Opening Questions & Prayer
When going on a trip, what three items do you make sure you have with you?
In our journey in life, what are some things God equips us with?
What are some ways we may miss those things He provides?
Ask the Lord to guide you as you study His Word. Pray that through this study He would equip you to follow Him closer than you ever have before.
Read Exodus 12:28-33
Exodus 12:28-33 (All verses are in the NLT unless otherwise noted)
28 So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. 29 And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.
31 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.” 33 All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, “We will all die!”
How did Pharaoh respond to the final plague?
Why did Pharaoh want a blessing from Moses?
What are some ways people want the benefits of the Lord without actually surrendering their life to Him?
In your own life, what are some ways you may follow the Lord for the wrong reasons?
What needs to happen to correct that behavior this week?
Read Exodus 12:34-36
Exodus 12:34-36
34 The Israelites took their bread dough before yeast was added. They wrapped their kneading boards in their cloaks and carried them on their shoulders. 35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!
How did the Lord provide what the Israelites needed for the journey to the wilderness?
How does God use other people to equip His people with what they need?
What are some ways we turn to other things instead of relying on the Lord to provide?
What are some reasons we lack faith that God will provide?
How can you trust and rely on Him more this week?
Read Exodus 12:37-42
Exodus 12:37-42
37 That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children. 38 A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock. 39 For bread they baked flat cakes from the dough without yeast they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were driven out of Egypt in such a hurry that they had no time to prepare the bread or other food.
40 The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years. 41 In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land. 42 On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation.
Why did other people go with the Israelites?
When we live as God intended, why are people drawn to that?
Before you followed Jesus, who were some people that followed Jesus that you watched and decided you wanted (or needed) that in your life?
Who are the people that God has put in your circle of influence that need to know about Him?
Does your life draw people to Jesus or push them away?
Read Exodus 12:43-51
Exodus 12:43-51
43 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the instructions for the festival of Passover. No outsiders are allowed to eat the Passover meal. 44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised. 45 Temporary residents and hired servants may not eat it. 46 Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate this Passover festival.
48 “If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal. 49 This instruction applies to everyone, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner living among you.”
50 So all the people of Israel followed all the Lord’s commands to Moses and Aaron. 51 On that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.
Why does the Lord only want those who have entered into a covenant with Him to partake in the Passover meal?
When you entered into that covenant with God, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, what changed?
Why does God want a relationship with us?
Who is in your life that needs you to introduce them to the Lord and the life He has for them?
When will you do that this week?
Read 2 Peter 1:3-4
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
What does God give His children so that they can live a godly life?
What has God given you for your journey in life?
Are you using or neglecting that gift?
If you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, take a spiritual gifts assessment or talk to your close friends because they may have a good idea of what it is.
What is something you can do this week to use what God has given you to reach those around you with His message of hope and peace through Jesus?
Memorize it!
Exodus 12:36
36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!
Closing thoughts and prayer
The Lord is generous! When we come to know Jesus, He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit as well as spiritual gifts. These gifts are for the journey we are now on to know Jesus more and to make Him known to everyone around us. As we live in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, people will be drawn to the Jesus they see in our life. Don’t neglect your gifts!
Pair up and pray for one another. Pray that God would allow you to use the gifts He has given you to reach others for Him. Pray specifically for one person that needs to hear and accept God’s love. Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to share with them this week. End your time praying for the leaders in our country and churches.