Lesson #21: Old Testament: Wilderness

HIGHS AND LOWS:
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal.  Pastor Breen or a student volunteer will gather them in prayer.

OUT LOUD PRAYER:  Making Lemonade
In the beginning of the story this week, God turns bitter water into sweet water.  Make lemonade in steps.  Take 7 cups of water and add 1 ½ cups of lemon juice.  You can each add a little lemon juice as you pray for the lows in your lives.  Brave people can taste it at this point.  Then, add 1 ¾ c. sugar dissolved into 1 cup of water.  You can each add a little sugar water as you pray for the highs in your lives.  Then, stir it up, say amen, and enjoy!

LENTEN WORSHIP CHALLENGE:
For the next five weeks, we will be studying the story of Moses.  As we study, be mindful that these are the same stories that we will be sharing during our midweek Lenten services in February and March.  What are some creative ways that you would tell this story or help someone else to experience it in a new way?  Keep these questions in mind as we study tonight.

DWELLING IN THE WORD:  Exodus 15:22-27 & 16:1-5, 11-15, 19-31
Read Exodus 15:22-27 & 16:1-36 from the New Revised Standard version of the Bible.  Underline things you have questions about.  Circle things you like or would like to discuss more.

Comprehension Questions:
Chapter 15

1. What did Moses order the Israelites to do? (verse 22)
2. What didn’t they find? For how many days? (verse 22)
3. Why couldn’t they drink the water at Marah? (verse 23)
4. What did the people do? (verse 24)
5. What did Moses do? (verse 25)
6. What did the Lord tell Moses to do? (verse 25)
7. What did the Lord do to the people at Marah? (verse 25, the end)
8. What is the “if” clause of verse 26?
9. What is the “then” clause of verse 26?
10. Who heals the Israelites? (verse 26, the end)
11. Where did they go next? (verse 27)
12. What did they camp next to? (verse 27)

Chapter 16

1. What were the Israelites doing again? (verse 2)
2. What does the Lord promise? (verse 4)
3. How will the Lord test the Israelites? (verse 4)
4. What do they do on the sixth day? (verse 5)
5. What did the Lord hear? (verse 12)
6. What shall they eat at twilight? (verse 12)
7. What shall they eat in the morning? (verse 12)
8. What covered the camp? (verse 13)
9. What was on the surface of the wilderness? (verse 14)
10. What is it, according to Moses? (verse 15)
11. What did Moses say to the people? (verse 19)
12. Did the people listen? What happened?  (verse 20)
13. What happened morning by morning? (verse 21)
14. What did the people do on the sixth day? (verse 22)
15. What did the Lord command them? (verse 23)
16. What happened to it? (verse 24)
17. What did some people do on the seventh day? What did they find?  (verse 27)
18. How did the Lord react? (verse 28-29)
19. What did the people do on the seventh day? (verse 30)
20. What was the bread from heaven called? (verse 31)
21. What was it like? (verse 31)
22. What did it taste like? (verse 31)

Content Questions: Answer the following questions as completely as possible (group activity:  do this with your parents):

What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?

What is my favorite part of this text?  Why?

What stories or memories does this text stir up in you?  You might remember a time when you were hungry or thirsty, for example.

What is God doing in this text?  What is God up to?

CONNECT BIBLE ACTIVITY:  Turn in your Connect Bible to page 95 and read that page as a class.  Then, complete the activity described in bold.  Share your work with the class (take a copy to show to Pastor Breen if you do this activity at home)

LENTEN WORSHIP CHALLENGE:
How will we invite people into this story during our midweek Lenten services this year?  A skit?  A dramatic retelling?  Multimedia music/videos/graphics?  A craft project?  A prayer experience?

TALKING TO GOD/TAKING IT HOME

1. During this week, in your prayers, try using “Listening Lord” as your title for God. Make a special effort to emphasize “thy kingdom come” when you pray the Lord’s Prayer this week.
2. Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible.
3. Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.