Discussion Questions:

Observation Questions
1. In verses 15-16, God tells Moses, “Go forward,” even though there appears to be nowhere to go. What does this reveal about the difference between what we can see and what God is doing?

2. What details in verses 21-31 emphasize that God--not Moses or Israel--is the one accomplishing the rescue?

Theological Discussion
3. Pastor Daniel mentioned that this passage is more than a morality tale about courage or “having a little more faith.” What is the danger of treating biblical stories primarily as lessons about trying harder or being braver?

4. The Israelites were in a situation where they could not save themselves. Why is that an important part of the biblical picture of salvation? How does our instinct to “do something” sometimes get in the way of recognizing our need for God’s grace?

5. We need someone who can break the power of sin and death and one day he shows up- Jesus.” How is Jesus the greater Deliverer to whom the Exodus ultimately points?

Application Questions
6. Israel had already witnessed God’s power through the plagues, yet they panicked when they saw Pharaoh’s army. Why are we so prone to forget what God has already done when a new crisis appears?

7. Can you think of a time when your circumstances seemed to contradict what you knew about God? What helped--or could have helped--you hold onto God’s character and promises?

8. What is one circumstance in your life where you need to stop looking primarily at the size of the problem and start looking at the character and promises of God?