day, Moses was busy helping people all day long. Moses needed helpers, so he chose men to help. That way, all the people got what they needed.
Review Questions
- During the battle, what happened when Moses held up his staff?
- How can our family show leaders at our church we are thankful for them?
Kids
Main Idea: Moses Led the Israelites (Exodus 17:8-16; 18:17-23)
Summary
Review Questions
- God's enemy – the Amalekites – came to fight against God's people. When Aaron and Hur helped Moses hold up his staff, God's people were winning the battle.
- After God's people won the battle, Jethro saw how Moses needed help leading the people. Jethro told Moses to choose trustworthy men to give advice to the people. All the people's needs were met.
Review Questions
- Why did Moses need help leading the people?
- How is Jesus able to meet all of our needs?
Students
Main Idea: We need community and encouragement from other believers. (Exodus 17:8-16; 18:17-23)
Summary
Up to this point in Moses’ story, he has been the sole leader and decision-maker for the Hebrew people. In back-to-back examples, God shows Moses and us that we need community: In the battle against Amalek, Moses needed help holding his arms up. When it came to leading the Hebrew people in day-to-day judgments, Moses was spread far too thin. Thankfully, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, took note and gave excellent advice to Moses. That advice was to delegate, empower, and trust other faithful men to help in the smaller decisions amongst the people that needed to be made.
What we can learn from Moses is that we need community! We need people to speak into our lives to show us things we’re not seeing. We need to let people help us. We need to ask people to help us. God made us for relationships: first with Him, but secondly, with one another. We’re not meant to go through this life alone.
Review Questions
Up to this point in Moses’ story, he has been the sole leader and decision-maker for the Hebrew people. In back-to-back examples, God shows Moses and us that we need community: In the battle against Amalek, Moses needed help holding his arms up. When it came to leading the Hebrew people in day-to-day judgments, Moses was spread far too thin. Thankfully, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, took note and gave excellent advice to Moses. That advice was to delegate, empower, and trust other faithful men to help in the smaller decisions amongst the people that needed to be made.
What we can learn from Moses is that we need community! We need people to speak into our lives to show us things we’re not seeing. We need to let people help us. We need to ask people to help us. God made us for relationships: first with Him, but secondly, with one another. We’re not meant to go through this life alone.
Review Questions
- Moses initially tried to handle everything by himself, which was overwhelming and unsustainable. Think about your own life - what makes it hard to ask for or accept help from others?
- Moses had Aaron and Hur hold up his arms during the battle and later took advice from Jethro about delegating leadership. Who are the people in your life who support you in different ways? In what situations do you feel most grateful for having supportive people around you?
- Sometimes, the wisest advice comes from unexpected sources - in this case, Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. How do you know or judge whether people are giving you good or bad advice?
Adults
Main Idea: God is our Provider, giving us our daily bread and all we need. (Exodus 17-18)
Summary
The Israelites faced a water crisis at Rephidim, where Moses struck a rock at God's command to provide water for the people. The Amalekites then attack Israel, and Moses sends Joshua to lead the battle. Moses stood on a hilltop with his staff raised: when it was raised, Israel would prevail. When the staff would lower, the Amalekites would begin winning. With the help of Aaron and Hur holding Moses’ arms, Israel ultimately prevailed, and Amalek was defeated.
Later, Moses's father-in-law, Jethro, observed that Moses was overwhelmed by judging the people's disputes alone. Jethro advises him to establish a hierarchical system of judges to handle minor cases, while Moses handles only the most difficult matters. Moses implements this advice, creating Israel's first organized judicial system.
Review Questions
The Israelites faced a water crisis at Rephidim, where Moses struck a rock at God's command to provide water for the people. The Amalekites then attack Israel, and Moses sends Joshua to lead the battle. Moses stood on a hilltop with his staff raised: when it was raised, Israel would prevail. When the staff would lower, the Amalekites would begin winning. With the help of Aaron and Hur holding Moses’ arms, Israel ultimately prevailed, and Amalek was defeated.
Later, Moses's father-in-law, Jethro, observed that Moses was overwhelmed by judging the people's disputes alone. Jethro advises him to establish a hierarchical system of judges to handle minor cases, while Moses handles only the most difficult matters. Moses implements this advice, creating Israel's first organized judicial system.
Review Questions
- When the Israelites faced the water crisis, they complained against Moses despite having just witnessed God's previous miracles. How do we sometimes exhibit similar behavior in our own lives, and what can we learn from these instances about trust and faith during difficult times?
- Moses needed Aaron and Hur's support to help Israel win the battle against Amalek. How does this illustrate the importance of community and support in leadership? What are some practical ways we can support our church leaders today?
- Jethro, as an outsider, was able to see a problem in Moses's leadership and offer advice that transformed Israel's governance. How can we become more open to receiving constructive criticism, especially from unexpected sources? How do we discern good advice from bad advice?
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