Chapter 9: Questions

The Faith of a Foreign Woman

As always, feel free to answer questions in the comments (especially the "Digging Deeper" ones) and share any thoughts you might have about the "Personal Action." Or, let us know if YOU have a question!


CHECKING YOUR COMPREHENSION
1. What does Ruth's story reveal about the love of God?

2. What does Ruth's story reveal about how God views all people groups? What does that mean for you?

3. Both Ruth and Naomi suffered tremendous loss. Why does a good and gracious God allow tragedy to come upon those who love him?

4. When difficult times come, what causes you to continue to hope in God?

5. Ruth left her home to follow Naomi and to follow God. How is God asking you to follow him?

6. In what ways do Ruth's actions and responses challenge you? Encourage you?

7. What steps can you take to become a more selfless, loving person?


DIGGING DEEPER
Naomi was a woman of faith BUT she also questioned God and was deeply honest about her struggles (Ruth 1:19-21; "The Story" p 122). In what was did Naomi's losses impact how she viewed God and his work in her life? When was the last time you were honest with God about your pain and hurt? What happened? As you look back on it now, have you learned anything about God's presence and faithfulness?

Boaz was a man of amazing character and wisdom (Ruth 2-3, "The Story" p 123-126). What can we learn from Boaz's interactions with his workers? with Ruth?

PERSONAL ACTION
When you think of how Naomi's life went from Mara (bitter) to Naomi (beautiful), what were the ways God extended grace to this faithful woman? Who needs YOU to come alongside of them to remind them that they are loved (or beautiful) and what is one action you can take this week to extend God's grace to this person?

AND/OR

Be a Boaz! He showed compassion to a person in need. Think through this coming week and identify one or two acts of compassion and generosity you can extend to a person who is hurting, marginalized, and in need.

This is a safe place to be able to share questions and fears and doubts. You can post using your name or not, whichever you prefer. And if you choose to respond to someone's comment, please be gentle with your words. 

Chap 8: Reflection

I have never served in the military ... but I HAVE sat through a number of military-themed movies (mainly because my dad had control of the remote at the the time).

So I confess I don't know a whole lot about military strategy. BUT one thing I am absolutely, positively sure of is this: you want as many people as possible on YOUR side and the fewest number of people on the opposing side.

It just makes sense. Throughout history, you always want the most soldiers on your side of the conflict. Always ... unless, God happens to be your General.

In chapter 8 of "The Story," we read first about God calling Gideon, saying to him, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior" (The Story, p. 108).  Which is kinda funny because Gideon is a simple farmer from the weakest clan in his tribe who needs not one but TWO fleece experiments to make sure God really meant what he said.

Gideon, quite understandably, has some concerns about the mission given to him, to save Israel from the grasp of the Midianites, who had recently joined forces with the Amelekites. And with "other eastern people." Gideon's concern: they're outnumbered.

And after voicing that concern to God, the Lord replies in return, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me.'"

Gideon thinks they don't have enough soldiers on their side; God thinks they have too many.

Per usual in these kinds of disagreements, God wins.

Through what must have been an early inspiration of how to "vote people off the island" (a la "Survivor" or "Big Brother"), the number of troops are reduced first by those who trembled in fear, then because of how they drink water ("The Story, p. 09-110). Gideon is left with 300 troops to face the mustered troops of multiple nations.

And you know what? At the end of the battle, Gideon and the tiny Israelite army are left standing victorious on the battlefield.

But not because of their strength.
Or their training.
Or their skill.
But because the Lord was with them.

Because the Lord was testing them "to see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did" (The Story, p. 85).

Gideon and his little army were faithful and obedient, and they were rewarded for that.

It wasn't easy or convenient or comfortable to be faithful. In fact, the task at hand was so great that 22,000 trembled and were dismissed from duty. 10,000 were left. From there, the 10,000 was whittled down to 300.

300 soldiers whose hearts were tested and found pleasing to God.
300 soldiers who chose keep God's commands and to walk in the ways of their ancestors.

Perhaps ... perhaps when trials and difficulties come our way, instead of getting distracted by the numbers or the circumstances we could instead ponder that God might be testing us to see if we too will "keep the way of the Lord" and walk in a way that is pleasing to God. Maybe the outcome of the situation doesn't matter so much as the faithfulness of our hearts in the middle of the situation.

And maybe, as long as we can muster up even a little faith, God can do an awful lot. And it will be very obvious that our measly little pile of faith cannot accomplish such great things; it will solely be from the hand of God.

Chapter 8: Questions

A Few Good Men ... and Women

As always, feel free to answer questions in the comments (especially the "Digging Deeper" ones) and share any thoughts you might have about the "Personal Action." Or, let us know if YOU have a question!

CHECKING YOUR COMPREHENSION
1. What does God's choice of Deborah as judge during this time reveal about God's view of women?

2. Why does God often use weak and uncertain people like Gideon to do his work?

3. If you ever feel uncertain about your gifts and abilities, how could the story of Gideon encourage and strengthen you?

4. What reasons can you give for why the Israelites kept repeating their downward cycle of sin?

5. What was the root cause of Samson's fall? What was the result?

6. What are the strongest temptations that you face? How do you fight such temptations?

DIGGING DEEPER
Very often, there are consequences when we refuse to follow God's way. Why do you think we continue to repeat the same sin patterns even though we know the outcome will not be good?

One of the recurring themes in this chapter of "The Story" is that a new generation would rise up that did not know God and what he had done for his people in the past. When we forget what God has done for us in the past, we wander away from him. It still happens today. What PRACTICAL things can we do (in our homes and at church) to help the next generation know and remember what God did for them in the past so they will remember and hold on to him in the future?

PERSONAL ACTION
Read and ponder Moses' song in Deuteronomy 32. Read it so often that it sinks down into your bones. Pick out a couple of verses that are particularly meaningful to you, write them down, and put them somewhere you will see often. Let the message of this song remind you of God's goodness and our human temptation to fall back into the same sins over and over again.


This is a safe place to be able to share questions and fears and doubts. You can post using your name or not, whichever you prefer. And if you choose to respond to someone's comment, please be gentle with your words. 

Chapter 7: Reflection

Ya gotta love Joshua.  He made being faithful look easy, didn’t he?  God said to do it and Joshua did it.  

God said not to do it and Joshua didn’t do it.  

And look how God blessed him for his faithfulness. 

At the beginning of the chapter, God has a little chat with Joshua and tells him some of the blessings that are to come, and then God promises to be with him as He was with Moses.  

God says, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”  Then he tells him one more time, “Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (pg. 89). 

What an awesome promise God gives Joshua, and all Joshua has to do is be strong, courageous and obey, which is exactly what Joshua did.  Because Joshua was faithful, God gave him very specific instructions about how to deal with Jericho, Ai, the 5 kings of the Amorites, and all the royal cities.  As a result of his following God’s instructions, we read:  “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses” (pg. 99). 

It is clear that the result of faithfulness is blessing.  

So why doesn’t everyone just obey God and receive God’s blessings?  Why aren’t we faithful all the time so that we can receive God’s blessings?  It seems simple enough, doesn’t it?  Faithfulness = Blessings. 

The key is at the end of the chapter in Joshua’s address to the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel.  He tells them:  “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness.  Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped…and serve the LORD.”  

Then Joshua gives them a choice:  “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (pg. 101).    Joshua says, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

There it is.  

We, too, have a choice every day.  

When you get out of bed every morning, you have a choice whom you will serve.  Will it be your boss when he/she asks you to do something just a little bit immoral?  Will it be your friends when they want you to do something you know your parents wouldn’t approve of?  Will it be the culture that is constantly challenging our Christian beliefs?  

OR…  will you make the decision each day:  “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”?  

Think about where the blessings come from and then choose carefully.

Chapter 7: Questions

The Battle Begins

WELCOME BACK! Week 7! Can you believe you've made it this far? We hope you've begun to hear God speaking to you in a powerful way through "The Story."

As always, feel free to answer questions in the comments (especially the "Digging Deeper" ones) and share any thoughts you might have about the "Personal Action." Or, let us know if YOU have a question!


CHECKING YOUR COMPREHENSION
1. How could Joshua be "strong and courageous" in such intimidating situations?

2. What do you learn about God from the story of the story of Rahab the prostitute?

3. What do the string of amazing victories in battle the people experienced as they entered the land reveal about who is really in charge of history?

4. Why did God order the Israelites to go to war against others? How was this war justified? Do you agree?

5. How did Joshua challenge the people in his final speech?

6. Why do you think God lavished blessings on Joshua and all the Israelites, who, like Joshua, trusted God?

7. What practical steps can you take to gain a deeper faith in God?


DIGGING DEEPER
The first time spies were sent into the land 12 went--2 returned with a positive report, 10 with a negative one. Based on that, the Israelites decided it wasn't worth the risk. Forty years later, Joshua sent out spies again ... but this time in a team of 2. And the people acted on their report.  Someone once said, "Committees seldom make courageous decisions." Do you agree? Disagree? Most churches LOVE committees, even when they don't always function well. Is there value to listening to a couple of bold leaders rather than a committee? What would this do to the way we "do" church?

Sometimes being a Christian feels like you're swimming upstream, against the flow. Sometimes what you think is right (aka "pleasing to God") looks a lot different than what everybody else around you thinks. How does consistent and faith-filled reading of the Bible (God's story) help us remain strong? courageous? What are your personal habits and commitments when it comes to Bible Study? How can we encourage you in your love for God and his story?


PERSONAL ACTION
Take a few moments and examine your life, in particular the decisions you have made recently. Are you being courageous, willing to go against the flow and swim upstream? Or are there some places where the force of the water has pushed you downstream a bit? Use this time to take a stand--identify one area where you are ready to change the tide, be courageous, and to do God's will.

This is a safe place to be able to share questions and fears and doubts. You can post using your name or not, whichever you prefer. And if you choose to respond to someone's comment, please be gentle with your words.