Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Eli and His Sons,”

pp. 575–580, and “The Presumption of Saul,” pp. 616–626, in

Patriarchs and Prophets.

Submission to God’s will comes as we die to our own desires and

ambitions. This opens the way for true service to others. We cannot live

for God without becoming sacrifices and living in continual openness

to God’s voice. For us truly to submit our wills to our Father’s will, we

must recognize the dangers of relying on ourselves and on substitutes

for God’s Word and power. As submission to God’s will is at the heart

of a Christlike life, God may allow crucibles to teach us dependence

on Him.

“The neglect of Eli is brought plainly before every father and mother

in the land. As the result of his unsanctified affection or his unwilling-

ness to do a disagreeable duty, he reaped a harvest of iniquity in his

perverse sons. Both the parent who permitted the wickedness and the

children who practiced it were guilty before God, and He would accept

no sacrifice or offering for their transgression.”—Ellen G. White, Child

Guidance, p. 276.

Discussion Questions:

Ê As a class, talk about the incredible condescension of the Son

of God in coming to earth as a human being in order to die for

our sins. What does this tell each of us about what self-sacrifice

and self-denial for the good of others means? Though we certainly

can’t do anything like what Jesus did, the principle is there and

should always be before us. In what ways can we, in our own

spheres, emulate the kind of submission and self-sacrifice that

Jesus showed us at the cross?

Ë For many people, submitting to God without knowing what

will happen next can be a terrifying thing. How would you coun-

sel people who are relying on themselves rather than God? What

would you say to help remove their fears of not knowing—or being

able to control—the future?

Ì As a class, spend some time praying for people you know who

have difficulty in submitting to God’s will, that they may see that

trusting God’s will is the only route to a lasting peace. At the same

time, what practical things can you do for these people to help

them see that they can surrender to God and that His way is the

best? In other words, how can God use you to help others know of

His love and willingness to provide?

Substitutes

As we saw yesterday, submission to God’s will can be undermined

as we rely on our own strength. It also is possible to rely on other sub-

stitutes for God. When some people feel depressed, they go shopping

for something to make them happy. When some feel inadequate, they

pursue fame. When others have difficulties with their spouse, they look

for someone else to give them intimacy and excitement.

Many of the things we use can relieve the pressure, but they do not

necessarily solve the problem or teach us how to handle the situation

better the next time. Only supernatural help from God can do that. The

problem is that many times we depend on substitutes for God rather

than on God Himself.

Here are three substitutes that we may use instead of God:

1. We use human logic or past experience when we need fresh divine

revelation.

2. We block problems from our minds when we need divine solutions.

3. We escape reality and avoid God when we need communion with

Him for divine power.

Zechariah helps us to focus on what really matters when we are

tempted to use substitutes. After many years away, the exiles had

finally returned from Babylon and immediately began to rebuild the

temple. But there was an incredible amount of opposition to this (some

background can be found in Ezra 4–6). So, Zechariah came with this

message of encouragement to Zerubbabel, who was leading the work.

Read this message in Zechariah 4. What does God mean in Zechariah

4:6? How could the completion of a building project be affected

by the Holy Spirit? What does this teach us about the relationship

between the Holy Spirit and the practical things that we do?

God did not prevent the opposition to the temple or spare Zerubbabel

from the stress of dealing with it. And God will not always protect us

from opposition. But when opposition comes, God may use it as a cru-

cible to teach us to depend on Him.

When stress comes, what’s your first reaction? Food? Television?

Prayer? Submission to God? What does your answer tell you

about yourself and the things you need to learn or to change?

Self-Reliance

When Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, it wasn’t simply because she

doubted God’s word. At the heart of the problem was her belief that she had

enough wisdom to decide for herself what was good and right. She trusted

her own judgment. When we rely on our own judgment as opposed to trust-

ing God’s Word, we open ourselves up to all sorts of problems.

The story of Saul describes his steps to self-reliance and the tragedy

that so quickly follows. Samuel anointed Saul as God’s king (1 Sam.

10:1). Then he gave Saul specific instructions (1 Sam. 10:8), but Saul

disobeyed.

Read the next part of the story in 1 Samuel 13:1–14. What did Saul do

that led to his own downfall?

There are three steps that led Saul down the road to self-reliance so

soon after having been made king. The problem is that none of the steps

were that bad in themselves. Yet, they contained the seeds of tragedy

because they were each taken independently of God. Notice the order

in which Saul’s fall occurred.

1. Saul said, “I saw” (NIV)—the scattering of his troops and Samuel’s

absence (1 Sam. 13:11). Saul was under pressure, and he evaluated with

his own eyes what was happening.

2. Saul moved from “I saw” to “I said”—that the Philistines would

conquer them (1 Sam. 13:12, NKJV). What he saw with his own eyes

shaped what he said, or surmised, about the situation.

3. Saul moved from “I said” to “I felt”—compelled to offer sacrifice

(1 Sam. 13:12, NKJV). What Saul thought now shaped his feelings.

All of us have done this: we rely on our own human eyesight, which

leads us to rely on our own human thinking, which leads us to rely on

our own human feelings. And then we act on these feelings.

Why do you think it was so easy for Saul to follow his own judg-

ment, even though he had God’s clear instructions still ringing in

his ears? If we know that we are so fragile and have such imper-

fect knowledge, why do we still try to rely on ourselves? What

can we do to learn to trust in the Lord’s commands more than

trusting in ourselves?

Willingness to Listen

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times,

‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is

listening’ ” (1 Sam. 3:10, NIV).

Have you ever heard that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit but

ignored it? Consequently, everything went wrong, and you thought to

yourself later, Oh no, why didn’t I listen?

First Samuel describes the story of an old man and his two wicked

sons who didn’t listen to the Lord and a little boy who did. Though

there were strong warnings from God, those who needed to change

their course didn’t.

Read their story in 1 Samuel 2:12–3:18. What contrast is made appar-

ent here between those who listen to God and those who don’t?

Eli’s sons had other things on their minds than the things of God.

And even when Eli, after hearing what God wanted, spoke to his sons,

he didn’t seem to do anything else. And his sons were obviously not

ready to submit the details of their lives to God’s will. What a contrast

to the young Samuel!

Preacher Charles Stanley describes how essential it is to cultivate

openness to God’s voice in what he calls “shifting into neutral.” He

says: “The Holy Spirit . . . does not speak for the sake of passing along

information. He speaks to get a response. And He knows when our

agenda has such a large slice of our attention that it is a waste of time

to suggest anything to the contrary. When that is the case, He is often

silent. He waits for us to become neutral enough to hear and eventu-

ally obey.”—The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers, 1992), pp. 179, 180.

What do you think Stanley means by becoming “neutral enough”?

When you think about your openness to God, what things often

prevent you from being “neutral enough to hear and eventually

obey”? What do you need to do in your life to cultivate openness

to God’s voice and a decisiveness to be obedient to His direction?

Dying Comes Before Knowing God’s Will

Many Christians sincerely seek to know God’s will for their lives.

“If only I could know God’s will for my life, I would sacrifice every-

thing for Him.” But even after promising this to God, we still may be

confused about what His will is. The reason for this confusion may be

found in Romans 12:1, 2. Paul is describing how we can know God’s

will, and he makes an important point: if you want to know what God’s

will is, you have to sacrifice first!

Read Romans 12:1, 2. Paul writes that we will be able to “test and approve

what God’s will is” (Rom. 12:2, NIV) when the following things happen:

1. We have a true understanding of “God’s mercy” for us (Rom. 12:1, NIV).

2. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1).

3. Our minds are renewed (Rom. 12:2).

It is only the renewed mind that truly can understand God’s will. But

this renewal hinges on our death to self first. It was not enough that

Christ simply suffered for us—He had to die.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas in which you are not com-

pletely “dead.” What things does the Holy Spirit need you to give up

in order for you to become a “living sacrifice” for God?

When areas of our lives are not completely dead to self, God permits

crucibles to bring them to our attention. However, our suffering not only

helps us confront our sin—but it also gives us an insight into Jesus’

giving Himself up for us. Elisabeth Elliot writes, “The surrender of our

heart’s deepest longing is perhaps as close as we come to an understand-

ing of the cross. . . . Our own experience of crucifixion, though immea-

surably less than our Savior’s, nonetheless furnishes us with a chance

to begin to know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. In every form

of our own suffering, He calls us to that fellowship.”—Quest for Love

(Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1996), p. 182.

Read and pray over Romans 12:1, 2. Think about the things you

need to give up in order to become a sacrifice. How does this

help you to understand the sufferings Jesus faced for you on the

cross? How can this knowledge help you enter into fellowship

with Jesus and His sufferings?

Submission for Service

Read Philippians 2:5–9. What important message is there for us in

these verses?

Contemporary culture urges us all to demand and assert our rights.

And all this is good and often is the way it should be. But as with Jesus,

the will of God may be for us to give up our rights freely in order to

serve the Father in ways that will make an eternal impact for God’s

kingdom. This process of giving them up may be difficult and uncom-

fortable, creating the conditions of a crucible.

Look at how Jesus did this (Phil. 2:5–8). These verses describe three

steps that Jesus took in submitting Himself to the Father’s will. And at

the beginning, Paul alarmingly reminds us: “Have the same mindset as

Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, NIV).

In order to be in a position to save us, Jesus gave up His equality with

the Father and moved to earth in the form and limitations of a human

being (Phil. 2:6, 7, NIV).

Jesus did not come as a great and glorious human being, but as a

servant of other human beings (Phil. 2:7, NIV).

As a human servant, Jesus did not live a peaceful and long life but

became “obedient to death.” He did not even die in a noble and glori-

ous manner. No, He was “obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

(Phil. 2:8, NIV).

In what areas of life is this example of Jesus a model for us? If rights

and equality are good and should be protected, how would you

explain the logic of sometimes needing to give them up? Now read

Philippians 2:9. In what way does this verse help us to understand

the logic of submission to the Father’s will?

Pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, asking, “What rights am I

holding on to right now that actually might be a barrier to sub-

mitting to Jesus’ will in serving my family, my church, and those

around me? To what extent am I willing to endure discomfort to

serve others more effectively?

Read for This Week’s Study: Phil. 2:5–9; Rom. 12:1, 2;

1 Sam. 2:12–3:18; 1 Sam. 13:1–14; Zech. 4:1–14.

Memory Text: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat

falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; . . . but if it dies, it

produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV).

Jesus’ picture of a kernel of wheat dying is a fascinating analogy of

our submission to God’s will. First, there is the falling. The kernel

that falls from the wheat stalk has no control over where or how

it falls to the ground. It has no control over the ground that surrounds

and then presses over it.

Second, there is the waiting. As the kernel lies in the earth, it does not

know what the future holds. It cannot “imagine” what life will be like

in the future, for it is only a kernel of wheat.

Third, there is the dying. The kernel cannot possibly become a wheat

stalk unless it gives up its safe, comfortable situation as a kernel. It

must “die”; that is, it must give up what it has always been before so it

may be transformed from a seed into a fruit-bearing plant.

The Week at a Glance: If we know that God’s will is best for

us, why do we have such a hard time accepting it? What example

of submission has Christ left for us? How do you see the analogy of

the kernel of wheat as applying to your own life?

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Anointing of David,”

pp. 637–642, in Patriarchs and Prophets.

God’s plan for us may require that we do a lot of waiting, and this

really can feel like a crucible. Learning patience during this time can

happen as we focus on the person of God and trust that He is acting for

us. There are many reasons for waiting, but all are concerned with the

fulfillment of God’s plans for us and His kingdom. We can lose much if

we rush ahead of God, but we can gain much by maintaining an attitude

of trust and delight in Him.

The Lord weighs and measures every trial.

“I cannot read the purpose of God in my affliction, but He knows

what is best, and I will commit my soul, body, and spirit to Him as

unto my faithful Creator. ‘For I know whom I have believed, and am

persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him

against that day’ (2 Tim. 1:12). If we educated and trained our souls to

have more faith, more love, greater patience, and a more perfect trust in

our heavenly Father, I know we would have more peace and happiness

day by day as we pass through the conflicts of this life.

“The Lord is not pleased to have us fret and worry ourselves out of

the arms of Jesus. More is needed of the quiet waiting and watching

combined. We think unless we have feeling that we are not in the right

track, and we keep looking within for some sign befitting the occa-

sion; but the reckoning is not of feeling but of faith.”—Ellen G. White,

Selected Messages, book 2, p. 242.

Discussion Questions:

Ê What does it mean that Jesus “weighs and measures” every

trial? How can knowing this help us while we wait?

Ë Ask people in class to give personal testimonies as to what patient

waiting is all about. What were their fears, their joys? How did they

cope? What did they learn? What promises did they cling to?

Ì What can you do as a church or a class to help others who are

in the crucible as they await God’s timing for something?

Í What is the role of prayer in the development of patience?

Are there others you can pray for so that the Spirit will develop

patience in their lives?

Learning to Take Delight in the Lord

“Take delight in the L ord , and he will give you the desires of your

heart” (Ps. 37:4, NRSV).

Psalm 37:4 is a wonderful promise. Imagine getting what you have always

wanted. But getting the desires of our hearts hinges on having hearts that take

delight in the Lord. So, what does it mean to “take delight in the Lord”?

Read Psalm 37:1–11. The context for Psalm 37:4 is, perhaps, a little

surprising. David is writing about being surrounded by people who

are working against God and against him. When people are working

against us, the natural response is often to get angry or to set out to

justify ourselves. But David advises something different.

In the following verses, what is David’s counsel to God’s people in this

situation?

Ps. 37:1

Ps. 37:5

Ps. 37:7

Ps. 37:8

Read Psalm 37:4 again. In the context of the verses you have just made

comments on, what does it mean to “take delight in the Lord ”?

David is repeating again and again, in different ways, “Trust God.”

Trust Him to act. Don’t get upset, because God is your God, and He is

working for you—even right now. You don’t have to charge in and try to

sort things out by yourself. Your Father in heaven is in charge. Trust Him.

Trust Him completely.

It is in this context that David writes about taking delight in the Lord.

To take delight in God means that we live in a state of perfect trust.

Nothing can ruffle our peace, because God is here and at work. We can

praise Him, we can even smile, because no one can outwit our God!

When we can learn to do this, we really will receive what our hearts long

for, because we will receive what our loving Father wants to give us, at

the time that most benefits us and His kingdom.

How can you learn to “take delight in the L ord ”? Spend some

time in prayer, seeking God’s guidance as to how this may

become a reality in your life.

Elijah: The Problem of Rushing

The showdown on top of Mount Carmel had ended (1 Kings 18).

Fire had come out of heaven, all the people had acknowledged the

true God, and the false prophets had been put to death. God had been

vindicated. You would have thought that Elijah had been growing in

spiritual strength as the day went on, but suddenly he heard something

that terrified him so much that he wanted to die. Read the rest of the

story in 1 Kings 19:1–9. The last words in the text are worrisome: “And

the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ ”

(1 Kings 19:9, NIV). Evidently, Elijah’s fear caused him to run and find

himself in the wrong place.

After such a powerful intervention by the Lord on Mount Carmel,

Elijah should have been full of faith and trust; instead, he ran in

fear for his life. What lesson can we learn from this bad example?

This story illustrates something important: when we rush, we can

very easily find ourselves in the wrong place. In Elijah’s case, it was

his fear that caused him to be overwhelmed and rush into the desert,

wishing that he had never been born. But there are other things that

cause us to rush outside of God’s plan for us.

Read the following texts. What things caused the characters depicted

here to rush outside of God’s will? Gen. 16:1–3; Num. 20:10–12;

Judg. 14:1–3; Matt. 20:20, 21; Luke 9:52–56; Acts 9:1.

How easy it is to let such things as ambition, anger, passion, lack

of faith, or a supposed “zeal” for the Lord cause us to rush ahead to

where we shouldn’t be. No one is immune to this danger. The key is

to cultivate a trusting faith in the goodness and mercy of God, who we

know loves us and wants what’s best for us. This doesn’t happen auto-

matically. Faith might be a gift, but it’s a gift that needs to be cultivated,

nurtured, and jealously guarded.