The Rest Of The Story
1. Questions About The Rest Of The Story
2. Secret Things Belong To God
3. When Did The Clouds Appear?
4. Did Animals One Time Have The Ability To Talk To People?
5. I Wonder What Happened In Time Between Cain And Seth
6. Did Jacob Go Alone To Find A Wife?
7. Crossing The Red Sea On Dry Ground
8. What About Thanksgiving?
9. Precious Stones
10. The Fall Of Jericho
11. Why Wasn’t Aaron Killed With The Rest Of The People After The Golden Calf?
12. Did David Really Plan To Fight With The Philistines Against King Saul And Israel?
13. Elijah And Elisha
14. Is Esther The Queen Mentioned In Nehemiah 2:6?
15. Were There Dinosaurs In The Bible?
16. What Is The Most Important Thing We Must Do?
17. “Will Ye Also Go Away?”
18. “Lovest Thou Me More Than These?”
19. “What Would Ye That I Should Do For You?”
20. “How Can We Escape If We Neglect So Great Salvation?”
21. What Has Hindered You?
22. Why Are You Troubled?
1. Questions About The Rest Of The Story
When I read through the Bible I often come to scriptures that leave me with questions. I know that God has given us His complete Word as He wants us to have it and I learn a little more each time I read the Bible. I am reading with interest and praying for understanding and sometimes the answers that I am seeking are not there. It is during these times that I wonder if I can talk with the men and women of the Bible when I get to heaven. Not just the ones that we consider Bible Heroes, but others who may not even be named in the scriptures. Have you ever looked up at the beautiful blue sky with white fluffy clouds and wondered if people could see the clouds gathered in the sky before the rain fell on the ark? I would like to talk to one of the Israelites who walked on dry ground through the Red Sea and find out if he could see fish and other creatures through the wall of water. I would like to find someone who was a child that would have been amazed by the sights and sounds, instead of the fear of the impending army. It would be wonderful to talk to those of Bible days and find out the rest of the story. I want to share some of the things I have wondered about during my Bible reading.
2. Secret Things Belong To God
Before we begin with some of the questions that I think of I want to mention two verses. The first one is found in Deuteronomy 29:29. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” I know that God reveals to us the truths that He wants us to know. I am just looking at things that happened that I would like to talk about with those who are in heaven. We will have all eternity to be with our Christian brothers and sisters. Do we know enough of the Bible to carry on conversations with them? The next verse is II Timothy 2:23, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” I am not asking questions to start arguments. I keep devotional journals and these are just some of the questions that I would like to know “The Rest Of The Story.”
3. When Did The Clouds Appear?
I was recently riding in the car and the sky was a beautiful blue with one side filled with white fluffy clouds. We know that the ground was watered with a mist before the first rain. (Genesis 2:5-6) Do you think for those some 1,600 years from creation to the flood, the water evaporated up to the sky? Could people who lived during that time see the clouds forming in the sky? Did the people see the dark clouds gather over them for the seven days that Noah and his family waited inside the ark before the rain fell? Do you think Noah and his sons had to catch the animals for the ark, or do you think they freely went onboard with a miraculous call of God? Genesis 6:20 seems to say that they all went to Noah. “Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.” Maybe one day in heaven I can talk with Noah or his wife or another family member who was with them and learn how they worked to keep everyone and everything fed on the ark. God put the rainbow in the cloud after the rain, but I wonder when people could first see the clouds.
“12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-16)
4. Did Animals One Time Have The Ability To Talk To People?
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent talked to Eve. As we read about it in chapter 3 of Genesis, we don’t get any indication that Eve was surprised that he talked to her. God brought all the animals to Adam for him to give them names, in Genesis 2:19-20, “… but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” Do you think the animals talked with Adam as he gave them names? Did the birds sing songs of praise to God that Adam and Eve could understand? In Numbers 22:28 the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey that Balaam was riding and it asked, “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Balaam does not seem surprised that his donkey talked to him. After God opened the mouth of the donkey so Balaam could hear, He then opened the eyes of Balaam so he could see. “Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.” (Numbers 22:31) I know that many people talk to their animals, but have you ever wondered if there was a time when the animals talked back?
5. I Wonder What Happened In Time Between Cain And Seth
We read of the first two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God and Cain’s was not and he killed Abel. Cain was afraid and said, “that every one that findeth me shall slay me.” (Genesis 4:14) There were no other families, so he must have been talking about his brothers and sisters. I have often wondered why more of Adam and Eve’s children are not mentioned in the Bible. Cain had a wife, so there was at least a daughter. Some of the families of the Bible list all the children. “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 4:25-26) Then, we come to the grandson of Adam, Enos, the son of Seth and it tells us that men began ”to call upon the name of the LORD.” Adam and Eve had walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden before they sinned. Had men gone so far away from God in that time that it mentions when men began to call on the name of the Lord?
6. Did Jacob Go Alone To Find A Wife?
After Jacob cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and his blessing, Rebekah had Isaac send Jacob away to find a wife so that Esau would not kill him. I have always thought that Jacob went alone on his journey because we don’t see anyone else mentioned that went with him… or do we? Look at the example of the past. When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, he took 10 camels and other servants with him. “And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.” (Genesis 24:32) Isaac knew this, so maybe he also sent camels and servants with Jacob. I had never thought about this until I was reading recently and I noticed Deborah. Jacob was finally going back home after working for Laban 20 years. (Genesis 31:41) Who was Deborah and where did she come from?
“6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.” (Genesis 35:6-8)
Deborah was Rebekah’s nurse. Rebekah was Jacob’s mother who sent him away to keep him safe from the anger of Esau. Maybe Rebekah wanted her nurse to go with Jacob to take care of the bride to be. The margin in my Bible says that Allonbachuth means “the oak of weeping.” This was a sad time of mourning for Jacob. Since Deborah is said to be Rebekah’s nurse, she may have been like a modern day nanny who helped take care of Jacob as he was growing up. This is the only time we find Deborah, the nurse, in the scriptures, so we don’t know when she came to be with Jacob. I believe that she went with Jacob when he left. This seems more realistic than her traveling across the country some time during the 20 years Jacob was gone. And if she went with Jacob when he went to find a wife, then there may have been more servants that went with him. I would like to sit down with Deborah in heaven and let her tell me the rest of the story.
7. Crossing The Red Sea On Dry Ground
I mentioned this in my introduction. When I get to heaven I would like to talk with someone who was a child when the Israelites fled from Egypt. As parents saw the army of Pharaoh and fled in fear, maybe there were children who noticed the wonder of God’s power as they went between the walls of water on the dry ground of the Red Sea. God gave the Israelites light. Could they see the fish and other sea creatures as we can see them behind a glass at aquariums? Behind them, as the Egyptians pursued, God had a pillar of cloud that gave them darkness. Did they even know they were going through the Red Sea? Maybe they didn’t realize it until the morning light when the Lord fought against them and the water returned. With the rushing water from both sides, they could not fight against the Lord. Here is part of their song… “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.” (Exodus 15:3-5)
“19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:19-31)
8. What About Thanksgiving?
Sometimes I don’t really have questions, as such, but I find things interesting and would still like to talk with someone who experienced it. Parts of the Levitical laws were about sacrifices. We find laws for thanksgiving in chapter 7. God told them what to offer with their sacrifice of thanksgiving. We could prepare cakes and wafers and fried cakes with our offering of thanksgiving today, but it would be hard to eat it all the same day and not enjoy the leftovers later on.
“12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
14 And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:” (Leviticus 712-16)
9. Precious Stones
God gave Moses specific instructions about the garments that the Priest would wear. They were designed by God and must have been beautiful.
“2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.” (Exodus 28:2-5)
The part that I wish I could see most of all is the breastplate with precious stones and chains of pure gold.
“17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.” (Exodus 28:17-22)
I never got to see these beautiful garments, but, I will see precious stones when I get to heaven. These won’t be small stones, but the foundations in that beautiful city!
“18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” (Revelation 21:18-22)
10. The Fall Of Jericho
In Chapter 6 of the book of Joshua we have the story of the fall of Jericho. There are many strategies of war found in the Bible given by God that you will not find in any other pages of history. We saw how Pharaoh and his entire army were drowned when they followed the Israelites across the dry ground of the Red Sea and God commanded the waters to return at full force. I have read how people tried to explain why the walls fell around the city of Jericho. I can tell you why they fell. Because God said they would fall. Can you imagine the people inside the city when they saw seven priests with trumpets of rams’ horns and the Ark of the Covenant, and the men of war marching towards them? They were probably ready to fight, but the army returned to their camp. I wonder how many Israelites marched around the city. Joshua 4:13 tells us that they had 40,000 armed men. “About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.” Can you imagine if all 40,000 men marched around the city? Then, the second day, the army marched around the city again and returned to camp. Each day must have increased the fear of the people inside the city. The seventh day they marched around seven times and shouted and the walls fell. I would like to spend time with Rahab and listen to her tell me how it was inside the city walls. Then she could tell me the rest of the story of how she became a part of the Israelite people.
“10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:10-16 & 20)
11. Why Wasn’t Aaron Killed With The Rest Of The People After The Golden Calf?
Sometimes I have questions when I am reading and I find the answers later on in my reading. After Aaron was left in charge while Moses was on the mount with God, he made a golden calf to be their god. Aaron had been used by God when He sent the plagues on Egypt. Aaron had been on the mount and seen God. “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.” (Exodus 24:9-10) How could he made a false god? That question I can’t answer. The Levites carried out the judgment of God. Aaron was a Levite, did he help or stand back and watch in his guilt? “And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exodus 32:28) The next question is one I can answer. Why weren’t all the people destroyed? Why wasn’t Aaron killed , since he was the leader in the sin? Moses gives us the answer in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses fell down before the Lord 40 days and 40 nights and prayed for the people and for Aaron.
“13 Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.
17 And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.
18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.” (Deuteronomy 9:13-20)
12. Did David Really Plan To Fight With The Philistines Against King Saul And Israel?
The question today is one that I think of every time I read the end of I Samuel. King Saul was jealous of David after he killed the giant, “And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (I Samuel 18:7) The King tried on several occasions to kill David. David finally fled to the land of the Philistines and made a friendship with the King of Gath. “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.” (I Samuel 28:1-2) David and his men joined the Philistines on their way to the battle.
“3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” (I Samuel 29:3-8)
So David and his men returned to Ziklag and found that the Amalekites had taken their women captive and burned the city. David and his men went and recovered all. “And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.” (I Samuel 30:19-20) King Saul and his three sons were killed in the battle against the Philistines. And my question arises, “Did David really plan to fight with the Philistines against King Saul and Israel? Maybe David was planning to rescue King Saul and his good friend Jonathan.
13. Elijah And Elisha
Won’t it be wonderful to sit down and talk with the great prophets, Elijah and Elisha! Elijah who told King Ahab that it would not rain, and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. God provided him food from a raven and a poor widow. Elijah, who withstood all the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The same Elijah who heard God speak in a still small voice and went to heaven in a chariot of fire with horses of fire. Yes, it will be great to talk with Elijah. And I also want to talk with Elisha, the prophet who followed after him. Not only to them, but to the widow that Elisha made her oil to keep flowing into various vessels, and to the little maid of Naaman’s wife who told of the great prophet. I want to meet the woman of Shunem that Elisha promised a son, and then brought him back to life after he died. After I talk with them I want to find Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jonah, and so many more. We have the words of the prophets in our Bible, but it will be great to talk with them and hear more of the rest of their stories.
“7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” (II Kings 2:7-14)
14. Is Esther The Queen Mentioned In Nehemiah 2:6?
I enjoy the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. We often think of Esther as being the queen who was in the palace “for such a time as this” to save the lives of the Jews. (Esther 4:14) Have you ever really thought of what these young women did? After King Ahasuerus banished Queen Vashti, all the beautiful young women of his kingdom were gathered so that he could choose a new queen. This was more than a beauty pageant. After waiting a year, each young lady spent the night with the king and if she was not chosen and called by name, then she became a concubine of the king. She lost her freedom to get married and have a family. Esther was chosen to be the queen.
“12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.” (Esther 2:12-14)
The book of Nehemiah takes place after the book of Esther. Both books take place in Shushan the palace. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer and he was sad over the condition of Jerusalem. He went before the king and Nehemiah 2:6 says, “(the queen also sitting by him,)”. We are not told the queen’s name, but I believe this is Queen Esther. What other reason would there be for telling us the queen was present? And if it was Queen Esther then she may have been an influence to the king in favor of the Jews. Nehemiah goes back to Jerusalem and rebuilds the walls, in spite of all the opposition he faces. If you have not read the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther recently I encourage you to read them.
“1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.” (Nehemiah 2:1-6)
15. Were There Dinosaurs In The Bible?
Little girls like unicorns. They look like ponies with a shimmery, glittery horn on their head. They are pink and purple or other colors of the rainbow and we often tell them that there is no such thing as a unicorn. Oh, but there once were unicorns. They were not as we see them today. Unicorns were strong and fierce.
“9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?” (Job 39:9-11)
God’s Word also tells us of dragons and leviathan, a creature of old. “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” (Isaiah 27:1)
Leviathan was a mighty, terrible, fire breathing creature.
“14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.” (Job 41:14-24)
God also tells us of behemoth in Job 40.
“15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.” (Job 40:15-18)
Could these mighty animals have been dinosaurs?
16. What Is The Most Important Thing We Must Do?
For our last week of “The Rest Of The Story”, I want to look at some questions that are answered in the Bible. Some of these are questions that Jesus asked His followers. I am starting with, “What Are Things We Must Do?” The most important thing that we do in this life is found in John 3:7, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” We must believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and that He came to give His life on the cross to save us. When Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the gospel, the Philippian jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” If you have never believed in Jesus and asked Him to save you, please do so before it is too late. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” (Acts 16:26-34)
17. “Will Ye Also Go Away?”
The sixth chapter of John begins with Jesus feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children, with 5 loaves and 2 small fish. “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:14) Some sought to follow Jesus, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” (John 6:26) Jesus preached to the people and they said, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”and at the end of the chapter many walked away. Jesus spoke to the twelve and said, “Will ye also go away?” Peter has the perfect answer, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
“66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:66-69)
Sometimes life gets hard and people turn away from God. But, our loving Savior is with us always, even in the hard times. Don’t turn away from the Lord.
18. “Lovest Thou Me More Than These?”
Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword but Jesus wouldn’t let him. He followed to see what was going to happen to Jesus. And, yes, after he denied Jesus the third time he heard the rooster crow. Peter was heartbroken. Every time he heard a rooster crow he was reminded of that night that he failed the Lord. He had followed Jesus and knew He was Christ, and after He was buried, Peter decided to go back to his old life. I think that when Peter was on the sea fishing he could not hear the roosters crow. Jesus met him on the shore with fish and bread on the fire. “ Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.” (John 21:12-13) Jesus had fellowship with them. He asked Peter, “Lovet thou me more than these?” I don’t want to be hard on Peter, because there are times that I fail the Lord. Sometimes I feel that I should witness to someone and I can’t think of what to say, and the opportunity passes. There are other times that I have to ask the Lord to forgive me for things I have said or done. Is the Lord asking us if we love Him more than the life we left behind when we were saved? Do we love the Lord more than our jobs, or our recreation, or something else that fills our time? Do we really love the Lord more than these? This is the greatest commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30)
“15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)
19. “What Would Ye That I Should Do For You?”
Our question today comes from Mark 10. First we see Jesus ask this question to James and John. And they answer that they want to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory. They were thinking of how they could lift up themselves.
“35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” (Mark 10:35-37)
As we go a little farther in the chapter we find that blind Bartimaeus was begging and he cried out to Jesus and the people around were telling him to hold his peace. But, he kept calling to Jesus and Jesus stood still. Jesus asked the blind man, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” and the blind man said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.”
What do we want the Lord to do for us? Do we want to be lifted up with wealth or honor or attention? We should cry out to Jesus like the blind man, “That I might receive my sight.” We should pray that God would give us spiritual wisdom from His Word and that we can walk in the Light of the Lord, to be a light to others. What have you asked the Lord for today?
“46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:46-52)
20. “How Can We Escape If We Neglect So Great Salvation?”
Today we have another question about salvation from the book of Hebrews…
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by the angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Hebrews 2:1-4)
“How can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” These verses tell us that the angels were accountable for their wrong-doing and verse 7 tells us that we are "...a little lower than the angels..." So we can see that we will certainly be accountable for our sin. I also notice in these verses the word, "neglect". We often think of people who don't believe in God and those who "reject" Christ as the ones who end up being lost through eternity. But this verse doesn't say "reject". We don't have to openly deny knowing God to continue lost in our sins. If we hear the Word and let it slip by without asking the Lord to save us, we are neglecting the Word we have heard. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) You may believe that there is a God in heaven. You may do works in his name. But if you have not asked the Lord to save you, you are doing the works in your own merit. I have heard ball players give God the glory for a winning game, but doing works in His name is not enough to save a person. Just believing that there is a God will not save you. James said, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19) Once again let's look at these familiar verses in John 3, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18) Please don't neglect God's Word.
21. What Has Hindered You?
The Apostle Paul asked the church in Galatians 5:10, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" What has hindered us? Do you ever find that when you start something it's easy at first, but then you get tired of it or bored with it and quit? Maybe you tried to learn to play a musical instrument, or a new sport and you were so excited, but you soon found that it was going to take a lot of practice. Or maybe you are like me and you started a new exercise program and a special diet and started getting into shape, but then you stopped losing weight and you just got tired of working out every day, and you quit. Think back to the excitement you felt when you first got saved. Do you remember how you wanted to work for the Lord? You had great joy in going to church? What has hindered you? When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colosse he included salutations from those with him. "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." (Colossians 4:14) But when he wrote to Timothy he said, “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…” (II Timothy 4:8-9) Let’s be like Paul and finish our course. Let’s not be hindered by the world like Demas. Hang in there. Don't quit. Keep the faith. Let’s not let the things of this world hinder us from serving Christ.
22. Why Are You Troubled?
When we first heard the predictions of the storm coming January 25th, they were saying we might get 18 to 21 inches of snow. We heard all the lists of things to do to prepare for the storm. As the week went by the predictions in our area were lowered. We made one last trip to the grocery store and everyone had the same troubled look on their faces. I am glad that we only got an inch or two of ice and snow. I saw pictures of other areas that had heavy ice storms that took down trees and caused a lot of damage. We can be troubled by many types of storms in this life. After Jesus arose, He appeared to the disciples and He asked them, “Why are ye troubled?...”
“36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:36-38)
Our Lord and Savior can give peace and calm the storm, or He can give peace to us during the storm. Take your cares and burdens to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to be with you and give you peace that only He can give. Let's look at some of the comforting words of our Lord.
“1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
