From Dispersed To Exile

God allows 'life pauses' where moments that we are stopped dead on our tracks while he accomplishes His will.  It's not a comfortable place, but yet necessary.   

There are many examples of this in the Bible, but it is one that we do not enjoy.  One key reason for this moment is God's expression of "tough love" (Prov. 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:4-11).   

The Divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah sinned against God and they went to the place of no return (Isaiah 28-33; 2 Kings 17:16-20).  As a result, the Divided Kingdoms were shattered.   The Northern Kingdom Israel was dispersed by the Assyrian in 722 B.C. and the Southern Kingdom Judah was exiled by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.   

In the midst of Israel's and Judah's life pause, God encourages three things:   

  1. Come back to God and renew your relationships with him.
  2.  Endure and thrive in the time of your exile.
  3. Look forward to the hope that is in Jesus.  

DIDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      Define in your own words what is “life pauses.” 

2.      What does it communicate, when God uses harsh ways to get His message across? 

3.      How has the dispersion of Israel and exile of Jerusalem relate to any of your life event/s?

4.      Which of the three conclusions would you find difficulty applying in your life?   




Comments

  1. Daniel WangApril 25, 2021 at 2:32 PM

    Life Pauses can be to stop and think about your life. It is the meaning that there is no where else to go and to think what is the next move.

    -Daniel Wang

    ReplyDelete
  2. HinsonApril 25, 2021 at 2:32 PM

    A life pause is brief period of time that God puts in your life to help you reflect on situations that are happening around you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 25, 2021 at 2:34 PM

    Life pauses are when you feel like God is putting a dead space in your life but he’s really using it to work his plan in your life. I find it difficult to endure and thrive in my life pauses because it’s hard to enjoy what God has in store when nothing is going on.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nathan TongApril 25, 2021 at 2:34 PM

    Life pauses are when God pulls you away from life to focus on your relationship with God.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nathan TongApril 25, 2021 at 2:41 PM

      I am moving for college and will need to adapt like they needed to.

      Delete
  5. christineApril 25, 2021 at 2:38 PM

    1. Life pauses are moments in your life where God places events or challenges in your life for you to reflect on your actions or lifestyle
    2. God is saying that there’s something you need to fix in your life
    3. It kind of relates to my school life?
    4. The first one ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. christineApril 25, 2021 at 2:42 PM

      The first one where I should repent and repair my relationship with God because it’s hard to prioritize my religious health when there are so many other things coming at me.

      Delete
  6. Daniel WangApril 25, 2021 at 2:43 PM

    3. It relates to my life by ignoring my parent's words

    -Daniel Wang

    ReplyDelete

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