1. Have you ever been genuinely surprised or given a great surprise to someone? Describe the situation and the result. What made it a surprise?

This question is intended to be a light and fun starter to get group conversation going.

In Numbers 13 and 14, we find the Israelites at the edge of the Promised Land. They’ve been on a long journey, and are finally about to see the provision of God through a land to call their own! Although God has been with them every step of the way, they’re prone to forget about His provision. We see this as they send spies in to see if the land is what God promised them it would be. 10 of the spies return with a negative report: the land is full of giants and they are too powerful for us to overcome! But two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, return with a different perspective: The land is amazing, and God is giving it to us no matter what the obstacles are in front of us! 

In the following passage, note how the Israelites respond to these reports.

Read Numbers 14:1-9, then answer the following questions:

2. What do you learn about the faith of the Israelites in this passage? 

3. What was the source of the lack of faith exhibited by the Israelites? How did Joshua and Caleb’s response differ from the rest of the people?

Help the group find the answers in the text, even if it means re-reading the passage a few times. 

In this passage, we see the Israelites respond in two different ways. The majority of the Israelites wept and complained (vv. 1-4). They had already forgotten the many, many miracles that God performed to bring them out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. This passage reminds us of the message from a few weeks ago, where we saw that God was a Promise-Keeper. The Israelites respond by forgetting that God always keeps His promises. Ultimately, they struggle with trust. They don’t believe that God could overcome the people in the Promised Land, and now believe He was just toying with them by bringing them to the very cusp of this land only to place them in an impossible situation. 

But...there were two men who believed God would deliver the land to them. Joshua and Caleb responded with faith, remembering all that God had done before. Notice their statement in v.9 - “Do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Their response is one full of faith, which is founded on the past provision and promises of God.

4. We have an obsession with shows about improvements and surprises (think about the countless self-improvement or home-improvement shows out there!) These shows thrive on a quick turn-around. What does this tell you about the ability of our culture to wait for things?

5. What does the obsession for a quick fix tend to create in people? Where have you seen impatience create problems in the world around you?

For both of these questions, the discussion should revolve around our instant culture. We can’t even wait for the microwave anymore! As you discuss how this attitude is pervasive in everything around us, it should begin to bring up our own personal struggles with impatience, waiting, and wanting to see results quickly. Encourage the group to hold off on personal observations until the next set of questions.

6.  What do you typically do when you’re in the middle of an unresolved or difficult situation? How hard is it for you to wait in the tension?

7. Where are you currently experiencing tension that you’re having to manage that is stretching your faith/trust in God? How are you wanting to take control? What might it look like to give control to God?

Many in the group are most likely struggling with faith in one way or another. Encourage open sharing, and even sharing about where people may have lost faith that God will come through for them. Part of what is so relatable about the Israelites is how often they would forget the God was working, even when they couldn’t see it. 

8. For this last question, you’ll pray through a few prompts. Begin this time by reading Psalm 121 together, and then pray through the prompts as a group. 

Prayer Prompts: 

• Pause and to reflect. Ask God to bring to mind where you have been looking for help and to give you the courage to hold your head high and look to Him instead. 

• After you have prayed for a minute, spend time asking God for help. Ask him to open your eyes to the ways He is helping you. 

• Now take a moment to declare God’s presence and helpfulness in your life. Thank Him for helping you and proclaim boldly your belief that He will continue to help you in whatever you face.

• Close in prayer for one another as a group, asking God to be near in the tension, and for His provision for the things you’ve shared during your time today.

Make sure to leave time at the end of your group to pray through this passage! This is a great time to practice listening to the Holy Spirit. Don’t be afraid to ask the group to be quiet longer than may feel comfortable, in order to give space for God to speak.