Intermediate Level, Block 8—Recovery
Week 78
Coming Back to God by Coming Back to His Word
Point to Emphasize: We can learn about God by reading His Word and by listening to the ones who can explain it to us.
Reference Reading: Nehemiah 8
Memory Verse: …Give me understanding according to Your word. (Psalm 119:169b)
Story Sample
When the children of Israel returned to their land (Jerusalem), many of them did not know God’s Word, so they lived their lives and worshipped God according to what they thought was proper. They had built the house of God and the wall around Jerusalem, but they did not know what God said concerning how they should live! And they did not know how God wanted them to worship Him! They did not know a lot of things, because they did not know God’s Word.
Many people today are like this. They may know that God exists, but they do not know His Word. So they never check God’s Word to see if God likes the way they are living or how He wants to be worshipped. God says a lot in His Word. You can find out all about God and what He likes and dislikes by reading His Word.
What would the children of Israel do? A couple of weeks ago we were talking about a man who was a scribe named Ezra. Ezra requested the king to let him go to Jerusalem. What did he want to do? He wanted to read God’s Word to all the children of Israel. So, for seven days (during the Feast of Tabernacles), Ezra stood before the people and read God’s Word to them, helping them to understand it. All the people gathered together into an open area. Ezra read the Word of God to them, and the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law. The people paid attention and listened to him. Isn’t that amazing! The people were in a huge crowd, yet still, they listened. That means that they gave their FULL attention. It would be wonderful if we all were that attentive. Probably many who were there that day had never heard God’s Word. And of those who had heard or read God’s Word, not many understood it. So as Ezra read, he and others would help the people understand God’s Word. By hearing God’s Word, they realized that God was not happy about some things they did. They became very sad and were sorry. Then they made some changes. They were God’s people, and they wanted to please God according to His Word. They changed some things in their living to please Him, and they began to worship God according to His Word.
As I was growing up as a child, I had many questions. I did not understand everything about God, and I had questions about growing up as a child of God. So, I would go quickly to my dad or my mom and simply ask them. One day I asked my mom why I needed to obey her. I knew I needed to, but I wanted to know why. She responded to me with a verse from the Bible. She said, “In Exodus 20:12, God said that when you honor your parents your days will be extended. In other words, when you don’t honor your parents your days will be shortened.” After that, honoring my parents became very meaningful to me. [Storyteller, share your story about listening to a grownup and listening to something about God’s Word.]
As you grow older, you will have many questions. I want to encourage you to look around and find some older ones or “grownups,” who care about you and God’s Word. They can discuss your questions along with God’s Word. You don’t need to get all of your answers from a computer! Most real answers cannot be found from a screen. If you want to know God Himself, you need to learn about Him in His Word. Now, you might read the Bible and say, “I don’t understand!” That’s when you go to the dear ones among you who know the Bible! They can explain it to you! God’s Words has the best answers! You just need to have someone to help you understand it!
This week I want to encourage you to be like the children of Israel. Seek God’s Word, not only by reading it but also by listening to the ones who can explain it. The Bible shows us how God wants us to live and to please Him!