Well, we are in Exodus 4:27-31, and my title for our study is "The Lord Guides; The Lord Provides."
The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
I don't know about you, but I am so often ready to give way in my heart and mind to the "what-ifs" and the "if-onlys." Our minds are too limited to look ahead and see what God will do. But what this passage reminds us of is that when God calls, he guides, and as he guides, he provides. His guidance is always accompanied by his empowering grace and his providing mercies. God's grace is always attached to his commands. His power is always unleashed for those who obey.
Look what happens as Moses obeys the LORD's commands. He's met by Aaron; Aaron speaks for Moses to the elders of Israel. And Aaron does the same signs in front of the people of Israel that God did in front of him. God worked so that Aaron would be willing, and God gave Aaron the same power that He had given Moses. "God guides; God provides." These fearful slaves believed that God was actually going to deliver them. They actually believed that God had seen their affliction, something they probably hadn't done in a very long time. And then they bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD-redemption had come, just as God had promised.
You see, the doubt and weakness of Moses couldn't stop God's redeeming hand. It could not stop His plan for His people. Neither could the fear of those poor slaves. I love these stories because they are people just like us. And imagine how discouraged I would be, living as a Jew in Egypt, with no rights, with a life of burden and hardship and mistreatment going on year after year after year after year. I would have doubted too. I would have been afraid too. It would have been impossible for me to have conceived what God would do, what he had in mind. Is he there? Does he hear? Does he care? When you read these accounts, open your heart and be humbled. These are people just like us.
Listen, we panic with a lot less circumstances than Israel is facing. We doubt God's goodness in teeny, little moments of life, not comparable to what these people went through for 420 years. It reminds me of Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and ever." Amen! Don't be stopped by your inability to conceive how God will work. Follow him by faith and watch what he will do!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. In the past, how have you seen God guide and provide for you as you have been obedient to his call and commandments in your life? Try to think of specific examples. How did his guidance and provision bring you encouragement and deeper faith?
2. In what ways has it been difficult for you to believe in God's provision and care because of the affliction you have been or are going through? What kind of hardship in your life has led to doubt, fear, and/or cynicism? When you read about how God worked in the lives of the Israelites in this passage, what gives you hope in the face of doubt, fear, or cynicism?
3. How has your inability to conceive how God works in your life stopped you from moving forward in faith and trusting him with any results or outcomes? What proactive steps can you take to follow God by faith and trust him with both the big and little things in life?
4. Re-read Ephesians 3:20-21 and think through specific circumstances in your life that feel overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Now list the ways that God is able to work in those circumstances, regardless of their negative or chaotic nature.
For Younger Children:
1. What do you think it means that God guides us? What does it mean that he provides for us? How have you seen God both guide and provide in our family?
2. What is our job as God guides and provides? What are some negative or sinful ways that we might respond to difficult situations in life? Why do you think it's so easy for us to respond negatively or sinfully?
3. How can we ask God to help us when we're tempted to respond negatively or sinfully? Can we pause right now and pray for each other to respond to difficult things with trusting God instead of responding with doubt and fear?
For Older Children:
1. What is your knee-jerk response when life's circumstances and challenges feel overwhelming and impossible to deal with? How have you seen me respond?
2. What proactive steps can you and I take to respond in the future with faith instead of fear or doubt? Why is there always hope despite difficult circumstances?
3. Can we pause right now and pray for each other to respond to difficult things with trusting God instead of responding with doubt and fear?
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