Day by Day
A Bible Study for Women using the authorized King James Bible, the only inerrant Word of God
By Patricia Dowers
Introduction
As believing women we know the importance of walking in daily fellowship with our Lord Jesus. We reap so many benefits from this personal walk. We have the companionship of the One Who loves us more than any other. We have the comfort of He Who knows our pain and understands our trials. We have the security of never being torn from His side by the sealed contract of redemption by His blood. We have all of these and more but we also have the responsibility of obedience to His daily direction. When the Lord saved us we were enlisted in His plan to fulfill His will. The Lord has authority over every day, hour and minute that transpires in this world. That includes our own time however insignificant we may feel it is. He may not call us to do great things in our own estimation but obedience in what He gives us is just as important to Him as any other.
How do we know when the Lord is moving us to change direction, or perhaps, step outside of what is comfortable? What happens when fear becomes an obstacle in the path? I believe there are five "must haves" that I encourage you to consider and find examples in the Biblical characters of this study. They are:
1. must have a heart to hear
2. must have a heart to obey
3. must have faith that God will enable and provide
4. must have faith to step out
5. must have gratitude for His provision
Please join me in this Bible study to discover how Jesus keeps His promises for daily victory. We will look at some examples from Scripture of people who were minding their own business and suddenly there was new direction with new responsibilities. We will see how the lord works in miraculous ways to stay ahead of the fear. I pray that you will find valuable truths for your own lives from His Word.
Please note: In this study, as in all others, it is important to read all Scripture references for yourself that you may know what God has to say.
Session I
Have you ever been tasked with an important job where others were depending on your success and you had little to no confidence that you could be successful? This was the circumstance in which Abraham's trusted servant found himself. Please read Gen. 24:1-19 with your group. The Bible does not give this servant a name in this narrative, however if we look back at Gen.15: 2, we read that Abraham names the steward of his house, Eliezer, who is valued in his position so much that he is named to inherit in Abraham's will. I believe these men are one in the same and I am comfortable calling the servant in our Scripture reading, Eliezer. If he is not Eliezer, he is another respected servant. Please read Gen. 24:2,3 and answer the questions below.
What was Abraham's main concern?
How do we know this was critically important to him?
In v.4 Eliezer is told to go back to Abraham's homeland and kindred to find a wife for Isaac. This meant Isaac's future bride would be a blood relation. Abraham became a servant of God back when he was called out of Haran but the family that remained were still pagan. Why do you think this marriage was preferred over a bride from the Canaanite women?
A clue may be found in Gen.15:18-21. Here the Lord is confirming His covenant with Abraham as He did on other occasions that Abraham's seed would inherit the land and dispossess the current inhabitants. If Abraham's seed were half Canaanite, that would make the covenant untrue.
I am sure Eliezer was overwhelmed but the task was about to get harder. In v. 5, what did he ask Abraham and was it a reasonable request?
In v.6 he got an emphatic, No! It was almost the equivalent of "Don't you dare!" But Abraham was quick to follow up with assurance. What was the assurance in V.7?
This was quickly followed by another oath in v. 8 and 9. Eliezer received the message and his marching orders and the journey began. V. 10 tells us he departed with quite a caravan of camels, men and goods. Eliezer was on a mission to impress these people but he was still doubtful of success.
Sometimes, even though supplied with talent, education, gifts, and motivation, we can still feel inadequate for the job. Perhaps it might be because none of those things guarantees success. Perhaps the heightened responsibility and the fact that those who matter are counting on us may neutralized us with fear. I have been there. The easy thing to say is "this isn't for me", or "I am just not up to this." Sometimes, I would even resent the one making the request. No one wants to disappoint. Have you ever been asked to step outside your comfort zone, perhaps at church or at work? If you are comfortable please share your experience with the group.
Eliezer got as far as the well outside the city of Nahor. It was a long journey and his camels needed water. It was the custom for the women to come out at evening with their pots and jars to draw water for their households. Verse 12 tells us he prayed to the Lord. We don't know if he had been praying all along or if this was his first prayer on the matter. At any rate, he puts everything he can into this one prayer. How does he address God in v. 12?
I find it interesting that Eliezer prays on behalf of Abraham not on himself. This may be because he knew of Abraham's good standing with God and his prayer would more apt to be answered. Perhaps he felt unworthy for some other reason. If this was the case, we must remind ourselves that as born again believers we are always welcome in the throne room of grace and never need hide behind the spirituality of others. God sees through all of that anyway and still welcomes us with open arms with a heart to listen.
In verses 13 and 14 Eliezer lays out a very detailed plan before God designed to reveal the future wife of Isaac beyond a shadow of a doubt. First he would ask if she would let down her pitcher for him to drink. Next she would need to agree. Lastly, without prodding, she would offer to water his camels. This would be a great deal of work for one pong woman to do for a perfect stranger. From the human perspective there would be little chance meeting all of these points without the Lord's intervention. Of the many women arriving at the well Eliezer would need to approach the only one that would rise to the standard for his master' son.
She would need to be related to Abraham's family. How was this standard met (v.15)?
Verse 16 reveals two more standards. What are they?
Verses 17-19 Show that Eliezer received every assurance he asked for. What a blessing that God shows such patience with our insecurities but I hope you did not miss the best blessing of all in this account. Please look back at v. 15. The first part of this verse says, "And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out." This servant of Abraham passed all of the "must have" standards identified in the introduction. What a wonderful God Who is so tuned in on us that He gets ahead of our prayers even before we pray them! Why do we ever hesitate to call on Him at the earliest moment and in every situation. Please join me in the next session for another example of God's providential love.
Session II
We will begin this session by reading Exo. 3:9 - 4:18. We have here the account of Moses and the burning bush where God lays out His plan to Moses regarding the deliverance of His people, the Israelites. In Session I, we learned about a willing but overwhelmed servant. In this account we have an unwilling and extremely overwhelmed servant. The Lord God was very specific in His expectation but the more Moses heard, the more he backed away. It is amazing how we fear God's direction but we do not fear to argue with Him.
What was the instruction in v. 3:10?
What was Moses' response in v. 3:11?
A little background concerning Moses' fear may be helpful. Moses was actually in hiding in the land of Midian from Pharaoh because he was wanted for murder. On the surface, that seems like a good reason to not return to Egypt. Moses feared for his life. But Moses had just heard the voice of God speaking to him from the burning but unconsumed bush. Should not that be enough for him to put aside his fear? Please read Psa. 27:1 and copy it in the space below.
The Lord knows the quaking hearts of His children and He knew the heart of Moses in this moment. What does He assure Moses in the first part of v. 12?
If we were to hear these words from God audibly we might think that would be enough to obey but God has used the same words multiple times in Scripture yet we still sometimes hesitate. I am so thankful that we have a patient God who will show His patience to a point. When we try His patience we are stepping outside of His will. He is still holy God and will accomplish His will with or without us.
God's desire was for Moses to trust Him. Trust and obedience are just as important to God as the task. When Moses voiced his concerns God addressed them with power that only God could could demonstrate. Please answer the questions below.
What was the concern in v.13?
What was God's answer in v. 14?
In v.15 and 16, how did God further identify Himself?
God gave Moses step by step instructions in verses 17-22 that should have address any other concerns. None of it was enough for Moses. God continued to patiently listen and reassure him. What was Moses concern in Chapter 4:1?
God gave Moses three proofs of authority in verses 2-9. What were they?
1.
2.
3.
Who can we trust if we cannot trust the great I AM? When fear erupts within us like a volcano, why not trust the God Who holds the world in His hands? It is ridiculous to think we have a better option but many times we choose to just do nothing. Let us look at this from the Lord's perspective. When He tells us to move and we do nothing we are not really doing nothing. We are doing something. We are sinning? That is why God's patience cannot last indefinitely. He will move on with His perfect plan with or without us. Do we really want Him to move on without us. I do not need to think about it very long before I have my answer.
Moses had one more concern. We read about it in Exo. 4:10. What was it?
In v. 11 and 12 we see God losing patience in His response. What is it?
Was that enough for Moses? Sadly, no. In verse 13 we read that Moses pleads with God to just send someone else. He has failed all of the "must haves" we read about in the Introduction. But God is not done with Moses. What does the first part of v. 14 say about God?
I do not think any of us would want to be in this position. I would rather face ten pharaohs than an angry God any day! I am sure by this time Moses was feeling the same way. We must not miss one of the most wonderful aspects and demonstrations of how much God knows and loves us at the end of this passage. Before this conversation even took place God had moved Aaron, the older brother of Moses to set out on the long journey across the wilderness from Egypt to Midian to meet Moses, and being naturally eloquent, would be the spokesman before Pharaoh (Exo. 4:14-18). Moses would still be the leader but Aaron would be his voice. Instead of presenting himself before Pharaoh with the full power and authority of God behind him, he would stand there in humility while his brother spoke for him. One day soon Moses would regain his vocal authority but only after he learned to trust God.
King David knew much fear in his life but he also knew Who he trusted. Please read Psalm 27 aloud with your group. V. 1 describes trust. David asks two questions. Who is the answer to both?
V. 14 describes obedience. What is the reward for having courage in the Lord?
Please join me in the next session where we learn about God's faithful servant who has been entrusted with frightening information.
Session III
Session IV
Below is an often-sung hymn by Carolina W. Sandell Berg (b. Froderyd, Sweden, 1832; d. Stockholm, Sweden, 1903), better known as Lina Sandell, the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden." "Lina" Wilhelmina Sandell Berg was the daughter of a Lutheran pastor to whom she was very close; she wrote hymns partly to cope with the fact that she witnessed his tragic death by drowning.
Day by Day
Day by day, God’s gracious love surrounds me
As a balm to soothe my troubled heart.
Countless cares and worries that confound me
Fade away or quietly depart,
For His heart is kind beyond all measure,
And He comforts us as He knows best.
Ev’ry day, with all its pain and pleasure,
Mingles tears with peace and rest.
Day by day, the Lord is ever near me,
Granting loving mercies for each hour,
And my care He gladly bears, and cheers me
With His counsel pure and holy pow’r.
I’ll not fear for what may come tomorrow,
Though the path ahead I cannot see.
He assures that in all joy or sorrow,
“As thy days, thy strength shall be.”
Help me rest in quiet consolation.
Help me trust Thy promises, O Lord.
When I’m faced with daily tribulation,
Help me find the strength to live Thy word.
Then, dear Lord, when toil and trouble find me,
Hold me steadfast in Thy pow’rful hand.
Day by day, Thy strength will bear me kindly
Till I reach the promised land.