Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 83

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2  For behold, your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads.

3  They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your protected ones.

4  They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

5  Yes, they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant –

6  the tents of Edom and the Ish′maelites, Moab and the Hagrites,

7  Gebal and Ammon and Am′alek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8  Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.

9  Do to them as you did to Mid′ian, as to Sis′era and Jabin at the river Kishon,

10  who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.

11  Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmun′na,

12  who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”

13  O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.

14  As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15  so you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!

16  Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.

17  Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; let them perish in disgrace.

18  Let them know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

Israel Defeats Amalek

Exodus 17

1.     The Israelites find themselves in need of water.  What habit do they fall back on?  How does Moses respond? How does God respond?  Have you habitually questioned God’s provision?  Have you put God to the test?  How does Jesus’ example in Luke 4:9-12 inform your actions when you are tempted to doubt or put the LORD to the test?

2.     At the Red Sea, God fought for the Israelites.  Now God aids the Israelites in their battle.  What battles has God fought for you?  What battles has he aided you in?  As a Patriarch, what battles do you fight for your children?  What battles do you allow your children to fight themselves as you provide aid to them?

3.     During the battle, Moses intercedes for Joshua and the other men fighting against Amalek.  What is Moses doing?  How does this affect the battle?  When Moses grows tired, Aaron and Hur support him.  How are Moses, Aaron and Hur all examples of intercession?  How important are alliances in a Patriarch’s life?  How important is intercession in the life of a Patriarch?  How have you interceded for others?  How have others interceded for you?

4.     What does Moses do after the victory?  How does this relate to the Patriarchs of Genesis?  How do you commemorate and acknowledge God’s help in successes and victories in your life?

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.