Scripture Passages
Overview
It’s the law of the Maasai Mara that the Big Five—leopards, rhinos, buffalo, elephants, and lions—rule! These are the top predators and rulers of the plains. To be anything less than at the top on that list means to be the hunted. The Big Five are also the animals people want to see most because they are the kings of beasts. It’s kind of like the nation of Israel—they were God’s people who were to be examples of His character to the world. In today’s lesson we will explore that concept more fully.
Opening Activity
Option 1: Favorite Wild Animal
Ask each student to name their favorite big game animal and to describe what characteristic makes that animal special. Then ask them to show a picture of their animal, either by drawing it or finding one on their tablet or phone.
Discussion
- Have you ever seen your favorite animal outside a zoo? If so, where?
- Why do you think we are we fascinated by wild animals?
- Can you imagine a time when you would be able to sit close to your favorite animal and not be afraid?
Option 2: Animal Alphabet Game
Taking turns going through the alphabet from A through Z, trying to come up with a list of animals, the names of which start with the corresponding letter of the alphabet. See if you can make a list of 27 animals.
Discussion
- How difficult was this?
- How many of the animals had you never heard of before today?
- Why do you think that God made such a variety of creatures?
- How does God’s creativity demonstrate His love for us?
Transition
Isaiah presents a picture of God that turns nature on its head. Good always wins, therefore evil always loses. God’s people will be rescued, and punishment will be handed out to the unrighteous. The lion will sleep next to the lamb, and the leopard will sit next to the goat. It’s a new world in which being the top predator doesn’t make you any more special than any other creature.
Bible Study Guide
Read Isaiah 11:1-2.
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord
Discussion
- At first it may be hard to imagine what this passage is talking about. Have you ever seen the stump of a tree with suckers growing out of the ground around it or a stump that has lots of branches protruding from the side?
- Many think that just because one cuts a tree down that the tree is dead. In order for that to be completely true, one must also kill the roots.
- Who is the Rod that is going to come from the stump of Jesse?
- What Old Testament king is this referring to?
Israel was to be God’s chosen people. They were to lead the world into a knowledge of the true God. But over and over they chose to take a different path. God, however, never completely cut them off. Many times they were punished, beaten, and broken, but not completely dug up by the roots.
Read Isaiah 11:3-5. In this passage, one gets a vision of the coming Messiah—Jesus.
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
Discussion
- What does it mean that God doesn’t judge by what He sees with His eyes or what He hears with His ears?
- How is this type of judgement different from the way people usually judge?
- What was the mission of the Messiah?
- What is the picture of the Kingdom of Heaven that is presented in this passage?
- Would you want to live in a place where Jesus reigned?
Read Isaiah 11:6-9.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Discussion
- Describe the picture this passage shows us about God’s kingdom.
Read Isaiah 11:10.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Discussion
- According to this passage, who is allowed to hear the Good News of Salvation?
Read Acts 10:1-8.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Discussion
- What’s special about Cornelius?
- What task was he given to do?
Read Acts 10:9-15.
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Discussion
- Where did Peter’s vision come from?
- What is special about the vision given to Peter?
Read Acts 10:17-29.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
Discussion
- Who was Peter supposed to go with?
- Why would this be an unusual thing for him to do?
In Acts 10:30-46 Peter shares the history of Israel and the message of the Gospel with Cornelius and his household. Cornelius and his household believe and something very unusual happens to them—the Holy Spirit falls on them. This is a fulfillment of what Isaiah was writing about in Isaiah 11:10. Israel was to be a beacon of the Gospel to the entire world. They were to be the shining example that the world was to follow in order to see God!
Read Acts 10:47-48.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Discussion
- What happens when the Good News of Jesus is preached and people accept it?
Acts 8:26-40 is another example in which the Gospel is preached outside the normal channels. Phillip is running along a road and hears the scripture being read. In a moment of Divine inspiration, he asks the man inside a passing carriage if he understands what he is reading. Phillip is invited to join the Ethiopian and he explains the passage of scripture. Feeling convicted, the Ethiopian asks to be baptized. This is highly unusual, but it is an example of what happens when Jesus is shared with people who are seeking.
Discussion
- In light of the texts we looked at today, what is one of the primary responsibilities of a follower of Christ?
- If everyone took this responsibility seriously, what impact would this have on the spreading of the Gospel?
Read Isaiah 44:1-4.
1 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, r whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Discussion
- In the Old Testament, who were God’s chosen people?
- In the New Testament, who are God’s chosen people?
- What message is God trying to give His people in these verses? (In verse 2, the name “Jeshurun” is a special name for God’s people meaning “upright ones”—see The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary , vol. 4, p. 263.)
God is reminding His people that He created them, loves them, rebukes them, chose them, redeemed them, and that there is no other God like Him. It’s a very special message that God has repeated through the centuries to His people reminding them that He isn’t going anywhere.
Read Isaiah 44:21-23.
21 “Remember these things, Jacob,
for you, Israel, are my servant.
I have made you, you are my servant;
Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist. Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
Discussion
- What special message does God give to His people?
- How is this different from the messages we get from the world?
- What should our response be to this message?
Application
If you have ever planted a garden or had a flowerbed, you know that weeds are inevitable. How one handles those weeds will have a huge impact on their success and the appearance of their garden. Some people try to just cover up the weeds, while others ignore them. Still others pull them out. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages.
The important thing to remember is that in order to really kill the weeds, the roots have to be dislodged and removed. This is also true in our lives. God has chosen you! He loves you! He cares for you very much. During your life, you will have times when you will have to decide whether to cover up the imperfections in your life or allow God to dig them out. That process is called sanctification. It isn’t easy, and sometimes it hurts, but the beautiful life that you will have when God is through is worth all of the struggle and pain.
Follow Up
Find a quiet place in your house, yard, or at a park. Open your Bible to Isaiah 44:1-5 or your favorite Bible passage. Read it several times, and then write it down as if you were writing a letter to a friend who needed to be reminded of how important they are to you. When you are done rewriting the passage, read it to yourself, remembering that this is how God feels about you. Have a wonderful week knowing that you are CHOSEN by God!
Scripture Passage
Leader’s Note
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
Be sure everyone takes time for personal applications before you end your Sabbath School time together.
Overview
The book of Isaiah contains many messages from God for various situations—both specific and general. Chapter 44 presents God’s love and promised blessings for His people, yet chides them for worshiping idols made of wood or metal. These idols were simply items made with human hands. They were so powerless that one had to put them in position, and they just sat there. In contrast, God is on the move and even predicts the future, and He does so accurately. And this amazing God is “for you”!
Bible Study Guide
Read Isaiah 44:1-28.
Israel the Chosen
1 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and will take the name Israel.The Lord, Not Idols
6 “This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let them foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
9 All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant, to their own shame.
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit nothing?
11 People who do that will be put to shame;
such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and shame.
12 The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.
13 The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,
human form in all its glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.
14 He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,“Save me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;
a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
21 “Remember these things, Jacob,
for you, Israel, are my servant.
I have made you, you are my servant;
Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
Jerusalem to Be Inhabited
24 “This is what the Lord says
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, the Maker of all things,
who stretches out the heavens,
who spreads out the earth by myself,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,
who overthrows the learning of the wise
and turns it into nonsense,
26 who carries out the words of his servants
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’of the towns of Judah,
‘They shall be rebuilt,’and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
and I will dry up your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd
and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,”
and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.” ’
That’s God for You
Is your faith in God right now more like that of a child or more like that of an adult?
1. God chose a pet name “Jeshurun” (Upright One) for His people. What pet name would God choose for you right now?
A. Kind Mind.
B. Playful.
C. Cuddles.
D. Cherished One.
E. Faithful.
F. Energizer.
G. Tender Heart.
H. Fighter.
I. Other.
2. God promised Israel abundant water. What is God promising for you right now?
A. Nothing.
B. Whatever I want.
C. Whatever I need.
D. Salvation.
E. An easy life.
F. The Holy Spirit.
G. A purpose for my life.
H. Other.
3. What are good ways for you to express and live God’s goodness?
A. Stop complaining.
B. Express God’s goodness to others.
C. Be good.
D. Regularly praise and worship God.
E. Affirm others.
F. Speak the truth (in love).
G. Do acts of service and compassion.
H. Do the right thing no matter what might happen.
I. Other.
4. According to verses 6-8, who is God? He is . . .
A. Rock solid.
B. One of a kind.
C. A proven predictor.
D. Judge.
E. Savior.
F. Protector.
G. Creator.
H. A listener to prayers.
I. Other.
5. Who and what are common idols people worship today?
A. Music or movie stars.
B. Sports stars.
C. Money.
D. Smart people.
E. Tech gurus.
F. Politically powerful people.
G. Family or friends.
H. What others think of me.
I. Other.
6. Why do we worship people or things other than God?
A. They’re attractive.
B. Everyone seems to do it.
C. We don’t even realize it.
D. God doesn’t do enough for me to worship Him.
E. I’m not even sure there is a God.
F. This is Satan’s diversion at work.
G. We were created to worship, so we’ll find something to worship.
H. Ego resists God, so we replace Him with something less.
I. Other.
7. Who are God’s prophets today—those with messages God gave them?
8. Isaiah named Cyrus as God’s tool for rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple 150 years in advance (vs. 28). Some say this was added later since Isaiah couldn’t have known this in advance. How would you respond?
Summary
God presents Himself as a personable provider for His people. He alone oversees something as basic as water. He promises an abundance of that. In contrast, God exposes the dubious origins and impotence of the idols people worshiped at that time. His covenant promises included blessings for obedience and destruction for disobedience. Knowing the future, the Lord knew His people would continue to disobey. Yet He demonstrated His foresight and love for His people by promising them a future restoration in spite of their destructive disobedience. What an amazing God! He truly is “for us”!
Application
This one chapter from Isaiah has a wide variety of potential applications. Choose from the four below, or let them spark your own ideas of how to live out God’s Word in your life this week. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as you respond, and depend on that same Holy Spirit to actually live out your own application.
- List God’s promises for you. Start one group of general promises that would be true for lots of people, such as God’s promise of His presence, His love for you, and the Second Coming of Jesus. Then start a second group of specific promises that have special meaning for you. This could include personal messages you have received from God, such as the sense of relief that a loved one is in God’s care. It could also be something such as a Bible promise that hit home for you, such as “I will never leave you nor forsake you” ( Deuteronomy 31:6 ). Put these promises in a place you can refer to for your encouragement and to add to in the future.
- Think of pet names God might have for you (see question #1 from this week’s Bible study above). Share these with others in your Youth Sabbath School. Share them with at least three people outside of your Youth Sabbath School class. Ask the people you share with for pet names they think God might use in referring to them. You might be surprised how infrequently people think of God in such personal terms.
- Repent. That’s not a very fun or popular experience, but it’s rewarding after you have done it. Repent specifically about false idols you might worship. This could include things, attitudes, or actions. Ask God for the gift of repentance and consider how much greater God is than any idol that may have had an attraction for you in the past. Share your sorrow with God, your desire for change, and your commitment to actively worship Him and not replace Him with something so much smaller.
- Rejoice in who God is. You can use many Psalms or current songs to help you do this. Consider using the following:
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
11 Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
42 The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened—
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Current songs about rejoicing in God:
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
- Rejoice
- Rejoice in the Lord
- Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
- I Stand Amazed in the Presence
- Undignified (I Will Dance)
- I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
- Trading My Sorrows
- Let There Be Praise
- I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy
LET’S TALK ABOUT JESUS
By Steve Case
Want some small group discussion starters? Use these prompts to get your group going.
Steve Case draws on his love for Scripture, personal experiences, and training by taking a passage of Scripture and offering questions that draw out the meanings that lead to personal applications of the Bible.
You won’t find pat answers or cookie-cutter spirituality. Instead, you’ll discover new possibilities to engage with familiar and not-so-familiar portions of God’s Word, interact with God and others, and wrestle with how to live as a follower of Jesus Christ here and now.
Each of the 52 Bible studies starts with an ice-breaker question that “levels the playing field” so everyone in your group has equal access to God and vice versa. Multiple-choice options will stretch you to think in new ways, sometimes bringing a smile to your face or a surprise to your mind and heart. Deeper questions conclude each study and move participants from talk into action.
Small group leaders will appreciate the content and flexibility of these Bible studies. Use this resource to make copies for others in your group or provide a copy for each person. Tap into the portion that includes keys for leading small groups and prayer possibilities.
If you want to talk about Jesus, here’s a great way to begin the conversation.
