SEARCH 160 – GOD MEETS OUR NEEDS

Key Verse

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
— Isaiah 43:2

Protection

Genesis 6:5-22; Hebrews 11:7

When God sent the Flood upon the world, He provided protection for those who would accept it, in the form of an ark. Christians today are provided with protection far above that which the world knows. We have the promise of divine protection at all times.

QUESTIONS

  1. Hebrews 11:7 indicates that Noah was warned by God of impending judgment upon the wicked world. Since we read in 2 Peter 2:5 that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, we can assume that Noah’s preaching warned of the coming flood, a time when all people would need divine protection. What warnings do people receive today?
  2. Why was it necessary for Noah to make the ark exactly to the dimensions that God specified? Parallel this to what we must do if we want God’s protection.
  3. The schooling of the Lord, though sometimes strange to us, is perfect in His plan for our lives. He makes a straight path for our feet, and then lights the way with His presence. We may at times go through deep waters or fiery trials. What has God promised to us at these times? See Isaiah 43:2.
  4. Those in Noah’s day needed protection from an oncoming flood. Give a specific example of something you need to be protected from and tell how God meets your need in it. Then give an example where God protected you without your being aware of it until sometime later.
  5. What roles do angels play in divine protection? Refer to Psalm 91:11, Daniel 6:22, and Acts 12:7.
  6. Divine protection is promised when certain conditions are met. The following verses contain a promise along with a requirement. After each reference, give the required condition.
    2 Chronicles 16:9
    Psalm 34:7
    Psalm 41:1
    Matthew 6:33
  7. Do you think the unsaved should expect divine protection? Why or why not?
  8. As Christians, we sometimes still get hurt or find ourselves with problems and in difficult situations. We may be involved in automobile accidents, face persecutions, etc. Does this mean that God is not protecting us? Why do you think God allows these things to happen?
  9. The Great Tribulation is coming! What would you say is God’s ultimate protection for us?
THEME THOUGHTS
With his very first breath, the newborn infant begins to grope through the maze of existence, seeking to satisfy his need for warmth and food. Every sense seems to be one of desire. But as he grows, the average person soon realizes his complex nature requires more than gratification of physical needs. He becomes aware of a need for love, for security, for acceptance, for inner peace—the principal ingredients that bring fulfillment and direction in life. The search for the satisfaction of all these needs becomes a predominant drive, a quest with only one true solution. That solution is found in God—the only One who can and will meet all of these needs. It is this thought which provides the theme for this quarter. Each lesson should be centered on the fact that God cares for us in every detail of our lives. He has promised to provide our physical needs, but even more importantly, He is concerned with our spiritual needs. With this thought in mind, we begin the series by focusing on the fact that God has provided mercy, thus opening the way for a personal relationship between God and man. Once that relationship has been established through the experience of salvation, the way is open for God to supply the other needs of those who trust in Him. As you study the succeeding lessons, use the Scripture, “All things work together for good to them that love God” Romans 8:28). We must realize that God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. What we see as a need may, in God’s sight, be something which would not prove to be for our good. Accepting that verse as the basis for the quarter will help us see that true happiness is based on God’s control of the circumstances of our lives. We will recognize that as our trust is in Him, our needs truly will be supplied in the manner He knows is best.

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