Brave or Maybe Not so Much Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abraham

God called Abraham to follow Him to a land that He would show him. During the journey though, Abraham passed through many lands and saw many rulers. He was afraid kings would take his wife and kill him because she was very beautiful. So Abraham devised a plan to tell them that she was his sister (which was only half true, she was his half sister)

Pharaoh saw Sarah and loved her. He gave her many gifts and brought her to the palace. Then God started sending terrible things and plagues on Pharaoh's household. When he found out she was Abraham's wife, he was very angry. He told Abraham, something far worse could have happened if he had touched Sarah or slept with her. He sent Abraham away with gifts and many things. God stopped causing the plagues.

However Abraham didn't learn his lesson. He did it again with another king, Abimelech. "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.'" God told Abimelech to give Abraham his wife back and pray for him. Abraham did and Abimelech sent them away.
(Genesis 12, Genesis 20)

Answer: Jacob

Jacob ran away as a young man from his family because he had tricked his brother Esau and Esau swore to kill him.

Years passed, Jacob got married and had many kids. He eventually decided to return home and sent messengers to his brother. Jacob became very afraid when he found out his brother was coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob was so scared he divided up his family in case his brother decided to attack and kill them. Then he went across the river himself. That night Jacob wrestled with the angel. Jacob refused to let him go until he blessed him. The angel renamed Jacob (which means "cheater"), Israel, or "prince".

The next morning Jacob greeted his brother, and Esau blessed him instead of hurting him. Esau hugged Jacob and the two were reunited after many years. He allowed Jacob to continue his journey in peace. (Genesis 32)

Answer: Moses

Moses had once been in Prince in Egypt. However Moses ran away from Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. He became a shepherd and lived in the desert for many years watching his father in law's flocks. One day God spoke to Moses from a burning bush in the desert.

When God told Moses he wanted him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses immediately made excuses because he was scared. He asked God what would happen if Pharaoh or the Israelites didn't believe him. God gave Moses many signs to show Pharaoh, but Moses still wasn't convinced. He told God he had a speech problem and couldn't speak. God told him that his brother Aaron would come and help him. Moses kept making excuses and finally God was angry. God told Moses to go and He would be with him. Moses finally listened. The journey was rough, but Moses became one of the greatest leaders in the Bible.

(Exodus 4)

Answer: a goat standing on a rock

God chose Gideon, a farmer, to go to battle with the Midianites and promised him victory. When God called Gideon, Gideon wasn't enthused and responded by saying "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." (Judges 6:15)

However Gideon asked God for some signs. He put a fleece of wool out and asked God that if He had called him, to make the fleece wet and the ground dry. In the morning it was so. However Gideon asked God to do the opposite as a second sign. The next morning the fleece was dry and the ground was wet.

Gideon collected together an army, but God challenged his faith by sending the majority of his soldiers home. The night before the battle, God allowed Gideon to spy on the Midianites and Gideon saw that they were really cowards. They were having nightmares about being defeated even before the battle began. Gideon praised God and followed God's battle plan. As promised, God gave Gideon and his army the victory. Gideon became a great judge in Israel afterwards. (Judges 6)

Answer: Saul

For years, Israel was guided by their prophets, priests, and judges. As Samuel aged though, the Israelites continually begged for a king. Samuel's sons were not righteous and continually did evil, the same as his predecessor's sons had. God told Samuel to give them a king like they wanted.

God chose Saul, a young farmer, who was the image of what Israel wanted in a king. He was taller than the average male and muscular. Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel, but Saul kept it a secret. On coronation day when the lots were drawn, God arranged for Saul's to be chosen. However no one could find him because he was hiding behind supplies. God had to show the people where Saul was. When they saw Saul, they were very happy and started crying "God save the king!". Samuel finished the ceremony by giving them a blessing and warning of what their king would do.(1 Samuel 8-10)

Answer: He set up idols himself for his people to worship.

When Solomon turned to idols, God told him that He would rip ten of the tribes of Israel away. He selected Jeroboam to be the king of the new kingdom of Israel, while Solomon's son reigned over Judah.

After the fight was over and the ten of the tribes of Israel became their own kingdom, Jeroboam became their king. However he foolishly did not trust God and was afraid his people would leave to worship in the temple at Jerusalem, as was the custom for the Jews every year to offer sacrifices. Jeroboam said to himself, "The way things are going now, the kingdom might return to the house of David. If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, the heart of these people will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will murder me and go back to the king of Judah." (1 Kings 12:26-27)

So he set up golden calves and idols for the people to worship instead of going to the temple in Jerusalem. This mistake led to the Israelites committing idolatry until they were taken captive to Babylon.

Answer: fast and pray with her

A wicked ruler named Haman planed to kill the Jews and take all they had. Queen Esther knew if she approached the king without being called for, she could be executed unless he held out his golden scepter.

She told her cousin Mordecai, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

The prayers worked! When the king saw Esther, he granted her requests and did not kill her. Esther's actions saved her people from persecution.

Answer: He didn't want to be identified with Jesus.

While Jesus was being put on trial, Peter followed from a distance. He watched Jesus be brutally mocked and beaten. A servant girl noticed Peter warming his hands by the fire and accused him of being a disciple. Peter denied it and tried not to be identified. Later two more people accused Peter and he denied it again, and said he didn't know who Jesus was. When the rooster crowed three times, it caught Peter's attention. He ran and wept while Jesus was crucified. (Matthew 26:69-74, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, and John 18:15-18, 25-27.)

Peter repented and later became a leader of the apostles. Tradition says that when Peter was about to be executed, he requested to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.

Answer: Demas

Before his execution, Paul wrote to Timothy from prison that Demas had forsaken him because he loved the things of the present world. (2 Timothy 4:10) Demas was not the first person to leave or betray Paul, many others had.

Paul urged Timothy to fight the good fight and stand for Christ even when persecution came. He told Timothy that he would have a crown in heaven and so would all those that were faithful to Jesus to the end. "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8)

Answer: They committed immoral acts of sin.

In the message, Pergamum was referred to as "The city of Satan". It was a government-ruled city that was heavily involved in the ritual of emperor worship. The Christians were persecuted for not participating. God commended them for their faith in not denying Christ even when one of their own was put to death. However God did not approve of the sinful activities they were doing behind the scenes.

God told them, "I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

He did leave them with a promise though. Whoever was faithful and endured to the end would receive a reward and hidden manna. (Revelation 2:12-17)