Questions for the Week

1. Israel was told that exile was possible before they even entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:64-68). Because of their disobedience, Israel spent many years in exile. Here, however, we see God promising the end of that punishment. After 70 years of exile, how do you think this was received? With disbelief? With indifference? With anticipation? 
2. When Israel initially left exile, the whole assembly was around 43,000 (Ezra 2:64-65). When Israel left Egypt in the Exodus, the assembly was potentially much larger (see gotquestions.org/Israelites-exodus.html for more info). What does that say about how God judges unrepentant sin? When has God needed a long time to get your attention? 
3. One of the most stirring verses is Ezra 3:12 –those that had seen Solomon’s Temple wept when they saw the foundation of Zerubbabel’s Temple. That weeping could have been for many reasons –1) joy at seeing their nation and worship being restored or 2) realizing just what they lost because of sin. Which do you think was the main source of weeping? Why?

Want to dig deeper? Go directly to www.mikethebaptist.com. You will be able to listen or watch a conversation with Temple's pastors as they sit down and dive deeper into the weekly questions and content.