GROUP GUIDE
Leading a group through these questions? Here’s a simple guide for 1.5-2 hour GROUP meeting.
Welcome and Opening Prayer. (5 minutes)
Read the passage aloud. (5 minutes)
Guide the group through the questions. (30-60 minutes)
Take time to share prayer requests and pray for each other. (15-30 minutes)
TEACHING RECAP
Summary: What is God doing when answers are delayed, progress is slow or the road ahead is harder than expected? When God led Israel out of Egypt, he deliberately did not take them by the shortest road. From Exodus 13:17–18, we’ll discover how the wilderness can become a place of God’s presence, provision and preparation—and how to keep following Jesus through seasons of waiting, uncertainty and difficulty.
Main Points:
1. In the wilderness, God is tangibly present.
2. In the wilderness, God faithfully provides.
3. In the wilderness, God has a deeper purpose.
On-Ramps:
Walk closely with Jesus.
Journey deeply with others.
Step courageously into your calling.
Discussion
What speaks to you about this passage of Scripture here in Exodus 13:17-22? Is there anything that sticks out for you?
Think about your life. Have you ever taken the ‘short road’ with something? Did it lead to an unfavourable result? What were the effects of your actions?
Why do you think we are so quick to want to go the short way or get things done as fast as possible? What are the pitfalls of doing that?
What do you do when the answers to your prayers are delayed, or progress is slow, or you don’t get the answer from God that you wanted? How do you feel & how do you react/respond to that difficult reality?
Read Isaiah 46:4. How does this verse speak to you in the midst of the challenging circumstances that you are presently facing? How can we choose to fully trust God even in the seasons of life that are difficult, and the road ahead appears harder than expected?
Share with your small group something that you are presently finding challenging in your life. Share how you’re trying to deal with it. Pray for each other in the midst of the ‘long road’ each of you is journeying.
PRAYER
How can we pray for you as a group?
Next week: Exodus 14:10–31
