The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: MOSES TODAY
Week's focus: So Close and Yet So Far
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 1:1-45
Week of: November 5, 2006

TRACKING THE WORD IN WORSHIP
Note these principles from the Word for later recall, reflection & application

1. The wilderness is meant to be a passage to fulfillment, not a dead-end maze.

2. The way through and the way out is to trust and obey God's guidance, God's Word.

3. God does not abandon us--or His promises--even when we have acted in fear and faithlessness.

4. Keep your focus always on the next generation of people to be formed by faith and led to the Promised Land.


GUIDED JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
Explore these questions in personal devotions or group discussion

1. Think of a time or situation in which you have been stuck-geographically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, etc. Share in discussion or in your journal what it feels like. Also, reflect on what broke the inertia or logjam to get you back on track or moving ahead. Do you think this is a very common experience?

2. Read Deuteronomy 1:1-8, 19-21. In these verses, Moses begins to recount all the events of the past 40 years in the wilderness to a new generation. What was God's intent for the people after they left Mt. Horeb 40 years earlier (vv. 7-8)? What did God promise them? What were the people instructed by God to do (v. 20-21)? Can you infer from this that it was not God's intent for them to live long in the wilderness? Discuss or journal your responses.

3. Read Deuteronomy 1:22-33. What report did the spies sent into Canaan bring back? How did the people respond? Why were they afraid? What was God's promise to them (v. 30)? On what experience could the people have based their courage to advance into Canaan?

4. Read Deuteronomy 1:34-40. What is God's response to the people's disbelief and disobedience? Who is the exception? Why is he exempted? Who will not enter the Promised Land? Who will?

5. Read Deuteronomy 1:41-45. When they realized their grave error, what did the people try to do? What happened to them? What was God's response to their weeping? What do you make of this? Discuss or journal your responses?

MARKINGS LEFT BY PREVIOUS TRAVELERS
Consider what other believers have shared about this Scripture

JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS "After his baptism Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and nights (Mark 4:1-11). The setting and time are intentionally reminiscent of Israel's forty years in the wilderness. The temptations Jesus faced are the same as those faced by the wilderness generation: hunger, testing God, and worshiping false gods to gain power. In all three cases, Jesus proves himself obedient. Strikingly, in resisting these temptations Jesus quotes Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:16; 6:13). He shows, as the only obedient son of God, precisely where the Israelites were disobedient and brought on themselves the curses of the covenant." - Tremper Longman III in The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible

CAREFULLY CHOOSE YOUR MASTER "We have freedom to the degree that the master whom we obey grants it to us in return for our obedience. So we do well to choose a master in terms of how much freedom we get for how much obedience. To obey the law of the land leaves us our constitutional freedom, but not the freedom to follow our own consciences wherever they lead." - Frederick Buechner in Beyond Words

WHERE THE LORD WALKS "Let there be no disappointment when obedience keeps you busy in outward tasks. If it sends you to the kitchen, remember that the Lord walks among the pots and pans." - Teresa of Avila

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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