General Old Testament Questions

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Question 1: Is the Old Testament written for our example, yes or no?

ANSWER: The Old Testament has been taken out of the way and replaced by the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Please read carefully the following passages: Romans 7:4-7; II Corinthians 3:13-14; Galatians 3:24-25; Ephesians 2:13-16; Hebrews 7:12 / 8:7. In Colossians 2:14, we see that the handwriting of ordinances (Old Testament) was blot­ted out; that it was against us and it was contrary to us. Therefore, He took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross!

Although we are not bound today by the laws of the Old Testament, as we study it we will develop a better understanding of the New Testament. As we read about the prophe­cies of the Old Testament being completely and gloriously fulfilled in the New Testa­ment, it serves, as well, to deepen our faith in God and His word! Also, in the Old Testa­ment, we can learn more about the never changing nature of our God.

Yes! The Old Testament was written for our example and, for this reason, we are commanded to study it! "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). Also, in I Corinthians 10, we read about something that happened to the children of Israel in the Old Testament. In Verse eleven, Paul says, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."

 

Question 2: Would you explain the phrase "to obey is better than sacri­fice?"

ANSWER: This phrase is found in I Samuel 15:22. In Verse three of this chapter Saul had been directed by God to "utterly destroy" the Amalekites. He disobeyed (did evil - Vs.19) by taking King Agag alive (Vs.8) and sparing the best of their herds (Vs.9) which he intended to be used in sacrifice to God. Samuel told Saul that it would have been better for him to have obeyed God rather than to have sacrificed the animals he had been directed to "utterly destroy." Because of his stubbornness and rebellion toward God in this matter, Samuel said that Saul had "rejected the word of the Lord." As a result, God rejected him from being king (Vs.23).

The lesson for us today is that true obedience to God is the important issue, not acts of worship improperly motivated!

 

Question 3: Why was God not with Goliath during his fight with David?

ANSWER: God will not be with or support those who act contrary to His will. In this case the Philistine, Goliath, was in defiance of the armies of the "living God" (I Samuel 17:26).

 

Question 4: What are the "old paths" as mentioned in Jeremiah 6:16?

ANSWER: Judah had forsaken the God of their fathers and gone after false gods (Jeremiah 2:28). Jeremiah 6:16 is a call for Judah to return to Jehovah and abide by His will, the "old paths."  "But they said, we will not walk therein" (Vs.16). As a result, Jeru­salem was overthrown (Jeremiah 38:28) and Judah was carried into Babylonian captivity. Certainly, the lesson in this for us today is that we must walk in the "old paths" as set forth in the New Testament of Jesus Christ in order to be pleasing to God, turning neither to the right or the left (Deuteronomy 5:32)!

 

Question 5: A: In Genesis, Chapter eleven, why did men try to build the tower of Babel? B: Were those involved a humble people? C: What was the one language used prior to this event? D: Was this the beginning of our languages today?

ANSWER: A: Man attempted to build the tower that they might make a name for themselves, lest they be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth (Genesis 11:4). B: That they wanted to make a name for themselves shows that they were a proud people; C: Though uncertain, some believe that the one language was Hebrew; D: The Jews so believe. However, with the many thousands of languages and dialects prevalent today, such is without supporting evidence. 

 

Question 6: Why did not the new King of Egypt "know" Joseph (Exodus 1:8)?

ANSWER: The Hebrew word translated "knew" in this verse often means to ac­knowledge, or to approve. Therefore, we should not understand this passage to mean that the new king had no knowledge whatever of Joseph, but rather that he did not "approve" of him or his activities under the previous king.

 

Question 7: How many years did it take Noah to build the ark?

ANSWER: In Genesis 6:1-3, we learn that God gave the wicked people of Noah's day an additional one hundred and twenty years to repent. At some point during this period God instructed Noah to build the ark. At the end of the one hundred and twenty years the flood came upon the earth. We are not told the exact time required to build the ark; only that it was constructed "during" the period of grace granted by God.

 

Question 8: Did God provide Noah the exact type of wood that He re­quired?

ANSWER: God does not demand of anyone those things that are impossible! That Noah had access to "gopher" wood, previously provided by the Creator of all things, is evidenced in Genesis 6:22, "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." 

 

Question 9: Did God recall Cain or did he die as a vagabond?

ANSWER: There is no biblical evidence that Cain ever repented. It appears that, at least, at the time of his crime he was more concerned about his punishment than repen­tance (Genesis 4:13-14).

We are not told where he died, but it is most likely that his death occurred in the land of Nod, in the city of Enoch that he had built.

 

Question 10: Why did God call David a "man after His own heart?"

ANSWER: Because God could and did look upon David's heart (I Samuel 16:7). He knew the kind of man that David was! Though he sinned by committing adultery and murder, none can deny the penitence, piousness, humility, and devotion to God of this great king of Israel. God never implied that David was not going to sin. He was a sinner, as we are! And, as David, when we are willing to confess and repent of our sins, we can know "the Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (II Samuel 12:13). In spite of our weaknesses and failures, if we develop and exhibit the godly characteris­tics of this great king, we, too, as penitent sinners, can become men and women after God's own heart!

 

Question 11: Who was the mother of King David?

ANSWER: The Bible does not give us her name. She is, however, referred to as the handmaid of God in Psalms 86:16 and 116:16.

 

Question 12: Was Nathan (David's son) a prophet?

ANSWER: Nathan, the prophet (II Samuel 7:2), should not be confused with David's son, also called Nathan (II Samuel 5:14)! There is nothing to indicate that David's son was a prophet!

 

Question 13: Why was David not allowed to build a house for God?

ANSWER: Because David was a man of war who had shed much blood upon the earth (I Chronicles 22:6-11; I Chronicles 28:2-3)!    

 

Question 14: Who succeeded Pharaoh after his death?

ANSWER: The word "Pharaoh" is a general designation previously applied to the rulers of Egypt. It is believed that the Pharaoh who ruled during the time of the Israelite oppression was Ramses II. The Pharaoh reigning at the time of the exodus is believed to be Menetaph II, the thirteenth son of Ramses II.

 

Question 15: Where was Joseph buried?

ANSWER: Joseph died in Egypt at the age of an hundred and ten, was em­balmed, and placed in a coffin (Genesis 50:26). We learn in Genesis 50:24-25, that Joseph had given commandment that when God would bring the children of Israel into the land that He had promised his fathers, his bones would also be taken out of Egypt. This was fulfilled by Moses (Exodus 13:19). In Joshua 24:32, we learn the Joseph's bones were finally buried in the city of Shechem.

 

Question 16: Will those who died in the flood be punished a second time in the Judgment?

ANSWER: These, along with all others who lived and died during the one hundred and twenty years probationary period before the flood (Genesis 6:3), had been preached to by the Spirit of Christ through Noah (I Peter 3:19). All of these had oppor­tunity to be saved spiritually at that time, but rejected spiritual salvation. Had those of this number who were yet alive at the time of the flood, been spiritually reconciled to God, they would also have been saved physically, as was Noah and his family. However, those who died physically, whether before or during the flood, without being saved spiritually, are said by Peter to be kept in "prison" (I Peter 3:19). So, the punishment re­served for those who reject and disobey God then, is not mere physical death, with the soul still being saved eternally. This blessing is to be the lot and destiny of only the right­eous who accept and obey God. The disobedient of all the ages (including those who died in the flood) are to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of His Power (II Thessalonians 1:7-9)! The disobedient souls of those who died in the flood then are, without doubt, being guarded in the prison of the Hadean world, re­served unto the great Judgment Day (Luke 16:22-31; II Peter 2:4-5; Jude 6)!

 

Question 17: Who wrote the last chapter of Deuteronomy?

ANSWER: We are not told. Most scholars speculate that Joshua, Moses' successor was the author. In fact, some believe that this chapter was intended to be the first chapter of Joshua.

 

Question 18: Why do you believe that the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho thirteen times?

ANSWER: In the book of Joshua, Chapter six, Verse fourteen, we learn that they marched around the city once a day for six days, a total of six times! On the seventh day they marched around it a total of seven times (Vs.15). Adding the six times to the seven times, we see a total of thirteen times! 

 

Question 19: Why did Obadiah relay Elijah's message to King Ahab (I Kings eighteen)?

ANSWER: Obadiah was the governor of Ahab's house (Vs.3) and undoubtedly had access to him. At God's command, Elijah was on his way to see King Ahab to arrange a challenge to the four-hundred fifty prophets of Baal in order to prove that Jehovah was God. While on his way, Elijah saw Obadiah and asked him to tell King Ahab that he had come to meet with him. Obadiah, apparently knowing that Ahab was angry, feared that he would be slain. Nevertheless, given assurances by Elijah, Obadiah talked to Ahab and arranged the meeting.

 

Question 20: What does it mean, "O troubler of Israel?" Who troubled Israel?

ANSWER: Israel had been suffering from a drought for more than three years at this time. King Ahab held Elijah, the prophet of God, responsible for it, and said in Verse seventeen, "Art thou he who troubleth Israel?" It was really Ahab himself who had troubled Israel. "in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim" (Vs.18). It was Ahab who had brought the great drought upon the land by provoking the God of Israel to anger (I Kings 16:30-33).

 

Question 21: How did the three and one half-year's drought end?

ANSWER: Following the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the people of Israel turned from worshipping Baal to worshipping the God of Elijah. When this occurred, the drought ended!

 

Question 22: Would you explain the Patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations?

ANSWER: The Patriarchal dispensation is generally referred as the period of time from the creation of Adam until the law was given through Moses at Mt. Sinai. During this period God spoke to, and dealt through, the heads of the families (the Patriarchs). The Mosaic dispensation began with the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai and continued until the cross of Christ. At this time the old law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14), ushering in the Christian dispensation with all mankind being answerable only to the New Testament. This final dispensation will continue until the end of time!

 

Question 23: Please explain. Do the seven days of unleavened bread (Exodus 12:14-16) come before or after the fourteenth day of the month? How are we to observe the Passover today?

ANSWER: The Feast of the Passover began on the fourteenth day of the first month, which the Jews called Abib. It continued seven days from that time until the evening of the twenty-first day of the month (Exodus 12:18).

Christians today do not keep the Passover. The Old Testament was taken out of the way and replaced by the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Please read carefully the following passages: Roman 7:4-7; II Corinthians 3: 13-14; Galatians 3:24-25; Ephesians 2:13-16; Hebrews 7:12/8:7. In Colossians 2:14, we see that the handwriting of ordinances (Old Testament) was blotted out; that it was against us and contrary to us. Therefore, He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. Look carefully at verse sixteen! The passage says that since Christ has taken the Old Law out of the way by nailing it to His cross, we are not to let any man judge us "in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." In other words, these feasts are not to be bound upon Christians today! Our Passover today is not the lamb of the Old Testament, but, rather, the Lamb of the New Testament, "which taketh away the sins of the world" (John 1;29). He is our "Passover" (I Corinthians 5:7)!

 

Question 24: Where may I read of the history of the prophet Daniel?

ANSWER: Beside the book of Daniel, please also read Ezekiel 14:14, Ezekiel 28:3, Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14, and Hebrews 11:33. Note also in the book that bears his name, he is also called Belteshazzar.

 

Question 25: What is the meaning of the name "Moses" and in which country was he born?

ANSWER: The name Moses means "drawn out." He was so named because Pharaoh's daughter drew him out of the water (Exodus 2:10). He was born in the country of Egypt (Exodus, Chapters one and two).

 

Question 26: Was it God's will that the daughters of Lot commit adultery with him?

ANSWER: No! God causes no man to sin! "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:13-15).

 

Question 27: Did Lot's daughters become his wives after they committed adultery with him?

ANSWER: No! From II Peter 2:7-8, we read that Lot was a righteous man who hated the lifestyle of the wicked! For him to take his two daughters to wife would be to live in a lifestyle that he hated. As well, he would have violated God's Word. "None of you shall approach to any that is near kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 18:6). It is also clear from Genesis 19:30-36, that Lot did not want to be involved in such a sin, but rather it was born in the hearts of his two daughters who first enticed their old father to become drunken! Surely this account of ungodliness ought to make each of us more aware of the folly and sin of using alcoholic beverages.

 

Question 28: Who is referred to as the messianic prophet?

ANSWER: Isaiah! This is because much of his book tells of the coming of the Messiah; Jesus Christ and His Church. Note particularly chapters 2 & 53.

 

Question 29: Is it true that the first time rain fell on the earth was at the time of the flood?

ANSWER: In Genesis 2:5, immediately following the creation, we learn that "the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth." In Verse six, we find that the earth was watered by a mist that went up from the earth. In Genesis 7:4, just prior to the flood, God said, "I will cause it to rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." This is the first account of rain falling in the Bible!

 

Question 30: Did man exist before Adam?

ANSWER: No! The inspired apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 15:45 that Adam was the first man!

 

Question 31: Will Cain enter heaven?

ANSWER: There is no evidence that Cain ever repented of his sins. Without re­pentance, none can be saved (Luke 13:3).

 

Question 32: What kind of a tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Did the partaking of its fruit symbolically represent sexual intercourse?

ANSWER: There is no reason to believe that the tree was not a literal tree! Nei­ther is there any reason to believe that the eating of its fruit represented sexual intercourse. Such suggestions are nothing but the foolish musings of man!

 

Question 33: Was Adam and Eve black or white? Where did the black race come from?

ANSWER: We have not been told the color of Adam’s and Eve's skin. However, that the various races of today originated through the three sons of Noah appears evident, since all others were destroyed in the flood. Ham and his descendants were later found in parts of Arabia and Africa. Shem's descendants settled in Mesopotamia and the east. Japheth's descendants located in Europe and parts of Asia. The name "Ham" comes from a Hebrew word that means swarthy and sunburned. This descriptive definition, coupled with the location of his descendants, suggests that the black race came through him. 

 

Question 34: Is it true that the first month of the Bible year is April; that God created the world during this month?

ANSWER: We do not know the exact month and year of the creation! According to Jewish tradition, God created the earth 3,760 years and three months before the be­ginning of the Christian era. This tradition is upheld in the Jewish Calendar with the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) beginning in the autumn, rather than on January 1, ac­cording to our present calendar.

 

Question 35: Does the Garden of Eden exist today? If so, where? Do angels with a flaming sword still guard it?

ANSWER: To answer the first question is to answer all three. No! The Garden of Eden no longer exists. It had been created by God as a home for sinless man. When man through sin fell, he was separated from God and lost the home created for him (Genesis 3:23-24). We are not told how long after the fall of man that the Garden existed. Some speculate that it was for a short period; others believe it existed until the flood. Nobody knows! Certainly, however, it does not exist on this earth today!

 

Question 36: Why are there different accounts of creation?

ANSWER: Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3 is a detailed account of creation, in the order of creation. In Genesis, the second Chapter, there is no intent to present another complete account of creation, neither to follow the actual sequence of creation. Moses is only relating certain creation events in the order necessary to discuss properly that which follows, i.e., the fall of man!

 

Question 37: Did God create man first and then create the woman from him (Genesis 2:22-23) or did He create them both at the same time as the Bible states in Genesis 1:27?

ANSWER: Genesis 1:27 does not state that the man and the woman were created at the same time! It simply says that God created them male and female! Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 2:22-23 explains how they were created and in what order! Also see I Timothy 2:12-13!

 

Question 38: Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil an actual tree?

ANSWER! Yes! There is no reason to think otherwise. Genesis provides us with a literal, historical account of the creation and subsequent events. Jesus knew it was literal and historical when He quoted from Genesis, Chapters one and two, in Matthew 19:4-6. We, therefore, cannot doubt Him or the words of Moses (John 5:46-47).

 

Question 39: Was the serpent created good?

ANSWER: In Colossians 1:16-17, we read that He created all things! In Genesis 1:31, we find that everything God made was good! The serpent was simply an instrument used by Satan to tempt Eve. Because of this, Satan is sometimes called a serpent (Revelation 12:9)!

 

Question 40: Why was the woman so stupid to believe the lies of the devil?

ANSWER: Eve was tempted then, as we are tempted today. Temptation can come in three ways; through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16). When lust conceives, it brings forth sin (James 1:14-15). Eve was tempted through these lusts and yielded to them and, therefore, sinned. So it is with us today! Eve was no more stupid than you and I! Indeed, all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

 

Question 41: Did Adam and Eve die, as God said they would, on the very day they ate of the forbidden fruit?

ANSWER: Yes! Death is a word that means "separation" (James 2:26). In Isaiah 59:2, we are told that our sins "separate" us from our God. This is why people who live in sin are said to be dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1-2). On the day Adam and Eve sinned by eating of the tree, they died spiritually and were separated from God! Also on that day, they began to die physically, because they no longer had access to the tree of life.

 

Question 42: When Cain was "driven from the face of the earth" (Genesis 4:14), was he removed from the earth?

ANSWER: No! The phrase "from the face of the earth" is perhaps better translated as "from off the ground." It seems that Cain was talking about the fruitful ground that he had tilled before his sin; the ground that had received his brother's blood. It was from this land that God had driven him to become a fugitive and a vagabond.

 

Question 43: How was it possible that the earth was without form, because our earth has a particular shape like an egg? If God created the heavens and earth, then where did the water come from?

ANSWER: The creation account in Genesis 1:1-2 reads as follows: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void: and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

The phrase "In the beginning" means that before the acts of creation, nothing existed! All was eternity! The word "created" carries the idea that all existing elements; all existing material came into being by the word of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) at precisely that time. This obviously included the elements of hydrogen and oxygen of which water is comprised. The fact that God created from nothing is attested to, as well, in the New Testament. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which appear" (Hebrews 11:3). Immediately following the bringing into existence of all matter, the earth was without form and void (Vs.2). This means that God had not yet spoken the laws that were to govern the arrangement and orderliness of those things that he had created. This action was completed by Him during the total creation period of six literal twenty-four hour days. In summary, God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in six days created everything that has ever existed from absolutely nothing (including water) and placed into effect laws that caused and provided for the continuing orderly arrangement and function of it all!

David, in Psalms 33:9, said it this way, "He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."

 

Question 44: What is the essence of the mark of Cain's forehead (Genesis 4:15)?

ANSWER: The Bible does not say that a "mark" was set in his forehead! Surely, such a visible "mark," indicating that he was a murderer, would have led others to slay him! Rather, according to the passage in question, the "mark" was to assure Cain that he would not be slain. The word "mark" comes from a Hebrew word (oth) which means a "sign" or "token." Therefore, the passage would have been better translated "the Lord showed (or gave) Cain a sign to convince him that none would be allowed to kill him."

 

Question 45: In Genesis it says Cain traveled to the east of Nod and mar­ried. Please, who were the people who lived there at that time?

ANSWER: In Genesis 4:16-17, we learn that Cain traveled to the east of Eden into the land of Nod, which simply means a "place of wandering." The passage does not teach that Cain got his wife in this "place of wandering." The phrase "knew his wife" does not mean that he met her east of Eden. It only means that they engaged in marital sex in that place, which resulted in the birth of their firstborn son, Enoch (See also Gene­sis 4:1). It appears most likely that Cain already had his wife and took her with him when he traveled to the east of Eden!

In Genesis 5:4, we are told that Adam "begat sons and daughters." Clearly, from these, Cain found his wife, and from these came those who eventually inhabited the city that Cain built in the "place of wandering," which he named after his firstborn.    

 

Question 46: What are the two tribes that make up Judah?

ANSWER: Judah and Benjamin. Please refer to I Kings 12:21, 23; II Chronicles 11:1, 10, 12, 23; II Chronicles 14:8; II Chronicles 15:2, 9.

 

Question 47: Did God create the dinosaurs at the same time that He created all other beasts?

ANSWER: I believe that the answer lies in Exodus 20:11, “For in six days (not periods of time) the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and “all” that in them is, . . .” “All” leaves nothing out! Therefore, it is clear that God in making “all” the beasts within that six-day period also, at the same time, created the dinosaurs!

 

Question 48: Would not the belief that dinosaurs existed millions of years ago conflict with the Bible?

ANSWER: Yes! But, Science cannot prove their allegations relative to the age of the earth. Even their radiometric dating methods are based on assumption, not facts! According to Luke’s genealogy at the direction of God, the Holy Spirit, (Luke 3) the age of the earth is approximately 10,000 years. What scientists refuse to accept is the truth that God created everything with the appearance of age. How old was the earth two days after God created it? Obviously, the earth was two days old, but how old did it appear to be? The same is true of Adam. He was actually two days old, two days after he was created. How old did he appear to be? We don’t really know, but we do know he appeared to be much older than he actually was! Scientists have assumed the rate of processes that bring about change is the same today as it was in the beginning. According to them the rate has never changed and will never change. Therefore, applying today’s rate of change to a measurable unit can tell us the age of the earth. For example, we can know today the build-up rate of sediment and we can measure the depth of the sediment. Simply dividing the depth by the build-up rate will project the time required to deposit the sediment. But, one, in order to accurately project the time required, must first prove that the build-up rate remained meticulously constant through the period of build-up. This, the scientist cannot do! Beyond this, to apply a current rate to that which was created with the appearance of age, even if the rate were proven to be constant, would prove absolutely nothing relative to the actual age of that which was created! “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

 

Question 49: When were the dinosaurs destroyed?

ANSWER: We cannot know with certainty how or when it came about. Scientists cannot prove their theories and the Bible does not speak to the issue. It is possible, however, perhaps probable, that the universal flood of Noah’s time brought about the drastic changes in climate and temperature that were responsible for their disappearance. Since we can’t know for sure, we must leave the truth of the matter to eternity.

 

Question 50: “We know from Science and Biology that such creatures (dinosaurs) did exist.” Is this the only way we can know?

ANSWER: May I suggest to you that we also can know of their existence from the fortieth Chapter of the book of Job, Verses fifteen through thirty-four: “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God; He that made him can make His sword to approach unto him. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. Behold he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not; he trusteth that he can draw Jordan up into his mouth. He taketh it with his eyes; his nose pierces through snares.” Some have suggested that the “behemoth” is an elephant, but in light of Verse seventeen the suggestion is without merit, because the creature here discussed “moveth his tail like a cedar.” The tail of an elephant is nothing but a wisp!

 

Question 51: Did God authorize Satan to tempt Eve?

ANSWER: God did not authorize Satan to tempt Eve in the sense that He directed him to do so. However, God does permit all of us, being created with the ability to choose, to be tempted as Eve was. He did not create us as robots to blindly do His bidding. He expects each of us to demonstrate our love and respect for Him through obedience to His directives as contained in the Bible. Such a demonstration would be meaningless if we were created without the ability to choose. Eve was tempted then, as we are tempted today and chose the wrong path. Temptation can come in three ways; through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16). When lust conceives, it brings forth sin. Eve was tempted through all of these lusts and yielded to them and, therefore, sinned and was separated from God (Genesis 3:24; Isaiah 59:1-2). So it is with us today! When we yield to these temptations and lust, we, too, sin. God does not direct Satan to tempt any of us (James 1:12-15), but certainly, He permits him to do so!

 

Question 52: There are many covenants in the Old Testament, i.e., between God and man; between God and Abraham; between God and Israel, etc. In lesson five of Beginning Bible Studies, it is suggested that the Law of Moses is the first covenant. How can we show that the Law of Moses was the first?

ANSWER: The lesson is not teaching that the Law of Moses was given before the covenant promises made by God to Abraham, etc. The lesson is teaching that the Bible consists of the first Covenant, i.e., the Old Testament and the second Covenant, i.e., the New Testament. That this is the case can be plainly seen in such passages as II Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 8:5-10! II Corinthians 3 is a discussion of the doing away (Verses 13-14) of the Law of Moses (Verse 7); the Old Testament/First Covenant (Verse 14) and replacing it with that which is more glorious (Verses 7-11), the Law of Christ, the New Testament/Second Covenant (Verse 6-11). Hebrews 8 is doing the same thing! In Verses 6 & 7, Paul talks about a “better,” Covenant/Testament, a second Covenant/Testament replacing the first. The second would not be according to the Covenant made with Moses (Verse 9).

 

Question 53: Was Abraham a Jew or Gentile?

ANSWER: At the time of Abraham people were not so categorized. The title of Jew was first applied only to those of the tribe of Judah, subsequently applied to those who returned from the captivity, and finally to all the Hebrew race.

 

Question 54: Why should Moses be punished so that he couldn’t enter Canaan, just because he was angry with those rebellious children of Israel? I don’t know why the Lord told Moses that he didn’t believe Him and so on. If Moses did do something wrong, what can we learn from it? (Numbers 20:7-13).

ANSWER: It is true that Moses was angry at the rebellious children of Israel, but it is also true that Moses was just as guilty of rebellion toward God. He was told to smite the rock (Exodus 17:6) and speak to the rock (Numbers 20:8), but he disobeyed and smote the rock twice and did not speak to it! Rather than inform the children of Israel that God would provide water from the rock, Moses said, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we (Moses and Aaron) fetch you water out of this rock?” In this, Moses usurped the glory that rightly belonged to the Father (Numbers 20:12). In all of this he sinned, because he transgressed the commandments that God had given him (I John 3:4)! Anger toward the children of Israel did not justify his sin! Neither is there such justification for sin today! God expects to be obeyed!

God told Moses that he did not believe Him, because Moses did not obey Him! None can doubt the fact that Moses accepted Jehovah as his God! Neither can any doubt that God demanded more than mere acknowledgment of His divine nature by Moses! Many people today think that if they just believe in Jesus (acknowledge His divine nature) they will be saved. However, belief, as used in the Bible means more than just agreement or mental assent. Belief, as used in the Bible, means trusting in God, conjoined with obedience. It means a complete surrender to the will of God. This is the way the word is used in Numbers 20:12 and in John 3:16. When Moses disobeyed God, God said, “ye believed me not.” There is no difference in saving belief and obedience in the Bible and there is no difference in damning unbelief and disobedience! When one says he or she believes and thereby claims to be saved without obedience, they do so on the basis of man’s teaching, not God’s. In the Great Commission, Jesus stated the principle very clearly, “He that believeth and is baptized (obeys) shall be saved! He did not say, “accept Me as your personal Savior!”

In the subject passage, we learn that believing in God includes obedience; that there is a penalty for sin (Romans 6:23); that God says what He means and means what He says; and that if we do not believe and obey the commandments of God, we are in rebellion against Him!

 

Question 55: Why do we use or remember the Babylonian names for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but not for Daniel?

ANSWER: The matter is one of speculation, but it seems reasonable to assume that the reason we most often use the names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is because these are the names used in scripture in the event with which we most often identify them, i.e., the fiery furnace. Had the scriptures in the events of Daniel, Chapter three related the names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, I would suspect they would be so identified today.

The same is true of the use of the name Daniel. It is the name most often used to identify him throughout the book! The name Daniel is used 75 times. Belteshazzar is used only ten times! The fact that Daniel is his Jewish name and the book is a part of the Old Law by which the Jews were governed is, as well, of no little significance.

 

Question 56: In the account of Daniel in the lion’s den, why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not also thrown into the lion’s den with Daniel? The same question also comes up as to where Daniel was when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abdnego were thrown into the fiery furnace. Do you know why these men were not all included together in the persecutions?

ANSWER: Again we are dealing with speculation, but the following is possible. Different offices were held by the three men as opposed to that of Daniel (Daniel 2: 49). Daniel, being in a higher position of influence and authority, obviously was very much in the king’s favor. It would only be natural for the three being in lesser positions to be so charged first. If these three were taken out of the way, it would follow that the king in order to be fair and just, must also remove Daniel. To begin with one in such a high position as Daniel would not be prudent in the minds of the Chaldeans. It may also be the case that Daniel was involved in some matter elsewhere in the empire and was not present at the dedication of the image that the king had set up (Daniel 3:3) when the three men refused to worship the image (Daniel 3:12).

The reason why Daniel was the only one thrown into the lion’s den is given in Daniel 6:1-9. Daniel was first among the three presidents and over the one hundred and twenty princes of Babylon, second only to the king. Clearly, there was extreme jealousy of this one whom the king “preferred” above all the others, thus the attempt to remove him. The other presidents and princes would not be similarly motivated to deal with those in lesser positions as held by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, assuming they still held those positions. We need to remember that Daniel 3:30 is the last mention of these three men and that the events of Chapter six followed after the intervening events of Chapters four and five, a period involving many years. The situation regarding the three young men, as to their position and whereabouts, during the events of Chapter six is uncertain and unknown!

 

Question 57: Where is the Ark of the Covenant today?

ANSWER: There has been much speculation as to its existence and location. However, the truth is that none really knows anything about the matter, except that it was last known to be in Solomon’s Temple (I Kings 8:1-9). With the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 587 BC by the Babylonian, Nebuchadnezzar, it disappeared and was likely destroyed. The children of Israel had, after much longsuffering by God, totally rejected Him, which is the reason for the destruction and their being taken into captivity. The presence of God was, therefore, no longer manifested on the mercy seat atop the Ark (Exodus 25:22). It became nothing but a piece of furniture with His absence, being of no real spiritual value!

 

Question 58: What was the name of the brass serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness?

ANSWER: In II Kings 18:4, we learn that the children of Israel called the brass serpent, "Nehushtan," which literally means "a piece of brass," or "the brass thing." We do not know why the name was given, but it may be the name was selected simply to avoid using the repulsive word of "serpent."

 

Question 59: Was the hand of God in the appointment of the kings of Israel? If so, why did God allow them to worship false gods?

ANSWER: Yes! The hand of God was in the appointment of the Kings of Israel (I Samuel 16:1-13) and not only these kings, but of every power on earth (Romans 13:1). Every man is created a free moral agent to make his own choices in this life. Some of the kings chose to do good, others to do bad and each received, and will receive, the rewards of their choosing! The same is true with Christians today. God appointed in the long ago that all faithful Christians will be saved (Ephesians 1: 1-14). Because He made this appointment does not mean that He also causes us not to sin (I John 1:10). God did not make man to be automatons to do His bidding.

 

Question 60: If God gave Solomon such great wisdom, why did he foolishly marry so many wives who turned him away from God?

ANSWER: Solomon upon becoming king of Israel prayed to God for wisdom to judge and rule Israel (I Kings 3:6-10). He did not ask for wisdom so that he might not sin! Because of his prayer, God responded to his prayer and, in part, said, “I have given thee a wise and understanding heart” (I Kings 3:11-15). However, Solomon was in the flesh and, though the wisest of all who ever lived to that day, was a man as we are; one who could be tempted! There can be no doubt that Solomon knew of God’s command of Exodus 34:16, but he turned from that commandment and gave over to the temptations of this life in the taking of many wives. We don’t know what he was thinking as he did so, but one could easily speculate that in having an abundance of this world’s goods, even to excess, and knowing that he, as king, could possess all of this and even more, that thinking could have possibly been present in the taking possession of many wives and concubines! Possession of great wealth has caused many to fall away from God!

 

Question 61: Why did Naomi’s husband and sons die? Was it God’s hand that made it happen as Naomi said? Was it because they went into a strange land?

ANSWER: The Bible does not give the cause of death of these men. Naomi in her bitterness falsely charged God with her great loss!

 

Question 62: Did Adam and Eve partake of the actual fruit of an actual tree or does it mean something different?

ANSWER: There is no reason to believe it was not real fruit on a real tree. The tree and fruit were just as real as was the garden, as was Adam and Eve, as is God, and as is the devil that tempted them. If these things are all real and the Bible speaks of them as being real, who can deny that the tree and the fruit were also real? For example: Romans 5:12-21 discusses the sin and disobedience of Adam. He is further discussed in I Corinthians 15:45-49, as is both Adam and Eve and their sin in I Timothy 2:13-14. In II Corinthians 11:3 there is a discussion of the fact of the serpent beguiling Eve as recorded in Genesis, Chapter three. The New Testament written by men inspired of the Holy Ghost  (John 16:13) who gave them “words” to write (I Corinthians 2:13) spoke of the events in the garden as having actually happened as written and expressed by Moses who was also inspired of God. There is no reason to accept the foolishness of men who would say otherwise!

 

Question 63: Why did God’s chosen people enjoy sinning by worshipping idols?

ANSWER: Worshipping idols in the Bible very often included all sorts of sensual carousing, every imaginable sexual sin of the worst sort, and excessive feasting and drinking, which indeed did bring temporary pleasure to the participants. The simple fact is that the idol worshippers gave in to the influences of Satan and the lusts of this world rather than serving God according to His will. Good men and women, however, did not give in to this wickedness, but as Moses, “Chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). They esteemed the riches of Christ greater then the pleasures of this world, because they looked forward to the reward that He had promised (Hebrews 11:26), i.e., “a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The faithful of God today will follow in the footsteps of these who died in faith (Hebrews 11:13)!

 

Question 64: Who are the people of Ephraim and Manasseh and why did the people of Ephraim fight against the children of Israel?

ANSWER: Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph and Asenath, a daughter of the Egyptian Potipherah, a priest of On. Though these two were only grandchildren of Jacob, they were treated as if they were his children. As a result their descendants were regarded as two of the tribes of Israel.

In Judges 12:1-6, we learn the reason why the tribe of Ephraim (not Manasseh) fought against the men of Gilead and Jephthah, a judge and deliverer of Israel, i.e., because he had not summoned them for assistance in the Ammonite war. There was undoubtedly much jealousy on the part of the chief and great tribe of Ephraim because they had not been asked to participate in this successful war, won with God’s help by a handful of valiant men. Apparently, Jephthah did not ask for their assistance since they had previously refused to help (Verse two). Surely God did not approve of Ephraim’s battle with Jephthah, because on that day forty-two thousand of that tribe were slain.

 

Question 65: It seems that Moses was unsure of God’s blessings because he decided to send the men to spy out the land. Agree?

ANSWER:The plan to send spies into the land of Canaan did not originate with God or Moses. (Deuteronomy 1:22). The idea came originally from the people; they came to Moses, and said, "We will send men before us." They would not take God's word that it was a good land, and that he would, without fail, put them in possession of it. They could not trust the pillar of cloud and fire to show them the way to it, but had a better opinion of their own politics than of God's wisdom. How absurd it was for them to send men to spy out a land which God himself had spied out for them, to try to figure out for themselves how they would enter the land when God himself had undertaken to show them the way! However, Moses was not free from guilt since he said in Deuteronomy 1:23, "And the saying (of the people) pleased me well." God then allowed and directed the people through Moses to carry out the folly of their heart (Numbers 13:1) which was necessary to teach Israel (and us) the foolishness of relying on man's judgment in rejection of God's judgments. Because the people would not accept the words of Joshua and Caleb to not rebel against Him (Numbers 14:9) by refusing to enter the land that He had promised, none of them but Joshua and Caleb and the children of the people would be permitted to finally enter! The Lord's judgment upon them for their sin is recorded in Numbers 14:11-45.

 

Question 66: When Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, did their father know it? What was his reaction?

ANSWER: There is no indication that Isaac knew of the selling of the birthright, but rather to the contrary, since we note that it was his intent to bestow the birthright blessing of the firstborn upon Esau in Genesis, Chapter 27. Upon realizing that He had been deceived into bestowing the firstborn blessing upon Jacob, the record says in Genesis 27:33 that Isaac “trembled,” after which he bestowed a lesser blessing upon Esau.

 

Question 67: What was Jacob’s only daughter named? Who was her mother? Did she marry? If yes, who was her husband? Was she among those who later came to Egypt?

ANSWER: Jacob’s daughter was named “Dinah” (Genesis 30:21). Her mother’s name was Leah (Genesis 30:20-21). In Genesis 34, we find that Dinah was defiled by Shechem (a Hivite), the son of Hamor, who later wanted to marry Dinah. However, Jacob and his sons refused to allow Dinah to marry an uncircumcised Gentile in accordance with God’s directive of Deuteronomy 7:3. Since there is no indication of a subsequent marriage, it appears likely that she remained single and was, indeed, among those who went into Egypt (Genesis 46:15).

 

Question 68: Why did Aaron and Miriam rebel against Moses when they knew that God had been working through him?

ANSWER: The exalted position of Moses aroused a feeling of envy in the minds of his brother and sister, and they, because of this, disputed his preeminence. Miriam instigated the open rebellion and was followed by Aaron. Summoned to the Tabernacle by the Lord, they were given a stern rebuke, and Miriam, the instigator of the rebellion, was struck with leprosy. When Aaron saw his sister, he said to Moses, "Alas, my lord, I beseech you, lay not the sin upon us” (Numbers 12:11). And Moses prayed unto the Lord, "Heal her now, Oh God, I beseech thee" (Numbers 12:13). God heard his prayer, though He inflicted deep humiliation upon Miriam. She was shut outside of the camp, excluded from the congregation for seven days, after which restoration and purification from her leprosy were promised. During her seclusion the people did not journey any farther (Numbers 12:1-15). This leprosy, and its removal, which took place at Hazeroth, note the last public event of Miriam's life

 

Question 69: Who was Melchizedek? Who are his parents? How many years did he live on the earth? Was he man or angel? What was his occupation?

ANSWER: Melchizedek was a man who was the king of Salem and the priest of the most high God (Genesis 14:17). The Bible does not record the names of his parents, neither his life span. The relationship between Melchizedek and Christ, as type and antitype, is made in the epistle to the Hebrews (Chapter seven) as follows: each was a priest (1) not of the Levitical tribe; (2) superior to Abraham; (3) whose beginning and end are unknown; (4) and not only a priest, but also a king of righteousness and peace. "Without father," etc. (Hebrews 7:3), refers to priestly genealogies. Melchizedek is not found on the register of the only line of legitimate priests; his father's name is not recorded, nor his mother's; and no evidence points out his line of descent from Aaron. It is not suggested in Scripture that he had no father or that he was not born at any time or died on any day; but these facts were nowhere found on the register of the Levitical priesthood.

 

Question 70: Did Ezekiel marry again after the death of his wife? How many children did he have?

ANSWER: There is no indication that Ezekiel had children or that he remarried after the death of "the desire of his eye" (Ezekiel 24:16).

 

Question 71: Which punishment took place first, that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, or that of Daniel?

ANSWER: Sahdrach, Meshach, and Abed-nigo were placed in the fiery furnace during the reign of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel, Chapter three). Daniel was placed in the den of lions during the reign of Darius, the Median (Daniel, Chapter six) after the Babylonian kingdom was divided, and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:28-31). Therefore, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nigo were placed in the fiery furnace before Daniel was placed in the lion’s den.

 

Question 72: Was Joseph buried in Egypt and then later reburied?

 

 

 

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