Context
- What had God already done for his people? [ Exodus 12:31, 14:30 ]
- What have the people of Israel been grumbling about before this passage? [ Exodus 16:11-12 ]
- What should the LORD’s action have demonstrated to the people of Israel?
Characters
- Where are the people? Who are they following? What is the problem? [ Exodus 17:1 ]
- What was Moses’ position? Why did the people argue with him? Who were they really grumbling against? [ Exodus 17:2 ]
- What do the people suggest is Moses’ intention? [ Exodus 17:3 ]
- How did Moses’ react to the people’s complaints? [ Exodus 17:4 ]
- How did God provide for Moses? How might the staff and elders been an encouragement to Moses? [ Exodus 17:5-6 ]
- What did the LORD provide for his people? [ Exodus 17:6 ]
- What was at the root of the people’s complaint against the LORD? [ Exodus 17:7 ]
- What do the Amalekites hope to achieve? Who are they really attacking?[ Exodus 17:8 ]
- Where is Moses during the battle? [ Exodus 17:8 ]
- Why is the staff of God important? What does it demonstrate to the people of Israel? [ Exodus 17:9, 11-13 ]
- How did Joshua react to Moses’ instruction? [ Exodus 17:10 ]
- What did the LORD promise to do to the Amalekites? [ Exodus 17:14 ]
- How did Moses respond to the victory? [ Exodus 17:15 ]
- What does the Israelites’ victory demonstrate about the LORD?
Application
- How might we disbelieve the LORD and grumble against him?
- What evidence do we have of his character and faithfulness, in contrast to the Israelites?
- What is the LORD able to do for his people? (Think about the two events in this passage.)
- What does this passage suggest about God’s character?