Key Thought : After the destruction of Jerusalem, Israel goes deeper and deeper into sin in line with human nature. Jeremiah stayed with the people as God stays with us.

Back to Egypt Lesson December 12-18, 2015/

1. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 41:16-18.

Image © Lars Justinen Goosalt.com

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What new problems do we see the remnant in Jerusalem facing?
c. Personal Application : How could one church member’s or leader’s political disobedience lead to pain and suffering for the whole group? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Why would Ismael want to kill Gedaliah? He was destroying any sense of governmental normality for Israel and must have known that the king of Babylon would come for him. What do you think Ismael was trying to do?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 43:1-4.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this The people had asked for counsel from God. Why do you suppose they rejected it?
c. Personal Application : Have you ever allowed your emotions or passions to cloud your judgment or even go against what God has said in His word? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “What are the things, institutions, or people in which we place our trust? What do you trust and how do you know that it is trustworthy?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

3. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 43:8-13.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What was the end result of the Israelites not trusting God and fleeing to Egypt for safety?
c. Personal Application: What are some ways we could be tempted to go back to the world (Egypt) when things don’t seem to be working with God? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “I don’t understand why Jeremiah stayed with the Israelites when they fled to Egypt. Why didn’t he stay and serve the Babylonian king rather than go with the rebellious people?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 44:7-10.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why do humans tend to commit the same mistakes over and over? Why can’t we listen and learn from other’s mistakes or our own?
c. Personal Application: Why are there some people who are doing very well in spite of living in sin and unbelief, while some faithful Christians go through terrible trials? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Print/PDF/Email