Seven bible stories study

Here are seven inspirational stories from the bible- there are no doubt many more, but these seven show how good God is at providing, caring for and delivering His children from all sorts of trying and adverse situations and conditions

1 Joseph in Egypt This story is illustrative of how God uses people, in this situation Joseph, to ensure that people are supplied during a very grievous famine which was not only in Egypt but the whole region so that people came to Egypt in search of food.

(Genesis 41:1)  After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

 

(Genesis 41:2)  and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.

 

(Genesis 41:3)  And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.

 

(Genesis 41:4)  And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke.

 

(Genesis 41:5)  And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.

 

(Genesis 41:6)  And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind.

 

(Genesis 41:7)  And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

 

(Genesis 41:8)  So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

 

(Genesis 41:9)  Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my offenses today.

 

(Genesis 41:10)  When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,

 

(Genesis 41:11)  we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation.

 

(Genesis 41:12)  A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.

 

(Genesis 41:13)  And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged."

 

(Genesis 41:14)  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.

 

(Genesis 41:15)  And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

 

(Genesis 41:16)  Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

 

(Genesis 41:17)  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.

 

(Genesis 41:18)  Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.

 

(Genesis 41:19)  Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:20)  And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows,

 

(Genesis 41:21)  but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.

 

(Genesis 41:22)  I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good.

 

(Genesis 41:23)  Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them,

 

(Genesis 41:24)  and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."

 

(Genesis 41:25)  Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

 

(Genesis 41:26)  The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.

 

(Genesis 41:27)  The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.

 

(Genesis 41:28)  It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

 

(Genesis 41:29)  There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt,

 

(Genesis 41:30)  but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,

 

(Genesis 41:31)  and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.

 

(Genesis 41:32)  And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

 

(Genesis 41:33)  Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:34)  Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.

 

(Genesis 41:35)  And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.

 

(Genesis 41:36)  That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine."

 

(Genesis 41:37)  This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.

 

(Genesis 41:38)  And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"

 

(Genesis 41:39)  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.

 

(Genesis 41:40)  You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you."

 

(Genesis 41:41)  And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."

 

(Genesis 41:42)  Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

 

(Genesis 41:43)  And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:44)  Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

 

(Genesis 41:45)  And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:46)  Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:47)  During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly,

 

(Genesis 41:48)  and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it.

 

(Genesis 41:49)  And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

 

(Genesis 41:50)  Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him.

 

(Genesis 41:51)  Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house."

 

(Genesis 41:52)  The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

 

(Genesis 41:53)  The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end,

 

(Genesis 41:54)  and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

 

(Genesis 41:55)  When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."

 

(Genesis 41:56)  So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 41:57)  Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

 

God would later use this to bring all of Israel down to Egypt- maybe 70 people at the time of the move eventually multiply them to millions. Next up is a story of personal deliverance from a very powerful adversary.

3 David versus Goliath           This is the famous story of David versus Goliath where David with the aid of God defeats and kills Goliath and the Philistines, seeing Goliath dead, turn and flee the battlefield.

(1 Samuel 17:1)  Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

 

(1 Samuel 17:2)  And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines.

 

(1 Samuel 17:3)  And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

 

(1 Samuel 17:4)  And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

 

(1 Samuel 17:5)  He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.

 

(1 Samuel 17:6)  And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

 

(1 Samuel 17:7)  The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:8)  He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

 

(1 Samuel 17:9)  If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."

 

(1 Samuel 17:10)  And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."

 

(1 Samuel 17:11)  When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

 

(1 Samuel 17:12)  Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.

 

(1 Samuel 17:13)  The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

 

(1 Samuel 17:14)  David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,

 

(1 Samuel 17:15)  but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

 

(1 Samuel 17:16)  For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

 

(1 Samuel 17:17)  And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.

 

(1 Samuel 17:18)  Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them."

 

(1 Samuel 17:19)  Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

 

(1 Samuel 17:20)  And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.

 

(1 Samuel 17:21)  And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.

 

(1 Samuel 17:22)  And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.

 

(1 Samuel 17:23)  As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:24)  All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.

 

(1 Samuel 17:25)  And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."

 

(1 Samuel 17:26)  And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

 

(1 Samuel 17:27)  And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him."

 

(1 Samuel 17:28)  Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

 

(1 Samuel 17:29)  And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"

 

(1 Samuel 17:30)  And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.

 

(1 Samuel 17:31)  When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:32)  And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

 

(1 Samuel 17:33)  And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."

 

(1 Samuel 17:34)  But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,

 

(1 Samuel 17:35)  I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:36)  Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

 

(1 Samuel 17:37)  And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

 

(1 Samuel 17:38)  Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

 

(1 Samuel 17:39)  and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off.

 

(1 Samuel 17:40)  Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

 

(1 Samuel 17:41)  And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.

 

(1 Samuel 17:42)  And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.

 

(1 Samuel 17:43)  And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

 

(1 Samuel 17:44)  The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

 

(1 Samuel 17:45)  Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

 

(1 Samuel 17:46)  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

 

(1 Samuel 17:47)  and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."

 

(1 Samuel 17:48)  When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

 

(1 Samuel 17:49)  And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

 

(1 Samuel 17:50)  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

 

(1 Samuel 17:51)  Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

 

(1 Samuel 17:52)  And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.

 

(1 Samuel 17:53)  And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.

 

(1 Samuel 17:54)  And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

 

(1 Samuel 17:55)  As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

 

(1 Samuel 17:56)  And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is."

 

(1 Samuel 17:57)  And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

 

(1 Samuel 17:58)  And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

 

It is awesome to see just how God enabled little David to slay the giant Goliath. This next story about the confrontation of  Elijah and the prophets  of Baal is just as good.

3. Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Here is the story of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal, and also God showing the Israelites just who He is, sending fire down from heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice, despite the fact that it was soaked with water(the water was even removed).

(1 Kings 18:1)  After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth."

 

(1 Kings 18:2)  So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

 

(1 Kings 18:3)  And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly,

 

(1 Kings 18:4)  and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)

 

(1 Kings 18:5)  And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals."

 

(1 Kings 18:6)  So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.

 

(1 Kings 18:7)  And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"

 

(1 Kings 18:8)  And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.'"

 

(1 Kings 18:9)  And he said, "How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?

 

(1 Kings 18:10)  As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, 'He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

 

(1 Kings 18:11)  And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here."'

 

(1 Kings 18:12)  And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.

 

(1 Kings 18:13)  Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?

 

(1 Kings 18:14)  And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here"'; and he will kill me."

 

(1 Kings 18:15)  And Elijah said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."

 

(1 Kings 18:16)  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

 

(1 Kings 18:17)  When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"

 

(1 Kings 18:18)  And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.

 

(1 Kings 18:19)  Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

 

(1 Kings 18:20)  So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

 

(1 Kings 18:21)  And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.

 

(1 Kings 18:22)  Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.

 

(1 Kings 18:23)  Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.

 

(1 Kings 18:24)  And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."

 

(1 Kings 18:25)  Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."

 

(1 Kings 18:26)  And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.

 

(1 Kings 18:27)  And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

 

(1 Kings 18:28)  And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

 

(1 Kings 18:29)  And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

 

(1 Kings 18:30)  Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.

 

(1 Kings 18:31)  Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name,"

 

(1 Kings 18:32)  and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.

 

(1 Kings 18:33)  And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."

 

(1 Ki ngs18:34)  And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.

 

(1 Kings 18:35)  And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

 

(1 Kings 18:36)  And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

 

(1 Kings 18:37)  Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."

 

(1 Kings 18:38)  Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

 

(1 Kings 18:39)  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."

 

(1 Kings 18:40)  And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

 

(1 Kings 18:41)  And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain."

 

(1 Kings 18:42)  So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

 

(1 Kings 18:43)  And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again," seven times.

 

(1 Kings 18:44)  And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'"

 

(1 Kings 18:45)  And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

 

(1 Kings 18:46)  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

 

The whole story ends with the people glorifying, God the prophets of Baal being executed, and even it raining after over 3 years. Next up is a story in the book of Daniel 

4 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

            This is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they refuse to worship an idol Nebuchadnezzar had set up and are thrown into a furnace intentionally made seven times hotter but still were rescued by God, in fact an angel, good chance the pre-incarnate Jesus, showed up with the three men inside the furnace, and it was noticed by Nebuchadnezzar.

(Daniel 3:1)  King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

 

(Daniel 3:2)  Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

(Daniel 3:3)  Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

(Daniel 3:4)  And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

 

(Daniel 3:5)  that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

 

(Daniel 3:6)  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."

 

(Daniel 3:7)  Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

(Daniel 3:8)  Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

 

(Daniel 3:9)  They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!

 

(Daniel 3:10)  You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.

 

(Daniel 3:11)  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

 

(Daniel 3:12)  There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

 

(Daniel 3:13)  Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

 

(Daniel 3:14)  Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?

 

(Daniel 3:15)  Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"

 

(Daniel 3:16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

 

(Daniel 3:17)  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

 

(Daniel 3:18)  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

 

(Daniel 3:19)  Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

 

(Daniel 3:20)  And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

 

(Daniel 3:21)  Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

 

(Daniel 3:22)  Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

 

(Daniel 3:23)  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

 

(Daniel 3:24)  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

 

(Daniel 3:25)  He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

 

(Daniel 3:26)  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

 

(Daniel 3:27)  And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

 

(Daniel 3:28)  Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

 

(Daniel 3:29)  Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way."

 

(Daniel 3:30)  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

 

This is an awesome story of how God can and does protect His people from even the worst things possible, making that evil plot fail utterly. Daniel 6 is similar where Daniel himself is the one protected from the danger.

5 Daniel and the Lions Den

            Some years later than the above Daniel himself finds himself the target of envy by princes who conspire together to rid themselves of him by concocting a scheme, but little do they know that not only their target, Daniel, is rescued but they themselves end up in the Lions den.

(Daniel 6:1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;

 

(Daniel 6:2)  and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.

 

(Daniel 6:3)  Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

 

(Daniel 6:4)  Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.

 

(Daniel 6:5)  Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

 

(Daniel 6:6)  Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!

 

(Daniel 6:7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

 

(Daniel 6:8)  Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked."

 

(Daniel 6:9)  Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

 

(Daniel 6:10)  When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

 

(Daniel 6:11)  Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

 

(Daniel 6:12)  Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

 

(Daniel 6:13)  Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

 

(Daniel 6:14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

 

(Daniel 6:15)  Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed."

 

(Daniel 6:16)  Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"

 

(Daniel 6:17)  And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

 

(Daniel 6:18)  Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

 

(Daniel 6:19)  Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.

 

(Daniel 6:20)  As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

 

(Daniel 6:21)  Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!

 

(Daniel 6:22)  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

 

(Daniel 6:23)  Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

 

(Daniel 6:24)  And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

 

(Daniel 6:25)  Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you.

 

(Daniel 6:26)  I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

 

(Daniel 6:27)  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

 

(Daniel 6:28)  So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

 

            It is wonderful to see again how God rescues His faithful from trouble, this time from the lion’s den. Next is a story of the coming of the Holy Spirit

6 Pentecost the coming of the Holy Spirit

            Here is the wonderful story in Acts 2 of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and also the birth of the Christian church as a result, growing to thousands the very day the Holy Spirit came.

(Acts 2:1)  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

 

(Acts 2:2)  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

 

(Acts 2:3)  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

 

(Acts 2:4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

(Acts 2:5)  Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

 

(Acts 2:6)  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

 

(Acts 2:7)  And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

 

(Acts 2:8)  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

 

(Act 2:9)  Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

 

(Acts 2:10)  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

 

(Acts 2:11)  both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

 

(Acts 2:12)  And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

 

(Act 2:13)  But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."

 

(Acts 2:14)  But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

 

(Acts 2:15)  For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

 

(Acts 2:16)  But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

 

(Acts 2:17)  "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

 

(Acts 2:18)  even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

 

(Acts 2:19)  And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

 

(Acts 2:20)  the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

 

(Acts 2:21)  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

 

(Acts 2:22)  "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--

 

(Acts 2:23)  this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

 

(Acts 2:24)  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

 

(Acts 2:25)  For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

 

(Acts 2:26)  therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.

 

(Acts 2:27)  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.

 

(Acts 2:28)  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

 

(Acts 2:29)  "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

 

(Acts 2:30)  Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

 

(Acts 2:31)  he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

 

(Acts 2:32)  This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

 

(Acts 2:33)  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

 

(Acts 2:34)  For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,

 

(Acts 2:35)  until I make your enemies your footstool.'

 

(Acts 2:36)  Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

 

(Acts 2:37)  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

 

(Acts 2:38)  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

(Acts 2:39)  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

 

(Acts 2:40)  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

 

(Acts 2:41)  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

 

(Acts 2:42)  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

 

(Acts 2:43)  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

 

(Acts 2:44)  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

 

(Acts 2:45)  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

 

(Acts 2:46)  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

 

(Acts 2:47)  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 

In the aftermath of the Holy Spirit’s coming there were many miracles and also people sold possessions to help with all the new believers, and the church continued to grow. Last one is the one where Paul is thrown in jail but rescued by an earthquake

Paul and the earthquake

            This is the story of Paul, persecuted by others for casting out a divination spirit from a person(robbing them of her financial gain to them) is beaten, tossed in jail…….

(Acts 16:1)  Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

 

(Acts 16:2)  He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

 

(Acts 16:3)  Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

 

(Acts 16:4)  As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

 

(Acts 16:5)  So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

 

(Acts 16:6)  And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

 

(Acts 16:7)  And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

 

(Acts 16:8)  So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

 

(Acts 16:9)  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

 

(Acts 16:10)  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

 

(Acts 16:11)  So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,

 

(Acts 16:12)  and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.

 

(Acts 16:13)  And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

 

(Acts 16:14)  One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

 

(Acts 16:15)  And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

 

(Acts 16:16)  As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.

 

(Acts 16:17)  She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."

 

(Acts 16:18)  And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

 

(Acts 16:19)  But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

 

(Acts 16:20)  And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.

 

(Acts 16:21)  They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."

 

(Acts 16:22)  The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

 

(Acts 16:23)  And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

 

(Acts 16:24)  Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 

(Acts 16:25)  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

 

(Acts 16:26)  and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

 

(Acts 16:27)  When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

 

(Acts 16:28)  But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."

 

(Acts 16:29)  And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

 

(Acts 16:30)  Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

 

(Acts 16:31)  And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

 

(Acts 16:32)  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

 

(Acts 16:33)  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

 

(Acts 16:34)  Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

 

(Acts 16:35)  But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."

 

(Acts 16:36)  And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."

 

(Acts 16:37)  But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."

 

(Acts 16:38)  The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.

 

(Acts 16:39)  So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.

 

(Acts 16:40)  So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

 

            God used the earthquake not only to free the physical prisoners from their bonds but also to help the jailer and His family come to Christ, getting them all eternal life in the process, and freedom from worrying about Hell, the domain of all those who reject Christ. All seven of these stories show God at His most powerful and yet merciful wanting people to not perish but to see eternal life in Him through Jesus and His finished work on the cross. If you are feeling the pull of the Holy Spirit and want to come to or return to the Lord Jesus and His wonderful peace which passes all understanding please pray this prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours.