Now Hear This!
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” — 1 Corinthians 10:11, NASB
These devotional questions are original writing for this site, not the official Sabbath School quarterly. Read the full official lesson at ssnet.org.
Not every message from God was welcomed. This week we look honestly at what happened when God's prophets said things people didn't want to hear.
Some responded with fear and rebellion. Some literally burned the message. Some mocked the messenger while quietly honoring dead prophets from a safe distance in the past.
These stories were written down for a reason — not to shame the people in them, but to warn us, so we don't repeat the same mistakes.
When the People Turned on Moses
The Israelites stood at the edge of the Promised Land, and fear took over. Instead of trusting God, they turned their anger on Moses and Aaron, God's own messengers (Numbers 14:4–11). Caleb tried to calm their fear with hope, but the people wanted a new leader instead.
Why were the Israelites so afraid, according to Numbers 13:26–30?
They had seen the size and strength of the people living in Canaan and felt certain they couldn't win. Fear made the promise of a good land feel impossible to believe.
What encouraging word did Caleb try to give the people (Numbers 13:30)?
“Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” Caleb chose to trust God's promise over what his eyes could see.
What did the people want to do instead of trusting Moses and God, according to Numbers 14:4?
They talked about choosing a new leader and going back to Egypt. Their fear turned into open rebellion against the very people trying to lead them to safety.
Is it easier for you to trust God when things are going well? What about when trusting Him means real discomfort or risk?
A personal reflection question worth answering honestly.
Burning the Scroll
Jeremiah's warnings to Judah were read aloud to King Jehoiakim. Instead of listening, the king cut the scroll apart with a knife and threw it into the fire, piece by piece (Jeremiah 36:20–26).
What did King Jehoiakim do as Jeremiah's scroll was read to him (Jeremiah 36:23)?
He cut it apart with a scribe's knife and burned it in the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was destroyed.
What did God tell Jeremiah to do after the king burned the first scroll (Jeremiah 36:27–28)?
He told him to write it all again on a new scroll — the same words, unchanged. Destroying the message didn't erase it; it only delayed nothing.
What did God say would happen to Jehoiakim because of what he had done (Jeremiah 36:30–31)?
God pronounced serious judgment on him and his family. Rejecting God's warning didn't make the warning untrue — it only sealed the consequences.
What does it say about God's character that He kept sending the same message of love, even after it had literally been burned?
A personal reflection question worth sitting with.
Mocking the Messengers
For generations, Judah's kings and people mocked God's prophets instead of listening to them (2 Chronicles 36:15–16). Even young King Zedekiah refused to humble himself before Jeremiah, though Jeremiah spoke “from the mouth of the Lord.”
How does 2 Chronicles 36:16 describe the nation's response to God's messengers?
“They mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets” — until there was no remedy left.
What does 2 Chronicles 36:12 say about King Zedekiah's response to Jeremiah?
He “did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord.” He knew Jeremiah spoke for God and still refused to listen.
According to 2 Peter 3:9, what is God's actual desire when He sends warnings through His prophets?
That none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Even hard warnings are an act of love, meant to save, not to punish.
Have you ever dismissed a hard truth someone told you, only to realize later they were right? What happened?
A personal reflection question worth being honest about.
Honoring Dead Prophets, Ignoring Living Ones
Jesus confronted religious leaders who decorated the tombs of dead prophets while planning to kill the greatest Prophet of all — Himself (Matthew 23:30–35). It's easy to admire faithfulness from a safe distance in the past.
What contradiction did Jesus point out in Matthew 23:29–31?
The religious leaders built monuments to honor the prophets their own ancestors had killed, while claiming they never would have done such a thing themselves.
What were the religious leaders actually planning to do at the very moment they were honoring dead prophets, according to this week's lesson?
They were plotting to kill Jesus — the Messiah Himself, far greater than any prophet who came before Him.
What warning did Jesus give in Matthew 7:5 about judging others before examining ourselves?
“First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Self-examination has to come before we criticize someone else's failures.
How can we make sure we're not just admiring truth from the past while ignoring it in our own lives today?
A personal reflection question worth sitting with.
Written So We Wouldn't Repeat It
Paul said the failures of ancient Israel were written down as examples for us, “upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). The past isn't just history — it's a warning meant to help us.
According to 1 Corinthians 10:6, why does Paul say these Old Testament stories were recorded?
“To the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” They're a warning meant to keep us from repeating the same mistakes.
What promise does 1 Corinthians 10:11 make about why these events were written down?
They were “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” — meaning they still apply directly to us today.
What does Isaiah 40:8 say about the lasting power of God's Word?
“The word of our God shall stand for ever.” His words don't expire or lose their relevance with time.
When you read Bible stories about rebellion or disbelief, what's one lesson you personally need to take from them right now?
A personal reflection question worth answering specifically.
A Reprover, Not by Choice
Ellen White said she never chose the difficult work of warning and correcting God's people — it was given to her. Like the prophets before her, some people accepted her messages and others rejected them.
How did Ellen White describe her own calling as a “reprover” of God's people?
She said she had not chosen this unpleasant labor for herself, and that it wouldn't bring her the favor or praise of others — only the responsibility to be faithful to what God gave her to say.
What did Ellen White say her actual duty was, according to this week's reading?
“Not to please myself, but to do the will of my heavenly Father, who has given me my work.” Faithfulness mattered more to her than being liked.
How did Ellen White say skeptics of her prophetic gift should be treated?
With “long patience and brotherly love,” giving people room to work through their doubts rather than dismissing or attacking them.
Why do you think it's important for a true messenger of God to keep speaking the truth, even when it isn't popular or welcomed?
A personal reflection question worth sitting with.
For Discussion
This week we saw fear turn into rebellion, a scroll get burned, and prophets get mocked. Which of these responses do you recognize in your own reactions to hard truths?
An open question — there's no wrong answer, only your own honest reflection.
Why do you think it's so tempting to honor faithfulness from the past while resisting it in the present?
A question worth sitting with rather than answering too quickly.
What's one warning from Scripture that you've been tempted to ignore, and what would it look like to actually listen to it?
A personal question worth being specific about.
How does knowing God kept reaching out to His people, even after rejection, change how you think about your own hard seasons of doubt or resistance?
A closing question to carry forward, as this quarter's study continues.
