Lessons from Exodus
Welcome back to the Worship Companion! This weekly resource is where you’ll find sermon-related study questions, scriptures, notes, artwork, and musi that help you engage with the themes of spiritual formation, biblical studies, and theology that we explore each week at church. The goal is to help you engage with what God has revealed in Scripture and see how he continues to get our attention through various media.
“Waiting for the Divine Instruction” by Shiloh McCloud
Anchor Texts: (Bible passages from the sermon you’ll want to review this week)
Exodus 15:22-27 NIVUK - The waters of Marah and Elim
Philippians 2:13-15 NIVUK - Do not Grumble!
Proverbs 10:4 NIVUK - Lazy hands make for poverty
Proverbs 12:27 NIVUK - The lazy do not roast any game
Questions to Ponder:
Grumbling is not the actual problem in this passage, ________________________________ is the real problem.
Israel had at least 2 legitimate problems: 1. ____________ and 2. ______________. Was their response to their dillemma appropriate, though? Why or why not?
Moses threw _________ into the water to make it sweet, but it also may have been a ___________. What other biblical images and ideas does the second option bring to mind?
What appeared to be a practical problem, was in fact a __________ from God.
How would you define “diligent?” Read v. 26 from Exodus 15 again. What does “diligent listening” mean?
Look at “diligent” in the other passages from the worship companion - what does living with diligence look like for you?
Answers: 1. “not trusting God” 2. No water, Bitter water 3. log, tree 4. Test
The Theme in Art:
In the painting below, “Waiting for the Divine Instruction” Shiloh McCloud has beauitful captured the posture of a woman listening for the voice of God. What elements of listening does this picture highlight? How is she listening? What else can listening for divine instruction look like? What are some examples from your own life? Is it always peaceful like this?
The Theme in Song:
Usually the songs I include had lyrics, but this beautiful instrumental arrangement of the hymn “Be Still, My Soul” is worth including in the blog this week, and I’ll put the lyrics right here in the companion for you to read. The song is about trusting God when circumstances would otherwise lead you to dispair. Not unlike some of the trials of the Children of Israel in the wilderness.
1. Be still, my soul! the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly friend
Thru’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul! your God does undertake
To guide the future as he has the past;
Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he lived below.
3. Be still, my soul! when dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shall you better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul! your Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.
4. Be still, my soul! the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still my soul! when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.