Opening Discussion

• What are some ways the people around you, your community, have helped you recently?
  • If you are having trouble answering the previous question, what are some ways you could better connect to people around you?

Read and Discuss

Exodus 15:1-3,13 (This song takes place after the Israelites finally escaped the Egyptians and crossed through the Red Sea)

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:

I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted; he has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

13 With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength.

• What are some of the attributes of God the Israelites sing about?
  • What are some ways you’ve experienced these attributes in your life?
• Why was worshiping together so important for the Israelites?
• What are some things you enjoy about worshiping together with others?
• What is something you could do to help lead others or engage more in group worship?

Read Exodus 15:22-24; 16:2-3; 17:3

15:22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah. 24 The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?”

16:2 The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”

17:3 But the people thirsted there for water and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

• Here we have three instances of the Israelites grumbling, complaining, and whining about their circumstances. The first instance was just three days after their miraculous exodus from Egypt! In each instance how could the community have turned to the Lord instead of complaining?
• Why were they so quick to forget what the Lord had done for them?
• What are some ways you forget the good things the Lord has done when life starts to be overwhelming?
• The Israelites had been without water for three days right after the escape from the Egyptians. Why did the Lord test them in this way?
• What are some dry spells you’ve experienced in your relationship with God?
  • What do you do in the midst of those times to strengthen your faith?
• Instead of focusing on the good things the Lord has done, why is it easier to look at the bad things in our life?
  • What can you do to remember the Lord in your hardships?
• Would anything have changed in these instances if a few people in the community had stood up and reminded the people of God’s provision?
• What are some ways you can help people in your circles of influence look for the good the Lord is doing in their lives?
• How can you show gratitude to the Lord?

Read Exodus 15:26-27

26 He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his sight, pay attention to his commands, and keep all his statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy date palms, and they camped there by the water.

• After three days the Lord provided water, then He led them to Elim. What does this show us about the Lord’s character?
• After you’ve experienced seasons of hardship, what were some ways the Lord blessed you after that?
• Why is it sometimes difficult to thank God for who He is, instead of just thanking Him for what He’s done for us?
• How can the community of believers around you help you be grateful when things are going well?
  • …when things are going poorly?
  • …in times when you feel like the Lord is distant?

Apply it!

• Who is one person this week that you can encourage and help them to thank the Lord in their tough circumstances?

Memorize it!

Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving- Thank God for ways He showed up for you in tough times

Adoration- Worship the Lord for who He is. Use Exodus 15:1-18 if you need help.

Confess those times when you have grumbled and complained instead of choosing to worship.

Others- Pray for someone who is experiencing hardship and ask the Lord to put you in their life this week to encourage them.

Self- Ask the Lord to help you to turn to Him when you feel like grumbling

Closing Thoughts

Choosing to be thankful in the midst of hard times is not an easy task. It also doesn’t mean you overlook the bad things and put on a fake positive attitude. It means that you stop and think about the Lord, who He is and what He has done in the past. Remind yourself of His goodness and His love for you. Read Exodus 15 or Psalm 100 to help remind you of His character.

When we choose thankfulness instead of grumbling or complaining, we are choosing to change our perspective. For me personally, the things I get upset about in the day to day are usually things that have inconvenienced me or not gone my way. They are usually selfish things that when I choose to be thankful, I see the way the Lord has provided for me or helped me when I didn’t see it before.

This is a lot easier to do when I am in a group of fellow followers of Jesus who help me to have the proper perspective of life. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and help you to see the ways to be thankful. Choose thankfulness this week!