Exodus 33-34
We all have some sort of idea or image of God. It’s the way we think about God. When it comes to God, we are all over the place in how we picture him. The truth is, all of us have a picture of God. Everyone has an idea of who God is and what he is like. Through this series we are going to keep asking one crucial question…How do you see God?
Pastor James quoted AW Tozer; “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” What comes to your mind when you think about God? Have you ever considered that your image of God might not be accurate?
1. How you see God determines how you live your life. How has your image of God changed over time?
2. What would you say is the greatest danger in having an inaccurate understanding of who God is?
3. Read Exodus 33:19–20. God reveals himself as YAHWEH – That He is self-existent and self-sustaining. God doesn’t need us, yet He wants us. What does that mean to you? What, if any, struggles do you have with that concept?
4. Read Exodus 33:13. What do you find interesting about this verse? What is more valuable than knowing who God really is?
5. If you don’t know who God is, you will ALWAYS be questioning what God is doing in your life. How does God reveal who He is?
6. Read Exodus 34:6–7. Pastor James said he will be using these verses for the next five weeks to further explore who God is. What characteristics of God can you identify from this passage?
7. What questions about God’s character come to your mind from the previous verses?
8. Living in the tension between awe (revertant fear of God’s greatness) and wonder (adoration of God’s goodness) allows us to encounter God for who He really is.
- What problems happen if all you see is the awe of God’s greatness but you do not see the wonder of God‘s goodness?
- What problems happen when all you see is the wonder of God’s goodness but you don’t see the awe of God’s greatness?
9. Pastor James said, “Awe of God is revertant fear of God’s greatness.” Read the following verses and discuss how they lead you to reverently fear God’s greatness: Exodus 34:6–7, Psalm 135:6, Daniel 4:35, Acts 17:24–25
10. Pastor James also said, “Wonder of God is adoration of God’s goodness.“ Read the following verses and discuss how they lead you to adore God’s goodness: Exodus 33:19–20, Daniel 11:32, John 17:3, Jeremiah 9:23–24, Hosea 6:6, Psalm 16:11
11. Pastor James said, “The awe of God’s greatness over you and the wonder of God’s goodness for you produces awe and wonder in you.” Take some time as a group to pray and thank God for how He reveals himself all around us, all the time, every day.