Vision Quest – Lost In The Crowd

*Some call it a quiet time. We call it a Vision Quest. This is a simple Bible study to help you along your journey of discovering God’s purpose for your life.*

The Midianites treated the people of Israel very badly. That’s why they made hiding places for themselves. They hid in holes in the mountains. They also hid in caves and in other safe places. Each year the people planted their crops. When they did, the Midianites came into the country and attacked it. So did the Amalekites and other tribes from the east. They camped on the land. They destroyed the crops all the way to Gaza. They didn’t spare any living thing for Israel. They didn’t spare sheep or cattle or donkeys. The Midianites came up with their livestock and tents. They came like huge numbers of locusts. It was impossible to count all of those men and their camels. They came into the land to destroy it.

Judges 6:2-5

Our story of the Israelites continues as they are “lost in the crowd” and swallowed up by the nations around them. The Israelites made hiding places to feel safe. Sometimes we can feel overpowered, the way the Israelites were, by demands at our job, stresses at home, or pressures to keep up appearances. We create our own “hiding” places to feel safe, but it also disconnects us from being real in relationships.

Write down three ways you feel overwhelmed.

Write down three ways you hide (either physically or emotionally).

It’s in those moments when we feel small or insignificant, God wants us to turn to him.

Midian made the people of Israel very poor. So they cried out to the Lord for help. They cried out to the Lord because of what Midian had done.

Judges 6:6-7

God wants us to ask him for help. He wants to become that safe place so we don’t have to hide or feel overpowered.

Consider these scriptures:

“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart)

1 Kings 8:37-39

Hear my cry for help, my King and my God,  for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;  in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:2-3

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel 6:10

Challenge

• Be honest with God about the ways you feel overpowered.
• Write out your requests and commit to pray for them every day