Week 2: Benchmark For Health

Read Exodus 34:1-9

What is to be written on the stone tablets? (See Exodus 20)
It is hard to reconcile God’s words in verses 6-7. How can God be both “compassionate and gracious…abounding in love and faithfulness” and also punish children for the sins of their parents and grandparents?
Based on your current life situation, how would you write Moses’s prayer (vs. 8-9) into your own words?

Read Exodus 34:10-17

What does God promise to do for the Israelites?
How does God warn the Israelites to guard themselves against becoming corrupted by surrounding culture?
How can we apply God’s warning to our lives today? What are the ‘altars, sacred stones, and Asherah poles’ of modern American culture? How can we ‘break, smash, and cut’ these things down?

Read Exodus 34:18-28

What are the three festivals that the Israelites are supposed to celebrate every year?
The Festival of Ingathering is also known as the Festival of Tabernacles. It commemorates the experience of living in temporary dwellings in the desert during the Exodus. Why is it good to be reminded that we live temporarily in this world and in this body?
Why do you think it was so important for the people to celebrate these three yearly festivals? How does this command translate to our lives today?

Read Exodus 34:29-35:3

Read Exodus 35:4-29

What items does God command the Israelites to bring as offering?
With what attitude do you think the people bring their offering in these scriptures? Why?
How does this passage compare to the offerings that we bring to God today?

Read Exodus 35:30-36:7

Bezalel and Oholiab are anointed by the Spirit for the work of creating the tabernacle. What specific skills or attributes does God give them for the work?
With what attitude do you think the people bring their offering in these scriptures? Why?
Have you ever witnessed or experienced extravagant giving to the point of overwhelming abundance?

Review The Week