The365DayChildrensBibleCEV-Full

The 365 Day Children’s

The 365 Day Children’s

BIBLE STORYBOOK Your favorite Bible stories come alive in this bright and colorful storybook that takes your child through the Bible in one year. Children will love the illustrations and easily understand the words taken from the Contemporary English translation.

The 365 Day

CHILDREN’S

BIBLE STORYBOOK

BIBLE STORYBOOK

www.scanpublishing.dk

ONE STORY A DAY – ALL YEAR ROUND scandinavia

scandinavia

The 365 Day Children’s

BIBLE Storybook

The 365 Day Children’s

The 365 Day Children’s Bible Storybook Published by Scandinavia Publishing House 2011 Drejervej 15,3 DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark Tel. (45) 3531 0330 Fax (45) 3536 0334 E-mail: info@scanpublishing.dk Web: www.scanpublishing.dk Text copyright © Contemporary English Version Illustrations copyright © Gustavo Mazali Design by Ben Alex Printed in China ISBN 978 87 7247 159 4 All rights reserved

BIBLE Storybook

The Contemporary English Version

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Contents The Old Testament

The New Testament

CREATION 6–7 ADAM AND EVE 8–11 CAIN AND ABEL 12–13 NOAH 14–17 THE TOWER OF BABEL 18–19 ABRAHAM 20–29 ISAAC 30–31 JACOB 32–47 JOSEPH 48–73 MOSES 74–111 JOSHUA 112–129 JUDGES 130–135 DEBORAH 136–139 GIDEON 140–153 SAMSON 154–163 RUTH 164–169 HANNAH 170–171 SAMUEL 172–179 SAUL 180–185 DAVID 186–210 SOLOMON 211–215 ELIJAH 216–221 ELISHA 222–223 JONAH 224–229 DANIEL 230–241 ESTHER 242–252

JESUS’ BIRTH 254–261 JESUS’ CHILDHOOD 262–263 JOHN THE BAPTIST 264–265 JESUS’ EARLY MINISTRY 266–283 JESUS’ TEACHING 284–322 JESUS’ HEALINGS AND MIRACLES 323–357 JESUS’ LAST DAYS 358–395 JESUS’ RESSURRECTION 396–407 THE EARLY CHURCH 408–419 SIMON PETER’S MINISTRY 420–425 PAUL’S MINISTRY 426–445

The Old Testament

DAY 1

God Creates the World Genesis 1:1-19

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.

God said, “I command light to shine!” And light started shining. God looked at the light and saw that it was good. He separated light from darkness and named the light “Day” and darkness “Night.” That was the first day.

God said, “I command a dome to separate the water above it from the water below it.” And that’s what happened. God named the dome “Sky.” That was the second day.

God said, “I command the water under the sky to come together in one place, so there will be dry ground.”

And that’s what happened. God named the dry ground “Land” and the water “Ocean.” God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.

God said, “I command the earth to produce all kinds of plants, including fruit trees and grain.” And that’s what happened. God looked at what he had done, and it was good. That was the third day.

God said, “I command lights to appear in the sky and to separate day from night and to show the time for seasons, special days, and years. I command them to shine on the earth.” And that’s what happened.

God looked at what he had done, and it was good.

That was the fourth day.

6 CREATION

DAY 2

God Creates the Fish, the Birds and the Animals Genesis 1:20-23, 24-25

God said, “I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth.” So God made the giant sea monsters and all the living creatures that swim in the ocean.

He also made every kind of bird. God looked at what he had done, and it was

good. Then he gave the living creatures his blessing. He told the ocean creatures to live everywhere in the ocean and the birds to live everywhere on earth.

Evening came and then morning—that was the fifth day.

God said, “I command the earth to give life to all kinds of tame animals. And that’s what happened. Then he looked at what he had done, and it was good.

7 CREATION

DAY 3

God Creates Man and Woman

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 2:18-23; 1:28-2:3

God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.” So God created humans to be like himself; he made man and woman. The LORD God took a handful of soil and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing.

The LORD God said, “It isn’t good for the man to live alone. I need to make a suitable partner for him.” So the LORD took some soil and made animals and birds. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give each of them.

Then the man named the tame animals and the birds and the wild animals.

That’s how they got their names. None of these were the right kind of partner for the man. So the LORD God made him fall into a deep sleep, and he took out one of the man’s ribs. Then after closing the man’s side, the LORD made a woman out of the rib. The LORD God brought her to the man, and the man exclaimed, “Here is someone like me! She is part of my body, my own flesh and bones.

She came from me, a man. So I will call her woman.”

God gave them his blessing and said,

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”Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control.”

God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! That was the sixth day.

So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created. By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested. God blessed the seventh day and made it special because on that day he rested from his work.

DAY 4

The Garden of Eden Genesis 2:8-10; 2:15-17

The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there. The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life; the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong. From Eden a river flowed out to water the garden, then it divided into four rivers.

The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it. But the Lord told him, “You may eat fruit from any tree in the garden except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong. If you eat any fruit from that tree, you will die before the day is over!”

9 ADAM AND EVE

DAY 5

DAY 6

Genesis 3:1-7

Genesis 3:8-13; 3:20-23

The snake was sneakier than any of the other wild animals that the LORD God had made. One day it came to the woman and asked, “Did God tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

The woman answered, “God said we could eat fruit from any tree in the garden, except the one in the middle. He told us not to eat fruit from that tree or even to touch it. If we do, we will die.”

“No, you won’t!” the snake replied.

“God understands what will happen on the day you eat fruit from that tree. You will see what you have done, and you will know the difference between right and wrong, just as God does.”

The woman stared at the fruit. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too. Right away they saw what they had done, and they realized they were naked. Then they sewed fig leaves together to make something to cover themselves.

Late in the afternoon a breeze began to blow, and the man and woman heard the LORD God walking in the garden. They were frightened and hid behind some trees.

The LORD called out to the man and asked, “Where are you?”

The man answered, “I was naked, and when I heard you walking through the garden, I was frightened and hid!”

“How did you know you were naked?”

God asked. “Did you eat any fruit from that tree in the middle of the garden?”

“It was the woman you put here with me,” the man said. “She gave me some of the fruit, and I ate it.”

The LORD God then asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The snake tricked me,” she answered.

“And I ate some of that fruit.”

The man Adam named his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all who live. The LORD said, “These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do.

But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever.”

So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, where they would have to work the ground from which the man had been made.

Adam and Eve Disobey God Out of Eden

10 ADAM AND EVE

11 ADAM AND EVE

DAY 7

Cain and Abel Genesis 4:1-16

Adam and Eve had a son. Then Eve said, “I’ll name him Cain because I got him with the help of the LORD.” Later she had another son and named him Abel.

Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land.

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One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the LORD, and Abel also gave an offering to the LORD. He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the LORD the best parts of it.

The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

The LORD said to Cain, ”What’s wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling.

But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion.

Sin wants to destroy you, but don’t let it!”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go for a walk.” And when they were out in a field, Cain killed him.

Afterwards the LORD asked Cain, “Where is Abel?”

“How should I know?” he answered.

“Am I supposed to look after my brother?”

Then the LORD said, ”Why have you done this terrible thing? You killed your own brother, and his blood flowed onto the ground. Now his blood is calling out for me to punish you. And so, I’ll put you under a curse. From now on, you’ll be without a home, and you’ll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.”

So Cain had to go far from the LORD and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.

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DAY 8

Noah Builds a Boat Genesis 6:5-22

More and more people were born, until finally they spread all over the earth.

The Lord saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil. He was very sorry that he had made them. But the Lord was pleased with Noah. Noah was the only person who obeyed God. So God told Noah, “Cruelty and violence have spread everywhere. Now I’m going to destroy the whole earth and all its people. Get some good lumber and build a boat. Put rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out. Make it four hundred fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high. Build a roof on the boat and leave a space of about eighteen inches between the roof and the sides.

Make the boat three stories high and put a door on one side. I’m going to send a

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flood that will destroy everything that breathes! Nothing will be left alive. But I solemnly promise that you, your wife, your sons, and your daughters-in-law will be kept safe in the boat. Bring into the boat with you a male and a female of every kind of animal and bird, as well as a male and a female of every reptile.

I don’t want them to be destroyed. Store up enough food both for yourself and for them.”

Noah did everything the LORD told him to do.

DAY 9

Into the Boat Genesis 7:1, 10, 13-16

The LORD told Noah, ”Take your whole family with you into the boat, because you are the only one on this earth who pleases me.”

Seven days later a flood began to cover the earth. On that day Noah and his wife went into the boat with their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. They took along every kind of animal, tame and wild including the birds. Noah took a male and a female of every living creature with him, just as God had told him to do. And when they were all in the boat, God closed the door.

15 NOAH

DAY 10

Safe Inside the Boat Genesis 7:17-24; 8:1-19

For forty days the rain poured down without stopping. And the water became deeper and deeper, until the boat started floating high above the ground. Finally, the mighty flood was so deep that even the highest mountain peaks were almost twenty-five feet below the surface of the water. The LORD destroyed everything that breathed. Nothing was left alive except Noah and the others in the boat.

A hundred fifty days later, the water started going down. God made a wind blow, and the water started going down.

Forty days later Noah opened a window to send out a raven, but it kept flying around until the water had dried up.

Noah wanted to find out if the water had gone down, and he sent out a dove. Deep

16 NOAH

water was still everywhere, and the dove could not find a place to land. So it flew back to the boat. Noah held out his hand and helped it back in.

Seven days later Noah sent the dove out again. It returned in the evening, holding in its beak a green leaf from an olive tree. Noah knew that the water was finally going down. He waited seven more days before sending the dove out again, and this time it did not return.

Noah made an opening in the roof of the boat and saw that the ground was getting dry.

God said to Noah, “You, your wife, your sons, and your daughters-in-law may now leave the boat.”

After Noah and his family had gone out of the boat, the living creatures left in groups of their own kind.

DAY 11

God’s Promise to Noah Genesis 9:1-16

God said to Noah and his sons, ”I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth. I am going to make a solemn promise to you and to everyone who will live after you.

This includes the birds and the animals that came out of the boat. I promise every living creature that the earth and those

living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood. The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures.”

17 NOAH

DAY 12

The Tower of Babel Genesis 10:32-11:9

After the flood Shem, Ham, and Japheth’s descendants became nations and spread all over the world.

At first everyone spoke the same language, but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia, they said, ”Let’s build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We’ll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We’ll become famous, and we won’t be scattered all over the world.”

But when the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower, he said, ”These people are working together because they all speak the same

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language. This is just the beginning.

Soon they will be able to do anything they want. Come on! Let’s go down and confuse them by making them speak different languages—then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

So the people had to stop building the city, because the LORD confused their language and scattered them all over the earth. That’s how the city of Babel got its name.

19 THE TOWER OF BABEL

DAY 13

God Speaks to Abram Genesis 12:1-9

Shem had many descendants, and of them was named Abram. The LORD said to Abram, ”Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.”

Abram was seventy-five years old when the LORD told him to leave the city

20 ABRAHAM

of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran.

When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram went as far as the sacred tree of Moreh in a place called Shechem. The LORD appeared to Abram and promised, “I will give this land to your family forever.” Abram then built an altar there for the LORD. Abram traveled to the hill country east of Bethel, where he built another altar and worshiped the LORD. Later, Abram started out toward the Southern Desert.

DAY 14

God’s Promise to Abram Genesis 15:1-7; 17:4-5

Later the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision, “Abram, don’t be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly.”

But Abram answered, “LORD AllPowerful, you have given me everything I could ask for, except children. And when I die, Eliezer of Damascus will get all I own.”

The LORD replied, “No, he won’t!

You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his.”

Then the LORD took Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That is how many descendants you will have.” Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD was pleased with him.

The LORD said to Abram, “I promise that you will be the father of many nations. That’s why I now change your name from Abram to Abraham.”

21

ABRAHAM

DAY 15

A Son for Abraham and Sarah Genesis 18:1-15

One hot summer afternoon Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre when the Lord appeared to him. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.

He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground, and said, “Please come to my home where I can serve you.”

While they were eating, he stood near them under the trees, and they asked, “Where is your wife Sarah?”

“She is right there in the tent,” Abraham answered.

One of the guests was the Lord, and he said, “I’ll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.”

Sarah was behind Abraham, and she was listening at the entrance to the tent.

Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children. So she laughed and said to herself, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?”

The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she

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can have a child in her old age?

I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.”

Sarah was so frightened that she lied and said, “I didn’t laugh.”

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DAY 16

The Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:16-32

When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them.

The LORD said, “Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things. Now I am going down to see for myself if those people really are that bad.

If they aren’t, I want to know about it.”

Abraham asked, “LORD, when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good?

Wouldn’t you spare the city if there are only fifty good people in it? You surely wouldn’t let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right.”

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The LORD replied, “If I find fifty good people in Sodom, I will save the city to keep them from being killed.”

Abraham said, “Please don’t get angry, LORD, if I speak just once more.

Suppose you find only ten good people there.”

“For the sake of ten good people,” the LORD told him, “I still won’t destroy the city.”

DAY 17

Lot Is Saved Genesis 19:1-29

first, Lot just stood there. But the LORD wanted to save him. So the angels took Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

The LORD sent burning sulfur down like rain on Sodom and Gomorrah. He destroyed those cities and everyone who lived in them, as well as their land and the trees and grass that grew there.

On the way, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a block of salt.

When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot lived, he remembered his promise to Abraham and saved Lot from the terrible destruction.

That evening the two angels arrived in Sodom, while Lot was sitting near the city gate.

The two angels said to Lot, “The LORD has heard many terrible things about the people of Sodom, and he has sent us here to destroy the city. Take your family and leave. Take every relative you have in the city.”

Early the next morning the two angels tried to make Lot hurry and leave. At

25 ABRAHAM

DAY 18

Isaac Is Born Genesis 21:1-7, 22:1-5

The LORD was good to Sarah and kept his promise. Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said. Abraham named his son Isaac. Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Now everyone will laugh with me. Who would have dared to tell Abraham that someday I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son.”

Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him.

Abraham answered, “Here I am, LORD.”

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The LORD said, “Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar.”

So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire.

He put a saddle on his donkey and left with Isaac and two servants for the place where God had told him to go.

Three days later Abraham looked off in the distance and saw the place. He told his servants, “Stay here with the donkey, while my son and I go over there to worship. We will come back.”

27 ABRAHAM

DAY 19

God Spares Isaac Genesis 22:6-13; 15-18

Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s shoulder, but he carried the hot coals and the knife.

As the two of them walked along, Isaac said, “Father, we have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”

“My son,” Abraham answered, “God will provide the lamb.”

The two of them walked on, and when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood. He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son. But the LORD’s angel shouted from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am!” he answered.

“Don’t hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.”

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Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.

The LORD’s angel called out from heaven a second time, ”You were willing to offer the LORD your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise, ’I will bless you and give you such a large family, that someday your descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky or the grains of sand along the beach. They will defeat their enemies and take over the cities where their enemies live. You have obeyed me, and so you and your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth.’”

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DAY 20

A Wife for Isaac Genesis 24:1-27

Abraham was now a very old man. The LORD had made him rich, and he was successful in everything he did. One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said to him, “Go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for Isaac from among my relatives.”

Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with valuable gifts.

Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham’s brother Nahor lived.

When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water. The servant prayed, ”You, LORD, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife

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for Isaac today. The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water, and I’ll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I’ll know she is the one you have chosen.”

While he was still praying, Rebekah walked past Abraham’s servant, and filled her water jar. When she started back, Abraham’s servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.”

“I’ll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank.

After he had finished, she said, “Now I’ll give your camels all the water they want.” Abraham’s servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the LORD had chosen.

The servant had brought along an expensive gold ring and two large gold bracelets. When Rebekah had finished bringing the water, he gave her the ring for her nose and the bracelets for her arms. Then he said, “Please tell me who your father is. Does he have room in his house for me and my men to spend the night?”

She answered, “My father is Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor. We have a place where you and your men can stay, and we also have enough straw and feed for your camels.”

Then the servant bowed his head and prayed, “I thank you, LORD God of my master Abraham! You have led me to his relatives and kept your promise to him.”

DAY 21

Isaac and Rebekah Genesis 24:28-67

Rebekah ran straight home and told her family everything. Her brother Laban heard her tell what the servant had said and ran out to Abraham’s servant. Then Laban said, “The LORD has brought you safely here. Come home with me. I have a room ready for you in our house, and there’s also a place for your camels.”

Abraham’s servant went home with Laban, where Laban’s servants unloaded his camels. After that, they brought in food. But the servant said, “Before I eat, I must tell you why I have come.”

“Go ahead and tell us,” Laban answered. The servant explained.

Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The LORD has done this.

Take Rebekah with you; she can marry your master’s son, just as the LORD has said.”

One evening Isaac was walking out in the fields, when suddenly he saw a group of people approaching on camels. So he started toward them. Rebekah saw him coming; she got down from her camel, and asked, “Who is that man?”

“He is my master Isaac,” the servant answered. Then Rebekah covered her face with her veil.

Isaac took Rebekah into the tent where his mother had lived before she died, and Rebekah became his wife. He loved her and was comforted over the loss of his mother.

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DAY 22

DAY 23

Genesis 25:19-26

Genesis 25:27-34

Jacob and Esau Are Born Isaac was the son of Abraham, and he was forty years old when he married Rebekah. Almost twenty years later, Rebekah still had no children. So Isaac asked the LORD to let her have a child, and the LORD answered his prayer.

Before Rebekah gave birth, she knew she was going to have twins because she could feel them inside her, fighting each other. She thought, “Why is this happening to me?” Finally, she asked the LORD why her twins were fighting, and he told her, “Your two sons will become two separate nations.

The younger of the two will be stronger, and the older son will be his servant.”

When Rebekah gave birth, the first baby was covered with red hair, so he was named Esau.

The second baby grabbed on to his brother’s heel, so they named him Jacob.

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Jacob Cheats Esau As Jacob and Esau grew older, Esau liked the outdoors and became a good hunter, while Jacob settled down and became a shepherd. Esau would take the meat of wild animals to his father Isaac, and so Isaac loved him more, but Jacob was his mother’s favorite son.

One day, Jacob was cooking some stew, when Esau came home hungry and said, “I’m starving to death! Give me some of that red stew right now!”

Jacob replied, “Sell me your rights as the first-born son.”

“I’m about to die,” Esau answered. “What good will those rights do me?”

But Jacob said, “Promise me your birthrights, here and now!” And that’s what Esau did. Jacob then gave Esau some bread and some of the bean stew, and when Esau had finished eating and drinking, he just got up and left, showing how little he thought of his rights as the first-born.

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DAY 24

Isaac Blesses Jacob Genesis 27:1-40

After Isaac had become old and almost blind, he called in his first-born son Esau.

Isaac said, “I am old and might die at any time. So take your bow and arrows, then go out in the fields, and kill a wild animal. Cook some of that tasty food that I love so much and bring it to me. I want to eat it once more and give you my blessing before I die.”

Rebekah had been listening, and as soon as Esau left to go hunting, she said to Jacob, “Go and kill two of your best young goats and bring them to me. I’ll cook the tasty food that your father loves so much. Then you can take it to him, so he can eat it and give you his blessing before he dies.”

“My brother Esau is a hairy man,” Jacob reminded her. “And I am not. If my father touches me and realizes I am trying to trick him, he will put a curse on me instead of giving me a blessing.”

Rebekah insisted, so Jacob brought the meat to his mother, and she cooked the tasty food that his father liked. Then she

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took Esau’s best clothes and put them on Jacob. She also covered the smooth part of his hands and neck with goatskins and gave him some bread and the tasty food she had cooked.

Jacob went to his father and said, “Father, here I am.”

“Which one of my sons are you?” his father asked.

Jacob replied, “I am Esau, your firstborn, and I have done what you told me.”

Isaac asked, “My son, how did you find an animal so quickly?”

“The LORD your God was kind to me,” Jacob answered.

“My son,” Isaac said, “come closer, where I can touch you and find out if you really are Esau.”

Jacob went closer. His father touched him and said, “You sound like Jacob, but your hands feel hairy like Esau’s.” And so Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau.

Right after Isaac had given Jacob his blessing and Jacob had gone, Esau came back from hunting. He cooked the tasty food and brought it to his father.

“Who are you?” Isaac asked. “I am Esau, your first-born son.”

Isaac started trembling and said, “Then who brought me some wild meat right before you came in? I ate it and gave him a blessing that cannot be taken back.”

Esau cried loudly and begged, “Father, give me a blessing too!”

Isaac answered, “Your brother tricked me and stole your blessing.”

“Father,” Esau asked, “don’t you have more than one blessing? You can surely give me a blessing too!” Then Esau started crying again.

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DAY 25

DAY 26

Genesis 27:41-45

Genesis 28: 10-19

Rebekah Sends Jacob Away Esau hated his brother Jacob because he had stolen the blessing that was supposed to be his. So he said to himself, “Just as soon as my father dies, I’ll kill Jacob.”

When Rebekah found out what Esau planned to do, she sent for Jacob and told him, “Son, your brother Esau is just waiting for the time when he can kill you. Now listen carefully and do what I say. Go to the home of my brother Laban in Haran and stay with him for a while.

When Esau stops being angry and forgets what you have done to him, I’ll send for you to come home. Why should I lose both of my sons on the same day?”

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Jacob’s Dream Jacob left the town of Beersheba and started out for Haran. At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock. In a dream he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. The LORD was standing beside the ladder and said, ”I am the LORD God who was worshiped

by Abraham and Isaac. I will give to you and your family the land on which you are now sleeping. Your descendants will spread over the earth in all directions and will become as numerous as the specks of dust. Your family will be a blessing to all people. Wherever you go, I will watch over you, then later I will bring you back to this land.

I won’t leave you—I will do

all I have promised.”

Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, “The LORD is in this place, and I didn’t even know it.”

Then Jacob became frightened and said, “This is a fearsome place! It must be the house of God and the ladder to heaven.”

When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the rock that he had used for a pillow and stood it up for a place of worship. Then he poured olive oil on the rock to dedicate it to God, and he named the place Bethel.

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DAY 27

Jacob Works for Laban Genesis 29:1-12

As Jacob continued on his way to the east, he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Jacob went over to the well and asked the shepherds, “Do you know Nahor’s grandson Laban?”

“Yes, we do,” they replied, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

When Jacob saw Rachel, he kissed her and started crying because he was so happy. He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah. She ran and told her father about him.

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DAY 28

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel Genesis 29:15-30

After Jacob had been there for a month, Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t have to work without pay. What do you want me to give you?” Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn’t sparkle, while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure.

Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I’ll work seven years for you.”

Jacob worked seven years for Laban.

Finally Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!”

Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. But that evening he brought Leah to marry Jacob. Jacob asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn’t I work to get Rachel?”

Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first.

After you spend this week with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”

So Jacob had to work another seven years for Laban.

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DAY 29

Jacob Runs Away Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, saying, “Jacob is now a rich man, and he got everything he owns from our father.”

One day the Lord said, “Jacob, go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors, and I will bless you.”

Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the field where he kept his sheep. He told them, “You know that I have worked hard for your father and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me. When your father said the speckled sheep would be my wages, all

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of them were speckled. And when he said the spotted ones would be mine, all of them were spotted. That’s how God has taken sheep and goats from your father and given them to me. I dreamed God’s angel came to me and said, ‘Leave here right away and return to the land where you were born.’”

Rachel and Leah said to Jacob, “Do whatever God tells you to do.”

Jacob, his wives, and his children got on camels and left for the home of his father Isaac in Canaan. Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols while Laban was out shearing his sheep. Jacob tricked Laban by not saying that he intended to leave.

DAY 30

Laban Catches Up With Jacob Genesis 31:22-42

Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had gone. Laban chased after Jacob for seven days before catching up with him. God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, “Don’t say a word to Jacob. Don’t make a threat or a promise.”

Jacob had set up camp in the hill country of Gilead. Laban went to Jacob and said, “You’ve

tricked me and run off with my daughters like a kidnapper. I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?”

Jacob answered, “I left secretly because I was afraid you would take your daughters from me by force. If you find that any one of us has taken your idols, I’ll have

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that person killed.” Jacob did not realize that Rachel had stolen the household idols.

Laban searched the tents. Rachel had already hidden them in the cushion she used as a saddle and was sitting on it.

Laban kept on searching but still did not find the idols. Jacob became very angry and said to Laban, “I had to work fourteen of these twenty long years to earn your two daughters and another six years to buy your sheep and goats. God saw my hard work, and he knew the trouble I was in, so he helped me. Then last night he told you how wrong you were.”

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DAY 31

An Agreement is Made Genesis 31:43-55

Laban said to Jacob, “There is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children. So I am ready to make an agreement with you. We will pile up some large rocks here to remind us that the Lord will watch us both while we are apart from each other.”

Then Laban said, “If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women, I may not know about it, but remember, God is watching us! Both this pile of rocks and this large rock have been set up between

us as a reminder. I must never go beyond them to attack you, and you must never go beyond them to attack me.”

Then Jacob made a promise in the

name of the fearsome God his father Isaac had worshiped. Jacob killed an animal and offered it as a sacrifice there on the mountain, and he invited his men to eat with him. After the meal they spent the night on the mountain.

Early the next morning Laban kissed his daughters and his grandchildren goodbye. Then he left to go back home.

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DAY 32

Jacob Wrestles a Stranger Genesis 32:1-32

As Jacob was on his way back home, he sent messengers on ahead to Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir, also known as Edom. Jacob told his messengers to say to Esau, “Master, I am your servant! I am sending these messengers in the hope that you will be kind to me.” When the messengers returned, they told Jacob, “We went to your brother Esau. He is heading this way with four hundred men.”

Jacob was frightened. He divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two groups. He thought, “If Esau attacks one group, perhaps the other can escape.”

Then Jacob prayed, “Please rescue me from my brother. I am afraid he will come and attack not only me, but my wives and children as well.”

After Jacob had spent the night there, he chose some animals as gifts for Esau.

Then he said to the servant in charge of the first herd, “When Esau meets you, tell

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him, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob who is coming this way. He is sending them as a gift to his master Esau.’” Jacob also told the men in charge of the second and third herds and those who followed to say the same thing when they met Esau.

Jacob hoped the gifts would make Esau friendly. Jacob’s men took the gifts on ahead of him, but he spent the night in camp.

Jacob got up in the middle of the night and took his wives, his eleven children, and everything he owned across to the other side of the Jabbok River for safety.

Afterwards, Jacob went back and spent the rest of the night alone.

A man came and fought with Jacob until just before daybreak.

When the man saw that he could not win, he struck Jacob on the hip and threw it out of joint. They kept on wrestling until the man said, “Let go of me! It’s almost daylight.”

“You can’t go until you bless me,” Jacob replied.

Then the man asked, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won.

That’s why your name will be Israel.”

Jacob said, “Tell me your name.”

“Don’t you know who I am?” he asked.

And he blessed Jacob.

Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, and I am still alive.”

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DAY 33

Jacob Meets Esau Genesis 33: 1-17

Later that day Jacob met Esau coming with his four hundred men. So Jacob had his children walk with their mothers.

Jacob himself walked in front of them all, bowing to the ground seven times as he came near his brother. Esau ran toward Jacob and hugged and kissed him. Then the two brothers started crying.

When Esau noticed the women and children he asked, “Whose children are these?”

Jacob answered, “These are the ones the Lord has been kind enough to give to me, your servant.”

Esau asked Jacob, “What did you mean by these herds I met along the road?”

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“Master,” Jacob answered, “I sent them so that you would be friendly to me.”

“But, brother, I already have plenty,” Esau replied. “Keep them for yourself.”

“Let’s get ready to travel,” Esau said.

“I’ll go along with you.”

But Jacob answered, “Why don’t you go on ahead and let me travel along slowly with the children, the herds, and the flocks. We can meet again in the country of Edom.”

Esau replied, “Let me leave some of my men with you.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Jacob answered. “I am happy, simply knowing that you are friendly to me.”

So Esau left for Edom. But Jacob went to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and set up shelters for his animals.

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DAY 34

Joseph’s Dream Genesis 37:1-11

Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father Isaac had lived. When Jacob’s son Joseph was seventeen years old, he took care of the sheep with his brothers.

Jacob had given Joseph a fancy coat to show that he was his favorite son.

Joseph’s brothers hated him and would not be friendly to him.

One day, Joseph told his brothers what he had dreamed. Joseph said, “Let me tell you about my dream. We were out in the field, tying up bundles of wheat.

Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles gathered around and bowed down to it.”

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His brothers asked, “Do you really think you are going to be king and rule over us?” Now they hated Joseph more than ever because of what he had said about his dream.

Later, Joseph had another dream. He told his brothers, “Listen to what else I dreamed. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me.” When he told his father about this dream, his father said, “What’s that supposed to mean?

Are your mother and I and your brothers all going to come and bow down in front of you?”

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept wondering about the dream.

DAY 35

Joseph Is Thrown into a Well Genesis 37:12-24

One day Joseph’s brothers had taken the sheep to a pasture near Shechem.

Joseph’s father said to him, “Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know.”

Joseph found his brothers in Dothan.

But before he got there, they saw him coming and made plans to kill him.

They said to one another, “Look, here comes the hero of those dreams! Let’s kill him and throw him into a pit and say that some wild animal ate him.

Then we’ll see

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what happens to those dreams.”

Reuben heard this and tried to protect Joseph from them. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Don’t murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a dry well out here in the desert.” Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.

When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his fancy coat and threw him into a dry well.

DAY 36

Joseph Is Taken to Egypt Genesis 37:25-35

As Joseph’s brothers sat down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with all kinds of spices that they were taking to Egypt.

Judah said, “Let’s sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites and not harm him. After all, he is our brother.” The others agreed.

Joseph’s brothers took him out of the

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well, and for twenty pieces of silver they sold him to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt.

Joseph’s brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s fancy coat in its blood.

After this, they took the coat to their father and said, “We found this! Look at it carefully and see if it belongs to your son.” Jacob knew it was Joseph’s coat and said, “It’s my son’s coat! Joseph has been torn to pieces and eaten by some wild animal.”

Jacob mourned for Joseph a long time.

To show his sorrow he tore his clothes and wore sackcloth. All of Jacobs’s children came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will go to my grave, mourning for my son.” So Jacob kept on grieving.

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DAY 37

In the House of Potiphar Genesis 39:1-6

Meanwhile, the Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar. Potiphar was the king’s official in charge of the palace guard. So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner.

Soon Potiphar realized that the Lord was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did.

Potiphar liked Joseph. He made him his personal assistant. He put Joseph in charge of his house and all of his property. Because of Joseph, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s family and fields. He left everything up to Joseph. With Joseph there, the only decision Potiphar had to make was what he wanted to eat.

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DAY 38

DAY 39

Genesis 39:7-20

Genesis 40:1-23

Joseph in Prison Joseph was well-built and handsome.

Potiphar’s wife soon noticed him. She asked him to love her, but he refused. He said, “No one in my master’s house is more important than I am.

The only thing he hasn’t given me is you, and that’s because you are his wife. I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.”

One day, Joseph went to Potiphar’s house to do his work. Potiphar’s wife grabbed hold of his coat and said, “Stay with me and love me!”

Joseph ran out of the house, leaving her hanging onto his coat. When this happened, she called in her servants and said, “Look! This Hebrew has come just to make fools of us. He tried to hurt me.

When he heard me scream, he ran out of the house, leaving his coat with me.”

Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s coat until her husband came home.

Then she said, “That Hebrew slave of yours tried to hurt me!” Potiphar became very angry and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.

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Joseph Interprets Dreams While Joseph was in prison, both the king’s personal servant and his chief cook made the king angry. The king had them thrown into the same prison with Joseph.

One night each of the two men had a dream, but their dreams had different meanings. Joseph said to them, “Doesn’t God know the meaning of dreams?

Now tell me what you dreamed.”

The king’s personal servant told Joseph, “In my dream I saw a vine with three branches. As soon as it budded, I held the king’s cup and squeezed the grapes into it. Then I gave the cup to the king.”

Joseph said, “This is the meaning of your dream. The three branches stand for three days, and in three days the king will pardon you. When these good things happen, please don’t forget to tell the king about me, so I can get out of this place.”

Three days later everything happened just as Joseph had said it would. But the king’s personal servant completely forgot about Joseph.

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DAY 40

The King’s Dreams Genesis 41:1-32

Two years later, the king of Egypt had a dream. He dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River. Suddenly, seven fat, healthy cows came up from the river and started eating grass along the bank.

Then seven ugly, skinny cows came up out of the river and ate the fat, healthy cows. When this happened, the king woke up. The king went back to sleep and had another dream. This time, seven full heads of grain were growing on a single stalk. Then seven other heads of grain appeared, but they were thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full heads.

The next morning the king was upset.

He called in his magicians and wise men and told them what he had dreamed.

None of them could tell him what the dreams meant. The king’s personal

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servant said, “Now I remember what I was supposed to do. When you were angry with me and your chief cook, you threw us both in jail. One night we both had dreams, and each dream had a different meaning. A young Hebrew, who was a servant of the captain of the guard, was there with us at the time.

When we told him our dreams, he explained what each of them meant, and everything happened just as he said it would.”

The king sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of jail. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to the king. The king said to him, “I am told that you can interpret dreams.”

“Your Majesty,” Joseph answered, “I can’t do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.” Then the king told Joseph his dreams.

Joseph replied, “Your Majesty, both of your dreams mean the same thing, and in them God has shown what he is going to do. The seven good cows stand for seven good years of plenty and so do the seven good heads of grain. But that will be followed by seven years when there won’t be enough food. The good years of plenty will be forgotten. Everywhere in Egypt people will be starving.”

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DAY 41

Joseph is made Governor over Egypt Genesis 41:33-46

Joseph said, “Your Majesty, you should find someone who is wise and will know what to do so that you can put him in charge of all Egypt. Then appoint some other officials to collect one-fifth of every crop harvested in Egypt during the seven years when there is plenty. It can be stored until it is needed during the seven years when there won’t be enough grain in Egypt.”

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The king and his officials liked this plan. So the king said to them, “No one could possibly handle this better than Joseph, since the Spirit of God is with him.” Then the king took off his royal ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He gave him fine clothes to wear and placed a gold chain around his neck. He also let him ride in the chariot next to his own.

People shouted, “Make way for Joseph!” So Joseph was governor of Egypt.

DAY 42

Seven Years of Famine Genesis 41:47-57

Joseph was thirty when the king made him governor. He went everywhere for the king. For seven years there were big harvests of grain. Joseph collected and stored up the extra grain in the cities of Egypt near the fields where it was harvested. In fact, there was so much grain that they stopped keeping record.

It was like counting the grains of sand along the beach.

Egypt’s seven years of plenty came to an end. The seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was not enough food in other countries, but all over Egypt there was plenty.

When the famine finally struck Egypt, the people asked the king for food. The king said, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you to do.” The famine became bad everywhere in Egypt.

So Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians. People from all over the world came to Egypt because the famine was severe in their countries.

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DAY 43

Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt Genesis 42:1-24

When Jacob found out there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down and buy some, so we won’t starve to death.” Ten of Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to buy grain. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin with them. He was afraid that something might happen to him. Since Joseph was governor of Egypt and in charge of selling grain, his brothers came to him and bowed with their faces to the ground.

They did not recognize Joseph. But right away he knew who they were, though he pretended not to know. He asked, “Where do you come from?”

“From the land of Canaan,” they answered. “We’ve come here to buy grain. We come from a family of twelve brothers. The youngest is still with our father in Canaan, and one of our brothers is dead.”

Joseph remembered what he had

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dreamed about them and said, “You’re spies! Since I respect God, I’ll give you a chance to save your lives. If you are honest men, one of you must stay here in jail, and the rest of you can take the grain back to your starving families. But you must bring your youngest brother to me.

Then I’ll know that you are telling the truth, and you won’t be put to death.”

Joseph’s brothers agreed and said to one another, “We’re being punished because of Joseph. We saw the trouble he was in, but we refused to help him when he begged us. That’s why these terrible things are happening.”

Reuben spoke up, “Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen, and now we have to pay the price for killing him.” They did not know that Joseph could understand them, since he was speaking through an interpreter.

Joseph turned away from them and cried, but soon he turned back and spoke to them again.

Then he had Simeon tied up and taken away while they watched.

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DAY 44

Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan Genesis 42:25-38

Joseph gave orders for his brothers’ grain sacks to be filled with grain and for their money to be put in their sacks.

When they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get some grain for his donkey, and right away he saw his moneybag. “Here’s my money!” he told his brothers. “Right here in my sack.” They were trembling with fear as they stared at one another and asked themselves, “What has God done to us?”

When they returned to the land of Canaan, they told their father Jacob everything that had happened to them.

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Jacob said, “You have already taken my sons Joseph and Simeon from me. And now you want to take away Benjamin!”

Reuben spoke up, “Father, if I don’t bring Benjamin back, you can kill both of my sons. Trust me with him, and I will bring him back.”

But Jacob said, “I won’t let my son Benjamin go down to Egypt with the rest of you. I am an old man, and if anything happens to him on the way, I’ll die from sorrow.”

DAY 45

Jacob Lets Benjamin Go Genesis 43: 1-23

The famine in Canaan got worse. Jacob’s family had eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. So Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy some more grain.”

Judah replied, “If you let us take Benjamin along, we will go and buy grain. But we won’t go without him!”

Their father said, “If Benjamin must go with you, take the governor a gift of some of the best things from our own

country. There must have been some mistake when the money was put back in your sacks.”

When they arrived at Joseph’s house, they said to the servant in charge, “Sir, we came to Egypt once before to buy grain. But when we stopped for the night, we each found in our grain sacks the exact amount we had paid. We have brought that money back.

We don’t know who put the money in our sacks.”

“It’s all right,” the servant replied. “The God you and your father worship must have put the money there. I received your payment in full.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

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DAY 46

Joseph and Benjamin Genesis 43:24-34

The servant took them into Joseph’s house and gave them water to wash their feet. He also tended their donkeys. When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought, and they bowed down to him. After Joseph had asked how they were, he said, “What about your elderly father? Is he still alive?”

They answered, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And again they bowed down to Joseph.

When Joseph looked around and saw his brother Benjamin, he said, “This must be your youngest brother, the one you told me about. God bless you, my son.” Right away he rushed off to his room and cried because of his love for Benjamin.

After washing his face and returning, he said, “Serve the meal!”

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To the surprise of Joseph’s brothers, they were seated in front of him according to their ages, from the oldest to the youngest. They were served food from Joseph’s table. Benjamin was given five times as much as each of the others.

Joseph’s brothers drank with him and had a good time.

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DAY 47

The Stolen Cup Genesis 44:1-17

Later, Joseph told the servant in charge of his house, “Fill the men’s grain sacks with as much as they can hold and put their money in the sacks. Also put my silver cup in the sack of the youngest brother.” Early the next morning, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. But they had not gone far from the city when Joseph told the servant, “Go after those men! When you catch them, say, ‘My master has been good to you. So why have you stolen his silver cup?’”

When the servant caught up with them, he said exactly what Joseph had told him to say. But they replied, “Sir, we would never do anything like that! If you find that one of us has the cup, then kill him. The rest of us will become your slaves.”

Each of the brothers quickly put his sack on the ground and opened it.

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Joseph’s servant started searching the sacks, beginning with the one that belonged to the oldest brother.

When he came to Benjamin’s sack, he found the cup. This upset the brothers so much that they began tearing their clothes in sorrow. Then they loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. Joseph told them, “I would never punish all of you. Only the one who was caught with the cup will become my slave. The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”

to pieces by some wild animal. Now Benjamin is the only one of the two brothers who is still alive, and our father loves him very much.

“I promised my father that I would bring him safely home. Sir, I am your slave. Please let me stay here in place of Benjamin and let him return home with

his brothers. How can I face my father if Benjamin isn’t with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father in such sorrow.”

DAY 48

Judah Pleads for Benjamin Genesis 44:14-34

Judah went over to Joseph and said, “Sir, you have as much power as the king himself. I am only your slave. Please don’t get angry if I speak. You asked us if our father was still alive and if we had any more brothers. Our father’s favorite wife had given birth to two sons.

One of them was already missing and had not been seen for a long time. My father thinks the boy was torn

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DAY 49

Joseph Tells the Truth Genesis 45:1-15

Since Joseph could no longer control his feelings in front of his servants, he sent them out of the room. Joseph asked his brothers if his father was still alive, but they were too frightened to answer.

Joseph told his brothers to come closer to him.

Then he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt.

Don’t worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives. There has already been a famine for two years. For

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five more years no one will plow fields or harvest grain. But God sent me on ahead of you to keep your families alive and to save you in this wonderful way. Now tell my father that his son Joseph says, ‘God has made me ruler of Egypt.’ Tell my father about my great power here in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring him here.”

Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and started crying. Joseph was still crying as he kissed each of his other brothers.

DAY 50

The King Welcomes Joseph’s Family Genesis 45:16-28

When it was told in the palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, the king and his officials were happy. The king said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their donkeys and return to Canaan. Tell them to take some wagons from Egypt for their wives and children to ride in. And be sure to have them bring their father.

They can leave their possessions behind because they will be given the best of

everything in Egypt.”

Joseph’s brothers left Egypt. When they arrived in Canaan, they told their father that Joseph was still alive and was the ruler of Egypt. But their father was so surprised that he could not believe them.

Then they told him everything Joseph had said. When he saw the wagons Joseph had sent, he felt much better and said, “Now I can believe you! My son Joseph must really be alive. I will get to see him before I die.”

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DAY 51

Joseph’s Family Settles in Egypt Genesis 47:1-12

Joseph took five of his brothers to the king and told him, “My father and my brothers have come from Canaan.” The king asked Joseph’s brothers, “What do you do for a living?”

“Sir, we are shepherds,” was their answer. “Our families have always raised sheep. But in our country all the pastures are dried up, and our sheep have no grass to eat.” The king said to Joseph, “It’s good that your father and brothers have arrived. I will let them live anywhere they choose in the land of Egypt, but I suggest that they settle in Goshen, the best part of our land. I

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would also like for your finest shepherds to watch after my own sheep and goats.”

Then Joseph brought his father Jacob to the king. The king asked him, “How old are you?”

Jacob answered, “I have lived only a hundred thirty years, and I have had to move from place to place. My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place. But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine.” Then Jacob gave the king his blessing.

Joseph obeyed the king’s orders and gave his father and brothers some of the best land in Egypt.

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DAY 52

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Two Sons Genesis 48:1-2; 8-22

Joseph was told that his father Jacob had become very sick. Joseph went to see him and took along his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob was very old and almost blind. He did not recognize the two boys. He asked Joseph, “Who are these boys?” Joseph answered, “They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt.” “Bring them to me,” Jacob said. “I want to give them my blessing.”

Joseph led his younger son Ephraim to the left side of Jacob and his older son Manasseh to the right. But before Jacob gave them his blessing, he crossed his arms, putting his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh. Joseph did not like it when he saw his father place his right hand on the head of the younger son. Joseph said, “Father, you have made a mistake. This is the older boy. Put your right hand on him.”

His father said, “Son, I know what I am doing. Manasseh’s family will someday become a great nation. But Ephraim will be even greater than Manasseh, because his descendants will become many great nations.”

After that, Jacob said, “Joseph, you can see that I won’t live much longer. But God will be with you and will lead you back to the land he promised our family long ago. Meanwhile, I’m giving you the hillside I captured from the Amorites.”

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DAY 53

Joseph’s Promise Genesis 50: 15-21

After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers said to each other, “What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?” They sent this message to Joseph: “Before our father died, he told us, ‘You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph. You must ask him to forgive you.’ We ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.”

When Joseph heard this, he started crying. Right then, Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”

Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing.

Don’t be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.”

After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.

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DAY 54

Slavery in Egypt Exodus 1:6-14

After Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else in that generation had died, the people of Israel became so numerous that the whole region of Goshen was full of them. Many years later a new king came to power. He did not know what Joseph had done for Egypt, and he told the Egyptians, “There are too many of those Israelites in our country, and they are becoming more powerful than we are. If we don’t outsmart them, their families will

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keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.”

So the king put Egyptian bosses in charge of the people of Israel. He made them into slaves and tried to wear them down with hard work. They were forced to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses where the king could store his supplies. But even though the Israelites were mistreated, their families grew larger, and they took over more land.

Because of this, the Egyptians were cruel to them and forced them to make bricks, to mix mortar, and to work in the fields.

DAY 55

The King’s Order Exodus 1:15-22

The king called in Shiphrah and Puah, the two women who helped Hebrew mothers when they gave birth. He told them, “If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!” But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys even though the king had told them to.

The king called them in again and asked, “Why are you letting those baby boys live?”

They answered, “Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born.” God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own.

The Hebrews kept increasing in number until finally the king gave a command to everyone in the nation. He said, “As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live.”

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DAY 56

Moses is Born Exodus 2:1-4

A Hebrew man from the Levi tribe married a woman from the same tribe.

Together they had a baby boy. He was a beautiful child. The mother kept the baby inside for three months. But when

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she could no longer keep him hidden, she made a basket out of reeds and covered it with tar. She put the baby in the basket and placed it in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile River. The baby’s older sister, Miriam, stood off at a distance to see what would happen to him.

DAY 57

Saved by a Princess Exodus 2:5-10

About that time one of the king’s daughters came down to take a bath in the river while her servant women walked along the riverbank. The princess saw the basket in the tall grass and sent one of the young women to pull it out of the water. When the princess opened the basket, she saw the baby and felt sorry for him because he was crying. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew babies.”

At once Miriam came up and asked, “Do you want me to get a Hebrew woman to take care of the baby for you?”

“Yes,” the princess answered.

So Miriam brought the baby’s mother, and the princess told her, “Take care of this child, and I will pay you.” The baby’s mother carried him home and took care of him. When he was old enough, she took him to the princess.

The princess adopted the child and named him Moses.

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DAY 58

DAY 59

Exodus 2:11-14

Exodus 2:14-21

Moses Stands Up for a Slave After Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were hard at work, and he saw an Egyptian beating one of them. Moses looked around to see if anyone was watching; then he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

When Moses went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting. So he went to the man who had started the fight and asked, “Why are you beating up one of your own people?”

The man answered, “Who put you in charge of us and made you our judge?

Are you planning to kill me just as you killed that Egyptian?” This frightened Moses because he was sure that people must have found out what had happened.

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Jethro Welcomes Moses When the king heard what Moses had done, the king wanted to kill him. But Moses escaped and went to the land of Midian. Moses was sitting by a well there when the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, came up to water their father’s sheep and goats.

Some shepherds tried to chase the girls

away, but Moses came to their rescue and watered their animals for them.

When Jethro’s daughters returned home, their father asked, “Why have you come back so early today?”

They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds, and he even watered our sheep and goats.”

“Where is he?” Jethro asked. “Why did you leave him out there? Invite him to eat with us.” Moses agreed to stay on with Jethro, who later let his daughter Zipporah marry Moses.

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DAY 60

The Burning Bush Exodus 3:1-10

One day, Moses was taking care of Jethro’s sheep and goats, and Moses decided to lead them across the desert to Sinai, the holy mountain. There an angel of the Lord appeared to him from a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up.

“This is strange!” he said to himself.

“I’ll go over and see why the bush isn’t burning up!”

When the Lord saw Moses coming near the bush, he called Moses by name, and Moses answered, “Here I am.”

God replied, “Don’t come any closer.

Take off your sandals. The ground where you are standing is holy. I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Moses was afraid to look at God, so he

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hid his face. Then God said, “I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt. I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them, and I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians. Now go to the king! I am sending you to lead my people out of his country.”

DAY 61

Moses Can Perform Miracles Exodus 4:1-9, 3:13-18

Moses asked God, “Suppose everyone refuses to listen to my message, and no one believes that you really appeared to me?”

God answered, “What’s that in your hand?”

“A walking stick,” Moses replied.

“Throw it down!” the Lord commanded. So Moses threw the stick on the ground. The stick immediately turned into a snake, and Moses jumped back.

“Now pick it up by the tail!” God told him. And when Moses did this, the snake turned back into a walking stick “Do this,” God said, “and the Israelites will believe that you have seen me, the God who was worshiped by their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Next, God commanded Moses, “Put your hand inside your shirt.” Moses obeyed, and when he took his hand out, it had turned white as snow – like someone with leprosy.

“Put your hand back inside your shirt,” God told him. Moses did so, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. Then God said, “If no one believes either of these miracles, take some water from the Nile River and pour it on the ground. The water will immediately turn into blood.”

Moses asked, “But what should I say if the people of Israel ask me your name?”

God said to Moses, “I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord whose name is ‘I Am’ has sent you. The leaders of Israel will listen to you.”

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DAY 62

Aaron and Moses Exodus 4:14-17, 27-31

Moses said, “God, I am not a powerful speaker. Why should the king of Egypt listen to me?”

The Lord said, “What about your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know he is a good speaker. He is already on his way here to visit you. Aaron will speak to the people for you, and you will be like me, telling Aaron what to say. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will tell each of you what to do.”

The Lord sent Aaron to meet Moses in the desert. They met on Mount Sinai and greeted each other with a kiss.

Moses told Aaron what God had sent him to say; he also told him about the miracles God had given him the power to perform.

Later they brought together the leaders of Israel, and Aaron told them what the Lord had sent Moses to say. Then Moses worked the miracles for the people, and everyone believed. They bowed down and worshiped the Lord because they knew that he had seen their suffering.

God was going to help them!

DAY 63

Let My People Go

Exodus 5:1-5, 22, Exodus 7:3-13

Moses and Aaron went to the king of Egypt and told him, “We have a message from God. He says, ‘Let my people go into the desert, so they can honor me with a celebration there.’”

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“Who is this Lord and why should I obey him?” the king replied. “I refuse to let you and your people go!”

Moses and Aaron answered, “If you don’t, he may strike us down with terrible troubles or with war.”

But the king only replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you keeping my people from working? Look how many you are keeping from doing their work. Now everyone get back to work!”

Moses left the king and prayed, “God, why have you brought so much trouble on your people?”

God told Moses, “The king won’t listen even when I do many terrible things to him and his nation. Then I will bring a final punishment on Egypt. When this happens, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. He will let my people go. He will even chase them out of his country.”

Moses and Aaron went to the king again and did exactly as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw the stick down, and it turned into a snake. Then the king called in his wise men and magicians who used their secret powers to do the same thing. They threw down sticks that turned into snakes. But Aaron’s snake swallowed theirs. Still, the king behaved just as the Lord had said and stubbornly refused to listen.

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DAY 64

Blood and Frogs Exodus 7:14-24

God said to Moses, “Tell the king, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to order you to release his people. But until now, you have paid no attention.’ After you have said these things, strike the Nile with your stick.”

So Moses and Aaron went to the king and did as God commanded. Aaron struck the Nile with his stick as the king and his officials watched. The river turned into blood, the fish died, and the water smelled so bad that none of the Egyptians could drink it. Blood was every-

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where in Egypt, including rivers, canals, ponds, and even the water in buckets and jars. But the Egyptian magicians used their secret powers to do the same thing.

DAY 65

Gnats and Flies Exodus 8:16-32

The Lord said to Moses, “Command Aaron to strike the ground with his walking stick, and everywhere in Egypt the dust will turn into gnats.” When Aaron struck the ground with the stick, gnats started swarming on people and animals. In fact, every speck of dust in Egypt turned into a gnat.

When the magicians tried to use their secret powers to do this, they failed. The magicians told the king, “God has done this.” But the king was too stubborn to listen.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Early tomorrow morning, while the king is on his way to the river, go and say to him, ‘The Lord commands you to let

his people go. If you don’t, he will send swarms of flies to attack you, your officials, and every citizen of your country.”

The Lord kept his promise. The palace and the homes of the royal officials swarmed with flies, and the rest of the country was infested with them as well.

Then the king sent for Moses and Aaron and told them, “I’ll let you go! But in the meantime, pray for me.”

“Your Majesty,” Moses replied, “I’ll pray for you as soon as I leave, and by tomorrow the flies will stop bothering you. Only make sure that you’re telling the truth this time.”

After leaving the palace, Moses prayed, and the Lord answered his prayer. Not a fly was left to pester the king, his officials, or anyone else in Egypt. But the king turned stubborn again and would not let the people go.

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DAY 66

Disease and Sores Exodus 9:1-12

The Lord sent Moses to the King to say, “The Lord God commands you to let his people go. If you keep refusing, he will bring a terrible disease on your horses and donkeys, your camels and cattle, and your sheep and goats.”

It happened the next day. All of the animals belonging to the Egyptians died, but the Israelites did not lose even one.

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When the king found out, he was still too stubborn to let the people go. So Moses and Aaron took a few handfuls of ashes and went to the king. Moses threw them into the air, and sores immediately broke out on the Egyptians and their animals.

The magicians were suffering so much from the sores that they could not even come to Moses. Everything happened just as the Lord had told Moses. God made the king too stubborn to listen to Moses and Aaron.

DAY 67

Locusts

Exodus 10:1-20

Moses held out his walking stick and the Lord sent an east wind that blew across Egypt. By morning, locusts were swarming everywhere. The ground was black with locusts. They ate everything left on the trees and in the fields.

Nothing green remained in Egypt—not a tree or a plant.

At once the king sent for Moses and Aaron. He told them, “Forgive me one more time and ask the Lord to stop these insects from killing every living plant.”

Moses left the palace and prayed. Then the Lord sent a strong west wind that swept the locusts into the Red Sea. But the king was so stubborn that he still refused to let the Israelites go.

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DAY 68

Darkness and Death Exodus 10:21-23, Exodus 11:1-8

The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch your arm toward the sky, and everything will be covered with darkness thick enough to touch.” Moses stretched his arm toward the sky, and Egypt was covered with darkness for three days.

The Egyptians could not see each other or leave their homes.

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to punish the king of Egypt and his people one more time. This time the king will gladly let you leave his land. He will even chase you out.”

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Moses went to the king and said, “I have come to let you know what the Lord is going to do. About midnight he will go through the land of Egypt. Wherever he goes, the firstborn son in every family will die. Your own son will die, and so will the son of the lowest slave woman.

Even the firstborn males of cattle will die. Everywhere in Egypt there will be loud crying. But there won’t be any need for the Israelites to cry. Things will be so quiet that not even a dog will be heard barking. Then you Egyptians will know that the Lord is good to the Israelites, even while he punishes you. ”

DAY 69

God Keeps His Promise Exodus 12:1-41

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Tell the people of Israel that on the tenth day of this month the head of each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for his family to eat. Some of the blood from the animal must be put on the two doorposts and above the door of each house. That night the animals are to be roasted and eaten. When you eat the meal, be dressed and ready to travel. Have your sandals on, carry your walking stick in your hand, and eat quickly. This is the Passover Festival in honor of me, your Lord. That same night I will pass through Egypt and kill the firstborn son in every family and the

firstborn male of all animals. The blood on the houses will show me where you live. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Then you won’t be bothered by the terrible disasters I will bring on Egypt.”

At midnight the Lord killed the firstborn son of every Egyptian family.

He also killed the firstborn male of every animal that belonged to the Egyptians.

The king, his officials, and everyone else in Egypt got up and started crying bitterly. In every Egyptian home, someone was dead. The king sent for Moses and Aaron and told them, “Get your people out of my country and leave us alone!”

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DAY 70

The Exodus Exodus 13:17-22

After the king had finally let the people go, the Lord did not lead them through Philistine territory though that was the shortest way. He led them around through the desert toward the Red Sea. During the day the Lord went ahead of his people in a thick cloud. During the night he went ahead of them in a flaming

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fire. That way the Lord could lead them at all times whether day or night.

The Israelites left Egypt prepared for battle. Moses had them take along the bones of Joseph whose dying words had been, “God will come to your rescue, and when he does, be sure to take along my bones.” The people of Israel camped at a place called Etham on the border of Egypt near the desert.

DAY 71

The King’s Chase Exodus 14:1-14

At Etham the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and camp between Migdol and the Red Sea. The king will think they were afraid to cross the desert and that they are wandering around trying to find another way to leave the country. I will make the king stubborn again. He will try to catch you. Then I will destroy him and his army.” The Israelites obeyed the Lord and camped where he told them.

When the king of Egypt heard that the Israelites had finally left,he said, “Look what we have done! We let them get away! They will no longer be our slaves.”

The king got his war chariot and army ready. He commanded his officers in

charge of his six hundred best chariots to start after the Israelites. The king’s horses and chariots and soldiers caught up with them while they were camping by the Red Sea. When the Israelites saw the king coming with his army, they were frightened and begged the Lord for help.

They complained to Moses, “Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!”

But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid!

Be brave. You will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again.

The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.”

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DAY 72

The Parting of the Red Sea Exodus 14:15-31

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move forward. Then hold your walking stick over the sea. The water will open up and make a road where they can walk through on dry ground. I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go after you.

Then I will be praised because of what happens to the king and his chariots and cavalry. The Egyptians will know for sure that I am the Lord.”

Moses stretched his arm over the sea, and the Lord sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up!

The Israelites walked through on dry land with a wall of water on each side.

The Egyptian chariots and cavalry went after them. Then the Lord told Moses, “Stretch your arm toward the sea. The water will cover

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the Egyptians and their cavalry and chariots.” So Moses stretched out his arms. The water rushed toward the Egyptians. They tried to run away, but the Lord drowned them in the sea. Not one of them was left alive. When the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore, they knew that the Lord had saved them.

DAY 73

Water for the Thirsty Exodus 15:1-27

Moses and the Israelites sang out, “I sing praises to the Lord for his great victory!

He has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea. The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. He is my God and the God of my ancestors. The Lord is his name, and he is a warrior!”

Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, led the other women out to play their tambourines and to dance. Then she sang to them, “Sing praises to the Lord for his

great victory! He has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea.”

After the Israelites crossed over the Red Sea, Moses led them through the desert for three days without water. They found water at a place called Marah, but it was bitter. The people complained and said, “Moses, what are we going to drink?”

Moses asked the Lord for help. The Lord told him to throw a piece of wood into the water. Moses did so, and the water became fit to drink.

Later the Israelites came to a place called Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there near the water.

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DAY 74

Food for the Hungry Exodus 15:1-27

They left Elim and started in the direction of Mount Sinai. In the desert they started complaining to Moses and Aaron, “We wish the Lord had killed us in Egypt. There we could at least sit down and eat all the bread and meat we wanted. Here in this desert we are going to starve!”

The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard my people complain. Tell them that each evening they will have meat and each morning they will have more than

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enough bread. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” That evening, a lot of quails came and landed everywhere in the camp. The next morning dew covered the ground. After the dew had gone, the desert was covered with thin flakes that looked like frost.

The people had never seen anything like this. They started asking each other, “What is it?”

Moses answered, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” The Israelites called the bread manna. It was white and delicious like wafers made with honey.

DAY 75

The People Doubt God Exodus 17:1-7

The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the Lord ordered them to. The people started complaining to Moses, “Give us some water!”

Moses replied, “Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the Lord to the test?”

But the people were thirsty. “Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?” they asked.

So Moses prayed to the Lord. The Lord answered, “Strike the rock with the stick, and water will pour out of the rock for the people to drink.”

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DAY 76

Moses Talks with God Exodus 19:1-18

Two months after leaving Egypt, the people of Israel arrived at the desert near Mount Sinai, where they set up camp at the foot of the mountain.

Moses went up the mountain to meet with the Lord God. He told Moses to speak for him and say to the people, “You saw what I did in Egypt. I brought you here to me, just as a mighty eagle carries its young. Now if you will faithfully obey me, you will be my very own people. The whole world is mine, but you will be my holy nation.”

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After Moses went back, he reported to the leaders what the Lord had said. They promised, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain, and a loud trumpet blast was heard. Everyone in camp trembled with fear. Moses led them out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had come down in a flaming fire.

DAY 77

The Ten Commandments Exodus 20:1-17

God said to the people of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves.

These are the Ten Commandments you are to follow. Do not worship any god except me. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Do not misuse my name. Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me. Respect your father and your mother. Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don’t want anyone’s house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys or anything else.”

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DAY 78

God’s Promises for Israel Exodus 23:20-33

The Lord said, “I am sending an angel to protect you and to lead you into the land I have ready for you. Carefully obey everything the angel says. If you faithfully obey him, I will be a fierce enemy of your enemies. Don’t worship their gods or follow their customs.

Worship only me, the Lord your God! I will bless you with plenty of food and water and keep you strong. Your women will give birth to healthy children, and everyone will live a long life. I will terrify those nations and make your enemies so confused that they will run from you. But I won’t do all this in the first year because the land would become poor, and wild animals would

be everywhere. Instead, I will force out your enemies little by little and give your nation time to grow strong enough to take over the land. I will see that your borders reach from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River and from the Mediterranean Sea to the desert. I will let you defeat the people who live there, and you will force them out of the land. But you must not make any agreements with them or with their gods. Don’t let them stay in your land. They will trap you into sinning against me and worshiping their gods.”

DAY 79

The People Agree to Obey God Exodus 24:4-11

Moses wrote down all that the Lord had said. The next morning he got up early. He built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up a large stone for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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He also sent some young men to burn offerings and to sacrifice bulls as special offerings to the Lord. Moses put half of the blood from the animals into bowls and sprinkled the rest on the altar. Then he read aloud the Lord’s commands and promises.

Afterwards the people shouted, “We will obey the Lord and do everything he has commanded!”

Moses took the blood from the bowls and sprinkled it on the people. He told them, “With this blood the Lord makes his agreement with you.”

Moses and Aaron went up the mountain together with some of the leaders. There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something that looked like a pavement made out of sapphire, and it was as bright as the sky.

Even though these leaders of Israel saw God, he did not punish them. So they ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, “Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while.” Moses stayed forty days and nights.

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DAY 80

The Golden Calf Exodus 32:1-12

After the people saw that Moses had been on the mountain for a long time, they went to Aaron and said, “Make us an image of a god who will lead and protect us. Moses brought us out of Egypt, but nobody knows what has happened to him.”

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Aaron told them, “Bring me the gold earrings that your wives and sons and daughters are wearing.” Then he melted them and made an idol in the shape of a young bull.

The people said to one another, “This is the god who brought us out of Egypt!”

Then everyone ate and drank so much that they began to carry on like wild people.

The Lord said to Moses, “Hurry back down! Those people you led out of Egypt have already stopped obeying me. I’m angry enough to destroy them, so don’t try to stop me.”

Moses tried to get the Lord God to change his mind. “Lord, please don’t be angry with your people.”

DAY 81

Moses Destroys the Idol Exodus 32:15-20

Moses went back down the mountain with the two flat stones on which God had written all of his laws. As Moses got closer to the camp, he saw the idol, and he also saw the people dancing around. This made him so angry that he threw down the stones and broke them to pieces. He melted the idol the people had made, and he ground it into powder.

Then he scattered it in their water and made them drink it.

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DAY 82

God Shows Mercy Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the Lord, “I know that you have told me to lead these people to the land you promised them. You have said that you are my friend and that you are pleased with me. If this is true, let me know what your plans are. Then I can obey and continue to please you. And don’t forget that you have chosen this nation to be your own.”

The Lord said, “I will go with you and give you peace.”

Then Moses replied, “If you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.”

So the Lord told him, “I will do what you have asked because I am your friend, and I am pleased with you.”

Then Moses said, “I pray that you will let me see you in all of your glory.”

The Lord answered, “All right. I show mercy and kindness to anyone I choose. I will let you see my glory and hear my holy name, but I won’t let you see my face because anyone who sees my face will die. There is a rock not far from me. Before I pass by in all of my shining glory, I will put you in a large crack in the rock. I will cover your eyes with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back. You will not see my face.”

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DAY 83

The Second Ten Commandments Exodus 34:1-9

One day the Lord said to Moses, “Cut two flat stones like the first ones I made. I will write on them the same commandments that were on the two you broke. Come up Mount Sinai and meet me at the top.”

So Moses cut two flat stones like the first ones, and early the next morning he carried them to the top of Mount Sinai.

The Lord God came down in a cloud and stood beside Moses there on the

mountain. Then God passed in front of Moses and called out, “I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins.”

Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. He prayed, “Lord, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us.

It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people.”

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DAY 85

The Lord Sends Quails Numbers 11:31-35

Some time later the Lord sent a strong wind that blew quails in from the sea until Israel’s camp was completely surrounded with birds. They were piled up about three feet high for miles in every direction. The people picked up

DAY 84

The People Grumble About Being Hungry Numbers 11:4-15

One day some foreigners among the Israelites became greedy for food. Even the Israelites themselves began moaning, “We don’t have any meat! In Egypt we could eat all the fish we wanted, and there were cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic. But we’re starving out here.

The only food we have is this manna.”

The manna appeared at night with the dew. In the morning the people would collect the manna, grind or crush it into

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quails for two days. Each person filled at least fifty bushels. Then they spread them out to dry. But before the meat could be eaten, the Lord became angry.

He sent a disease through the camp.

They buried the people who had been so greedy for meat. They called the place “Graves for the Greedy.” Israel then broke camp and traveled to Hazeroth.

flour, then boil it and make it into thin wafers.

The Israelites stood around their tents complaining. Moses heard them and was upset that they had made the Lord angry. He prayed, “God, I am your servant, so why are you doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this?

You’ve made me responsible for all these people, but they’re not my children.

They keep whining for meat, but where can I get meat for them? This job is too much for me. How can I take care of all these people by myself? If this is the way you’re going to treat me, just kill me now and end my miserable life!”

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DAY 86

Miriam and Aaron Are Jealous of Moses Numbers 12:1-15

Although Moses was the most humble person in the world, Miriam and Aaron started complaining. They said, “Who does Moses think he is? The Lord has spoken to us, not just to him.”

The Lord heard their complaint. He told Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to come to the sacred tent. There the Lord appeared in a cloud. He told Aaron and Miriam to come closer. Then he said, “I, the Lord, speak to prophets in visions and dreams. But my servant Moses is the leader of my people. He sees me face to face, and everything I say to him is perfectly clear. You have no right to criticize my servant Moses.”

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The Lord became angry at Aaron and Miriam. And after the Lord left and the cloud disappeared from over the sacred tent, Miriam’s skin turned white with leprosy.

When Aaron saw what had happened to her, he said to Moses, “Sir, please don’t punish us for doing such a foolish thing. Don’t let Miriam’s flesh rot away!”

So Moses prayed, “Lord God, please heal her.”

But the Lord replied, “Make her stay outside the camp for seven days, before coming back.” The people of Israel did not move their camp until Miriam returned seven days later.

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DAY 88

The Twelve Scouts Return Numbers 13:25-33

DAY 87

Twelve Men Are Sent into Canaan Numbers 13:1-24

The Lord said to Moses, “Choose a leader from each tribe and send them into Canaan to explore the land I am giving you.”

Before Moses sent the twelve leaders into Canaan, he said to them, “Find out what those regions are like. Be sure to remember how many people live there, how strong they are, and if they live in open towns or walled cities. See if the land is good for growing crops and find

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out what kinds of trees grow there. It’s time for grapes to ripen, so try to bring back some fruit.”

The twelve men left to explore Canaan from the Zin Desert in the south all the way to the town of Rehob in the north.

As they went through the Southern Desert, they came to the town of Hebron.

In Hebron, they saw the three Anakim clans of Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai.

When they got to Bunch Valley, they cut off a branch with such a huge bunch of grapes, that it took two men to carry it on a pole. That’s why the place was called Bunch Valley. They also took back pomegranates and figs.

After forty days of exploring the land of Canaan, the twelve men returned back to camp. “Canaan is an amazing land,” they told the people. “Just look at the size of this fruit!” The men passed around the grapes they had brought with them.

Then they said, “But the people there are strong, and the cities have high walls all around them.”

The people began to worry. “How can we capture this land?” they asked each other. “There are too many people living there already.”

But Caleb wasn’t worried. He was one of the Israeli leaders. “Let’s take the land,” he said. “I know we can do it!”

“There is no way we can take the land,” the twelve men told him. “We saw the people there, and they are like giants.

They were so big that we felt as little as grasshoppers.”

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DAY 89

Moses Speaks to Israel Deuteronomy 8:1-18

Moses said to the people of Israel, “Don’t forget how the Lord your God has led you through the desert for the past forty years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him, so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna, a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. Over the past forty years, your clothing hasn’t worn out, and your feet haven’t swollen. Obey the commands the Lord has given you and worship him.

The Lord is bringing you into a good

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land with streams that flow from springs in the valleys and hills. You won’t go hungry. Wheat and barley fields are everywhere. There are vineyards and orchards full of fig, pomegranate, and olive trees, and there is plenty of honey.

After you eat and are full, give praise to the Lord. Don’t be proud. Don’t forget that you were once slaves in Egypt.

When you become successful, don’t say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve earned it all myself.’

Instead, remember that the Lord your God gives you the strength to make a living. That’s how he keeps the promise he made to your ancestors.”

DAY 90

The Last Days of Moses Deuteronomy 34:1-10

Sometime later, Moses left the lowlands of Moab. The Lord said, “Moses, this is the land I was talking about when I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give land to their descendants. I have let you see it, but you will not cross the Jordan and go in.”

And so, Moses the Lord’s servant died there in Moab, just as the Lord had said. The Lord buried him in a valley near the town of Beth-Peor, but even today no one knows exactly where. Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong.

The people of Israel stayed in the lowlands of Moab. There they mourned and grieved thirty days for Moses. There has never again been a prophet in Israel like Moses. The Lord spoke face to face with him.

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DAY 91

DAY 92

Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua 1: 10-15

Joshua Becomes the Leader of Israel The Lord spoke to Joshua, who had been the assistant of Moses. The Lord said to him, “My servant Moses is dead. Now you must lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I’m giving to all of you. Wherever you go, I’ll give you that land, as I promised Moses. Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses. No one will ever be able to defeat you.”

Then the Lord said, “Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you.

Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, Israel will be able to take this land. I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God. I will be there to help you wherever you go.”

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The Eastern Tribes Promise to Help

children and your animals can stay here.

But all of you that can serve in our army must pick up your weapons and lead the men of the other tribes across the Jordan River.”

Joshua ordered the tribal leaders to go through the camp and tell everyone, “In a few days we will cross the Jordan River to take the land that the Lord our God is giving us.”

Then Joshua told the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh, “The Lord’s servant Moses said that the Lord our God has given you land here on the east side of the Jordan River, where you could live in peace. Your wives and

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DAY 93

DAY 94

Rahab Helps the Spies

Rahab Asks a Favor

Joshua chose two men as spies.

He sent them from their camp at Acacia with these instructions: “Go across the river and find out as much as you can about the whole region, especially about the town of Jericho.”

The two spies left the Israelite camp and went to Jericho, where they decided to spend the night at the house of a woman named Rahab. But someone found out about them. They told the king of Jericho, “Some Israelite men came here tonight, and they are spies.”

So the king sent soldiers to Rahab’s house to arrest the spies.

Meanwhile, Rahab had taken the men up to the flat roof of her house and had hidden them under some piles of flax plants that she had put there to dry. The soldiers came to her door and demanded, “Let us have the men who are staying at your house. They are spies.”

She answered, “Some men did come to my house, but I didn’t know where they had come from.

They left about sunset, just before it was time to close the town gate. I don’t know where they were going.

If you hurry, maybe you can catch them.” The guards at the town gate let the soldiers leave Jericho. Then the soldiers headed toward the Jordan River to look for the spies at the place where people cross the river.

Back in Jericho, Rahab went back up to her roof. The spies were still awake, so she told them, “I know that the Lord has given Israel this land. Everyone shakes with fear because of you.

We heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea so you could leave Egypt.

And we heard how you destroyed those

Joshua 2:1-7

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Joshua 2:8-14

two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River. We know that the Lord your God rules heaven and earth, and we’ve lost our courage and our will to fight. Please promise me in the Lord’s name that you will be as kind to my family as I have been to you.”

“Rahab,” the spies answered, “if you keep quiet about what we’re doing, we promise to be kind to you when the Lord gives us this land. We pray that the Lord will kill us if we don’t keep our promise!”

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DAY 95

The Spies Escape Joshua 2:15-24

Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, and one of her windows faced outside the wall. She gave the spies a rope, showed them the window, and said, “Use this rope to let yourselves down to the ground outside the wall.

Then hide in the hills. The men who are looking for you won’t be able to find you there. They’ll give up and come back after a few days. Then you can be on your way.”

The spies said, “You made us promise to let you and your family live. We will keep our promise, but you can’t tell anyone why we were here. You must tie this red rope on your window when we attack. Everyone else in your family must be here with you. But anyone who leaves your house will be killed.”

“I’ll do exactly what you said,” Rahab promised. Then she sent them on their way and tied the red rope to the window.

The spies hid in the hills for three days while the king’s soldiers looked for them along the roads. As soon as the soldiers gave up and returned to Jericho, the two spies went down into the Jordan valley and crossed the river. They reported to Joshua and told him everything that had happened. “We’re sure the Lord has given us the whole country,” they said.

“The people there shake with fear every time they think of us.”

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DAY 96

The Sacred Chest Leads the Way Joshua 3:1-8

Early the next morning, Joshua and the Israelites packed up and left. They went to the Jordan River and camped there that night. Two days later their leaders went through the camp shouting, “When you see some of the priests carrying the sacred chest, you’ll know it is time to cross to the other side. You won’t know the way unless you follow the chest. But don’t get too close! Stay about half a mile back.”

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Joshua told the people, “The Lord is going to do some amazing things for us.” Then Joshua turned to the priests and said, “Take the chest and cross the Jordan River ahead of us.” So the priests picked up the chest by its carrying poles and went on ahead.

The Lord told Joshua, “Beginning today I will show the people that you are their leader. They will know that I am helping you as I helped Moses. Now, tell the priests who are carrying the chest to go a little way into the river and stand there.”

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DAY 98

The People Set Up a Monument Joshua 4:1-9

DAY 97

Israel Crosses the Jordan River

Joshua 3:9-17, Joshua 4:10-18

Joshua spoke to the people, “Come here and listen to what the Lord our God said he will do! The enemy tribes control the land on the other side of the river. But the living God will be with you when you attack. God is going to prove that he’s powerful enough to force them out.

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Just watch the sacred chest that belongs to the Lord. As soon as the priests carrying the chest step into the Jordan, the water will stop flowing and pile up. It will be as if someone had built a dam across the river.

The Lord has also said that each of the twelve tribes should choose one man to represent it.”

The priests carrying the chest walked in front, until they came to the Jordan River. As soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, the river stopped flowing. No water flowed toward the Dead Sea. The priests stood in the middle of the dry riverbed near Jericho while everyone else crossed over.

They marched quickly past the sacred chest and into the desert near Jericho. As soon as the priests carried the chest past the highest place that the floodwaters of the Jordan had reached, the river flooded its banks again. That’s how the Lord showed the Israelites that Joshua was their leader. For the rest of Joshua’s life, the people respected him as they had respected Moses.

After Israel had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Tell one man from each of the twelve tribes to pick up a large rock from where the priests are standing. Then have the men set up those rocks as a monument at the place where you camp tonight.”

Joshua chose twelve men. He called them together and told them, “Go to the middle of the riverbed where the sacred chest is, and pick up a large rock. Carry it on your shoulder to our camp. Someday your children will ask, ‘Why are these rocks here?’ Then you can tell them how the water stopped flowing when the chest was being carried across the river.

These rocks will always remind our people of what happened here today.”

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DAY 100

The Walls Come Tumbling Down Joshua 6: 15-27

DAY 99

The Battle of Jericho Joshua 6:1-14

Meanwhile, the people of Jericho had been locking the gates in their town.

They were afraid of the Israelites. No one could go out or come in.

The Lord said to Joshua, “With my help, you and your army will defeat the king of Jericho and his army. Here is how to do it: March slowly around Jericho once a day for six days. Take along the sacred chest and have seven priests walk in front of it, carrying trumpets. But on the seventh day, march

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slowly around the town seven times while the priests blow their trumpets.

Then the priests will blast on their trumpets, and everyone else will shout.

The wall will fall down, and your soldiers can go straight in from every side.”

Joshua called the priests together and said, “Take the chest and have seven priests carry trumpets and march ahead of it.”

Early the next morning, the seven priests blew their trumpets while everyone marched slowly around Jericho.

Then they returned to camp. They did this once a day for six days.

On the seventh day, the army got up at daybreak. They went around Jericho seven times. Then the priests blew the trumpets.

Joshua yelled, “Get ready to shout!

The Lord will let you capture this town. Show that it now belongs to the Lord! The woman Rahab helped the spies we sent, so protect her and the others who are inside her house. But kill everyone else in the town. The silver and gold and everything made of bronze and iron belong to the Lord and must be put in his treasury.”

The priests blew their trumpets again, and the soldiers shouted as loud as they could. The walls of Jericho fell flat. Then the soldiers rushed up the hill, went straight into the town, and captured it.

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DAY 101

Joshua Commands the Sun to Stand Still Joshua 10:1-15

Five Amorite kings called their armies together and attacked Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent a message to the Israelite camp saying, “Joshua, please come and rescue us! The Amorite kings from the hill country have joined together and are attacking us. We are your servants, so don’t let us down. Please hurry!”

Joshua and his army left their camp.

“Joshua,” the Lord said, “don’t be afraid of the Amorites. They will run away when you attack, and I will help you defeat them.”

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Joshua marched all night to Gibeon and made a surprise attack on the Amorite camp. The Lord made the enemy panic, and the Israelites started killing them right and left. They chased the Amorite troops up the road. The Lord made huge hailstones fall on them. More of the enemy soldiers died from the hail than from the Israelite weapons.

About noon, Joshua prayed to the Lord,

“Our Lord, make the sun stop in the sky over Gibeon.” The sun stood still and didn’t go down for about a whole day until Israel defeated its enemies. Never before and never since has the Lord done anything like that for someone who prayed. The Lord was really fighting for Israel. After the battle, Joshua and the Israelites went back to their camp.

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DAY 102

“We Will Worship and Obey the Lord” Joshua 24:14-28

Then Joshua told the people, “Worship the Lord, obey him, and always be faithful. Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you’re living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you’ll worship their gods. I won’t. My family and I are going to worship and obey the Lord!

The people answered, “The Lord is our God. We were slaves in Egypt, but we saw the Lord work miracles to set our people free. Even though other nations were all around us, the Lord protected us wherever we went. And when we fought the Amorites and the other nations that lived in this land, the Lord made them run away.”

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Joshua said, “But you still have some idols. Get rid of your idols! You must decide once and for all that you really want to obey the Lord God of Israel.”

The people said, “The Lord is our God, and we will worship and obey only him.”

Joshua made laws for Israel and wrote them down in The Book of the Law of God. Then he set up a large stone under the oak tree at the place of worship in Shechem.

He told the people, “Look at this stone.

It has heard everything that the Lord has said to us. Our God can call this stone as a witness if we ever reject him.”

Then Joshua sent everyone back to their homes.

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DAY 104

Joshua’s Farewell Speech Joshua 23: 1-14

The Lord let Israel live in peace with its neighbors for a long time. Joshua lived to a ripe old age. One day he called a meeting of the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

He told them, “I am now very old.

You have seen how the Lord your God fought for you and helped you defeat the nations who lived in this land. There are still some nations left, but the Lord has promised you their land. So when you attack them, he will make them run away.”

“Be sure that you carefully obey everything written in The Book of the Law of Moses and do exactly what it says. Don’t have anything to do with

DAY 103

Israel in the Promised Land Joshua 21: 43-45

The Lord gave the Israelites the land he had promised their ancestors. They captured it and settled in it. There still were enemies around Israel, but the Lord

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the nations that live around you. Don’t worship their gods or pray to their idols.

Be as faithful to the Lord as you have always been.”

“Any one of you can defeat a thousand enemy soldiers because the Lord God fights for you. Be sure to always love the Lord your God. Don’t ever turn your backs on him. I will soon die, as everyone must. But deep in your hearts you know that the Lord has kept every promise he ever made to you. Not one of them has been broken.”

kept his promise to let his people live in peace. And whenever the Israelites did have to go to war, no enemy could defeat them. The Lord always helped Israel win. The Lord promised to do many good things for Israel, and he kept his promise every time.

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DAY 106

The Lord Chooses Leaders

Judges 2:16-19

In years gone by, the Israelites had been faithful to the Lord. Now they were quick to be unfaithful. Instead of worshiping the Lord, the Israelites would worship other gods.

When enemies made life miserable for the Israelites, the Lord would feel sorry for them. He would choose a judge and help that judge rescue Israel from its enemies. The Lord would be kind to Israel as long as that judge lived. But afterwards, the Israelites would become even more sinful than their ancestors had been. The Israelites were stubborn—they simply would not stop worshiping other gods or following the teachings of other religions.

DAY 105

Judah’s Army Defeats The Enemies Judges 1:1-15

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Which of our tribes should attack the Canaanites first?”

“Judah!” the Lord answered. “I’ll help them take the land.”

Judah’s army fought the Canaanites, and the Lord helped Judah defeat them.

Judah’s army went to attack Kiriath-

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Sepher. Caleb told his troops, “The man who captures Kiriath-Sepher can marry my daughter Achsah.”

Caleb’s nephew Othniel captured the town, so Caleb let him marry Achsah.

Right after the wedding, Achsah started telling Othniel that he ought to ask her father for a field. She went to see her father. While she was getting down from her donkey, Caleb asked, “What’s bothering you?”

She answered, “I need your help. The land you gave me is in the Southern Desert. Please give me some spring-fed ponds for a water supply.”

Caleb gave her a couple of small ponds named Higher Pond and Lower Pond.

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DAY 107

Rescued by Othniel Judges 3:7-11

The Israelites sinned against the Lord by forgetting him and worshiping idols of Baal and Astarte. This made the Lord angry, so he let Israel be defeated by King Cushan Rishathaim of northern Syria. He ruled Israel eight years and made everyone pay taxes.

The Israelites begged the Lord for help.

The Lord chose Othniel to rescue them.

The Spirit of the Lord took control

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of Othniel, and he led Israel in a war against Cushan Rishathaim. The Lord gave Othniel victory. Israel was at peace until Othniel died about forty years later.

DAY 108

God Chooses Ehud Judges 3:12-20

Once more the Israelites started disobeying the Lord. So the Lord let them be defeated by King Eglon of Moab. Eglon and his army captured

Jericho. Then he ruled Israel for eighteen years and forced the Israelites to pay heavy taxes. The Israelites begged the Lord for help. The Lord chose Ehud from the Benjamin tribe to rescue them.

They put Ehud in charge of taking the taxes to King Eglon. But before Ehud went, he made a double-edged dagger.

Ehud strapped the dagger to his right thigh, where it would be hidden under his robes.

Ehud and some other Israelites took the taxes to King Eglon, who was a very fat man. As soon as they gave the taxes to Eglon, Ehud said it was time to go home.

Ehud went with the other Israelites as far as Gilgal. Then he turned and went back. Ehud went upstairs to the room where Eglon had his throne. Ehud said, “Your Majesty, I need to talk with you in private. I have a message for you from God!” The king’s officials left the room.

Eglon stood up as Ehud came closer.

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DAY 109

Ehud Kills the King Judges 3:21-30

Ehud pulled out the dagger and shoved it so far into Eglon’s stomach that even the handle was buried in his fat. Ehud left the dagger there. Then he climbed through a window onto the porch and left.

The king’s officials came back and saw that the doors were locked. They said, “The king is probably inside relieving

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himself.” They stood there waiting, but Eglon never opened the doors. Finally, they unlocked the doors, and found King Eglon lying dead on the floor.

Ehud had already escaped to the town of Seirah in the hill country and started blowing a signal on a trumpet. The Israelites came together, and he shouted, “Follow me! The Lord will help us defeat the Moabites.”

The Israelites followed Ehud down to the Jordan valley. They captured the places where people cross the river on the way to Moab and killed ten thousand Moabite warriors.

Moab was so badly defeated that it was a long time before they were strong enough to attack Israel again. And Israel was at peace for eighty years.

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DAY 110

Deborah and Barak Judges 4:1-16, Judges 4:23

After the death of Ehud, the Israelites again started disobeying the Lord. So the Lord let the Canaanite king conquer Israel. For twenty years, life was miserable for the Israelites. They begged the Lord for help.

Deborah was a prophet and a leader of Israel during those days. She would sit under Deborah’s Palm Tree where Israelites would come and ask her to settle their legal cases.

One day, Deborah sent word for Barak to come and talk with her. When he arrived, she said, “You are to get together an army of ten thousand men and lead them to Mount Tabor. The Lord will

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trick Sisera and his army into coming out to fight. They will have their chariots, but the Lord has promised to help you defeat them.”

“I’m not going unless you go!” Barak told her.

“All right, I’ll go!” she replied. “But I’m warning you that the Lord is going to let a woman defeat Sisera. No one will honor you for winning the battle.”

Then Deborah and Barak left.

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DEBORAH

DAY 111

The Lord Fights for Israel Judges 4:10-24

Barak called together the ten thousand soldiers. Deborah went too.

Sisera learned that Barak had led an army to Mount Tabor. He called his troops together and got all nine hundred iron chariots ready. Then he led his army to the Kishon River.

Deborah shouted, “Barak, it’s time to attack Sisera! Because today the Lord is going to help you defeat him. In fact, the Lord has already

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gone on ahead to fight for you.”

Barak led his ten thousand troops down from Mount Tabor.

During the battle, the Lord confused Sisera, his chariot drivers, and his whole army. Everyone was so afraid of Barak and his army that even Sisera jumped down from his chariot and tried to escape. Barak’s forces went after Sisera’s chariots, and Sisera’s entire army was wiped out.

That day the Israelites defeated the Canaanite king, and his army was no longer powerful enough to attack the Israelites.

DAY 112

Midian Steals Everything from Israel Judges 6:1-10

Once again the Israelites started disobeying the Lord, so he let the nation of Midian control Israel for seven years.

The Midianites were so cruel that many Israelites ran to the mountains and hid in caves. Every time the Israelites would plant crops, the Midianites rode in on their camels and then let their livestock eat the crops. The

Midianites stole food, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. They were like a swarm of locusts. They ruined the land wherever they went. The Israelites begged the Lord for help. Then the Lord sent a prophet to them with this message: “I am the Lord God of Israel, so listen to what I say. You were slaves in Egypt, but I set you free and led you out of Egypt into this land. And when nations here made life miserable for you, I rescued you and helped you get rid of them and take their land. I am your God, and I told you not to worship other gods.

But you refused to listen.”

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DAY 114

Gideon Tears Down Baal’s Altar Judges 6:25-31

That night the Lord spoke to Gideon again saying, “Get your father’s secondbest bull. Use it to pull down the altar where your father worships Baal. Then build an altar for worshiping me on the highest part of the hill where your town is built. “ When the people of the town got up the next morning, they saw that Baal’s altar had been knocked over. Then they noticed the new altar covered with the remains of the sacrificed bull.

The men of the town went to Joash, Gideon’s father, and said, “Your son Gideon knocked over Baal’s altar. Hand him over, so we can kill him!”

The crowd pushed closer and closer, but Joash replied, “If Baal really is a god, let him take his own revenge on someone who tears down his altar.”

DAY 113

The Lord Chooses Gideon Judges 6:11-24

One day an angel from the Lord went to the town of Ophrah and sat down under the big tree. The angel appeared and spoke to Gideon, “The Lord is helping you.”

Gideon answered, “But if the Lord is helping us, then why have all of these awful things happened? The Lord has abandoned us to the Midianites.”

Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon,

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you will be strong because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.”

Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”

“Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you! Defeating the Midianites will be as easy as beating up one man.”

So Gideon built an altar for worshiping the Lord and called it “The Lord Calms Our Fears.”

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DAY 115

Gideon Asks God for a Sign Judges 6:33-40

The Midianites and other eastern nations invaded the land of Israel. They set up camp in Jezreel Valley. The Lord’s Spirit took control of Gideon, and Gideon blew a signal on a trumpet to tell the men in his clan to follow him. He also sent messengers to tell the men of some other

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tribes to come and join his army. Then they set out toward the enemy camp.

Gideon prayed to God, “I know that you promised to help me rescue Israel, but I need proof. Tonight I’ll put some wool on the stone floor of that threshingplace over there. If you really will help me rescue Israel, then tomorrow morning let there be dew on the wool, but let the stone floor be dry.”

Early the next morning, Gideon got up and checked the wool. He squeezed out enough water to fill a bowl. But Gideon prayed to God again. “Let me try this just one more time, so I’ll really be sure you’ll help me. Only this time, let the wool be dry and the stone floor be wet with dew.”

That night, God made the stone floor wet with dew, but he kept the wool dry.

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DAY 117

Gideon Spies on the Enemy Judges 7:9-15

That night, the Lord said to Gideon. “Get up! Attack the Midianite camp. I am going to let you defeat them. If you’re still afraid, you and your servant Purah should sneak down to their camp. When you hear what the Midianites are saying, you’ll be brave enough to attack.”

Gideon and Purah worked their way to the edge of the enemy camp. The camp was huge. Gideon overheard one enemy

DAY 116

A Small Army Judges 7:1-8

The Lord said, “Gideon, your army is too big. I can’t let you win with this many soldiers. The Israelites would think that they had won the battle all by themselves. Call your troops together and tell them that anyone who is really afraid can leave Mount Gilead and go home.”

Twenty-two thousand men returned home. “Gideon,” the Lord said, “you still have too many soldiers. Take them down to the spring, and I’ll test them. I’ll tell

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you which ones can go along with you and which ones must go back home.”

When Gideon led his army down to the spring, the Lord told him, “Watch how each man gets a drink of water. Then divide them into two groups – those who lap the water like a dog and those who kneel down to drink.”

Three hundred men scooped up water in their hands and lapped it. The rest knelt to get a drink. The Lord said, “Gideon, your army will be made up of everyone who lapped the water from their hands. Send the others home.”

Then Gideon gave these orders, “You three hundred men stay here. The rest of you may go home, but leave your food and trumpets with us.”

guard telling another, “I had a dream about a flat loaf of barley bread that came tumbling into our camp. It hit the headquarters tent, and the tent flipped over and fell down.”

The other soldier answered, “Your dream must have been about Gideon, the Israelite commander. It means God will let him defeat the Midianite army and everyone else in our camp.”

As soon as Gideon heard about the dream and what it meant, he bowed down to praise God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Let’s go! The Lord is going to let us defeat the Midianite army.”

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DAY 118

Trumpets and Torches Judges 7:16-24, Judges 8:29

Gideon divided his little army into three groups of one hundred men. He gave each soldier a trumpet and a large clay jar with a burning torch inside.

Gideon said, “When we get to the enemy camp, spread out and surround it.

Blow your trumpets and shout, `Fight for the Lord! Fight for Gideon!’”

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Gideon and his group reached the edge of the enemy camp a few hours after dark. Gideon’s soldiers blew the trumpets they were holding in their right hands. Then they smashed the jars and held the burning torches in their left hands. Everyone shouted, “Fight with your swords for the Lord and for Gideon!”

The enemy soldiers started yelling and tried to run away. Gideon’s troops stayed in their positions surrounding the camp.

Then they blew their trumpets again.

As they did, the Lord made the enemy soldiers pull out their swords and start fighting each other. The enemy army tried to escape from the camp.

The Midianites were defeated so badly that they were no longer strong enough to attack Israel. Israel was at peace for the remaining forty years of Gideon’s life.

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DAY 119

The Israelites Ask Gideon to Be Their King Judges 8:22-35

After the battle with the Midianites, the Israelites said, “Gideon, you rescued us!

Now we want you to be our king. Then after your death, your son and then your grandson will rule.”

“No,” Gideon replied, “I won’t be your king, and my son won’t be king either.

Only the Lord is your ruler. But I will ask you to do one thing. Give me all the gold you took from the enemy.”

The Israelite soldiers replied, “Of course.” Then they spread out a robe on the ground and tossed the earrings, the gold from the camels’ ornaments, and the beautiful jewelry worn by the Midianite kings onto it.

Gideon returned to his home in Ophrah and had the gold made into a statue. The Israelites started worshiping the statue. They became unfaithful to God, and even Gideon and his family were trapped into worshiping the statue.

The Israelites forgot that the Lord was their God, and that he had rescued them from the enemies who lived around them. Besides all that, the Israelites were unkind to Gideon’s family, even though Gideon had done so much for Israel.

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149 GIDEON

DAY 120

Abimelech Tries To Be King Judges 9:1-7

Abimelech was one of Gideon’s sons.

One day he went to Shechem and met with his mother’s relatives. He told them to say to the leaders of Shechem, “Do you think it would be good to have all seventy of Gideon’s sons ruling us?

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Wouldn’t you rather have just one man be king? Abimelech would make a good king, and he’s related to us.”

Abimelech’s uncles talked it over with the leaders of Shechem. They agreed, “Yes, it would be better for one of our relatives to be king.”

Then Abimelech and his soldiers went to his father’s home in Ophrah and brought out Gideon’s other sons to a large rock. He hired a gang of rough soldiers to murder all seventy of them.

Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid from the soldiers, but he was the only one who escaped.

The leaders of Shechem met at the tree to crown Abimelech king. Jotham heard what they were doing. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted down to the people.

DAY 121

Jotham’s Curse Judges 9:7-24

“Leaders of Shechem,” Jotham said, “listen to me, and maybe God will listen to you.”

“Once the trees searched for someone to be king; they asked the olive tree, ‘Will you be our king?’ But the olive tree replied, ‘I won’t stop making oil, just to have my branches wave above the other trees.’ Then they asked the fig tree, ‘Will

you be our king?’ But the fig tree replied, ‘I won’t stop growing my delicious fruit, just to have my branches wave above the other trees.’ Next they asked the grape vine, ‘Will you be our king?’ But the grape vine replied, ‘I won’t stop making wine, just to have my branches wave above the other trees.’ Finally, they went to the thorn bush and asked, ‘Will you be our king?’ The thorn bush replied, “If you really want me to be your king, then come into my shade and I will protect you. But if you’re deceiving me, I’ll start a fire that will spread out and destroy the cedars of Lebanon.’”

Then Jotham said, “If you treated Gideon and his family the way you should have, then I hope you and Abimelech will make each other very happy. But if it was wrong to treat Gideon and his family the way you did, then I pray that Abimelech will destroy you, and I pray that you will do the same to him.”

God decided to punish Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon’s seventy sons. Everything happened just as Jotham’s curse said it would.

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DAY 122

Israel Is Unfaithful Again Judges 10:6-16

Before long, the Israelites began disobeying the Lord by worshiping Baal and many other gods. The Lord was angry at Israel. He decided to let Philistia and Ammon conquer them.

For eighteen years, Ammon was cruel to the Israelites. Then the Ammonites began crossing the Jordan and attacking the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Life was miserable for the Israelites.

They begged the Lord for help and confessed, “We were unfaithful to you, our Lord. We stopped worshiping you and started worshiping idols of Baal.”

The Lord answered, “In the past when you came crying to me for help, I rescued you. You’ve left me and gone off to worship other gods. If you’re in such big trouble, go cry to them for help!”

“We have been unfaithful,” the Israelites admitted. “If we must be punished, do it yourself, but please rescue us from the Ammonites.”

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Then the Israelites got rid of the idols of the foreign gods, and they began worshiping only the Lord. Finally, there came a time when the Lord could no longer stand to see them suffer.

DAY 123

The Lord Helps Jephthah Judges 11: 1-33

The leaders of Gilead asked each other, “Who can lead an attack on the Ammonites?” The leaders decided to ask a brave warrior named Jephthah to lead the attack.

Jephthah’s half brothers told him, “You don’t really belong to our family, so you can’t have any of the family property.”

They forced Jephthah to leave home.

The leaders of Gilead went to Jephthah and said, “Please come back to Gilead! If you lead our army, we will be able to fight off the Ammonites.”

Jephthah replied, “Weren’t you the ones who forced me to leave my family?

You’re coming to me now just because you’re in trouble.”

The leaders said, “If you lead us in battle, we will make you the ruler of Gilead.”

So Jephthah went back to Mizpah with the leaders of Gilead. The people made Jephthah their ruler.

After the ceremony, Jephthah

sent messengers to say to the king of Ammon, “Are you trying to start a war?

You have invaded my country, and I want to know why!”

The king of Ammon replied, “Tell Jephthah that the land really belongs to me. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they stole it. Tell Jephthah to return it to me, and there won’t be any war.”

Then the Lord’s Spirit took control of Jephthah, and he raised an army. Then he attacked the Ammonites, and the Lord helped him defeat them. After that, the Ammonites could not invade Israel any more.

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DAY 124

Samson Is Born

and said, “You have never been able to have any children, but very soon you will be pregnant and have a son. He will be dedicated to God from the day he is born, so his hair must never be cut. Your son will begin to set Israel free from the Philistines.”

She went to Manoah and said, “An angel of God came and talked to me.

I was so frightened, that I didn’t even ask where he was from. He didn’t tell me his name, but he did say that I’m going to have a baby boy. Our son will belong to God for as long as he lives.”

Later, Manoah’s wife did give birth to a son. She named him Samson. As the boy grew, the Lord blessed him.

Judges 13:1-24

Once again the Israelites started disobeying the Lord. So he let the Philistines take control of Israel for forty years.

Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was not able to have children, but one day an angel from the Lord appeared to her

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DAY 125

Samson Fights a Lion Judges 14:1-9

One day, Samson went to Timnah where he saw a Philistine woman.

When he got back home, he told his parents, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah, and I want to marry her. Get her for me!”

His parents answered, “There are a lot of women in our clan and even more in the rest of Israel.

Those Philistines are pagans. Why would you want to marry one of their women?”

“She looks good to me,” Samson answered.

“Get her for me!”

As Samson and his parents reached the vineyards near Timnah, a fierce young lion suddenly roared and attacked Samson. But the Lord’s Spirit took control of Samson, and with his bare hands he tore the lion apart, as though it had been a young goat. His parents didn’t know what he had done, and he didn’t tell them.

When they got to Timnah, Samson talked to the woman. He was sure that she was the one for him.

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DAY 127

Samson Takes Revenge Judges 14:20, 15:1-8

DAY 126

Samson Tells a Riddle Judges 14:10-19

While Samson’s father went to make the final arrangements with the bride and her family, Samson threw a big party.

Samson told the men at the party, “Let’s make a bet. I’ll tell you a riddle. If you can tell me the right answer before the party is over, I’ll give each one of you a shirt and a full change of clothing.”

“It’s a bet!” the Philistines said. “Tell us the riddle.”

So Samson said, “Once so strong and mighty, now so sweet and tasty!”

Three days went by, and the Philistine young men had not come up with the right answer. Finally the party went to Samson’s bride and said, “You had better trick your husband into telling you the answer to his riddle. Have you invited us here just to rob us? If you don’t find out the answer, we will burn you and your family to death.”

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For the entire seven days of the party, Samson’s bride had been whining and trying to get the answer from him. “If you loved me at all, you would have told me the answer to your riddle,” she said.

She put so much pressure on Samson that he finally gave in and told her the answer. She went straight to the young men and told them.

Before sunset, the men of the town went to Samson with this answer: “A lion is the strongest—honey is the sweetest!”

Samson replied, “This answer you have given me doubtless came from my brideto-be.” Samson killed thirty men from another town and took their clothing.

He then gave it to the thirty men at the party and stormed back home to his own family.

The father of the bride had Samson’s wife marry one of the thirty young men that had been at Samson’s party. Later, Samson went to visit the young woman he thought was still his wife. He brought along a young goat as a gift and said to her father, “I want to go to my wife.”

“You can’t do that,” he replied. “When you left the way you did, I thought you were divorcing her. So I arranged for her to marry one of the young men who were at your party.”

“This time,” Samson answered, “I have a good reason for really hurting some Philistines.”

Samson went out and caught three

hundred foxes and tied them together in pairs with oil-soaked rags around their tails. He set the rags on fire and let the foxes go. The Philistine wheat fields went up in flames. Even the Philistine vineyards and olive orchards burned.

Some of the Philistines started asking around, “Who could have done such a thing?”

“It was Samson,” someone told them.

“He married the daughter of that man in Timnah, but then the man gave Samson’s wife to one of the men at the wedding.”

The Philistine leaders went to Timnah and burned Samson’s wife and her father to death. When Samson found out what they had done, he went to them and said, “You killed them!” Then Samson started hacking them to pieces with his sword.

Samson left and went to live in the cave at Etam Rock.

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DAY 128

The Philistines Look For Samson Judges 15:9-20

It wasn’t long before the Philistines invaded Judah and set up a huge army camp at Jawbone. The people of Judah asked, “Why have you invaded our land?”

The Philistines answered, “We’ve come to get Samson. We’re going to do the same things to him that he did to our people.”

Three thousand men from Judah went to the cave at Etam Rock and said to Samson, “Don’t you know that the Philistines rule us? They will punish us for what you did.”

“I was only getting even with them,” Samson replied.

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“They did the same things to me first.”

“We came here to tie you up and turn you over to them,” said the men of Judah.

“I won’t put up a fight,” Samson answered, “but you have to promise not to hurt me yourselves.”

“We promise,” the men said. Then they tied up his hands and arms and led him away from Etam Rock. When the Philistines saw that Samson was being brought to their camp at Jawbone, they started shouting and ran toward him. But the Lord’s Spirit took control of Samson.

Samson broke the ropes as though they were pieces of burnt cloth. Samson glanced around and spotted the jawbone of a donkey. Samson grabbed it and started hitting Philistines—he killed a thousand of them!

Samson was a leader of Israel for twenty years, but the Philistines were still the rulers of Israel.

DAY 129

Samson and Delilah Judges 16:4-14

Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah.

The Philistine rulers went to Delilah and said, “Trick Samson into telling you what makes him so strong. Then we can tie him up so he can’t get away. If you find out his secret, we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

The next time Samson was at Delilah’s house, she asked, “Samson, what makes you so strong? Come on, you can tell me.”

Samson answered, “If someone ties me up with seven new bowstrings that have never been dried, it will make me just as weak as anyone else.”

The Philistine rulers gave seven new bowstrings to Delilah.

Delilah tied up Samson with the bowstrings. Samson snapped the bowstrings as though they were pieces of scorched string.

Delilah said, “Now tell me. How can I really tie you up?”

Samson answered, “Use some new ropes. If I’m tied up with ropes that have never been used, I’ll be just as weak as anyone else.”

Delilah got new ropes. But Samson snapped the ropes as if they were threads.

So Samson said, “If you weave my braids into the threads on a loom and nail the loom to a wall, then I will be as weak as anyone else.”

While Samson was asleep, Delilah wove his braids into the threads on a loom and nailed the loom to a wall. Then she shouted, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Samson woke up and pulled the loom free from its posts in the ground and from the nails in the wall.

Then he pulled his hair free from the woven cloth.

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DAY 130

Delilah Tricks Samson Judges 16:17-22

Finally, Samson told her the truth. “I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else.”

Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, “Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth.” The Philistine rulers went to

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Delilah’s house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.

Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson’s seven braids. By the time she was finished, Samson’s strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”

Samson woke up and thought, “I’ll break loose and escape, just as I always do.” He did not realize that the Lord had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes.

They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.

But they didn’t cut his hair any more, so it started growing back.

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DAY 131

Samson Pulls Down a Temple Judges 16:23-30

The Philistine rulers threw a big party and sacrificed a lot of animals to their god Dagon. Everyone there was having a good time, and they shouted, “Bring out Samson – he’s still good for a few more laughs!”

They made fun of Samson for a while.

Then they told him to stand near the columns that supported the roof. A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, “I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof.”

Samson prayed, “Please remember me, Lord God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!”

Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand and the other with his left hand. Then he shouted, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed against the columns as hard as he could. The temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.

162 SAMSON

163 SAMSON

DAY 132

Ruth Is Loyal to Naomi Ruth 1:1-19

Elimelech was a man from Bethlehem.

His wife was named Naomi, and they had two sons. But when their crops failed, they moved to Moab where Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with only her two sons.

Later, Naomi’s sons married two Moabite women. One was named Orpah and the other Ruth. About ten years later,

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the two sons also died. Now Naomi had no husband or sons.

When Naomi heard that the Lord had given his people a good harvest, she and her two daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab and go to Judah. As they were on their way there, Naomi said to them, “Don’t you want to go back home to your own mothers?”

The daughter-in-laws’ cried and said, “We want to go with you and live among your people.”

Naomi replied, “What good will it do

you to go with me? Do you think I could have more sons for you to marry?”

So Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth held on to her. “Please don’t tell me to return home!” Ruth said.

“I will go where you go, and your God will be my God.” When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back. They reached Bethlehem, and the whole town was excited to see them.

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DAY 133

Ruth Meets Boaz Ruth 2:1-23

One day, Ruth said to Naomi, “Let me see if I can find someone who will let me pick up the grain left in the fields by the harvest workers.”

Naomi answered, “Go ahead, my daughter.”

So right away, Ruth went out to pick up grain in a field owned by Boaz. He was a relative of Naomi’s husband, as well as a rich and important man.

Boaz went over to Ruth and said, “Stay here with the women and follow along behind them, as they gather up what the men have cut. I have warned the men not to bother you. Whenever you are thirsty, you can drink from the water jars they have filled.”

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Ruth bowed down to the ground and said, “Why are you so good to me?”

Boaz answered, “I’ve heard how you’ve helped your mother-in-law ever since your husband died. You even left your own father and mother to come and live in a foreign land. I pray that the Lord God of Israel will reward you for what you have done.”

Ruth worked in the field until evening.

Then she took the grain to town and showed Naomi how much she had picked up. “May the Lord bless Boaz!”

Naomi replied. “Boaz is a close relative, one of those who is supposed to look after us.”

Ruth worked in the fields until the barley and wheat were harvested.

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DAY 134

Ruth and Boaz Get Married Ruth 3:1-18, 4:1-17

One day, Naomi said to Ruth, “It’s time I found you a husband, who will give you a home and take care of you. Now take a bath and put on some perfume, then dress in your best clothes. Go where

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Boaz is working. Watch where he goes to spend the night, then when he is asleep, lift the cover and lie down at his feet.”

Ruth went out to the place where Boaz was working and did what Naomi had told her. Boaz suddenly woke up and was shocked to see a woman lying at his feet. Ruth said to him, “You are the relative who is supposed to take care of me. So spread the edge of your cover over me.”

Boaz said to Ruth, “This shows how truly loyal you are to your family. You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn’t. You are respected by everyone in town.”

Boaz married Ruth, and the Lord blessed her with a son. After his birth, the women said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord! Today he has given you a grandson to take care of you. He will make you

happy and take care of you in your old age.”

Naomi loved the boy and took good care of him. The neighborhood women named him Obed, but they called him “Naomi’s Boy.” When Obed grew up he had a son named Jesse, who later became the father of King David.

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DAY 135

Hannah Asks the Lord for a Child 1 Samuel 1:1-17

Elkanah lived in Ramah. He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Although Peninnah had children, Hannah did not have any.

Once a year, Elkanah traveled from his hometown to Shiloh. There he worshiped the Lord and offered sacrifices. Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he gave some of the meat to Peninnah and some to each of her sons and daughters. But he gave Hannah even more, because he loved Hannah very much, even though the Lord had kept her from having children of her own.

Peninnah liked to make Hannah feel miserable about not having any children. One day, Elkanah was offering a sacrifice, when Hannah began crying and refused to eat. When the sacrifice had been offered, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli, the priest, was sitting in his chair near the door to the place of worship.

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Hannah was brokenhearted.

She was crying as she prayed, “Lord, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I will give him to you for as long as he lives, and his hair will never be cut.”

Hannah prayed silently to the Lord for a long time.

Finally Eli said, “You may go home now. I’m sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.”

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DAY 136

Samuel is Born 1 Samuel 1:19-28, 2:18-21

Later the Lord blessed Elkanah and Hannah with a son. She named him Samuel. Hannah and Elkanah brought the little boy to Eli. “Sir,” Hannah said, “a few years ago I stood here beside you and asked the Lord to give me a child.

Here he is! The Lord gave me just what I asked for. Now I am giving him to the Lord. He will be the Lord’s servant for as long as he lives.”

The boy Samuel served the Lord and wore a special linen garment and the

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clothes his mother made for him. She would bring new clothes every year when she and her husband came to offer sacrifices at Shiloh.

Eli would always bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “Samuel was born in answer to your prayers. Now you have given him to the Lord. I pray that the Lord will bless you with more children to take his place.”

After Eli had blessed them, Elkanah and Hannah would return home. The Lord was kind to Hannah, and she had three more sons and two daughters. But Samuel grew up at the Lord’s house in Shiloh.

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DAY 137

God Calls Samuel 1 Samuel 3:2-18

One night, Eli was asleep in his room, and Samuel was sleeping on a mat in the Lord’s house. The Lord called out Samuel’s name.

Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.

What do you want?”

“I didn’t call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to bed.”

Again the Lord called out Samuel’s name. Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “What do you want?”

Eli told him, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to sleep.”

When the Lord called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again.

He said, “Here I am. What do you want?”

Eli finally realized that it was the Lord who was speaking to Samuel.

So he said, “If someone speaks to you again, answer, ‘I’m listening, Lord. What do you want me to do?’” Once again Samuel went back and lay down.

The Lord then stood beside Samuel

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and called out as he had done before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

“I’m listening,” Samuel answered.

“What do you want me to do?”

The Lord said, “Samuel, I am going to punish Eli and his family. He knew that his sons refused to respect me, and he let them get away with it. I warned Eli that sacrifices or offerings could never make things right!”

The next morning Eli asked Samuel, “What did God say to you?”

Samuel told Eli everything. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord, and he will do what’s right.”

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DAY 138

The Philistines Capture the Sacred Chest 1 Samuel 4:1-10

One day the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. The Philistines made a fierce attack. They defeated the Israelites and killed about four thousand of them.

The Israelite army returned to their camp, and the leaders said, “Why did the Lord let us lose to the Philistines today? Let’s get the sacred chest where the Lord’s agreement with Israel is kept. Then the Lord will help us and rescue us from our enemies.”

The army sent some soldiers to bring back the sacred chest from Shiloh.

As Eli’s two sons brought the chest into camp, the army cheered so loudly that the ground shook. The Philistines heard the noise and said, “What are those Hebrews shouting about?” When the Philistines learned that the sacred chest had been brought into the camp, they were scared to death and said, “The gods have come into their camp. Now we’re in real trouble! Fight and don’t be afraid.”

The Philistines did fight. They killed thirty thousand Israelite soldiers, and all the rest ran off to their homes.

DAY 139

The Philistines Return the Sacred Chest 1 Samuel 5-6:13

The Philistines took the sacred chest and brought it into the temple of their god Dagon and put it next to the statue they worshiped.

The next morning, they found the statue lying facedown on the floor in front of the sacred chest. They put the statue back where it belonged. But early the next morning, it had fallen over again and was lying facedown on the floor in front of the chest.

The Lord caused a lot of trouble for the people of Ashdod and their neighbors.

He made sores break out all over their bodies. Everyone was in a panic. They said, “The God of Israel did this. We’ve got to get rid of this chest.”

“Send it to Gath,” the rulers said. But after they took it there, the Lord made sores break out on everyone in town. So, they sent the sacred chest to Ekron. But the people of Ekron started screaming, “It will kill us and our families too! Send this chest back where it belongs. Then it won’t kill us. Put the chest on the cart.

Then send it on its way.”

The Philistines followed their advice.

The cows went straight up the road toward the land of the Israelites. The Israelites were harvesting their wheat in the valley. When they looked up and saw the chest, they were so happy that they stopped working and started celebrating.

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177 SAMUEL

DAY 140

Samuel Leads Israel 1 Samuel 7:3-13

One day, Samuel told all the people of Israel, “Get rid of your foreign idols.

Turn to the Lord with all your heart and worship only him.” The Israelites met together at Mizpah with Samuel as their leader.

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When the Philistine rulers found out about the meeting at Mizpah, they sent an army there to attack the people of Israel. The Israelites were afraid when they heard that the Philistines were coming. “Don’t stop praying!” they told Samuel. “Ask the Lord our God to rescue us.”

Samuel begged the Lord to rescue Israel. Then he sacrificed a young

lamb to the Lord. Samuel had not even finished offering the sacrifice when the Philistines started to attack. But the Lord answered his prayer. He made thunder crash all around them. The Philistines panicked and ran away. The men of Israel went after them killing every enemy soldier they caught. The Philistines were so badly beaten that it

was quite a while before they attacked Israel again.

After the battle, Samuel set up a monument. He named it “Help Monument” to remind Israel how much the Lord had helped them. For as long as Samuel lived, the Lord helped Israel fight the Philistines.

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DAY 141

The People of Israel Want a King 1 Samuel 8 – 10:1-16

One day the nation’s leaders came to Samuel and said, “We want a king to be our leader. Choose one for us!”

Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it. The Lord answered, ”Samuel, do everything they want you to do.

About this time tomorrow I’ll send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who will rescue my people from the Philistines.”

Kish was a wealthy man who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. Kish owned some donkeys, but they had run off. So he told Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” Saul and the servant went through the hill country, but they could not find the donkeys.

“Let’s go back home,” Saul told his servant.

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“Wait!” the servant answered. “There’s a man of God who lives in a town near here. Everything he says comes true.

Maybe he can tell us where to look.”

Saul went over to Samuel in the gateway and said, “A man who can see visions lives here in town. Could you tell me the way to his house?”

Samuel looked at Saul, and the Lord told Samuel, “This is the man I told you about. He’s the one who will rule Israel.”

“I am the one who sees visions!”

Samuel answered. “Don’t worry about your donkeys. Everything of value in Israel now belongs to you and your family.”

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DAY 142

Saul Becomes King 1 Samuel 10:17-25

Samuel sent messengers to tell the Israelites to come to Mizpah. When everyone had arrived, Samuel said, “God has rescued you from your troubles and hard times. But you have rejected your God and have asked for a king. Now each tribe and clan must come near the place of worship so the Lord can choose a king.”

Samuel brought each tribe, one after the other, to the altar, and the Lord chose the Benjamin tribe. Next, Samuel

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brought each clan of Benjamin there, and the Lord chose the Matri clan.

Finally, Saul the son of Kish was chosen.

But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.

The people prayed, “Our Lord, is Saul here?”

“Yes,” the LORD answered, “he is hiding behind the baggage.”

The people ran and got Saul and brought him into the middle of the crowd. He was more than a head taller than anyone else. “Look closely at the man the Lord has chosen!” Samuel told the crowd. “There is no one like him!”

The crowd shouted, “Long live the king!”

DAY 143

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines 1 Samuel 14:3-15

One day, King Saul’s son Jonathan told the soldier who carried his weapons that he wanted to attack the Philistine camp on the other side of the valley.

Jonathan and the soldier stood at the bottom of the hill where the Philistines could see them. The Philistines said, “Look! Those worthless Israelites!”

Jonathan turned to the soldier and said, “Follow me! The Lord is going to let us win.” Jonathan crawled up the hillside with the soldier right behind him. When they got to the top, Jonathan killed the Philistines who attacked from the front, and the soldier killed those who attacked from behind. Before they had gone a hundred feet, they had killed about twenty Philistines. The whole Philistine army panicked. All of them were afraid and confused. Then God sent an earthquake, and the ground began to tremble.

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DAY 144

Saul and His Men Join the Battle 1 Samuel 14:16-24

Saul’s lookouts at Geba saw that the Philistine army was running in every direction, like melted wax. Saul told his officers, “Call the roll and find out who left our camp.” When they had finished, they found out that Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons were missing. Saul quickly called his army

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together, then led them to the Philistine camp. By this time the Philistines were so confused that they were killing each other.

There were also some hired soldiers in the Philistine camp, who now switched to Israel’s side and fought for Saul and Jonathan. Many Israelites had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim.

And when they heard that the Philistines were running away, they came out of hiding and joined in chasing the Philistines.

So the Lord helped Israel win the battle that day.

DAY 145

Saul Disobeys God 1 Samuel 15:10-35

Early the next morning Samuel went to talk with Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel, where he had a monument built so everyone would remember his victory.”

Samuel finally caught up with Saul, and Saul told him, “I hope the Lord will bless you! I have done what the Lord told me.”

“Then why,” Samuel asked, “do I hear sheep and cattle?”

“The army took them from the Amalekites,” Saul explained. “They kept the best sheep and cattle, so they

could sacrifice them to the Lord. But we destroyed everything else.”

“Stop!” Samuel said. “You may not think you’re very important, but the Lord chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel. When the Lord sent you on this mission, he told you to wipe out those worthless Amalekites.

Why didn’t you listen to the Lord? Why did you keep the animals and make him angry? He doesn’t want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him. Rebelling against God or disobeying him because you are proud is just as bad as worshiping idols.”

Saul said, “I did sin, but please honor me in front of the leaders of the army and the people of Israel.”

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DAY 146

Jesse’s Sons 1 Samuel 16:1-7

One day the Lord said, “Samuel, go visit a man named Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem. I’ve chosen one of his sons to be my king.” Samuel did what the Lord told him and went to Bethlehem.

The town leaders went to meet him, but they were terribly afraid and asked, “Is this a friendly visit?”

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“Yes, it is!” Samuel answered. “I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.”

Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to come to the sacrifice. Samuel noticed Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab. “He has to be the one the Lord has chosen,” Samuel said to himself.

But the Lord told him, “Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.”

DAY 147

David, God’s New King 1 Samuel 16:8-13

Jesse told his son Abinadab to go over to Samuel, but Samuel said, “No, the Lord hasn’t chosen him.” Next, Jesse sent his son Shammah to him, and Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen him either.”

Jesse had all seven of his sons go over to Samuel. Finally, Samuel said, “Do you have any more sons?”

“Yes,” Jesse answered. “My youngest son David is out taking care of the sheep.”

Jesse sent for David. He was a healthy, good-looking boy with a sparkle in his eyes. As soon as David came, the Lord told Samuel, “He’s the one!”

Samuel poured the oil on David’s head while his brothers watched. At that moment, the Spirit of the Lord took control of David and stayed with him from then on.

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DAY 148

David Sings for Saul 1 Samuel 16:14-23

The Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord was terrifying him. “It’s an evil spirit from God that’s frightening you,” Saul’s officials told him. “Your Majesty, let us go and look for someone who is good at playing the harp. He can play for you whenever the evil spirit from God bothers you, and you’ll feel better.”

“All right,” Saul answered. “Find me someone who is good at playing the harp and bring him here.”

“A man named Jesse who lives in Bethlehem has a son who can play the harp,” one official said. “He’s a brave warrior, he’s good-looking, he can speak well, and the Lord is with him.”

Saul sent a message to Jesse: “Tell your son David to leave your sheep and come here

to me.” David went to Saul and started working for him. Saul liked him so much that he put David in charge of carrying his weapons. Not long after this, Saul sent another message to Jesse: “I really like David. Please let him stay with me.”

Whenever the evil spirit from God bothered Saul, David would play his harp. Saul would relax and feel better, and the evil spirit would go away.

DAY 149

Goliath the Giant 1 Samuel 17:3-16

King Saul and the Israelite army got ready to fight the Philistine army that was on a hill on the other side of the valley.

The Philistine army had a hero named Goliath who was was over nine feet tall.

He wore a bronze helmet and had bronze armor to protect his chest and legs. The chest armor alone weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds. He carried

a bronze sword strapped on his back, and his spear was so big that the iron spearhead alone weighed more than fifteen pounds. A soldier always walked in front of Goliath to carry his shield.

Goliath went out and shouted to the army of Israel, ”Why are you lining up for battle? I’m the best soldier in our

army, and all of you are in Saul’s army.

Choose your best soldier to come out and fight me! If he can kill me, our people will be your slaves. But if I kill him, your people will be our slaves. Here and now I challenge Israel’s whole army! Choose someone to fight me!”

Saul and his men heard what Goliath said, but they were so frightened of Goliath that they couldn’t do a thing.

Goliath came out and gave his challenge every morning and every evening for forty days.

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DAY 150

David’s Response to Goliath’s Insults 1 Samuel 17:17-27

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One day, Jesse told David, “Hurry and take this sack of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers.

They’re with Saul’s army, fighting the Philistines.”

David reached the army camp just as the soldiers were taking their places and shouting the battle cry. The army of Israel and the Philistine army stood there facing each other. David left his things with the man in charge of supplies and ran up to the battle line to ask his brothers if they were well. While

David was talking with them, Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and started boasting as usual. David heard him. When the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath, they were scared and ran off.

They said to each other, “Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king is offering a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king’s daughter, and no one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again.”

David asked some soldiers standing nearby, “Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He’s making fun of the army of the living God!”

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DAY 151

David Meets Goliath 1 Samuel 17:34-40

David told Saul, ”Your Majesty, I take care of my father’s sheep. And when one of them is dragged off by a lion or a bear, I go after it and beat the wild animal until it lets the sheep go. Sir, I have killed lions and bears that way, and I can kill this worthless Philistine. He

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shouldn’t have made fun of the army of the living God!” Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David.

“I can’t move with all this stuff on,” David said. “I’m just not used to it.”

David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd’s stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks.

Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.

DAY 152

David Kills Goliath 1 Samuel 17:41-51

When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, goodlooking boy, he made fun of him. “Do you think I’m a dog?”

Goliath asked. “Is that why you’ve come after me with a stick?”

David answered, ”You’ve come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a

dagger. But I’ve come out to fight you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful.”

When Goliath started forward, David ran toward him. He put a rock in his sling. When he let go of one strap, the rock flew out and hit Goliath on the forehead. It cracked his skull, and he fell facedown on the ground. When the Philistines saw what had happened to their hero, they started running away.

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DAY 153

King Saul Is Jealous 1 Samuel 18:6-16

David had killed Goliath, the battle was over, and the Israelite army set out for home. As the army went along, women came out of each Israelite town to welcome King Saul. They were singing happy songs and dancing to the music of tambourines and harps. They sang, ”Saul has killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand enemies!”

This song made Saul very angry, and he thought, “They are saying that David has killed ten times more enemies than I ever did. Next they will want to make him king.” Saul never again trusted David.

The next day the Lord let an evil spirit take control of Saul, and he began acting like a crazy man inside his house. David came to play the harp for Saul as usual,

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but this time Saul had a spear in his hand. Saul thought, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” He threw the spear at David twice, but David dodged and got away both times.

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was helping David and was no longer helping him. Saul put David in charge of a thousand soldiers and sent him out to fight. The Lord helped David, and he and his soldiers always won their battles. This made Saul even more afraid of David. But everyone else in Judah and Israel was loyal to David, because he led the army in battle.

DAY 154

Friends for Life 1 Samuel 18:1-19:7

One day, Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David a lot, and he warned David, “My father is trying to have you killed, so be very careful.”

The next morning, Jonathan reminded Saul about the many good things David

had done for him. Then he said, “Why do you want to kill David? He hasn’t done anything to you.”

Saul promised, “I swear by the living Lord that I won’t have David killed!”

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DAY 155

Jonathan’s Plan 1 Samuel 19:9-20:24

One night, David was in Saul’s home, playing the harp for him. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but David dodged, and it stuck in the wall. David ran out of the house and escaped. Then he ran to see Jonathan and asked, “Why does your father Saul want to kill me?” Jonathan said, “Go to the place where you hid before and stay beside Going-Away Rock. I’ll shoot three arrows and send my servant to find the arrows. If it is safe, I’ll say, ’The arrows are on this side of you!’ But if it isn’t safe, I’ll say to the boy, ’The arrows are farther away!’ This will mean that the Lord wants you to leave, and you must go.” So David hid there in the field.

DAY 156

Jonathan Saves David’s Life 1 Samuel 20:27-20:41

Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn’t that son of Jesse come to eat with us?”

Jonathan answered, “The reason David hasn’t come to eat with you is that he begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.”

Saul was furious with Jonathan and yelled, “You should be ashamed of yourself! Turn him over to me now! He deserves to die!”

In the morning, Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a servant boy along and told him, “When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me.”

When the boy got near the place where the arrow had landed, Jonathan shouted, “Isn’t the arrow on past you?” Jonathan shouted to him again, “Hurry up! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrows and brought them back to Jonathan, but he had no idea about what was going on.

Only Jonathan and David knew. After the boy had gone, David got up from beside the mound and bowed very low three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and cried, but David cried louder.

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DAY 157

Ahimelech Helps David 1 Samuel 21:1-9

David went to see Ahimelech, a priest who lived in the town of Nob. Ahimelech was trembling with fear as he came out to meet David. “Why are you alone?” Ahimelech asked. “Why isn’t anyone else with you?”

“I’m on a mission for King Saul,” David answered. “He ordered me not to tell anyone what the mission is all about.

Do you have any food you can give me?

Could you spare five loaves of bread?”

The only bread the priest had was the

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sacred bread that he had taken from the place of worship after putting out the fresh loaves. So he gave it to David.

David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or a sword? I had to leave so quickly on this mission for the king that I didn’t bring along my sword or any other weapons.”

The priest answered, “The only sword here is the one that belonged to Goliath the Philistine. You were the one who killed him, and so you can take his sword if you want to. It’s wrapped in a cloth behind the statue.”

“It’s the best sword there is,” David said. “I’ll take it!”

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DAY 158

DAY 159

1 Samuel 23:14-18

1 Samuel 24:2-19

Jonathan Encourages David David stayed in hideouts in the hill country of Ziph Desert. Saul kept searching, but God never let Saul catch him. One time, David was at Horesh in Ziph Desert. He was afraid because Saul had come to the area to kill him. But Jonathan went to see David, and God helped him encourage David. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan said. “My father Saul will never get his hands on you. In fact, you’re going to be the next king of Israel, and I’ll be your highest official.

Even my father knows it’s true.” They both promised the Lord that they would always be loyal to each other. Then Jonathan went home, but David stayed at Horesh.

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Alone in a Cave Saul led three thousand of Israel’s best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks. There were some sheep pens along the side of the road, and one of them was built around the entrance to a cave. Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.

David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave. They whispered to David, “The Lord told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies. This must be the day the Lord was talking about.”

David sneaked over and cut off a small piece of Saul’s robe, but Saul didn’t notice a thing. Afterwards, David was sorry that he had even done that, and he told his men, “Stop talking foolishly.

We’re not going to attack Saul. He’s my king, and I pray that the Lord will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.” Saul left the cave and started down the road. Soon, David also got up and left the cave. “Your Majesty!” he shouted from a distance. Saul turned

around to look. David bowed down very low and said, “Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I’m trying to harm you? Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn’t let them do it.

An old proverb says, ’Only evil people do evil things,’ and so I won’t harm you.

Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I’m as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.”

Saul said, ”David, you’re a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness, even though I’ve been cruel to you. I pray that the Lord will give you a big reward for what you did today.”

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DAY 160

Nabal Rejects David 1 Samuel 25:2-13

Nabal was a very rich man who lived in Maon. He owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, which he kept at Carmel. His wife Abigail was sensible and beautiful, but he was from the Caleb clan and was rough and mean. One day, Nabal was in Carmel, having his servants cut the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it.

So he sent ten men to Carmel with this message for Nabal: ”I hope that you and your family are healthy and that all is going well for you.

I’ve heard that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. When your shepherds were with us in Carmel, we didn’t harm them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. My servants are your servants, and you are like a father to me. This is a day for celebrating, so please be kind and share some of your food with us.”

David’s men went to Nabal and gave him David’s message, then they waited for Nabal’s answer. This is what he said: ”Who does this David think he is?

What makes you think I would take my bread, my water, and the meat that I’ve had cooked for my own servants and give it to you? Besides, I’m not sure that David sent you!”

The men returned to their camp and

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told David everything Nabal had said.

“Everybody get your swords!” David ordered.

They all strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp, but the other four hundred followed David.

please let me explain! Don’t pay any attention to that good-for-nothing Nabal.

His name means “fool,” and it really fits him! Please take this gift of food that I’ve brought and share it with your

followers. The Lord has promised to do many good things for you, even to make you the ruler of Israel. When the Lord does all those good things for you, please remember me.”

DAY 161

Abigail Meets David 1 Samuel 25:14-31

Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants told Abigail, ”David sent some messengers from the desert to wish our master well, but he shouted insults at them. He’s a bully who won’t listen to anyone. Isn’t there something you can do?”

Abigail quickly got together two hundred loaves of bread, two large clay jars of wine, the meat from five sheep, a large sack of roasted grain, a hundred handfuls of raisins, and two hundred handfuls of dried figs. She loaded all the food on donkeys and told her servants, “Take this on ahead, and I’ll catch up with you.” She didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.

Abigail was riding her donkey on the path that led around the hillside, when suddenly she met David and his men heading straight at her. Abigail quickly got off her donkey and bowed down in front of David. Then she said, ”Sir,

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DAY 162

David And Abigail Are Married 1 Samuel 25:32-42

David told her, ”I praise the Lord God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people.”

David accepted the food Abigail had brought.

“Don’t worry,” he said.

“You can go now. I’ll

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do what you asked.”

Abigail went back home and found Nabal throwing a party fit for a king. He was very drunk and feeling good, so she didn’t tell him anything that night. The next morning, Abigail told him everything that had happened. Nabal had a heart attack, and he lay in bed as still as a stone. Ten days later, the Lord took his life.

David heard that Nabal had died. Abigail was still at Carmel. So David sent messengers to ask her if she would marry him.

She bowed down and said, “I would willingly be David’s slave and wash his servants’ feet.”

Abigail quickly got ready and went back with David’s messengers. She and David were married as soon as she arrived.

DAY 163

David Rescues His Soldiers’ Families 1 Samuel 30:1-18

While they had been away, the Amalekites had been raiding in the desert around there. They had attacked Ziklag, burned it to the ground, and had taken away the women and children.

When David and his men came to Ziklag, they saw the burned-out ruins and learned that their families had been taken captive. They started crying and kept it up until they were too weak to cry any more.

Then David asked the Lord, “Should I go after the people who raided our town?

Can I catch up with them?”

“Go after them,” the Lord answered.

“You will catch up with them, and you will rescue your families.”

The Amalekites were eating and drinking everywhere, celebrating because of what they had taken from Philistia and Judah. David attacked just before sunrise the next day and fought until sunset. Four hundred Amalekites rode away on camels, but they were the only ones who escaped.

David rescued his two wives and everyone else the Amalekites had taken.

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DAY 164

Saul and Jonathan Die 1 Samuel 31:1-6

Meanwhile, the Philistines were fighting Israel at Mount Gilboa. Israel’s soldiers ran from the Philistines, and many of them were killed. The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. The fighting was fierce around Saul, and he was badly wounded by enemy arrows.

Saul told the soldier who carried his weapons, “Kill me with your sword! I

don’t want those worthless Philistines to torture me and make fun.” But the soldier was afraid to kill him.

Saul then took out his own sword; he stuck the blade into his stomach and fell on it.

When the soldier knew that Saul was dead, he killed himself in the same way.

Saul was dead, his three sons were dead, and the soldier who carried his weapons was dead. They and all his soldiers died on that same day.

DAY 165

David Is Crowned

2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17

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Israel’s leaders met with David and said, “The Lord promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd.”

Then the leaders poured olive oil on David’s head to show that he was now the king of Israel. He lived in Hebron for the first seven and a half years and ruled only Judah. Then he moved to Jerusalem, where he ruled both Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

David captured the fortress on Mount

Zion; then, he moved there and named it David’s City. David became a great and strong ruler, because the Lord was on his side.

When the Philistines heard that David had become king of Israel, they came to capture him. But David heard about their plan and marched out to meet them in battle. David asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help me win?”

The Lord told David, “Yes, attack them!

I will give you victory.”

David and his army attacked and defeated the Philistines. He said, “I defeated my enemies because God broke through them like a mighty flood.”

From then on, David became even more famous, and the Lord made all the nations afraid of him.

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DAY 166

The Ark of God Arrives in Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6

David had several buildings built in Jerusalem, and he had a tent set up where the sacred chest would be kept.

Next, David invited everyone to come to Jerusalem and watch the sacred chest being carried to the place he had set up for it.

While the sacred chest was being carried into Jerusalem, everyone was celebrating by shouting and playing music on horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and other stringed instruments.

Saul’s daughter Michal looked out her window and watched the chest being brought into David’s City. But when she saw David jumping and dancing in honor of the Lord, she was disgusted.

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They put the sacred chest inside the tent that David had set up for it; then, they offered sacrifices to please the LORD and sacrifices to ask his blessing.

After David had finished, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD and gave every person in the crowd a small loaf of bread, some meat, and a handful of raisins.

David appointed some of the Levites to serve at the sacred chest; they were to play music and sing praises to the LORD God of Israel.

DAY 167

David Has Uriah Killed 2 Samuel 11:2-17

Late one afternoon when the whole Israelite army was off to war, David got up from a nap and was walking around on the flat roof of his palace. A beautiful young woman was down below in her courtyard, bathing. David happened to see her, and he sent one of his servants to find out who she was.

The servant came back and told David, “Her name is Bathsheba. She is the wife of Uriah.” David sent some messengers to bring her to his palace. She came to him, and he slept with her. Then she returned home. But later, when she

found out that she was going to have a baby, she sent someone to David with this message: “I’m pregnant!”

David sent for Uriah to come to him from the battle. Then David wrote a letter and told Uriah to deliver it to Joab, the army commander. The letter said: “Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Then pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die.”

Joab put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemy’s best soldiers. When the men of the city came out, they fought and killed some of David’s soldiers — Uriah was one of them.

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DAY 168

A Broken King 2 Samuel 12:1-15

The LORD was angry at what David had done, and he sent Nathan the prophet to tell this story to David: “A rich man and a poor man lived in the same town. The rich man owned a lot of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had

only one little lamb. The lamb became a pet for him and his children. He even let it eat from his plate and drink from his cup and sleep on his lap. The lamb was like one of his own children. One day someone came to visit the rich man, but the rich man didn’t want to kill any of his own sheep or cattle and serve it to the

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visitor. So he stole the poor man’s little lamb and served it instead.”

David was furious with the rich man and said to Nathan, “The man who did this deserves to die! And because he didn’t have any pity on the poor man, he will have to pay four times what the lamb was worth.”

Then Nathan told David, “You are that rich man! Now listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you: ‘I chose you to be the king of Israel.

Why did you disobey me and do such a horrible thing? You murdered Uriah.

Because you wouldn’t obey me and took Uriah’s wife for yourself, your family will never live in peace.’”

David said, “I have disobeyed the LORD.”

DAY 169

Solomon’s Wish 1 Kings 2:10-3:15

David was king of Israel forty years.

Then he died and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Solomon became king and took control of David’s kingdom. Solomon loved the LORD and followed his father David’s instructions.

One night, the LORD God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”

Solomon answered, “LORD God, I’m your servant, and you’ve made me king in my father’s place. But I’m very young and know so little about being a leader.

Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong.

Then I will know how to rule your people.”

God said, “Solomon, I’m pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I’ll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived. I’ll also give you what you didn’t ask for. You’ll be rich and respected as long as you live. If you obey me and follow my commands, I’ll let you live a long time.”

Solomon woke up and realized that God had spoken to him in the dream.

He went back to Jerusalem and stood in front of the sacred chest, where he offered sacrifices to please the Lord.

Then Solomon gave a feast for his officials.

“Yes, you have!” Nathan answered.

“You showed you didn’t care what the LORD wanted. He has forgiven you, and you won’t die. But your newborn son will.” Then Nathan went back home.

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DAY 170

Solomon’s Wise Decision 1 Kings 3:16-28

One day two women came to King Solomon, and one of them said, “Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, and three days later her baby was born. One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died. Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, and then she put her dead baby next to me.

But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.”

“No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!”

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They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, until finally he said, “Someone bring me a sword.”

A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”

“Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”

Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.”

Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”

Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.

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DAY 171

Solomon Builds a Temple to the Lord 1 Kings 5:1-6:38

King Hiram of Tyre had always been friends with Solomon’s father David.

When Hiram learned that Solomon was king, he sent some of his officials to meet with Solomon. Solomon sent a message back to Hiram: “Remember how my father David wanted to build a temple where the LORD his God could be worshiped?

Now, thanks to the LORD God, there is peace in my kingdom. The LORD God promised my father that when his son became king, he would build a temple for worshiping the LORD. So I’ve decided to do that. I’d like you to have your workers cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me.”

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Hiram was so happy when he heard Solomon’s request that he said, “I am grateful that the LORD gave David such a wise son to be king of that great nation!”

Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and pine logs he needed. The LORD told Solomon, “If you obey my commands and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this temple you are building, and I will not desert them.”

So Solomon’s workers finished building the temple. It was built exactly as it had been planned.

DAY 172

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon 1 Kings 4:29-33 10:1-7

Solomon was brilliant. God had blessed him with insight and understanding. He was wiser than anyone else in the world.

Solomon wrote three thousand wise sayings and composed more than one thousand songs. He could talk about all kinds of plants, from large trees to small bushes, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

The Queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she went to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions.

She took along several of her officials, and she loaded her camels with gifts of spices, jewels, and gold. When she arrived, she and Solomon talked about everything she could think of. He answered

every question, no matter how difficult it was.

The Queen was breathless when she saw his palace, the food on his table, his officials and servants in their uniforms, the people who served his food, and the sacrifices he offered at the LORD’s temple. She said, “Solomon, in my own country I had heard about your wisdom and all you’ve done. But I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! And there’s so much I didn’t hear about. You are wiser and richer than I was told.”

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DAY 174

Elijah Helps a Widow 1 Kings 17:8-16

The Lord told Elijah, “Go to the town of Zarephath and live there. I’ve told a widow in that town to give you food.”

When Elijah came near the town gate of Zarephath, he saw a widow gathering

Elijah said, “Everything will be fine.

Do what you said. Go home and fix something for you and your son. But first, please make a small piece of bread and bring it to me. The Lord God of Israel has promised that your jar of flour won’t run out and your bottle of oil won’t dry up before he sends rain for the

DAY 173

Elijah in the Wilderness 1 Kings 16:32-33, 1 Kings 17:1-7

Elijah was a prophet from Tishbe in Gilead. One day he went to King Ahab and said, “I’m a servant of the living Lord, the God of Israel. And I swear in his name that it won’t rain until I say so. There won’t even be any dew on the ground.”

Later, the Lord said to Elijah, “Leave and go across the Jordan River so you can

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hide near Cherith Creek. You can drink water from the creek, and eat the food I’ve told the ravens to bring you.”

Elijah obeyed the Lord and went to live near Cherith Creek. Ravens brought him bread and meat twice a day, and he drank water from the creek. But after a while, it dried up because there was no rain.

sticks for a fire. “Would you please bring me a cup of water?” he asked. As she left to get it, he asked, “Would you also please bring me a piece of bread?”

The widow answered, “I don’t have any bread. All I have is a handful of flour and a little olive oil. I’m on my way home now with these sticks to cook what I have for my son and me. After that, we will starve to death.”

crops.”

The widow went home and did exactly what Elijah had told her. She and Elijah and her family had enough food for a long time. The Lord kept the promise that his prophet Elijah had made, and she did not run out of flour or oil.

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DAY 175

A Contest 1 Kings 18:16-24

Ahab went to meet Elijah.

When he saw him, Ahab shouted, “There you are, the biggest troublemaker in Israel!”

Elijah answered, “You’re the troublemaker—not me! You and your family have disobeyed the Lord’s commands by worshiping Baal. Bring us two bulls. Baal’s prophets can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull. The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The one who answers by starting the fire is God.”

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DAY 176

The True God 1 Kings 18:25-39

Baal’s prophets chose their bull and got it ready. They prayed to Baal all morning, asking him to start the fire.

They danced around the altar and shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no answer.

At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Maybe Baal is day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.”

Then Elijah cut his bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood. He prayed, “Our Lord, prove that you are the God of this nation. Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord

God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.”

The Lord immediately sent fire. It burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones, and it scorched the ground everywhere around the alter. When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”

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the seventh time the servant replied, “I see a small cloud coming this way. But it’s no bigger than a fist.”

Elijah told him, “Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now.

Otherwise, the rain will stop him.”

A few minutes later, it got very cloudy and windy, and rain started pouring down. So Elijah wrapped his coat around himself, and the Lord gave him strength to run all the way to Jezreel. Ahab followed him.

DAY 178

Elijah Says Goodbye 2 Kings 2:1-12

Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal.

Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho. They stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, “Elisha, the Lord will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?”

Elisha answered, “Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who

DAY 177

The Raincloud 1 Kings 18: 41-46

Elijah told Ahab, “Get something to eat and drink. I hear a heavy rain coming.”

Ahab left, but Elijah climbed back to the top of Mount Carmel. Then he stooped down with his face almost to the ground and said to his servant, “Look toward the sea.”

When the servant came back, he said, “I looked, but I didn’t see anything.” Elijah told him to look seven more times. After

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takes your place as their leader.”

“It won’t be easy,” Elijah answered. “It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away.”

Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. Right away, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven.

Elisha saw this and shouted, “Israel’s cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!”

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DAY 179

Elisha Can Perform Miracles 2 Kings 2:12-18

After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. Elijah’s coat had fallen off, so Elisha picked it up and walked back to the Jordan River. He struck the water with the coat and wondered, ”Will the Lord perform miracles for me as he did for Elijah?”

As soon as Elisha did this, a dry path opened up through the water, and he walked across.

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When the prophets from Jericho saw what happened, they said to each other, “Elisha now has Elijah’s power.”

They walked over to him, bowed down, and said, “There are fifty strong men here with us. Please let them go look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord carried him off to some mountain or valley.”

“No,” Elisha replied, “they won’t find him.”

They kept begging Elisha until he was embarrassed to say no. He finally agreed, and the prophets sent the men out. They looked three days for Elijah but never found him. They returned to Jericho, and Elisha said, “I told you that you wouldn’t find him.”

DAY 180

The Bottomless Jar of Oil 2 Kings 4:1-7

One day the widow of one of the Lord’s prophets said to Elisha, “You know that before my husband died, he was a worshiper of the Lord. But he owed a man some money, and now that man is on his way to take my two sons as his slaves.”

“Maybe there’s something I can do to help,” Elisha said. “What do you have in your house?”

“Sir, I have nothing but a small bottle of olive oil.”

Elisha told her, “Ask your neighbors for their empty jars. Then go home and shut the door behind you and your sons.

Begin filling the jars with oil and set

each one aside as you fill it.”

Later, when the woman and her sons were back inside their house, the two sons brought her the jars, and she began filling them.

At last, she said to one of her sons, “Bring me another jar.”

“We don’t have any more,” he answered, and the oil stopped flowing from the small bottle.

After she told Elisha what had happened, he said, “Sell the oil and use part of the money to pay what you owe the man. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

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DAY 181

Jonah Runs From the Lord Jonah 1:1-6

One day the Lord told Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, “The Lord has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!”

Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord.

He went to the seaport of Joppa and bought a ticket on a ship that was going to Spain. Then he got on the ship and

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sailed away to escape. But the Lord made a strong wind blow. The ship was about to be broken to pieces. The sailors were frightened, and they all started praying to their gods.

All this time, Jonah was down below deck, sound asleep. The ship’s captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will have pity on us and keep us from drowning.”

DAY 182

Jonah Is Thrown Into the Sea Jonah 1:7-16

Finally, the sailors got together and said, “Let’s ask our gods to show us who caused all this trouble.” It turned out to be Jonah.

They started asking him, “Are you the one who brought all this trouble on us?

Where do you come from? Who are your people?”

Jonah answered, “I’m a Hebrew, and I

worship the Lord God of heaven.”

When the sailors heard this, they said, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down?”

Jonah told them, “Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I’m the cause of this terrible storm.”

The sailors tried their best to row to the shore. But they could not do it. The storm kept getting worse every minute.

They prayed, “Lord, please don’t let us drown for taking this man’s life.” Then they threw Jonah over-board, and the sea calmed down.

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JONAH

DAY 183

Jonah and the Whale Jonah 1:17-2:10

The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God, “When I was in trouble, Lord, I prayed to you, and you listened to me.

You threw me down to the bottom of the sea. The water was churning all around; I was completely covered by your mighty waves. I thought I was swept away from your sight, never again to see your holy temple. I was almost drowned by the swirling waters that surrounded me.

Seaweed had wrapped around my head.

I had sunk down below the underwater mountains; I knew that forever, I would be a prisoner there. But, you, Lord God,

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rescued me from that pit. When my life was slipping away, I remembered you, and in your holy temple you heard my prayer. All who worship worthless idols turn from the God who offers them mercy. But with shouts of praise, I will offer a sacrifice to you, my Lord. I will keep my promise, because you are the one with power to save.�

The Lord commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.

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DAY 184

DAY 185

Jonah 3:1-10

Jonah 4:1-6

Jonah Warns the People Once again the Lord told Jonah to go to that great city of Nineveh and preach his message of doom. Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh. Jonah warned the people, “Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!”

They believed God’s message. And when the king of Nineveh heard what was happening, he also dressed in sackcloth. He left the royal palace and sat in dust. Then he and his officials sent out an order for everyone in the city to obey.

It said: ”None of you or your animals may eat or drink a thing. Each of you must wear sackcloth, and you must even put sackcloth on your animals.

You must also pray to the Lord God with all your heart and stop being sinful and cruel. Maybe God will change his mind and have mercy on us.”

When God saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned.

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Jonah Gets Angry Jonah was upset. He prayed, “Our Lord, I knew that you wouldn’t destroy Nineveh. That’s why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don’t like to punish anyone, not even foreigners. Now let me die! I’d be better off dead.”

The Lord replied, “What right do you have to be angry?”

Jonah then left through the east gate of the city and made a shelter to protect himself from the sun. He sat under the shelter, waiting to see what would happen to Nineveh. The Lord made a vine grow up to shade Jonah and protect him from the sun.

DAY 186

God Shows Mercy Jonah 4:7-11

But early the next morning the Lord sent a worm to chew on the vine, and the vine dried up. During the day the Lord sent a scorching wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head, making him feel faint. He shouted, “I wish I were dead!”

But the Lord asked, “Jonah, do you have the right to be angry about the vine?”

“Yes, I do,” he answered, “and I’m angry enough to die.”

But the Lord said, “You are concerned

about a vine that you did not plant or take care of. But in the city of Nineveh there are more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot tell right from wrong. Don’t you think I should be concerned about that big city?”

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DAY 187

DAY 188

2 Chronicles 36:11-21

Daniel 1:3-7

Jerusalem Is Destroyed Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he was appointed king of Judah.

He ruled from Jerusalem for eleven years. He disobeyed the Lord his God and refused to change his ways, even after a warning from Jeremiah, the Lord’s prophet.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had forced Zedekiah to promise in God’s name that he would be loyal. But Zedekiah was stubborn and refused to turn back to the Lord. The people of Judah became more unfaithful.

But the Lord God felt sorry for his people. Instead of destroying the temple, he sent prophets who warned the people about their sins. The people only laughed and insulted these prophets.

They ignored what the Lord God was trying to tell them. Finally, God became so angry that nothing could stop him from punishing Judah and Jerusalem.

The Lord sent King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia to attack Jerusalem. God let him kill everyone in the city. Then they broke down the city wall. The survivors were taken to Babylonia as prisoners where they were slaves of the king and his sons. Judah was an empty desert, and it stayed that way for seventy years.

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Daniel and His Friends One day the king ordered his highest official to choose some young men from the royal family of Judah. The king said, “They must be healthy, handsome, wise, educated, and fit to serve in the royal palace. Teach them how to speak and write our language and give them the same food and wine that I am served.

Train them for three years, and then they can become court officials.”

Four of the young Jews chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all from the tribe of Judah. But the king’s chief official gave them Babylonian names: Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.

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DAY 189

The King’s Diet Daniel 1:8-14

Daniel made up his mind to eat and drink only what God had approved for his people to eat. God had made the official friendly and kind to Daniel. But the man still told him, “The king has decided what you must eat and drink.

And I am afraid he will kill me if you

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eat something else and end up looking worse than the other young men.”

The king’s official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends.

So Daniel said to the guard, “For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtime. When the ten days are up, compare how we look with the other young men, and decide what to do with us.” The guard agreed to do what Daniel had asked.

DAY 190

A Test of Faith Daniel 1:15-21

Ten days later, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better than the young men who had been served food from the royal palace. After this, the guard let them eat vegetables instead of the rich food and wine.

God made the four young men smart and wise. They read a lot of

books and became well educated. Daniel could also tell the meaning of dreams and visions.

King Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah positions in the royal court. From then on, whenever the king asked for advice, he found their wisdom was ten times better than that of any of his other advisors and magicians.

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DAY 191

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Daniel 2:1-13

During the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such horrible nightmares that he could not sleep. He called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men, and said, “I am disturbed by a dream that I don’t understand, and I want you to explain it.”

They answered, “Your Majesty, we are your servants. Please tell us your dream, and we will explain what it means.”

But the king replied, “If you don’t tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be chopped to pieces and your houses will be torn down. However, if you do tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be greatly rewarded and highly honored.”

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“Your Majesty,” they said, “if you will only tell us your dream, we will interpret it for you.”

The king replied, “You’re just stalling for time, because you know what’s going to happen if you don’t come up with the answer. Now tell me the dream, and that will prove that you can interpret it.”

His advisors explained, “Your Majesty, you are demanding the impossible! It can’t be done, except by the gods, and they don’t live here on earth.”

This made the king so angry that he gave orders for every wise man in Babylonia to be put to death, including Daniel and his three friends.

DAY 192

God Reveals the Dream to Daniel Daniel 2:19-48

In a vision one night, God showed Daniel the dream and its meaning.

Daniel went back to the official in charge of executing the wise men.

He said, “Don’t kill those men! Take me to the king, and I will explain the meaning of his dream.” The official rushed Daniel to the king.

“Your Majesty,” Daniel said, “The God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, he showed you what will happen in the future. What you saw standing in front of you was a huge and terrifying statue.

Its head was made of gold, its chest and arms were silver. From its waist down to its knees, it was bronze. From there to its ankles it was iron. Its feet were a mixture of iron and clay. As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. The stone struck the feet.

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed and blown away without a trace. But the stone became a tremendous mountain that covered the entire earth.

That was the dream. Now I’ll tell you what it means. You are the head of gold.

After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won’t be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world.

Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power. This fourth kingdom will be divided just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay.”

The king said, “Now I know that your God is above all other gods because he gave you the power to explain this mystery.”

The king made Daniel governor of Babylon and put him in charge of the other wise men.

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DAY 193

Three Brave Men Daniel 3:1-18

King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a gold statue to be built. Then an official stood up and announced, “When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace.”

Some Babylonians used this as a chance to accuse the Jews to King Nebuchadnezzar. They said, “Your Majesty, those Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to worship your gods and the statue you have set up.”

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King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He sent for the three young men.

The three men said, “Your Majesty, we don’t need to defend ourselves. The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.”

DAY 194

The Blazing Furnace Daniel 3:19-29

Nebuchadnezzar’s face twisted with anger at the three men. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. Next, he commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up the men and throw them into the flaming furnace.

So the soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the flaming furnace. The fire was so hot that flames leaped out and killed the soldiers.

Suddenly the king jumped up and shouted, “Weren’t only three men tied up and thrown into the fire?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the people

answered. “But I see four men walking around in the fire,” the king replied.

“None of them are tied up or harmed, and the fourth one looks like a god.”

Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the flaming furnace and said to the three young men, “You servants of the Most High God, come out at once!”

They came out, and they were not burned. Their hair wasn’t scorched, and their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke.

King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise their God for sending an angel to rescue his servants! They trusted their God and chose to die rather than to worship or serve any god except their own. I won’t allow people of any nation or race to say anything against their God.”

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DAY 195

King Belshazzar’s Banquet Daniel 5:1-6

One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials. He drank wine with them and got drunk. He ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem.

When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall of the palace.

The hand was just behind the lampstand.

The king could see it writing. He was so frightened that his face turned pale.

His knees started shaking, and his legs became weak.

DAY 196

King Belshazzar Sends for Daniel Daniel 5:7-12

The king called in his advisors. He told them, “The man who can read this writing and tell me what it means will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck.”

All of King Belshazzar’s highest officials came in, but not one of them could read the writing, and they were completely puzzled. The king was more afraid than ever before, and his face turned white as a ghost.

When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she came in and said, “Your Majesty, don’t be afraid or look so pale. In your kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. He can explain dreams and riddles and solve difficult problems.

Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”

DAY 197

Daniel Is Brought In Daniel 5:13-24

When Daniel was brought in, the king said, “So you are Daniel. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom.”

Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I

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239 DANIEL

will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him. His mind became like that of an animal.

“King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you ordered the cups from God’s temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. That’s why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.”

DAY 198

Daniel Reads the Writing Daniel 5:25-31

“The words written there mean ’numbered,’ ’weighed,’ and ’divided.’

God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end.

He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.”

Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom. That same night, the king was killed.

Then Darius the Mede took over his kingdom.

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DAY 199

King Darius’ Law Daniel 6:1-10

Darius divided his kingdom into states.

He placed a governor in charge of each one. Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of these officials was Daniel. The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king.

But he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do.

The men went to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god except you for the next thirty days.

Everyone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions.” So King Darius made the law.

Daniel heard about the law. But when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed the same way that he had always done, giving thanks to God.

DAY 200

Daniel in the Lion’s Den Daniel 6:11-28

The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying.

They went back to the king and said, “Daniel refuses to obey you. He still prays to his god three times a day.”

So Darius ordered Daniel to be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. A stone was rolled over the pit, and it was sealed.

All night long the king could not sleep. At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. He was anxious

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and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, my God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me.”

The king was relieved to hear Daniel’s voice. He gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel’s faith in his God had kept him from being harmed. And the king ordered the men who had brought charges against Daniel to be thrown into the pit. But before they even reached the bottom, the lions ripped them to pieces.

DAY 201

The Proud King Esther 1:1-8

King Xerxes of Persia lived in his capital city of Susa. He ruled one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. Xerxes gave a big dinner for all his officials and officers. For one hundred eighty days he showed off his wealth and spent a lot of money to impress his guests with the greatness of his kingdom.

King Xerxes soon gave another dinner and invited everyone in the city of Susa, no matter who they were.

The eating and drinking lasted seven days in the beautiful palace gardens. The area was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains tied back with purple linen cords that ran through silver rings fastened to marble columns. The guests drank from gold cups, and each cup had a different design. The king was generous and said to them, “Drink all you want!”

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STORY 202

Queen Vashti Disobeys Esther 1:10-21

By the seventh day, King Xerxes was feeling happy because of so much wine.

He asked his seven personal servants to bring Queen Vashti to him. The king wanted her to wear her crown and let his people and his officials see how beautiful she was. The king’s servants told Queen Vashti what he had said, but she refused to go to him. This made him terribly angry.

The king called in the seven highest officials of Persia and Media. These men were very wise and understood all the laws and customs of the country.

The king always asked them what they thought about such matters.

Then Memucan told the king and the officials, “Your Majesty, Queen Vashti has not only embarrassed

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you, but she has insulted your officials and everyone else in all the provinces.

The women in the kingdom will hear about this, and they will refuse to respect their husbands. Your Majesty, if you agree, you should write for the Medes and Persians a law that can never be changed. This law would keep Queen Vashti from ever seeing you again.Then you could let someone who respects you be queen in her place.”

King Xerxes and his officials liked what Memucan had said.

STORY 203

Esther Becomes Queen Esther 2:1-17

After a while, King Xerxes got over being angry. But he kept thinking about what Vashti had done and the law that he had written because of her. Then the king’s personal servants said, “Your Majesty, a search must be made to find you some beautiful young women. Then let the young woman who pleases you most take Vashti’s place as queen.”

King Xerxes liked these suggestions, and he followed them.

At this time a Jew named Mordecai was living in Susa. Mordecai had a very beautiful cousin named Esther. When the king ordered the search for beautiful

women, many were taken to the king’s palace, and Esther was one of them.

The young women were given beauty treatments for one whole year. The first six months their skin was rubbed with olive oil and myrrh, and the last six months it was treated with perfumes and cosmetics. Then each of them spent the night alone with King Xerxes.

Xerxes had been king for seven years when Esther’s turn came to go to him.

Xerxes liked Esther more than he did any of the other young women. None of them pleased him as much as she did. He fell in love with her and crowned her queen in place of Vashti.

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STORY 204

STORY 205

Esther 2:19-3:15

Esther 4:8-5:9

Haman’s Order Esther’s cousin Mordecai had become a palace official. Later, King Xerxes promoted Haman to the highest position in his kingdom. The king had given orders for his officials at the royal gate to honor Haman by kneeling down to him.

All of them obeyed except Mordecai.

When the other officials asked Mordecai why he disobeyed the king’s command, he said, “Because I am a Jew.” Haman was furious to learn that Mordecai refused to kneel down and honor him. When he found out that Mordecai was a Jew, he knew that killing only Mordecai was not enough. Every Jew in the whole kingdom had to be killed.

Haman went to the king and said, “Why not give orders for all of the Jews to be killed? I can promise that you will get tons of silver for your treasury.”

The king told him, “Do what you want with those people! You can keep their money.”

Haman called in the king’s secretaries and ordered them to write letters in every language used in the kingdom.

This is what was said in the letters: ”All Jewish men, women, and children are to be killed. Their property is to be taken.”

One of the letters was read aloud to the people in the walled city of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink together. No one in the city could figure out what was going on.

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Esther Has a Plan Esther had a servant named Hathach, who had been given to her by the king.

Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the orders for the murder of the Jews and said, “Show this to Esther and explain what it means. Ask her to go to the king and beg him to have pity on her people, the Jews!”

Esther answered, “Tell Mordecai anyone who goes in to see the king without being invited by him will be put to death. And it’s been thirty days since he has asked for me.”

When Mordecai was told what Esther had said, he sent back this reply, “Don’t think that you will escape being killed with the rest of the Jews just because you live in the king’s palace. If you don’t speak up now, you and your family will be killed. It could be that you were made queen for a time like this!”

Esther sent a message to Mordecai, saying, “Then I will go in to see the king, even if it means I must die.”

Three days later, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the inner court of the palace in front of the throne. The king was happy to see her. He said, “Esther, what brings you here? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”

Esther answered, “Your Majesty, please come with Haman to a dinner I will prepare for you later today.”

The king said to his servants, “Hurry and get Haman, so we can accept Esther’s invitation.”

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STORY 206

Esther Saves Her People Esther 7:1-6

The king and Haman went to Esther’s dinner, and while they were dining and drinking wine, the king asked her, “What can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom!”

Esther answered, “Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to help, you can save me and my people. That’s what I really want. A reward has been promised to anyone who kills my people.

Your Majesty, if we were merely going to be sold as slaves, I would not have bothered you.”

“Who would dare to do such a thing?” the king asked.

Esther replied, “That evil Haman is the one out to get us!”

Haman was terrified, as he looked at the king and the queen.

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STORY 207

Haman Is Punished Esther 7:7-8:2

The king was so angry that he got up, left his wine, and went out into the palace garden.

Haman realized that the king had already decided what to do with him. He stayed and begged Esther to save his life.

Just as the king came back into the room, Haman got down on his knees beside Esther, who was lying on the couch. The king shouted, “Now you’re even trying to hurt my queen here in my own palace!”

Then one of the king’s personal servants, said, “Your Majesty, Haman built a tower seventy-five feet high beside his house, so he could hang Mordecai on it.”

Right away, Haman was hanged on the tower he had built to hang Mordecai, and the king calmed down. Before the end of the day, King Xerxes gave Esther everything that had belonged to Haman.

Esther told the king that Mordecai was her cousin. So the king made Mordecai one of his highest officials and gave him the royal ring that Haman had worn.

Then Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman’s property.

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STORY 208

A Time to Celebrate Esther 8:3-17, 9:1-28

King Xerxes then said to Esther and Mordecai, “I now give you permission to make a law that will save the lives of your people.”

The king’s secretaries wrote the law, and wrote to the Jews, the rulers, the governors, and the officials of all one hundred twenty-seven provinces. The letters were written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with his ring. In every province and city where the law was

sent, the Jews had parties and celebrated.

The first law that the king had made was to be followed on the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. This was the very day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to do away with them.

Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. Then he sent letters to the Jews everywhere and told them, “Remember this month as a time when our sorrow was turned to joy. Celebrate by having parties and by giving to the poor and by sharing gifts of food with each other.”

The New Testament

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STORY 209

An Angel Visits Zechariah Luke 1:5-25

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah.

His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron. Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, but they did not have children.

One day Zechariah was serving God in the temple as a priest. All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar.

Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel.

The angel told him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.

Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. John will lead many people in

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Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. Because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. People who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God’s servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”

When Zechariah’s time of service in the temple was over, he went home.

Soon after that, his wife was expecting a baby. For five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, “What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”

STORY 210

An Angel Visits Mary Luke 1:26-38

One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was confused by the angel’s words. She wondered what they meant. Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High.

The Lord God will make him king, as

his ancestor David was. He will rule the people of Israel forever. His kingdom will never end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. Your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!” Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.

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STORY 211

Mary Visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-45

A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.

She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then she said to Mary, “God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?

As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.”

STORY 212

Joseph’s Dream Matthew 1:18-24

Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David’s family. Because Mary learned that she was going to have a baby by God’s Holy Spirit, Joseph decided to call off the wedding. Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said: “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

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STORY 213

Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1-7

About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea.

Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.

Mary traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby. While they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes. Then she laid him on a bed of hay because there was no room for them in the inn.

STORY 214

The Shepherds Luke 2:8-20

That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them.

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The shepherds were frightened.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said, “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph.

When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. Everyone listened and was surprised. Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.

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STORY 215

King Herod Hears about Jesus Matthew 2:1-6

When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king.

During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and

have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard about this, he was worried. So was everyone else in Jerusalem. Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

They told him, “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote, ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judea, You are very important among the towns of Judea. From your town will come a leader, who will be like a shepherd for my people Israel.’”

STORY 216

The Three Wise Men Matthew 2:7-12

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Herod secretly called in the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star. Then Herod told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I want to go and worship him too.”

The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. The star they had seen in the east went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were thrilled and excited to see the star.

When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, they knelt

down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They went back home by another road.

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STORY 217

Jesus of Nazareth Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 2:40

After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Hurry and take the child and his mother to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you to return. Herod is looking for the child and wants to kill him.”

That night, Joseph got up and took his wife and the child to Egypt. There they stayed until Herod died. So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “I called my son out of Egypt.”

When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who were two

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years old and younger living in or near Bethlehem.

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph while he was still in Egypt. The angel said, “Get up and take the child and his mother back to Israel. The people who wanted to kill him are now dead.”

Joseph got up and left with them for Israel. Then in a dream he was told to go to Galilee. They went to live there in the town of Nazareth. So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.

STORY 218

Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. After Passover Jesus’ parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. They could not find him with their relatives and friends. So they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.

Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions.

Everyone who heard him was surprised

at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.

His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried. We have been searching for you!”

Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he meant.

Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened. Jesus became wise and strong.

God was pleased with him and so were the people.

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STORY 219

John the Baptist John 1:19-28

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, “I am not the Messiah.”

When they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, “No, I am not!”

And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said “No!” Finally they said, “Who are you then?

We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!”

John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “I am only someone shouting in the desert, `Get the road ready for the Lord!’”

Some Pharisees had also been sent to John. They asked him, “Why are you baptizing people, if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John told them, “I use water to baptize people. But here with you is someone you don’t know. Even though I came first, I am not good enough to untie his sandals.” John said this as he was baptizing east of the Jordan River in Bethany.

STORY 220

John Speaks About Jesus John 1: 29-34

The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him. He turned to the people and said, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, ‘Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.’ I didn’t know who he was.

But I came to baptize you with water, so

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that everyone in Israel would see him.”

John continued, “I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. The Spirit stayed on him.

Before this I didn’t know who he was.

But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”

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STORY 221

Jesus Is Baptized Matthew 3:1-17

Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”

Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do.” John agreed.

So Jesus was baptized. As soon as Jesus came out of the water, the sky opened.

He saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”

STORY 222

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The Devil Tempts Jesus Luke 4:1-15

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. For forty days Jesus was tested by the devil.

During that time he went without eating.

When it was all over, he was hungry. The devil said to Jesus, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to turn into bread.”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘No one can live only on food.’”

Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me, and you can have it all.”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”

Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple.

The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. The Scriptures say, ‘God will tell his angels to take care of you. They will catch you in their arms, and you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’” Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘don’t try to test the Lord your God!’” After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him. Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit.

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STORY 223

Jesus Calls His First Disciples John 1:35-45

The next day, John was with two of his followers when he saw Jesus walking by.

John said, “Here is the Lamb of God!” John’s two followers heard him, and they went with Jesus.

When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, “What do you want?”

They answered, “Rabbi, where do you live?”

The Hebrew word “Rabbi” means “Teacher.”

Jesus replied, “Come and see!”

It was already about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him and saw where he lived.

So they stayed on for the rest of the day. One of the two men who had gone with Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him, “We have found the Messiah!”

The Hebrew word “Messiah” means the same as the Greek word “Christ.”

Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas.” This name can be translated as “Peter.”

Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Jesus said to Philip, “Come with me.”

Philip found Nathanael and said, “We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

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he knelt down in front of Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t come near me! I am a sinner.” Peter and everyone with him were completely surprised at all the fish they had caught. His partners James and John were surprised too. Jesus told Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you will bring in people instead of fish.”

The men pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and went with Jesus.

STORY 225

Jesus Turns Water into Wine John 2:1-11

STORY 224

Fishers of Men Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. He was teaching the people as they crowded around him to hear God’s message. Near the shore he saw two boats left there by some fishermen who had gone to wash their nets. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to row it out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat to teach to the crowd.

When Jesus had finished speaking, he

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told Simon, “Row the boat out into the deep water and let your nets down to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon answered, “we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down.”

They caught so many fish that their nets began ripping apart. Then they signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together they filled the two boats so full that they both began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this happen,

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at a wedding feast in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited and were there.

When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, “They don’t have any more wine.” Jesus replied, “Mother, my time hasn’t yet come! You must not tell me what to do.”

Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”

At the feast there were six stone water jars that were used by the people for washing themselves

in the way that their religion said they must. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill them to the top with water. Then after the jars had been filled, he said, “Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast.” The servants did as Jesus told them.

The man in charge drank some of the water that had now turned into wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over and said, “The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!”

This was Jesus’ first miracle. There Jesus showed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

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STORY 226

Jesus Visits the Temple John 2:13-22

Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. Jesus took some rope and made a whip. He chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins. Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, “Get those doves out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace.”

The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, “What miracle will you work to show us why you have done this?”

“Destroy this temple,” Jesus answered, “and in three days I will build it again!”

The leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple.

What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?”

But Jesus was talking about his body as a temple. When he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them.

Then they believed the Scriptures, and the words of Jesus.

STORY 227

Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-6; 16-17

There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader. One night he went to Jesus and said, “Sir, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God’s kingdom!”

Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second time?”

Jesus answered, “Before you can get into God’s kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God.” Then Jesus continued, “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son. Everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!

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STORY 228

The Water of Life John 4:4-26

This time Jesus had to go through Samaria. On his way he came to the town of Sychar. It was near the field that Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph.

The well that Jacob had dug was still there. Jesus sat down beside it because he was tired from traveling.

Just then, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her, “Would you please give me a drink of water?”

“You are a Jew,” she replied, “and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won’t have anything to do with each other?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t know what God wants to give you, and you don’t know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep.

Where are you going to get this lifegiving water?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.”

The woman said, “I know that the Messiah will come. He is the one we call Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

“I am that one,” Jesus told her, “and I am speaking to you now.”

The Samaritans Believe John 4:27-42

The disciples returned and were surprised to find Jesus talking with a woman. But none of them asked him what he wanted or why he was talking with her. The woman left her water-jar and ran back into town. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Could he be the Messiah?”

Everyone in town went out to see Jesus.

While this was happening, Jesus’ disciples were saying to him, “Teacher, please eat something.”

But Jesus told them, “I have food that you don’t know anything about.”

His disciples started asking each other, “Has someone brought him something to eat?”

Jesus said, “My food is to do what God wants! He is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work that he gave me to do.”

A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, “This man told me everything I have ever done.” They came and asked him to stay in their town.

Jesus stayed on for two days.

Many more Samaritans put their faith in Jesus because of what they heard him say. They told the woman, “We no longer have faith in Jesus just because of what you told us. We have heard him ourselves, and we are certain that he is the Savior of the world!”

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STORY 230

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son John 4: 43-54

Jesus had said, “Prophets are honored everywhere, except in their own country.” Then two days later he left and went to Galilee. The people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything he had done.

While Jesus was in Galilee, he returned to the village where he had turned the water into wine. There was an official whose son was sick. When the man heard that Jesus had come from Judea, he went and begged him to keep his son from dying.

Jesus told the official, “You won’t have faith unless you see miracles and wonders!”

The man replied, “Lord, please come before my son dies!”

Jesus then said, “Your son will live.

Go on home to him.” The man believed

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Jesus and started back home.

Some of the official’s servants met him along the road and told him, “Your son is better! The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock.”

The boy’s father realized that at one o’clock the day before, Jesus had told him, “Your son will live!” So the man and everyone in his family put their faith in Jesus.

This was the second miracle that Jesus worked after he left Judea and went to Galilee.

STORY 231

The Power of the Son John 5: 19-30

everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants to.

The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has made his Son the judge of everyone. The Father wants all people to honor the Son as much as they honor him. Everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.

I tell you for certain that the time will come, and it is already here, when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen to it will

live! The Father has the power to give life, and he has given that same power to the Son. And he has given his Son the right to judge everyone, because he is the Son of Man. Everyone who has done good things will rise to life, but everyone who has done evil things will rise and be condemned. I cannot do anything on my own. The Father sent me, and he is the one who told me how to judge. I judge with fairness because I obey him. I don’t just try to please myself.”

Jesus told the people, “I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. The Father loves the Son and has shown him

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STORY 232

Witnesses for Jesus John 5: 31-47

Jesus continued, “If I speak for myself, there is no way to prove I am telling the truth. But there is someone else who speaks for me, and I know what he says is true. You sent messengers to John, and he told them the truth.

John was a lamp that gave a lot of light, and you were glad to enjoy his light for a while.

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But something more important than John speaks for me. I mean the things that the Father has given me to do! All of these speak for me and prove that the Father sent me. The Father who sent me also speaks for me, but you have never heard his voice or seen him face to face.

You have not believed his message, because you refused to have faith in the one he sent.

I don’t care about human praise. You

like to have your friends praise you, and you don’t care about praise that the only God can give! Don’t think that I will be the one to accuse you to the Father. You have put your hope in Moses, yet he is the very one who will accuse you. Moses wrote about me, and if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me. But if you don’t believe what Moses wrote, how can you believe what I say?”

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STORY 233

Jesus Heals a Crippled Man Luke 5:17-26

One day some Pharisees and experts in the Law of Moses sat listening to Jesus teach. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem.

Some people came carrying a crippled man on a mat. They tried to take him inside the house and put him in front of Jesus. But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus.

The men carried the crippled man up on the roof. They removed some tiles and let the mat down in the middle of the room. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the crippled man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the experts began arguing, “Jesus must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins.”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, “Why are you thinking that?

Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins

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are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? But now you will see that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.”

Jesus then said to the man, “Get up!

Pick up your mat and walk home.”

At once the man stood up in front of everyone. He picked up his mat and went home, giving thanks to God. Everyone was amazed and praised God. What they saw surprised them, and they said, “We have seen a great miracle today!”

STORY 234

Jesus Will Return to the Father John 7: 32-36

When the Pharisees heard the crowd arguing about Jesus, they got together with the chief priests and sent some

temple police to arrest him. But Jesus told them, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I will return to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You cannot go where I am going.”

The Jewish leaders asked each other,

“Where can he go to keep us from finding him? Is he going to some foreign country where our people live? Is he going there to teach the Greeks? What did he mean by saying that we will look for him, but won’t find him? Why can’t we go where he is going?”

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STORY 235

Nicodemus Defends Jesus John 7:42-52

The people started taking sides against each other because of Jesus. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.

When the temple police returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, “Why didn’t you bring Jesus here?”

They answered, “No one has ever spoken like that man!”

The Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been fooled? Not one of the

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chief priests or the Pharisees has faith in him. And these people who don’t know the Law are under God’s curse anyway.”

Nicodemus was there at the time. He was a member of the council, and was the same one who had earlier come to see Jesus. He said, “Our Law doesn’t let us condemn people before we hear what they have to say. We cannot judge them before we know what they have done.”

STORY 236

Levi and the Dinner Guests Mark 2:13-17

Once again, Jesus went to the shore of Lake Galilee. A large crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he walked along, Jesus saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at the place for paying taxes. Jesus said to him, “Come with me!” So Levi got up and went with Jesus.

Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Levi’s house. Many tax collectors and other sinners had become followers of Jesus, and they were also guests

at the dinner. Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were Pharisees, and they saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors. They asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers.

I came to invite sinners.”

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STORY 237

One Thing Is Important Luke 10:38-42

The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”

The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha!

You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”

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STORY 238

Planting Seeds Mark 4:1-8

The next time Jesus taught beside Lake Galilee, a big crowd gathered. It was so large that he had to sit in a boat out on the lake, while the people stood on the shore. He used stories to teach them many things, and this is part of what he taught: “Now listen! A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds.

Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn’t very deep. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. Some other seeds fell where thorn bushes grew up and choked out the plants. So they did not produce any grain. But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants grew and produced thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was scattered.”

STORY 239

Jesus Explains the Story Mark 4:10-20

When Jesus was alone with the twelve apostles and some others, they asked him about these stories.

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He answered, “The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them.

The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. But they don’t have any roots, and they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.

The seeds that fell among the thorn bushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.

The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was planted.”

STORY 240

Wheat and Weeds Matthew 13:24-30, 36-39

Jesus then told them this story: “The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left.

When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer’s servants could see the weeds. The servants came and asked, ’Sir, didn’t you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?’ ’An enemy did this,’ he replied. His

servants then asked, ’Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?’ ’No!’ he answered. ’You might also pull up the wheat. Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I’ll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I’ll have them store the wheat in my barn.’”

After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, his disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the story about the weeds in the wheat field.”

Jesus answered, “The one who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seeds are the people who belong to the kingdom.

The weed seeds are those who belong to the evil one, and the one who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the harvest.”

God’s Kingdom Like Yeast Matthew 13:31-34

Jesus told them another story, “The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.”

Jesus also said, “The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.”

STORY 241

God’s Kingdom Like a Seed Mark 4:26-29

Again Jesus said, ”God’s kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. The farmer sleeps at night and is up and around during the day. Yet the seeds keep sprouting and growing, and he doesn’t understand how. It is the ground that makes the seeds sprout and grow into plants that produce grain. Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.”

STORY 242

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STORY 243

STORY 244

Matthew 18:1-5

Matthew 18:10-14

The Greatest in Heaven About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. Then he said, “I promise you this. If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.”

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The Lost Sheep “Don’t be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven. Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the ninety-nine that never wandered off. That’s how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn’t want any of these little ones to be lost.”

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STORY 245

Let the Children Come to Me Mark 10:13-16

Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him.

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When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, “Let the children come to me!

Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

STORY 246

The Good Shepherd John 10:11-18

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. Hired workers are not like the shepherd. They don’t own the sheep, and when they see a wolf coming, they run off and leave the sheep. Then the wolf attacks and scatters the flock. Hired workers run away because they don’t care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd. I know my

sheep, and they know me. Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.

The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.”

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STORY 247

The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin Luke 15:1-10

Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, “This man is friendly with sinners.

He even eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this story, ”If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, ’Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.’”

Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to.”

Jesus told the people another story. He said, ”What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won’t she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it? Then she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ’Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin I lost.’”

Jesus said, “In the same way God’s angels are happy when even one person turns to him.”

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STORY 248

The Loving Father Luke 15:11-19

Jesus also told them another story saying, “Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he

had nothing to eat.

He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing.

Finally, he came to his senses and said, ‘My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him, ’Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’”

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STORY 249

Forgiven Luke 15:20-24

Jesus continued the story saying, “The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.

The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you.

I am no longer good enough to be called your son.’

But his father said to the servants, ‘Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his

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finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

STORY 250

The Jealous Brother Luke 15:25-32

Jesus ended the story saying, ”The older son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing. So he called one of

the servants over and asked, ‘What’s going on here?’

The servant answered, ‘Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.’

The older brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house.

His father came out and begged him to go in. But he said to his father, ‘For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends. This other son of yours wasted your money on

prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast.’

His father replied, ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.’”

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STORY 251

God Shows Mercy Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else.

He said, ”Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, ’God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I

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earn.’

The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, ’God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.’”

Then Jesus said, “When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”

STORY 252

A Second Chance John 8:1-11

Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives.

Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?”

They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him.

But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.

They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said,

“If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest.

Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone.

Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?”

“No sir,” the woman answered.

Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either.

You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”

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STORY 253

An Act of Love Luke 7:36-40

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home and got ready to eat.

When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume.

Then she came and stood behind Jesus.

She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He

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would know that she is a sinner.”

Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied.

STORY 254

Love and Forgiveness Luke 7:41-50

Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that

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they didn’t have to pay him anything.

Which one of them will like him more?”

Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.”

“You are right,” Jesus said. “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will

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show only a little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

STORY 255

Who Gave the Most?

Mark 12:41-44

Jesus was sitting in the temple near the offering box and watching people put in their gifts. He noticed that many rich people were giving a lot of money.

Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins that were worth only a few pennies. Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said, “I tell you that

this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn’t have a cent to live on.”

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STORY 256

Do not Worry Matthew 6:19-30

Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

You cannot be the slave of two masters!

You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

I tell you not to worry about your life.

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Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them.

Aren’t you worth more than birds?

Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today

and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?”

STORY 257

I am with You Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus continued saying, “If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint

must be proven true by two or more witnesses. If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.

I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don’t allow. I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.”

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STORY 258

True Happiness Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.

Jesus’ disciples gathered around him, and he taught them saying, “God blesses those people who depend only on him.

They belong to the kingdom of heaven!

God blesses those people who grieve.

They will find comfort!

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God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!

God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!

God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!

God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!

God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!

God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.

God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.”

STORY 259

is to be thrown out and walked on.

You are like light for the whole world.

A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lamp stand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

Being Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said, “You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for

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STORY 260

The House on the Rock Matthew 7:24-29

Jesus said, “Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock.

Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn’t obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.”

When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching.

He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.

STORY 261

The Narrow Gate Matthew 7:7-14

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Jesus told them, ”Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find.

Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive.

Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?

As bad as you are, you still know how to

give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.

Treat others as you want them to treat you.

Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.”

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The Rich Young Man Matthew 19:16-22

A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments.”

“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not

STORY 262

Following Jesus Mark 10:23-31

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “It’s hard for rich people to get into God’s kingdom!” The disciples were shocked to hear this. So Jesus told them again, “It’s terribly hard to get into God’s kingdom! In fact, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God’s kingdom.”

Jesus’ disciples were even more amazed. They asked each other, “How can anyone ever be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “There are some things that people cannot do,

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tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself.”

The young man said, “I have obeyed all of these. What else must I do?”

Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.”

When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.

but God can do anything.”

Peter replied, “Remember, we left everything to be your followers!”

Jesus told him, “You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news will be rewarded. In this world they will be given a hundred times as many houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and pieces of land, though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have eternal life. But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.”

STORY 263

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STORY 264

Eternal Life Luke 10:25-28

An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”

The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’”

Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”

STORY 265

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37

the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. Later a temple helper came to the same place.

But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side.

A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.

Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, ‘Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.’”

Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?”

The teacher answered, “The one who showed pity.”

Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”

But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, “Who are my neighbors?”

Jesus replied, “As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.

A priest happened to be going down

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STORY 266

The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31

Jesus told them, “There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept

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coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, ‘Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue.

I’m suffering terribly in this fire.’

Abraham answered, ‘My friend, remember that while you lived, you

had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.’

But the rich man said, ‘Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home.

Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.’

Abraham answered, ‘Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote.

They should pay attention to that.’

Then the rich man said, ‘No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.’ So Abraham said, ‘If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.’”

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STORY 267

A Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21

A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”

Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”

Then he said to the crowd, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.”

So Jesus told them this story saying, ”A rich man’s farm produced a big crop, and he said to himself, ’What can I do? I don’t have a place large enough to store everything.’

Later, he said, ’Now I know what I’ll do.

I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. Then I’ll say to myself, ’You

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have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’

But God said to him, ’You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?’

This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”

servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. So always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.”

STORY 269 STORY 268 Luke 12: 35-46

Be Ready for the Master Jesus also told them, ”Be ready and

keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you that he will get ready and have his servants sit down so he can serve them. Those

Faithful Servants

faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns. But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won’t return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.”

Luke 12: 35-46

Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”

Jesus answered, ”Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. A servant who is always

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STORY 270

The Great Banquet Luke 14:16-24

After Jesus had finished speaking, one of the guests said, “The greatest blessing of all is to be at the banquet in God’s kingdom!”

Jesus told him, ”A man once gave a great banquet and invited a lot of guests.

When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, ’Everything is ready! Please come.’

One guest after another started making excuses. The first one said, ’I bought some land, and I’ve got to look it over.

Please excuse me.’

Another guest said, ’I bought five teams of oxen, and I need to try them out.

Please excuse me.’

Still another guest said, ’I have just gotten married, and I can’t be there.’

The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so

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angry that he said, ’Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or crippled or blind or lame.’

When the servant returned, he said, ’Master, I’ve done what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people.’

His master then told him, ’Go out along the back roads and fence rows and make people come in, so that my house will be full. Not one of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!’”

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STORY 271

The Five Careless Bridesmaids Matthew 25:1-13

“The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom. Five of the girls were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but no extra oil.

The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps.

The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.

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Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, ‘Here’s the groom! Come to meet him!’

When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready, the foolish ones said to the others, ‘Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out.’

The girls who were wise answered, ‘There’s not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves.’

While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived.

The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed.

Later the other girls returned and shouted, ‘Sir, sir! Open the door for us!’

But the groom replied, ‘I don’t even know you!’

So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.”

STORY 272

Warning About Trouble Matthew 24: 3-14

Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him in private and asked, “When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?”

Jesus answered, ”Don’t let anyone fool you. Many will come and claim to be me.

They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.

You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid.

These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end. Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes.

But this is just the beginning of troubles.

You will be arrested, punished, and

even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people. Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.”

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silver coins. But he didn’t have any money to pay what he owed. The king ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all he owned, in order to pay the debt.

The official got down on his knees and began begging, ’Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I owe!’ The king felt sorry for him and let him go free. He even told the official that he did not have to pay back the money.”

STORY 274

The Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18:28-35

STORY 273

The Forgiving King Matthew 18:21-27

Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?”

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Jesus answered, ”Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like.

One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him. As he was doing this, one official was brought in who owed him fifty million

Jesus continued, ”As the official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him a hundred silver coins. So he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, ’Pay me what you owe!’

The man got down on his knees and began begging, ’Have pity on me, and I will pay you back.’ But the first official refused to have pity. Instead, he went and had the other official put in jail until he could pay what he owed.

The king called the first official back in and said, ’You’re an evil man! When you begged for mercy, I said you did not have to pay back a cent. Don’t you think you should show pity to someone else, as I did to you?’ The king was so angry that he ordered the official to be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed.

That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.”

STORY 275

The Ten Servants Luke 19:11-14

The crowd was still listening to Jesus as he was getting close to Jerusalem. Many of them thought that God’s kingdom would soon appear, and Jesus told them this story.

He said, “A prince once went to a foreign country to be crowned king and then to return. But before leaving, he called in ten servants and gave each of them some money. He told them, ‘Use this to earn more money until I get back.’

But the people of his country hated him, and they sent messengers to the foreign country to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’”

STORY 276

A Job Well Done Luke 19:15-26

Jesus continued the story, ”After the prince had been made king, he returned and called in his servants. He asked them how much they had earned with the money they had been given.

The first servant came and said, ‘Sir, with the money you gave me I have earned ten times as much.’

‘That’s fine, my good servant!’ the king said. ‘Since you have shown that you can be trusted with a small amount, you will be given ten cities to rule.’

The second one came and said, ‘Sir, with the money you gave me, I have earned five times as much.’

The king said, ‘You will be given five cities.’

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Another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your money. I kept it safe in a handkerchief. You are a hard man, and I was afraid of you. You take what isn’t yours, and you harvest crops you didn’t plant.’

‘You worthless servant!’ the king told him. ‘You have condemned yourself by what you have just said.

You knew that I am a hard man, taking what isn’t mine and harvesting what I’ve not planted. Why didn’t you put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have had the money

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together with interest.’

Then he said to some other servants standing there, ‘Take the money away from him and give it to the servant who earned ten times as much.’

But they said, ‘Sir, he already has ten times as much!’

The king replied, ‘Those who have something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have anything.’”

STORY 277

A Man with a Crippled Hand Mark 3:1-6

The next time that Jesus went into the meeting place, a man with a crippled hand was there. The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they kept watching to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus told the man to stand up where everyone could see him.

Then he asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds?

Should we save someone’s life or destroy it?”

No one said a word. Jesus was angry as he looked around at the people. He also felt sorry for them because they were so stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand was healed. The Pharisees left.

Right away they started making plans with Herod’s followers to kill Jesus.

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STORY 278

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men Matthew 9:27-34

As Jesus was walking along, two blind men began following him and shouting, “Son of David, have pity on us!”

After Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came up to him. He asked them, “Do you believe I can make you well?”

“Yes, Lord,” they answered.

He touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, you will be healed.” They were able to see, and Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about him. But they left and talked about him to everyone in that part of the country.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their

way, some people brought to him a man who could not talk because a demon was in him. After Jesus had forced the demon out, the man started talking. The crowds were so amazed that they began saying, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”

But the Pharisees said, “The leader of the demons gives him the power to force out demons.”

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STORY 279

A Sick Woman Mark 5:21-34

Once again Jesus got into the boat and crossed Lake Galilee. As he stood on the shore a large crowd gathered around him. The person in charge of the Jewish meeting place was also there. His name was Jairus. When he saw Jesus, he went over to him. He knelt at Jesus’ feet and said, “My daughter is about to die! Please come and touch her, so she will get well and live.” Jesus went with Jairus. Many people followed along and kept crowding around.

In the crowd there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had gone to many doctors. Instead of getting better, she only got worse. The woman had heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.” As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped. At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him.

Jesus turned to the crowd and asked,

“Who touched my clothes?”

His disciples said to him, “Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?” The woman came shaking with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story.

Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain.”

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STORY 280

A Dying Girl Mark 5:35-43

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from Jairus’ home. They said, “Jairus, your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Jesus heard what they said. He said to Jairus, “Don’t worry. Just have faith!”

Jesus did not let anyone go with him except Peter and the two brothers, James and John. They went home with Jairus and saw the people crying.

Jesus went inside and said to them, “Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn’t dead. She is just asleep.” The people laughed at him.

After Jesus had sent them all out of the house, he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples. Then he went to where she was. He took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand and said, “Talitha, koum!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got up and started walking around. Everyone was surprised. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.”

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STORY 281

Jesus Calms The Storm Mark 4:35-41

That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the east side.” So they left the crowd and started across the lake with him in the boat. Some other boats followed along.

Suddenly a windstorm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat. It was about to sink. Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow. He was asleep.

His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?”

Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped.

The waves stopped. Everything was calm.

Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don’t you have any faith?”

They were more afraid than ever and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

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STORY 282

The Wild Man in the Graveyard Mark 5:1-13

Jesus and his disciples crossed Lake Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa.

When he was getting out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit quickly ran to him from the graveyard where he had been living. He had often been put in chains and leg irons, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one

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could control him. Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with stones.

The man ran up to Jesus and knelt down. Jesus told the evil spirit to come out of him. The man shouted, “Jesus, Son of God in heaven, what do you want with me?”

Jesus asked, “What is your name?”

The man answered, “My name is Lots,

because I have ‘lots’ of evil spirits.” He begged Jesus not to send them away.

“Send us into those pigs!” the man said.

“Let us go into them.”

Jesus let the evil spirits go. They went out of the man and into the pigs. The whole herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

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STORY 283

Herodias Takes Revenge Mark 6:14-29

Jesus became so well-known that Herod the ruler heard about him. Some people thought he was John the Baptist, who had come back to life with the power to work miracles. When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “This must be John! I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life.”

Earlier, Herod had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, “It isn’t right for you to take your brother’s wife!”

In order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison.

Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. She could not do it because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man.

Finally, Herodias got her chance. Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for Herod and his guests.

She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it’s yours! I swear that I will give you as much as half

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of my kingdom, if you want it.”

The girl left and asked her mother, “What do you think I should ask for?”

Her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist!”

The girl hurried back and told Herod, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now!” The king was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests.

King Herod ordered a guard to cut off John’s head there in prison. The guard put the head on a platter and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother.

When John’s followers learned that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.

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STORY 284

The Work of Jesus’ Followers Luke 10:1-12

Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. He said to them, “A large crop is in the fields, but there are only

a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Don’t take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road.

As soon as you enter a home, say, ‘God bless this home with peace.’ If the people

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living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house.

If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. Heal their sick and say, ‘God’s kingdom will soon be here!’ But if the people of a town refuse

to welcome you, go out into the street and say, ‘We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God’s kingdom will soon be here!’”

When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”

Jesus told them, “Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!”

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STORY 285

Jesus Thanks His Father Luke 10: 21-24

Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. He prayed, “My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, that is what

pleased you. My Father has given me everything. The only one who really knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.”

Jesus then turned to his disciples and said to them in private, “You are really blessed to see what you see! Many prophets and kings were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear.

But I tell you that they did not see or hear.”

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STORY 286

Jesus Seeks a Quiet Place Mark 6:30-33

After the disciples returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught. So many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat.

Jesus said, “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. People from every town ran on ahead and got there first.

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STORY 287

The Hungry People Mark 6:34-38, John 6:5-9

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without

a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside

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and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat.”

The disciples told him, “Don’t you know that it would take almost a year’s wages to buy all of these people

something to eat?”

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the disciples. He spoke up and said, “There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?”

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STORY 288

Five Loaves and Two Fish Mark 6:39-44, John 6:10-14

The ground was covered with grass.

Jesus told his disciples to have everyone sit down. About five thousand men were in the crowd. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people. He did the same with the fish until everyone had

plenty to eat.

Jesus told his disciples to gather up the leftovers so that nothing would be wasted. The disciples gathered them up and filled twelve large baskets with what was left over from the five barley loaves.

After the people had seen Jesus work this miracle, they began saying, “This must be the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

STORY 289

Jesus Walks on Water Mark 6:45-50

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Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But Jesus stayed until he had sent the crowds away. He told them good-bye and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.

Later that evening he was still there by himself. The boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake. He could see that the disciples were struggling because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning Jesus came toward

them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost! They started screaming. All of them were terrified.

But Jesus said, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”

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STORY 290

Peter Lacks Faith Matthew 14:28-36

Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come on!” Jesus said.

Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him. But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking.

“Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Right away, Jesus reached out his hand.

He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”

When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret. The people found out that he was there, and they sent word to everyone who lived in that part of the country. So they brought all the sick people to Jesus. They begged him just to let them touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.

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STORY 291

A Woman’s Faith Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left and went to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Suddenly a Canaanite woman from there came out shouting, “Lord and Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is full of demons.” Jesus did not say a word.

The woman kept following along and shouting.

Jesus’ disciples came up and asked him to send her away. Jesus said, “I was sent only to the people of Israel! They are like a flock of lost sheep.”

The woman came closer. Then she knelt down and begged, “Please help me, Lord!”

Jesus replied, “It isn’t right to take food away from children and feed it to dogs.”

“Lord, that’s true,” the woman said, “but even dogs get the crumbs that fall from their owner’s table.”

Jesus answered, “Dear woman, you really do have a lot of faith. You will be given what you want.”

At that moment her daughter was healed.

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STORY 293

Simon Shows True Faith Matthew 16:13-19

Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea. He asked them, “What do people say about the Son of Man?” The disciples answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah or Jeremiah or some other prophet.”

Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed!

You didn’t discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. So I will call you Peter, which means ‘a rock.’ On this rock I will build my church. Death itself will not have any power over it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

STORY 292

Jesus Heals a Blind Man Mark 8:22-26

As Jesus and his disciples were going into Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch the man. Jesus took him by the hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man’s eyes. He placed his hands on the blind man and asked him if he could see anything. The man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking around.”

Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again.

This time the man stared. His eyes were healed, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus said to him, “You may return home now.”

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STORY 294

The Ten Lepers Luke 17:11-19

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him.

They stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Jesus looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” On their way, they were healed.

When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria.

Jesus asked, “Weren’t ten men healed?

Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?” Then Jesus told the man, “You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well.”

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STORY 295

Moses and Elijah Appear Luke 9:28-36

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray. While he was praying, his clothes became shining white. Suddenly Moses and Elijah were there speaking with him. They appeared in heavenly glory and talked about all that Jesus’ death in Jerusalem would mean.

Peter, John and James had been sound asleep. All at once they woke up and saw how glorious Jesus was.

They also saw the two men who were with him. Moses and Elijah were about to leave. Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But Peter did not know what he was talking about.

While Peter was still speaking, a shadow from a cloud passed over them, and they were frightened as the cloud covered them. From the cloud a voice spoke, “This is my chosen Son. Listen to what he says!” After the voice had spoken, Peter, John, and James saw only Jesus. They kept quiet and did not say anything about what they had seen.

STORY 296

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Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath Luke 13:10-17

One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a Jewish meeting place. A woman was there who had been crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. She was completely bent over and could not straighten up. When Jesus saw the woman, he called her over and said, “You are now well.” He placed his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight and praised God. The man in charge of the meeting place was angry because Jesus had healed someone on the Sabbath. He said to the people, “Each week has six days when we can work. Come and be healed on one of those days, but not on the Sabbath.”

The Lord replied, “Are you trying to fool someone?

Won’t any one of you untie your ox or donkey and lead it out to drink on a Sabbath? This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but

Satan has kept her bound for eighteen years. Isn’t it right to set her free on the Sabbath?”

Jesus’ words made his enemies ashamed. But everyone else in the crowd was happy about the wonderful things he was doing.

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STORY 297

The Death of Lazarus John 11:1-16

A man by the name of Lazarus was sick in the village of Bethany. He had two sisters, Mary and Martha. This was the same Mary who later poured perfume on the Lord’s head and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent a message to the Lord and told him that his good friend Lazarus was sick.

When Jesus heard this he said, “His sickness won’t end in death.” Jesus stayed where he was for two more days.

Then he said to his disciples, “Now we will go back to Judea.”

“Teacher,” they said, “the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?”

Jesus answered, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep. I am going there to wake him up.”

They replied, “Lord, if he is asleep, he will get better.”

Jesus really meant that Lazarus was dead. They thought he was talking only about sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead! I am glad that I wasn’t there, because now you will have a chance to put your faith in me. Let’s go to him.”

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STORY 298

Jesus Brings Lazarus to Life John 11:1-44

When Martha heard that Jesus had arrived, she went out to meet him. Jesus said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord!” she replied. “I believe that you are Christ, the Son of God.” Mary went to where Jesus was. As soon as she saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus started crying. The people said, “See how much he loved Lazarus.”

Jesus went to the tomb which was a cave with a stone rolled against the entrance. He told the people to roll the

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stone away. But Martha said, “Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days. There will be a bad smell.”

After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. I know that you always answer my prayers. I said this so that the people here would believe that you sent me.”

When Jesus had finished praying, he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of burial cloth, and a cloth covered his face.

Jesus told the people, “Untie him and let him go.”

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STORY 299

The Cripple by the Water John 5:1-9

Later, Jesus went to Jerusalem for another Jewish festival. In the city near the sheep gate was a pool of water with five porches. Its name in Hebrew was Bethzatha. Many sick, blind, and crippled people were lying close to the pool. Beside the pool was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

When Jesus saw the man and realized that he had been crippled for

a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be healed?”

The man answered, “Lord, I don’t have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first.”

Jesus told him, “Pick up your mat and walk!”

Right then the man was healed.

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Little Man Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10

Jesus was going through Jericho. There a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.”

Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed

Jesus. Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”

Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.”

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.”

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STORY 301

STORY 302

Luke 19:28-38

Luke 19:39-44

The Big Parade Jesus went on toward Jerusalem.

As he was getting near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead. He told them, “Go into the next village where you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. If anyone asks why you are doing that, just say the Lord needs it.”

They went off and found everything just as Jesus had said. While they were untying the donkey, its owners asked, “Why are you doing that?”

They answered, “The Lord needs it.” Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on. As he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him.

When Jesus was starting down the Mount of Olives, his disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. They shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God.”

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Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!”

But Jesus answered, “If they keep quiet, the stones will still shout and sing!”

When Jesus came closer, he could see Jerusalem. He cried and said, “It is too bad that today your people don’t know what will bring them peace! Now it is hidden from them.

Jerusalem, the time will come when your enemies will build walls around you to attack you. Armies will surround

you and close in on you from every side.

They will level you to the ground and kill your people. Not one stone in your buildings will be left on top of another. This will happen because you did not see that God had come to save you.”

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STORY 303

Healing in the Temple Matthew 21:14-16

Blind and lame people came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. But the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were angry when they saw his

miracles and heard the children shouting praises to the Son of David. The men said to Jesus, “Don’t you hear what those children are saying?”

“Yes, I do!” Jesus answered. “Don’t you know that the Scriptures say, ‘Children and infants will sing praises?’” Then Jesus left the city and went out to the village of Bethany, where he spent the night.

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STORY 304

Judas Betrays Jesus Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16

When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples, “You know that two days from now will be Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross.”

At that time the chief priests and the nation’s leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. They planned how they could have Jesus arrested and put to death. But they said, “We must not do it during Passover because the people will riot.”

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?”

They paid Judas thirty silver coins.

From then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.

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STORY 305

STORY 306

Luke 22:7-13

Luke 22:14, 24-30

A Special Meal is Prepared The day had come for the Passover. Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.”

They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

Jesus told them, “As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water.

Follow him into the house and say to the owner, ‘Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.” Peter and John left.

They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

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The Leaders Shall Serve When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, the apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus told them, “Foreign kings order their people around. Powerful rulers call themselves everyone’s friends. Don’t be like them.

The most important one of you should be like the least important. Your leader

should be like a servant. Who do people think is the greatest – a person who is served or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who is served? But I have been with you as a servant. You have stayed with me in all my troubles. So I will give you the right to rule as kings, just as my Father has given me the right to rule as a king. You will eat and drink with me in my kingdom. And you will each sit on a throne to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

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STORY 307

A New Command John 13: 31-35

Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man will be given glory. Then after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him. God will do it very soon.

My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won’t find me. I tell you just as I told the people, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’ But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

STORY 308

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit John 14:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. I won’t leave you like orphans.

I will come back to you. In a little while the people of this world won’t be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you.”

The Lord’s Supper Mark 14:18-25

While Jesus and the twelve disciples were eating together that evening, Jesus said, “The one who will betray me is now eating with me.”

This made the disciples sad. They each said to Jesus, “You surely don’t mean me!”

He answered, “It is one of you twelve men who is eating from this dish with me. The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But it is going to be terrible for the one who betrays me. That

man would be better off if he had never been born.”

During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this. It is my body.”

Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples. They all drank some. Then he said, “This is my blood, which is poured out for many people. With it God makes his promise. From now on I will not drink any wine until I drink new wine in God’s kingdom.”

STORY 309

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STORY 310

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet John 13:1-9

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world and he loved them to the very end. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already made Judas betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that God had given him complete power and that he had come from God and was going back to God. So Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl.

Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing. Simon Peter asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.

“If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”

Peter said, “Lord, then don’t just wash my feet. Wash my hands and my head.”

STORY 311

Jesus Sets the Example John 13:12-17

After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done? You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should. That is who I am. If your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, do the same for each other. I have set the example. You should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. “I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master. Messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. You know these things. God will bless you if you do them.”

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STORY 312

His Father’s Work John 14:8-14

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.

That is all we need.”

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don’t you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father? Don’t you believe that I am one with the Father and that the

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Father is one with me?

Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do. I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father.

Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask.

This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. I will do whatever you ask me to do.”

STORY 313

Peter Will Deny Jesus Mark 14:26-31

The disciples sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus said to his disciples, “All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”

Jesus replied, “This very night before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

Peter was so sure of himself that he said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you!”

All the other disciples said the same thing.

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STORY 314

A Home in Heaven John 14:1-7

Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take

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you with me. Then we will be together.

You know the way to where I am going.”

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”

“I am the way, the truth, and the life!”

Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.”

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STORY 315

Jesus Prays for His Followers John 17:1-18:1

After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples, he looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, the time has come for you to bring glory to your Son, in order that he may bring glory to you.

And you gave him power over all people so that he would give eternal life to everyone you give him. Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent.

You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. They were yours, but

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you gave them to me, and they have obeyed you. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. Holy Father, I am coming to you. But my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. I also pray for those who will have faith because of what my followers say about me that they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours.”

When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and went into a garden.

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STORY 316

The Disciples Fall Asleep Mark 14:33-42

Jesus took along Peter, James, and John.

Jesus was troubled and told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.” Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.”

When Jesus came back, he found the disciples sleeping. He said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can’t you stay awake for just one hour? Stay awake

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and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.” Jesus went back and prayed the same prayer. But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping again.

When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time, he said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up! Let’s go. The one who will betray me is already here.”

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STORY 317

Betrayed With a Kiss John 18:2-8; Matthew 26:48-49

Jesus often met in the garden with his disciples. Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Judas had told the soldiers ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”

Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen. He asked, “Who are you looking for?”

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They answered, “We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!”

Jesus told them, “I am Jesus!” At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.

Jesus again asked, “Who are you looking for?”

“We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth,” they answered.

This time Jesus replied, “I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.”

Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.

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STORY 318

Jesus is Taken Away John 18:10-11; Luke 22:51-54

Simon Peter had brought along a sword.

He pulled it out and struck at the servant of the high priest. The servant’s name was Malchus. Peter cut off his right ear.

Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away.

I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me.” Then he touched the

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servant’s ear and healed it.

Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the temple police, and the leaders who had come to arrest him. He said, “Why do you come out with swords and clubs and treat me like a criminal? I was with you every day in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is your time, and darkness is in control.”

Jesus was arrested and led away to the house of the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance.

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STORY 319

Peter’s Denial

John 18:12-14, Luke 22:54-62

The Roman officer and his men, together with the temple police, arrested Jesus and tied him up. Then Jesus was led away to the house of the high priest while Peter followed at a distance.

Some people had built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting around it. Peter sat there with them. A servant girl saw Peter. After she had looked at him carefully, she said, “This man was with Jesus!”

Peter said, “I don’t even know that man!”

A little later someone else saw Peter

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and said, “You are one of them!”

“No, I’m not!” Peter replied.

About an hour later another man insisted, “This man must have been with Jesus. They both come from Galilee.”

Peter replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about!”

Right then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went out and cried.

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STORY 320

Jesus is Questioned Mark 14:53 -65, 15:1

The chief priests, the nation’s leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses all met together. They tried to find someone to accuse Jesus of a crime so they could put him to death. Finally some men stood up and lied about him.

They said, “We heard him say he would tear down this temple that we built. He also claimed that in three days he would build another one without any help.”

Jesus kept quiet and did not say a word.

The high priest asked him another question, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the glorious God?”

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“Yes, I am!” Jesus answered, “Soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

At once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted, “Why do we need more witnesses? You heard him claim to be God! What is your decision?”

They all agreed that he should be put to death. Some of the people started spitting on Jesus. They blindfolded him.

They hit him with their fists. Then the guards took Jesus and beat him. They tied Jesus up and led him off to Pilate.

Jesus is Sent to Herod Luke 23:7-12

Pilate learned that Jesus came from the region ruled by Herod. So he sent Jesus to Herod in Jerusalem. Herod had wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he finally had this chance. He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him work a miracle. Herod asked him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not answer.

Then the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses stood up and accused him of all kinds of bad things.

Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus and insulted him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

That same day Herod and Pilate became friends even though they had been enemies before this.

STORY 321

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STORY 322

Pilate Tries to Free Jesus John 18:28-40

It was early in the morning when Jesus was taken to the building where the Roman governor stayed. The crowd waited outside. Pilate came out and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

They answered, “He is a criminal!

That’s why we brought him to you.”

Pilate told them, “Take him and judge him by your own laws.”

The crowd replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.”

Pilate then went back inside. He called Jesus over and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

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“You know I’m not a Jew!” Pilate said.

“Your own people and the chief priests brought you to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world.”

“So you are a king,” Pilate replied.

“You are saying that I am a king,” Jesus told him. “I was born into this world to tell about the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth knows my voice.”

Pilate went back out and said, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything! And since I usually set a prisoner free for you at Passover, would you like for me to set free the king of the Jews?”

They shouted, “No, not him! We want Barabbas.”

Barabbas was a terrorist.

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STORY 323

Jesus is Sentenced to Death John 19:1-16

Pilate gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip. The soldiers made a crown out of thorn branches and put it on Jesus.

Then they put a purple robe on him.

Once again Pilate went out to the crowd.

He said, “I will have Jesus brought out to you again. Then you can see for yourselves that I have not found him guilty.”

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Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!” the crowd cried.

Pilate told them, “You take him and nail him to a cross! I don’t find him guilty of anything.”

The crowd replied, “He claimed to be the Son of God!” When Pilate heard this he was terrified.

He went back inside and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer.

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

Pilate asked. “Don’t you know that I have the power to let you go free or to nail you to a cross?”

Jesus replied, “If God had not given you the power, you couldn’t do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did something even worse.”

Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, “If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor!

Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor. Kill him! Kill him!”

“So you want me to nail your king to a cross?” Pilate asked.

The chief priests replied, “The Emperor is our king!” Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross.

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STORY 324

The Weeping Women Luke 23:26-31

As Jesus was being led away, some soldier’s grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

A large crowd was following Jesus. A lot of women were crying and weeping for him. Jesus turned to the women and said, “Women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me!

Cry for yourselves and for your children.

Someday people will say, ‘Women who never had children are really fortunate!’

At that time everyone will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ They will say to the hills, ‘Hide us!’ If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry?”

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STORY 326

Jesus Dies

Luke 23:39-44; John 19:28-30

STORY 325

Jesus is Nailed to a Cross Luke 23:32-38

Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus. The soldiers came to the place called “The Skull.” There they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these

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people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”

While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”

The soldiers made fun of Jesus. They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” Above him was a sign that said: This Is the King of the Jews.

One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!”

But the other criminal told the first one, “Don’t you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man?

We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!”

Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”

Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. In order to make the Scriptures come true, he said, “I am thirsty!” Someone soaked a sponge in a jar of wine and held it up to Jesus’ mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died.

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STORY 327

The Earth Trembles Matthew 27:51-56

The moment Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. Graves opened, and many of God’s people were raised to life. Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, “This man really was God’s Son!” Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were some of these women.

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STORY 328

Jesus is Buried

John 19:31-34; Matthew 27:57-61

The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. They asked Pilate to break the men’s legs and take their bodies down.

The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there.

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But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs.

That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea went and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph.

Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Then he put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away.

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STORY 329

Jesus Has Risen Matthew 28:1-10

It was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck. The Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning. His clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down as though they were dead.

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come; see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry!

Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”

The women were frightened and yet very happy. They hurried from the tomb and ran to tell Jesus’ disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They held on to his feet and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

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STORY 330

The Empty Tomb John 20:2-18

Mary Magdalene ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus’ favorite disciple and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb!” Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. The other disciple got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.

When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus’ face.

It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. The two of them went back to the other disciples.

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STORY 331

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

John 20:19; Luke 24:37-45; John 20:21-23

The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders. On the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. They were terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost.

Jesus said, “Why are you so frightened?

Why do you doubt?

Look at my hands and my feet and see who I am!

Touch me and find out for yourselves. Ghosts

don’t have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. The disciples were so amazed that they could not believe it. Then Jesus asked them, “Do you have something to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. He took it and ate it as they watched. He said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.”

Then he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.”

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STORY 332

Thomas Touches Jesus’ Wounds John 20:24-31

Although Thomas was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But Thomas said, “First I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand

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where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”

A week later the disciples were together again. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!”

Thomas replied, “You are my Lord and

my God!” Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”

Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life.

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STORY 333

A Net Full of Fish John 21:1-14

Jesus appeared to his disciples later along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing!”

The others said, “We will go with you.”

They went out in their boat. But they didn’t catch a thing that night.

Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”

“No!” they answered.

He told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat and you will catch some fish.” They did. The net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

Jesus’ favorite disciple told Peter, “It’s

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the Lord!” When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he jumped into the water. The other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish. In it there were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.

When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus told his disciples “Bring some of the fish you just caught.

Come and eat!” None of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.

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STORY 334

Jesus and Peter John 21:15-19

When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon, do you love me more than the others do?”

Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.

Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son

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of John, do you love me?”

Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.

Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything.

You know I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep. I tell

you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don’t want to go.”

Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God.

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STORY 335

Jesus Returns to God Acts 1:3-11

For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom.

While he was still with them, he said, “Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.

John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to give Israel its own king again?”

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Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power.

Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”

After Jesus had said this, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, but the disciples kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing beside them. They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.”

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STORY 336

The Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-13

On the day of Pentecost all the Lord’s followers were together in one place.

Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting.

Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.

Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem. And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing

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everything in their own languages. They were excited and amazed, and said, “Don’t all these who are speaking come from Galilee? Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages?”

Everyone was excited and confused.

Some of them even kept asking each other, “What does all this mean?” Others made fun of the Lord’s followers and said, “They are drunk.”

STORY 337

Peter Speaks to the Crowd 1 Acts 2:14-36

Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd, “Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say! You are wrong to think that these people are drunk. After all, it is only nine o’clock in the morning. But this is what God had the prophet Joel say, ‘When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone.’

Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you

know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life.

David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised.

Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.”

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STORY 338

The Fellowship of the Disciples Acts 2:37-39; 41-47

When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Friends, what shall we do?”

Peter said, “Turn back to God! Be

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baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children.

It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.”

Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, “I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people.”

On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized.

They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other.

Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property

and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.

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STORY 339

A Lame Man Is Healed Acts 3:1-4

The time of prayer was about three o’clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!” The man stared at them and

thought he was going to get something.

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.”

Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man’s feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God.

STORY 340

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Faith in Jesus Acts 3:11-26

While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement. Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said, “Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened?

Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was

being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.”

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STORY 341

Peter and John Before the Council Acts 4:5-20

The next morning the leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses met in Jerusalem. They brought in Peter and John and made them stand in the middle while they questioned them. They asked, “By what power and in whose name have you done this?”

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the nation’s leaders and the elders, “You are questioning us today about a

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kind deed in which a crippled man was healed. But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life. Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.”

Then the officials said to each other, “What can we do with these men?

Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn’t happen.” So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.

Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”

STORY 342

An Angel Frees the Apostles Acts 4:32-34; 5:12-21

The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other. In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers, and no one went in need of anything.

The apostles worked many miracles and wonders among the people. All of the Lord’s followers often met in the part of the temple known as Solomon’s Porch.

Many men and women started having faith in the Lord. The high priest and all the other Sadducees who were with him became jealous.

They arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail. But that night an angel from the Lord opened the doors of the jail and led the apostles out.

The angel said, “Go to the temple and tell the people everything about this new life.”

So they went into the temple before sunrise and started teaching.

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STORY 343

STORY 344

Acts 6:8-15

Acts 7:1;51-59

Stephen Is Arrested God gave Stephen the power to work great miracles and wonders among the people. But some Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria started arguing with Stephen. But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him.

So they turned the people and their leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed Stephen and dragged him in front of the council.

Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they said, “This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the Law of Moses. We have heard him claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses gave us.” Then all the council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.

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Stephen Is Killed The high priest asked Stephen, “Are they telling the truth about you?”

Stephen answered, “You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat? They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the One Who Obeys God. And now you have turned against him and killed him.

Angels gave you God’s Law, but you still don’t obey it.”

When the council members heard Stephen’s speech, they were furious. But Stephen

was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.

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STORY 345

Saul on the Road to Damascus Acts 8:1-4; 9:1-9

A man named Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.

Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord’s followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord’s Way. When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”

“Who are you?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”

The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing.

Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.

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STORY 346

Saul Is Baptized Acts 9:10-18

A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision.

Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.”

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street.

When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.”

Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road.

He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see.

He got up and was baptized. Then he ate and felt much better.

For several days Saul stayed with the Lord’s followers in Damascus.

Saul Begins to Preach Acts 9:20-31

Soon he went to the Jewish meeting places and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn’t this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?”

Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah.

Later, when Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of

him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him.

Barnabas also said that when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus.

The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.

STORY 347

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STORY 348

Peter Brings Dorcas Back to Life Acts 9:36-43

In Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha. Her Greek name was Dorcas, which means “deer.” She was always doing good things for people and had given much to the poor. But she got sick

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and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

Joppa wasn’t far from Lydda, and the followers heard that Peter was there.

They sent two men to say to him, “Please come with us as quickly as you can!”

Right away, Peter went with them.

The men took Peter upstairs into the room. Many widows were there crying.

They showed him the coats and clothes

that Dorcas had made while she was still alive.

After Peter had sent everyone out of the room, he knelt down and prayed.

Then he turned to the body of Dorcas and said, “Tabitha, get up!” The woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.

Peter called in the widows and the other followers and showed them that Dorcas had been raised from death.

Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord.

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STORY 349

A Sheet Full of Animals Acts 10:1-16

In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, who was the captain of a group of soldiers. Cornelius worshiped God, and so did everyone else who lived in his house. One afternoon, Cornelius had a vision. He saw an angel from God coming to him and calling him by name.

Cornelius was surprised and stared at the angel. Then he asked, “What is this all about?”

The angel answered, “God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor. Now send some men to Joppa for a man named Simon Peter.”

After saying this, the angel left.

Cornelius called in two of his servants and one of his soldiers. He explained

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everything to them and sent them off to Joppa.

The next day about noon these men were coming near Joppa. Peter went up on the roof of the house to pray and became very hungry. He fell sound asleep and had a vision. He saw heaven open, and something came down like a huge sheet held up by its four corners. In it were all kinds of animals, snakes, and birds. A voice said to him, “Peter, get up!

Kill these and eat them.”

But Peter said, “Lord, I can’t do that!

I’ve never eaten anything that is unclean and not fit to eat.”

The voice spoke to him again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don’t say it isn’t fit to eat.”

This happened three times before the sheet was suddenly taken back to heaven.

STORY 350

Peter Visits an Army Officer Acts 10:19-45

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men are here looking for you.

Hurry down and go with them. Don’t worry, I sent them.”

Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

They answered, “Captain Cornelius sent us. He is a good man who worships God. One of God’s holy angels told Cornelius to send for you, so he could hear what you have to say.” Peter invited them to spend the night.

The next morning, Peter and some of the Lord’s followers in Joppa left with the men who had come from Cornelius.

The next day they arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was waiting for them.

He had also invited his relatives and close friends.

Peter then said, “Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from. This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ.”

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit took control of everyone who was listening.

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STORY 351

Peter Is Arrested Again Acts 12:1-8

At that time King Herod caused terrible suffering for some members of the church. He ordered soldiers to cut off the head of James, the brother of John. When Herod saw that this pleased the Jewish people, he put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him.

Herod planned to put him on trial in public after the festival.

While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two

chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail.

Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick!

Get up!”

The chains fell off his hands, and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told.

Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.”

STORY 352

Peter Escapes from Prison Acts 12:9-17

Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream. They went past the two groups of soldiers, and when they came to the iron gate to the city, it opened by itself. They went out and were going along the street, when all

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at once the angel disappeared.

Peter now realized what had happened, and he said, “I am certain that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.” Then Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many of the Lord’s followers had come together there and were praying.

Peter knocked on the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.

When she heard Peter’s voice, she was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and said that Peter was standing there.

“You are crazy!” everyone told her. But she kept saying that it was Peter. Then they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed.

Peter motioned for them to keep quiet.

Then he told how the Lord had led him out of jail.

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STORY 353

Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus Acts 13:1-12

The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod’s close friend, and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.” Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.

After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia.

From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. They arrived at Salamis and began to preach God’s message. They also had John as a helper. Barnabas and Saul went all the way to the city of

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Paphos on the other end of the island, where they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He practiced witchcraft and was a false prophet. He also worked for Sergius Paulus, who was very smart and was the governor of the island. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear God’s message, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul. But Bar-Jesus was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.

Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Bar-Jesus and said, “When will you stop speaking against the true ways of the Lord? The Lord is going to punish you by making you completely blind for a while.”

Suddenly the man’s eyes were covered by a dark mist, and he went around trying to get someone to lead him by the hand. When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.

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STORY 354

Paul and Barnabas Are Worshiped as Gods Acts 14:8-20

In Lystra there was a man who had been born with crippled feet and had never been able to walk. The man was listening to Paul speak, when Paul saw that he had faith in Jesus and could be healed. So he looked straight at the man and shouted, “Stand up!” The man jumped up and started walking around.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they yelled out, “The gods have turned into humans and have come down to us!” The people then gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and they gave Paul the name Hermes, because he did the talking.

The temple of Zeus was near the entrance to the city. Its priest and the crowds wanted to offer a sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul. So the priest brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates.

When the two apostles found out about this, they tore their clothes in horror and ran to the crowd, shouting, “Why are you

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doing this? We are humans just like you.

Please give up all this foolishness. Turn to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.”

Some Jewish leaders came and turned the crowds against Paul. They hit him with stones and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. But when the Lord’s followers gathered around Paul, he stood up and went back into the city.

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STORY 355

Paul and Silas in Jail Acts 16:16-24

One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl.

She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners.

The girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.”

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This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her.

When the girl’s owners realized that they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court.

They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.”

The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

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STORY 356

Singing in Jail Acts 16:25-40

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened.

Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.

When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! No one has escaped.”

The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas.

After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.”

Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized.

They were very glad that they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.

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The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. The jailer told Paul, “The officials have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace.”

But Paul told the police, “We are Roman citizens, and the Roman officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away? No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us out.”

When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the officials were afraid. So they came and apologized. They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town. But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw the Lord’s followers and encouraged them. Then they left.

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STORY 357

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica Acts 17:1-9

Paul and his friends went on to Thessalonica. A Jewish meeting place was in that city. So as usual, Paul went there to worship. He used the Scriptures to show the people that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about.

Some of them believed what Paul had said, and they became followers. Some Gentiles and many important women also believed the message.

The Jewish leaders were jealous and got some worthless bums who hung around the marketplace to start a riot in the city. They wanted to drag Paul and Silas out to the mob, and so they went straight to Jason’s home. But when they did not find them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the Lord’s followers.

They took them to the city authorities and shouted, “Paul and Silas have been upsetting things everywhere. Now they have come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. All of them break the laws of the Roman Emperor by claiming that someone named Jesus is king.”

The officials and the people were upset when they heard this. So they made Jason and the other followers pay bail before letting them go.

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STORY 358

Paul in Athens Acts 17:13-21

When the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica heard that Paul had been preaching God’s message in Berea, they went there and caused trouble by turning the crowds against Paul.

While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city.

He went to the Jewish meeting place to speak to the Jews and to anyone who worshiped with them. Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market. People were asking, “What is this know-it-all trying to say?”

Some even said, “Paul must be preaching about foreign gods! That’s what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from death.” They brought Paul before a council called the Areopagus, and said, “Tell us what your new teaching is all about. We have heard you say some strange things, and we want to know what you mean.”

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STORY 359

Paul Speaks at Areopagos Acts 17:22-34

So Paul stood up in front of the council and said, “People of Athens, I see that you are very religious. As I was going through your city and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar with the words, ’To an Unknown God.’ You worship this God, but you don’t really know him.

So I want to tell you about him. This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn’t live in temples built by human hands. He doesn’t need help

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from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people.

God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him.

He isn’t far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. ’We are his children,’ just as some of your poets have said.

Since we are God’s children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn’t like anything that humans have thought up and made. In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him.

He has set a day when he will judge the

world’s people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.”

As soon as the people heard Paul say that a man had been raised from death, some of them started laughing. Others said, “We will hear you talk about this some other time.” When Paul left the council meeting, some of the men put their faith in the Lord and went with Paul.

437 PAUL’S MINISTRY

STORY 360

The Riot in Ephesus Acts 19:23-30

A silversmith named Demetrius had a business that made silver models of the temple of the goddess Artemis. Those who worked for him earned a lot of money. Demetrius brought together everyone who was in the same business and said, “Friends, you know that we make a good living at this. But you have surely seen and heard how this man Paul is upsetting a lot of people. He claims that the gods we humans make are not really gods at all. Everyone will start saying terrible things about our

438 PAUL’S MINISTRY

business. They will stop respecting the temple of the goddess Artemis, who is worshiped in Asia and all over the world. Our great goddess will be forgotten!”

When the workers heard this, they got angry and started shouting, “Great is Artemis, the goddess of the Ephesians!”

Soon the whole city was in a riot. Then everyone in the crowd rushed to the place where the town meetings were held.

Paul wanted to go out and speak to the people, but the Lord’s followers would not let him. A few of the local officials were friendly to Paul, and they sent someone to warn him not to go.

STORY 361

Paul Is Warned Acts 20:17-38

Paul sent a message for the church leaders at Ephesus to come and meet with him. When they got there, he said, “Some of the Jews plotted against me and caused me a lot of sorrow and trouble. But I served the Lord and was humble. When I preached in public or taught in your homes, I didn’t hold back from telling anything that would help you. I told Jews and Gentiles to turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, but I must obey God’s

Spirit and go there. In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem. But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.”

After Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

Everyone cried and hugged and kissed him. They were especially sad because Paul had told them, “You will never see me again.”

Then they went with him to the ship.

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STORY 362

A Mob Turns Against Paul Acts 21:27-36; 22:23-24

Some of the Jewish people from Asia saw Paul in the temple. They got a large crowd together and started attacking him. They were shouting, “Friends, help us! This man goes around everywhere, saying bad things about our nation and about the Law of Moses and about this

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temple. He has even brought shame to this holy temple by bringing in Gentiles.”

The whole city was in an uproar, and the people turned into a mob. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Then suddenly the doors were shut.

The people were about to kill Paul when the Roman army commander heard that all Jerusalem was starting to

riot. So he quickly took some soldiers and officers and ran to where the crowd had gathered. The army commander went over and arrested Paul and had him bound with two chains. Then he tried to find out who Paul was and what he had done. Part of the crowd shouted one thing, and part of them shouted something else. But they were making so much noise that the commander could not find out a thing. Then he ordered

Paul to be taken into the fortress. As they reached the steps, the crowd became so wild that the soldiers had to lift Paul up and carry him. The crowd followed and kept shouting, “Kill him! Kill him!”

The Roman commander ordered Paul to be taken into the fortress and beaten with a whip.

441 PAUL’S MINISTRY

STORY 363

Paul Speaks Before the Governor Acts 24:24-27; 25:8-12

Felix the governor and his wife Drusilla went to the place where Paul was kept under guard. They sent for Paul and listened while he spoke to them about having faith in Christ Jesus. But Felix was frightened when Paul started talking to them about doing right, about selfcontrol, and about the coming judgment.

So he said to Paul, “That’s enough for now. You may go. But when I have time I will send for you.” After this, Felix often sent for Paul and talked with him, because he hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe.

Two years later Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix.

Then Paul spoke in his own defense, “I have not broken the Law of my people.

And I have not done anything against either the temple or the Emperor.”

Festus wanted to please the leaders. So he asked Paul, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me on these charges?”

Paul replied, “I am on trial in the Emperor’s court, and that’s where I

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should be tried. You know very well that I have not done anything to harm the Jewish nation. If I had done something deserving death, I would not ask to escape the death penalty. But I am not guilty of any of these crimes. I now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself.”

After Festus had talked this over with members of his council, he told Paul, “You have asked to be tried by the Emperor, and to the Emperor you will go!”

443 PAUL’S MINISTRY

Rome at Last Acts 28:1-10; 11-31

STORY 364

Heading for Rome Acts 27

Then it was time for us to sail to Rome.

We sailed along slowly for several days.

But soon a strong wind blew against us from the island. The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship. For fourteen days and nights we had been blown around over the Mediterranean Sea. But about midnight the sailors realized that we were getting near land. The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.

Morning came, and the ship’s crew saw a coast that they did not recognize. But

they did see a cove with a beach. So they decided to try to run the ship aground on the beach. They cut the anchors loose and let them sink into the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that were holding the rudders. Next, they raised the sail at the front of the ship and let the wind carry the ship toward the beach. But it ran aground on a sandbank.

The front of the ship stuck firmly in the sand, and the rear was being smashed by the force of the waves. Captain Julius ordered everyone who could swim to dive into the water and head for shore.

Then he told the others to hold on to planks of wood or parts of the ship. At last, everyone safely reached shore.

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When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.

After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand.

Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn’t harmed. The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they said, “This man is a god.”

Everyone on the island brought their sick people to Paul, and they were all healed.

In Rome Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to guard him. Paul called together some of the Jewish leaders, and many of them came to his house.

From early morning until late in the afternoon, Paul talked to them about God’s kingdom.

For two years Paul stayed in a rented house and welcomed everyone who came to see him.

He bravely preached about God’s kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.

445 STORY 365

PAUL’S MINISTRY

“Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.� - Matthew 14:19

“Blind and lame people came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them.�

- Matthew 21:14

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