A Failed Attempt at Reconciliation

Monday, August 18, 2014
Act 7:23-28  

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 
24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Moses want to do at forty years of age? (v.23)
2) What did Moses see and how did he respond? (v.24)
3) What did Moses presume about his brethren? Was his presumption right, or wrong? (v.25) 
4) What happened the next day? (v.26)
5) What did the neighbor who wronged his brother say to Moses? (v.27)
6) What did he ask Moses? (v.28)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever given you a burden to help or encourage someone? If so, please describe one such instance.
8) Have you ever attempted to help someone, but your efforts were refused? If so, please describe what happened.
9) Have your motives for helping others ever been questionned? If so, what happened and how did you handle the situation?

PRINCIPLES
10) The Lord frequently burdens our hearts with that which will become our ministry.
11) Everyone will not understand your motives for doing good for others.
12) Our burden to minister often precedes our call to ministry.