Judges 19-21, Ruth 1-4

1. What does the incident amongst the Benjamites bring to mind from earlier readings? What is different about the circumstances and results?

2. How does this incident bring the story of Judges and the situation of the Israelites to a head?

3. How does the story of Ruth, set during the same time period, offer a ray of hope for Israel?

Judges 13-18

1. Compare the mother of Samson and the mother of Micah. What trend do you see in Judges that is characterized by these women?

2. How would you characterize Samson's life as a child of God? What makes him any different from the cultures around him?

3. Are you surprised by the way God uses Samson? Explain.

4. Are you surprised by the role the priest plays in Jud. 17-18? What is happening in Israel?

Judges 7-12

1. How does God come alongside the northern tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali despite their failure to route out the other nations living among them?

2. How do you see God's compassion extended to Gideon?

3. How does God remind the Israelites that the power to defeat their enemies comes from God, not their own power?

4. How do you see human nature continue to contend with God's purposes for his people?

Judges 1-6

1. What complications do the Israelites face when they reach their destination?

2. What are the implications of obedience vs. disobedience?

3. How does training of the next generation influence the actions of the Israelites?

4. How does God work around or through the Israelites' disobedience?

December 26-27

Merry Christmas! Enjoy this time to catch up.

Joshua 13-15, 22-24

1. If we are a Kingdom of Priests (1 Pet. 2:9), what does that say about our inheritance (Josh. 13:14, 33)?

2. What do you learn of God's ability to keep his promises in Joshua?

3. What responsibility do God's people have to keep their promises to God?

4. What do you learn about conflict resolution in this section?

Joshua 7-12

1. What are the results of doing things man's way vs. God's way?

2. What is God's part in preparing for the Israelites' destination? What is the Israelites' part?

3. How does the death of the kings point ahead to Christ's death?

4. What is the extent of the Israelites' victory of the land?