3/14 1 Samuel 4 - Rabbit's Foot Theology

Sometimes people try to manufacture good luck through some kind of “rabbit’s foot” thinking. It might be through an actual item or perhaps some ritual or deed. Today we’ll see that when the Israelites treated God like a “rabbit’s foot”, it didn’t go so well. Join us! 

DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:

1.    Who were the Israelites battling in verse 1? How did their battle go in verse 2? How is that different from their previous battles that we’ve looked at over the past several months?
2.    What did the people decide to do in verse 3? What did this disrespect God and seek to use Him as a means for good luck? 
3.    How did the Philistines react in verses 6 & 7? What happened in verse 10? 
4.    What was taken in verse 11 and who was killed? What did this indicate regarding the Lord? 
5.    How did Eli react to this news in verse 18? 
6.    When Phinehas’ wife was dying, she named her newborn son “Ichabod”. In verse 22, what does that name mean? Why do you think she gave her son this name?
7.    As you reflect on this chapter, what principles can you see about making sure we’re not getting ahead of God? 
8.    Likewise, what principles can you see about the dangers of trying to manipulate God through some kind of religious act that He is not a part of? 
9.    What are some principles about the danger of trying to manufacture the sense that God is “with us” blessing what we’re doing, when that may not be true?
10.    How should the people’s covenant with God changed how they related to Him? How does your covenant with God impact how you relate to Him today?

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