Symbols representing God's nature

• Today's materialistic world values concrete proof, so it can be difficult for pupils to grasp the religious concept of God's omnipresence.
  
  
• Some aspects of life like electricity, air, love and trust can only be proved to exist by their effects. Likewise, religious believers would say that God's presence can only be verified by its effect on people or situations; but to believe that it is God at work requires faith.
  
  
• Religions have always had to use picture or symbolic language to describe an invisible God and convey something of his nature. The symbols used in biblical times would have had particular meaning at that time. While some biblical symbols remain relevant nowadays, others have lost their significance because they are not part of present everyday life. Some of these old symbols may need updating to recapture their power and significance.
  
  
• Here the symbols of cloud and fire can still be understood and scrutinised because they are full of imagery. Are they good symbols? Are they adequate? Alternative modern symbols might be discussed.
  
  
• A creative response through art or design could capture the ideas stimulated through class discussion.

Questions

1. Why are symbols necessary? What areas of life make use of symbols?
2. Why does God have to be accepted on faith? Why is that difficult?
3. Why do people find it hard to accept 'experience proof'?
4. How might God's presence be felt by a believer?
5. In what circumstances might people be especially aware of God's presence?
6. Why do people expect to find God's presence in a religious building?
7. Why might people feel a special atmosphere in religious buildings?

God's Special Relationship with Israel

• Exodus 13: 17-18 presents an opportunity to reflect on the early covenant relationship between God and Israel after the Exodus.
  
  
• On the one side, God is shown as finding the Israelites very dissatisfied after their deliverance from slavery and realises trouble will have to be averted. On the other side, the Israelites having quickly lost their euphoria after their escape to freedom, move into complaining mode with God and long to be back in Egypt! Nothing is right for them. They have overlooked the fact that freedom has its responsibilities and challenges.
  
  
• Pupils will be able to develop their skills of empathy as they engage with the feelings and dilemmas that each side has. God can be seen very much as the parent of his son, Israel and pupils can identify with that parent - child relationship.
  
  
• This should enable them to appreciate the personal nature of the Jewish and Christian concept of God as a God who loves and cares and who is prepared to take responsibility for a rebellious and difficult son.
  
  
• God might even be put in the 'hot seat' by the Israelites and questioned!

God's situation:

• God in his parental role has to anticipate problems and try to avoid them, in order to do the best for his 'firstborn son'.
  
  
• Pupils will certainly find parallels in their own lives with this situation and will know all the arguments parents produce for the decisions they make!
  
  
• Pupils might imagine what problems are going to arise in the wilderness and then check those against what does happen according to the Bible (Exodus 15:22-18:27).

The Israelites' situation:

• The Israelites, immediately they are free, want to change their minds when they realise what freedom really means. They want to be back in Egypt! They now realise that life there had not been so bad after all.
  
  
• Pupils will understand how easy it is make decisions and then regret them and they will certainly have done their share of complaining to parents when things don't go as desired!

Questions

1. Why do you think Israel was disillusioned so soon after gaining her freedom? Was it only to be expected after years of oppression?
2. Is it always a sign of weakness to change your mind?
3. Why must freedom and responsibility always go hand in hand?
4. What often causes tension between parents and children? Why is it sometimes hard for children to believe that their parents have their best interests at heart? Why are children sometimes vulnerable to moods and moaning? Or sometimes difficult to control?
5. Why was God prepared to be patient with Israel and give her a chance to learn how to cope?
6. In what way does the personality of God come across in these verses?
7. Why do you think the Israelites seem so lacking in their trust of God?
8. What makes people resort so often to complaining? When might it be justified?
9. Why might some people want God to guide their lives?
10. In what ways might God be understood to protect people?