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Weekend > 7/5 1 2 Tuesday > 7/7 Personal Space
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teach me Monday > 7/6 Need a
Your Ways God wants to know you. secoNd

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hink back to When you were a kid. do you remember the times your chaNce?
Tdad, grandfather, a teacher, or some other male figure in your life walked
Moses said to the lord, into a room? i’ll bet some of them carried a certain authority and presence with
“look, You have told me, them wherever they went. did you have respect for those men? did you want to aybe it Was a collectible,
‘lead this people up,’ but be near them? Mexpensive electronic, or How well
You have not let me know family heirloom. think back to when
whom You will send with read through exodus 33:18-23 and carefully consider verse 19. you broke something very valuable— do you
me. You said, ‘I know you � what do you think Moses meant when he asked god to show his glory? something that belonged to someone obey?
by name, and you have � why is it that he couldn’t see the else. how did the owner react? was
also found favor in My He said, “I will cause all My face of god and live? he or she angry or upset with you? Are you
sight.’” —Exodus 33:12 goodness to pass in front of � do you ever desire to feel the how did you react? what would you abusing
you, and I will proclaim the presence of father god more? have done differently if you could do
read exodus 33:12-17. name Yahweh before you. � think back on the men you’ve it again? His grace?
ave you ever gone through I will be gracious to whom respected or had a close bond with 3
Ha maze? it’s confusing! it I will be gracious, and I will in life. do you think god desires to The lord said to Moses,
causes you to ask, “where do i go have compassion on whom have a close, intimate relationship “Cut two stone tablets like
I will have compassion.”
now?” and “who knows the way out?” —Exodus 33:19 with us as his children? the first ones, and I will Wednesday > 7/8
it’s full of unexpected twists, turns, write on them the words It really did hurt him more
and surprises around every corner. Moses wanted to fully know god and spent time in his glorious presence. in that were on the first
the older we get, the more today’s scripture passage, Moses’ relationship with god appears vital and tablets, which you broke.”
confusing god’s ways and life’s intimate. Moses seemed to be very comfortable with god, so much that he —Exodus 34:1 than it hurt you.
journey becomes. our search for who simply asked god what he’d been dying to ask: to see god’s glory. god didn’t
he is and what he wants us to do can hide from Moses or ignore his request. he answered Moses and chose to honor s a child, you Probably exPerienced discipline in some sense, right?
sometimes seem like a maze. we have Moses’ request, but in his own way and in his own time. read through exodus 34:1-4 and AMost of us have—whether that was a spanking, being grounded, sitting
questions, so we make a decision and the point? god desires to have an intimate relationship with you. he wants focus in on verse 1. in time-out, or something else. and, normally, when you were disciplined, it was
choose a path to follow. we find those to display his glory, as much as you can handle, and allow you to know more � do you recognize that these tablets because you did something wrong. how do you remember feeling after you were
answers around the corner, but run and more of his character. think about it like this: god originally created the were the ten commandments? disciplined? did you want to go and mess up again? were you sorry for your actions?
into another fork in the path where relationship between a father and his child to be a deep connection. some � because you know this, how valuable
more questions await—and so on. of you have the kind of dad that you now experience that kind of connection do you think they were to god? why? Then the lord passed in front of him and proclaimed:
enter today’s scripture passage. with, and others of you don’t. no matter what kind of dad you have, god the � why do you think god gave Moses “Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious
even when he didn’t understand father desires to show himself clearly to you. he wants to know you intimately a second chance to redeem himself God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth.”
god’s ways, Moses still surrendered and have the kind of relationship with you that a father has with his son or after he broke the tablets in anger? —Exodus 34:6
and sought god out, saying, “please daughter. but you have to be willing. � what does this teach you about
teach me your ways!” god’s forgiveness in your life today? today, read through exodus 34:5-9 and take a careful look at verse 6.
this is the same kind of prayer we for what do you need forgiveness � Make a list of the characteristics used in this passage to describe god.
need to pray daily. each day presents and a second chance? � what stands out to you the most?
a new twist or turn, an unfamiliar � have you seen god act in any of these ways in your life? how did that make
path to follow, a new decision to the tablets were important to god you feel? what did it teach you about his character and his plan for your life?
make. don’t you want to know that because he made them as a physical � what is god’s attitude toward sin?
the person who knows the way reminder of what it meant to live
through the maze is guiding your according to his ways. he had an for you, the word “father” may make you cringe, or it may bring back sweet
steps? for him to teach you his ways, important message for the israelites, memories of a close relationship with your dad. either way, this passage of
you have to actually know him. How is but Moses broke the first set of scripture screams, “god is our father!” so, what does that actually mean?
Many people don’t know god God like tablets in anger. god could have god first told Moses that he was compassionate, gracious, faithful, loving,
because they aren’t seeking him or cursed Moses, struck him dead, or forgiving, and merciful. but he went on to say that he wants our holiness,
spending time with him every day. a Father replaced him with another leader. which means he won’t ignore our sin. he is definitely a father of forgiveness
the “maze” of seeking him may but, instead, he gave Moses a second and second chances, but he can’t and won’t overlook when we choose to live in
seem overwhelming at times, but he in your chance and asked him to create two opposition to his standards.
is not unattainable or unknowable. life? new stone tablets. this also says a lot does that sound like a dad to you? sure it does! we often think of god as this
he desires to have a deep, authentic about how god the father treats us as grandfather-figure with a long, white beard, sitting on a rocking chair in heaven,
relationship with you—one in which his children when we mess up. we’re just waiting to strike us down if we mess up. but that’s not the true picture of
you will seek him and say, “show me going to mess up, but he doesn’t god’s character. his character is to love, forgive, and bless us for our obedience
your ways, and i will follow!” reject us or give up on his plans and faithfulness.
for our lives. he is a god of second
chances. even for you.
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