In Case You Missed It

There are lots of great stories in the Bible, but it’s a big book! What if you missed a story or two? In this series we’ll fill in the gaps in your Old Testament knowledge.

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The Snake On a Pole (Numbers 21)

Just before uttering the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16), Jesus made a reference to an obscure story in the Old Testament about a bronze snake.

Read the backstory in Numbers 21:4-9.

Talking Points:

  • God’s instructions to Moses were confusing for two reasons: snakes were bad, and so were idols. It took simple faith for the Israelites to obey. Numbers 21:8-9
  • The bronze snake foreshadowed God’s plan for saving humanity. Jesus became sin for those bitten by sin, so that we would be rescued by looking to the cross. John 3:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • Later in history, the snake on a pole became an idol for the people of Israel. This is a reminder that God’s message can get corrupted in future generations. 2 Kings 18:4
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Two thousand years ago a Pharisee named Nicodemus approached Jesus in the cloak of night to investigate the teachings of this carpenter-turned-prophet. Nicodemus was formally trained; Jesus was a street preacher. Yet Jesus seemed to have a simpler picture of God and history. And so they talked, and in the conversation Jesus uttered those now-famous words from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave is only Son, that whoever believes in him will be saved”. It’s famous for good reason: it’s the simplest, most succinct articulation of the “good news” of the Bible.

But in case you missed it, there’s more to the story. Just one verse earlier (John 3:15) Jesus referenced an ancient story with a dramatic twist. You can find the backstory in Numbers 21:4-5. Here’s the short version: the Israelites sinned as they grumbled against God in the wilderness – so he sent poisonous snakes and many of them were bitten and died. The people repented and asked Moses for help, and that brings us to the verse that Jesus referenced to Nicodemus.  God told Moses, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” (Numbers 21:8-9)

God’s instructions to Moses were confusing for two reasons: snakes were bad, and so were idols. It took simple faith for the Israelites to obey. Numbers 21:8-9

If you know your Old Testament, then the story of Adam and Eve should jump out at you right here. God said, “Don’t eat from this one tree in the middle of the Garden” – but Satan, in the form of a snake, convinced them to disobey. And so sin entered the world (and snakes are bad). And even crazier than that: God had just given the 10 commandments to the people through Moses, explicitly commanding them not to make any idols. But now Moses is essentially commanded by God to do just that: to make an idol of a snake and put it on a pole.

Confusing. Until you read the rest of the Bible.

The bronze snake foreshadowed God’s plan for saving humanity. Jesus became sin for those bitten by sin, so that we would be rescued by looking to the cross. John 3:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is what’s going on in Numbers 21: it’s a “type” of Christ, a foreshadowing of what God would do through Jesus. In the olden days we used to sing a song about “lifting Jesus higher,” referencing this passage in John 3:15. But here’s the twist: this passage is not about lifting up the name of Jesus in worship; it’s about lifting up his body as a sacrifice on the cross! Paul makes this idea explicit in 2 Corinthians 5:21: Jesus, the sinless one, became sin for all of us. To the human mind this makes no sense, but it was God’s plan all along (1 Corinthians 1:21). The simple message of the Bible is that we can’t save ourselves. By faith, we must look to the one who can save us: Jesus Christ.

But there’s one more powerful insight from this story, in case you missed it:

Later in history, the snake on a pole became an idol for the people of Israel. This is a reminder that God’s message can get corrupted in future generations. 2 Kings 18:4

Years later, the people of Israel wandered away from God yet again. And so we read that “King Hezekiah broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it” (2 Kings 18:4). Isn’t this just like us a humans? Isn’t it typical for a religion to start off with the simple truth that faith alone saves – symbolized by the snake on a pole – only to corrupt that message in later generations? The Israelites ended up worshiping the powerless bronze thing instead of the God behind the whole message in the first place.

Do you recognize that you’ve been bitten by sin? Will you look to Jesus alone for salvation?

Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Rank your top three most hated creatures. Share any funny or not so funny encounters you’ve had with them.
  3. Read Numbers 21:4-5. Describe the attitude of the Israelites at this point in the story. How can you relate to their attitude towards God?
  4. Read Numbers 21:6-7. How did sending the snakes change the attitude of the people? Share a time when a negative consequence taught you an important lesson.
  5. Read Numbers 21:8-9. Why do you think God would use a symbol to heal the Israelites? Why did it still take faith to be healed?
  6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. How does this verse speak to what happened in Numbers 21 and John 3:15-16?
  7. Read 2 Kings 18:4. Describe the difference in the attitude of the people in Numbers 21:8-9 versus in Hezekiah’s day. What are some of the idols Christians worship today?
  8. Do you recognize that you’ve been bitten by sin? Will you look to Jesus alone for salvation?
  9. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Balaam and the Donkey

The pagan prophet Balaam is most famous for his talking donkey. But the real story is what happened when he tried to curse the people of God just before they entered the Promised Land.

Talking Points:

  • God is fighting for our attention and will do whatever it takes to get it. For Balaam, it took a talking donkey. Numbers 22:21-23, 28-30, 31,35
  • God is sovereign and will always get his way. Balaam’s prophecies affirmed the blessings that God had promised to Abraham.
  • The enemy will never stop trying to curse God’s people. Balaam couldn’t do it through magic, so he did it through culture. Revelation 2:14
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Share a crazy story of how God has gotten your attention in the past.
  3. Read Numbers 22:21-23,28-30,31,35. Do a quick review of the story from these verses. Who was Balaam? What was he instructed to do by the king of Moab?
  4. Review the 4 promises to Abraham. Why do you think God reiterated these promises through a wicked prophet?
  5. Read Genesis 49:10 and Numbers 24:17 and Matthew 1:1-16. What do these prophecies speak of in the future? What does Jesus’ family tree reveal in Matthew 1?
  6. Read Numbers 25:1-3 and Numbers 31:16. How did Balaam curse the Israelites in the end? Why do you think the Israelites fell for it?
  7. Read Revelation 2:14. Who are the “Balaams” of our generation, and how are they trying to trip us up?
  8. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Samuel and the Voice

When you “hear” from God, how do you know it’s really him – or if you just manufactured it? The story of Samuel gives us three tests that are still valid today.

Talking Points:

  • Test #1: The Bible. Does the message match up with what God has already spoken? 2 Timothy 3:14-15
  • Test #2: Other believers. Do other trustworthy followers of Jesus affirm the message? 1 Samuel 3:8-10
  • Test #3: Your attitude. Are you really listening to God, or are you just trying to get your way? John 10:27
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Share a time you felt prompted to do something. How did you determine if it was from God? What happened?
  3. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-8. Samuel was very faithful to God. Why do you think he missed that it was God calling him, not Eli?
  4. Read 2 Timothy 3:14-15. Why should we test our thoughts against the Bible? Why should anything that contradicts the Bible be thrown away?
  5. Read 1 Samuel 3:8-10. How did Eli help Samuel to discern God’s leading? Share a time you sought someone else’s counsel on an issue. How did that help you to gain clarity and direction?
  6. Share a personal story or of a person you know who felt compelled to do something that went against God’s word and the advice of others. How did that situation play out?
  7. Read 1 Samuel 3:10 and John 10:27. What does a heart of submission look like practically? What are some indicators of a hardened heart?
  8. What are you praying about right now? How will you use the three tests to help you know if you’re hearing God’s voice?
  9. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Five Lessons from Elijah and the Widow

God doesn’t always spare us from tough times, but we can trust him to provide for our needs on the roller coaster of everyday life.

Talking Points:

  • Sometimes God lets us go through lean times, but he always has a purpose. 1 Kings 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 28:23-24
  • God usually provides for us through other people, whether we like it or not. 1 Kings 17:8-16
  • The more we experience God’s provision, the more entitled we can become. 1 Kings 17:17-18
  • It’s okay to question God – as long as it comes from a place of faith. 1 Kings 17:19-21
  • Each new challenge creates a new opportunity to see how God will provide. 1 Kings 17:22-24
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Other than health and wealth, what are some other things Christians mistakenly believe about God and how he works?
  3. Read Deuteronomy 28:23-24 and 1 Kings 17:1-7. Why did God allow famines and droughts to occur? Why do you think he didn’t spare Elijah from this judgement even though he was faithful to God?
  4. Share a time you experienced a drought (emotionally, spiritually or financially). How did that affect you? How did it affect your relationship with God?
  5. Read 1 Kings 17:8-16. Why do you think God had Elijah go to a widow? How did the widow show great faith in this story? How has God provided for you through someone else’s generosity?
  6. Read 1 Kings 17-18. What does this passage reveal about the widow’s heart? How do you see Christians act entitled today?
  7. Read 1 Kings 17:19-20. What does this passage reveal about Elijah’s heart? How can we discern if we’re demanding things from God versus asking but trusting God’s answer?
  8. Read 1 Kings 17:22-24. Share a time you doubted God to intervene in a situation. Like the widow, how did you come to see God at work in the situation?
  9. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Elisha and the Angel Army

Are you surrounded by impossible situations that create fear and anxiety? So was the prophet Elisha – and his response teaches us three timeless lessons about the power of prayer.

Talking Points:

  • Prayer trains us to respond with peace instead of fear in the midst of life’s trials. Prayer shouldn’t be the last thing we do in an impossible situation; it should be the regular thing we do as we train ourselves for the trial. 2 Kings 6:14-16, Philippians 4:6-7
  • Prayer opens our eyes to a spiritual battle that is more real than what we can physically see. To prepare for that battle, we should put on the armor of God – and pray! 2 Kings 6:17, Ephesians 6:12
  • Prayer submits us to a God who can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. The Elisha story ended with an unexpected twist, and that’s how it can work in our story as well. 2 Kings 6:18-19,21-22
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Share a time in your life that you were gripped with fear because of an impossible situation. What troubled you the most? How did you respond to that fear at the time?
  3. Read 2 Kings 6:8-16. What does this story reveal about Elisha’s relationship with God? Why do you think he responded as he did compared to his servant?
  4. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Identify the actions steps found in this passage. Share how prayer helped your anxiety in the past? Why do you think Paul include thankfulness as part of the response?
  5. Read 2 Kings 6:17 and Ephesians 6:12. What do you think about this idea that we are fighting a spiritual battle more than a physical one? How have you seen the enemy try to attack you?
  6. Review the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). How does each piece help us to fight the spiritual battles we encounter?
  7. Read 2 Kings 6:18-19,21-22. Why do you think God ended the story this way instead of decimating the army? How have you been surprised by God’s answers in your own life?
  8. What does it look like for us to submit to God’s way, even if the outcome looks different than we would like?
  9. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Ezekiel and the Dry Bones

God wants to restore us from brokenness – and he has the power to do it – as soon as we recognize our need for him.

Talking Points:

  • God’s heart for his people is renewal, not destruction. His primary motive for this is to demonstrate the greatness of his name to the watching world. Ezekiel 36:23-24
  • Your part in spiritual renewal is to admit you have a problem. God is actively working to open your eyes so you don’t just go on your self-satisfied, myopic way. Ezekiel 36:14, Isaiah 57:15
  • God himself does the real work of spiritual renewal. Ultimately he does this through the cross of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 36:24-26, John 5:24-25
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Have you ever experienced a time of spiritual renewal where you felt more connected to God than ever? Describe and share.
  3. Read Ezekiel 36:1-12. Identify all that God is saying in this passage. How was God going to prove his power and authority?
  4. Read Ezekiel 36:23-24. How have you seen God display his power in your life, especially during a tough time?
  5. Read Ezekiel 37:11 and Isaiah 57:15. How do you relate to the words in Ezekiel 37? What does the Isaiah passage say we all need to have renewal?
  6. Read Ezekiel 36:25-27 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does the Ezekiel passage say about the heart? How does Paul speak to this in 2 Corinthians? How have you changed since putting your faith in Jesus? In what areas are you still seeking change?
  7. Read John 5:24-25. Our renewal happens through trusting in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How do you need to be awakened from the “dead”? To learn more about trusting in Jesus, go to pursuegod.org/start.
  8. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?