Week 1 day 7

Day 7	THE SAME GOD
	"For I am the Lord, I change not." Malachi 3:6
	T he God of Israel is the same God we serve. That is what makes the history of Israel so fascinating and so valuable. In it we see depicted God's attitudes towards individual men and women. How he judges them, what pleases him and what angers him. Many people find it hard to relate the God they see in first and second Samuel to the God they worship on Sabbath morning. That is not because God has changed, as the Discover text points out, but because their picture of God is inadequate. It is disquieting to see God expressing his opinions so directly, acting to reward and punish and choosing men and women for particular tasks. It is so much easier to serve a God who never answers back! Some will argue that God treated people differently back then. After all they were so primitive, so uncivilised, he must have had different standards and expectations for them! But when Jesus was asked what is the most important of God's requirements (Mark 12:28-34) he answered by quoting from the Law given to Moses at Sinai (Deut. 6:4,5; Lev. 19:18) long before Samuel's time! Another good reason for studying the history of God's ancient people is that we are the heirs to the wonderful promises God made to them. Look back at the lesson for Sabbath, then read Galatians 3:7.
	What plan does God have for your life? (Eph. 2:10; Jer. 3:4,5; 1 Sam. 9:16) How would you react to someone who claimed to bring you a message from God? (2 Sam. 7; Heb. 1:1,2; Rev. 22:16) Do you expect God to intervene in human affairs? (1 Sam. 7:10; Matt. 24:29-31) Remember your answers to these questions as you study 1st and 2nd Samuel. You may be surprised how relevant it is to you!
	Father, thank you for you unchanging goodness to all those who serve you.

Day 7

THE SAME GOD