CWE365 & Youth Strategies Journey to Colorado (part 3)

This is the third installment of a three part series written by Springdale Ozone Director, Erin Wiltse. Follow the links to read parts one and two.

Third and lastly, the Bible study we spent our time in was the book of Exodus.  

Each day we explored a section of the text where we were able to see the nature and character of God, as well as the nature and character of the Israelites during their time in exile and as they were brought out of slavery in Egypt.  Throughout the story we were able to see how God was interacting with His people and working for their good even when they couldn’t see that He was doing so.  Not a lot has changed in our day, huh?  God is bigger, greater, wiser than we will ever be and is constantly working out His wonderfully purposed story that we are invited into by Christ.  The climax of our study and the challenge they left us with on the last night as we traveled up the mountain came from Exodus 20:18-21:

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”  Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”   The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

After seeing all that the Lord had done for the Israelites as we studied through the week, how He had rescued, led them, and provided for all of their needs, we now see them standing “far off” as He reveals Himself. Today, we tend to look at the Israelites and say things to the effect of “how could they be so silly? God was doing crazy, miraculous things. He parted the Red Sea right in front of them and they still worship idols and don’t understand. He rescued them from thousands of pursuing soldiers and they didn’t realize His love?” Yet, our lives so often mimic theirs.  Christ came to the earth to walk and talk as a man, although still fully God.  Christ never sinned and chose to die on a cross.  Christ raised Himself from the dead because He has the power to overcome sin and death.  Christ’s resurrection proves His unconditional love and pursuit of His people. But still we often choose to stand far off.  So for each one of our students the question became, “why do you choose to be at a distance from God?”  I believe each of us can ask ourselves the same question.  In Christ, God drew near to each of us so we “might feel our way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:27).  Where do you find yourself standing today?

RHS Student, Pia.

Rogers High School Student Pia reflected on her trip, "I really enjoyed bonding and getting to know everyone a lot better.  Spending time with the Lord while we were in the mountains was awesome!  I loved that we figured things out as a group through various activities, that it wasn't up to you as a individual but rather the group worked together.  Horse-back riding was so fun because growing up I had experience with horses and it was nice to do that again!  Overall, I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to go and experience such beauty with our group!"

My prayer for our students in Colorado was that they would be drawn into greater dependence and submission to their Great Creator and Loving Savior as they witnessed the vastness of all He has done.  The picture of creation that we were able to see each morning points directly to Him. But even more, the story of redemption that the Israelites experienced is also available to us through Jesus Christ.  And it’s not just a one-time, get into heaven free card, but rather a day-by-day, moment-by-moment, clinging to the Lifeline that defines us, guides us and loves us enough to redeem.  May my prayer reach your life and heart as you see the Lord through our time in Colorado.