Being self-sufficient is something that our cultural has cherished and rewarded in the past. Most hard-working United States citizens love to demonstrate to others that they are able to make it on their own without depending on anyone. While this quality is admirable, perhaps it has caused some of us to not demonstrate a dependence on Christ. This week's study, Sufficient, will focus on how God responds when His people no longer believe that He is sufficient and try to take matters into their own hands.
In Exodus 16, God determines that He is going to teach them AGAIN about the fact that His is sufficient for all their needs. He is going to provide them with specific foods that will sustain them and specific instructions regarding how to gather, prepare, distribute, and store what He provides.
As always, it was God's goal to teach His people what it meant that He alone was the LORD and their God.
LOOK UP - IDEA TO GET THE GROUP'S ATTENTION
The teaching helps provide a word challenge puzzle that should be reproduced for each individual. It serves as a review of all the work God has already done for the Israelites in the book of Exodus to demonstrate that He is God Almighty.
LOOK IN - VIDEO OPTIONS TO HELP SET THE CONTEXT
Sometimes it is hard to fathom so many quail in one place. Consider using one of the following videos to help your group understand how incredible the experience of seeing so many quail might have been.
LOOK OUT - QUESTIONS TO CHALLENGE YOUR GROUP'S PERSONAL DEPENDANCE ON GOD
Guide the group to complete the following statements:
- When I face change or challenges while following God I . . .
- When God provides for my needs and then I face difficulties later I . . .
- I forget about depending on God when . . .
- What do these statements reveal about your dependence on God? What needs to change?
As you teach this passage, consider how you are going to challenge your group to evaluate whether or not they truly believe that God is sufficient for all their needs.
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