Maybe You Should Think About That Quiz

Answer: God let Adam name them.

The garden of Eden must have been a very interesting place to Adam! Before God had made Eve, He brought all the animals that He had created to Adam and allowed him to name them! Adam definitely had many choices to make considering all the many different types of animals that he may have seen!

"And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him."
(Genesis 2:19-20)

God realised when Adam was naming the animals that it was not good for him to be alone. All the other animals had a mate. So God put a deep sleep on Adam and used one of his ribs to create Eve. When Adam saw Eve he named her as well!

"And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
(Genesis 2:22-23)

In the beginning, though, Adam and Even did not kill the animals for food or clothes. Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of the garden.

Answer: Cain

Abel and Cain both brought sacrifices unto God. Abel brought a lamb and Cain brought fruit. God honored Abel's sacrifice and did not honor Cain's. Cain was very angry and God tried to talk to him. However Cain did not listen and made a very bad choice without thinking of the consequences.

"And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."
(Genesis 4:6-8)

Cain became the first murderer. His decision to not listen to God and make things right not only hurt him but his family as well. Adam and Eve lost both their sons; one was dead and the other became a fugitive. It would have been a very different story had Cain thought about what God had warned him about.

Answer: Enoch

Genesis 5:24 tells us, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

After Adam and Eve there were more bad things mentioned. One of Cain's great grandsons also became a murderer. People grew worse as time went on and ultimately God wanted to wipe out humanity.

Enoch is the only one that is mentioned that walked with God in the time before Noah. There is no record of Enoch dying, only that he walked with God and God took him. It must have been an exciting reward to not have experienced death!

Answer: Ham respected his father and covered Noah with his own garment

Ham saw his father drunk and naked in his tent and did not attempt to cover him. Instead he went and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth, out of respect for their father, walked backwards and covered Noah with a garment so they would not see him. When Noah realised what Ham had done, he cursed Ham's son Canaan.

"And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant."
(Genesis 9:20-26)

Ham's actions not only affected his son but produced a group of people that would be enemies to the Israelites in the future. Bad decisions can sometimes have consequences that last beyond our lifetimes.

Answer: she was his sister

Abraham went down to Egypt because there was a great famine, but was afraid he would be killed because Sarah was very beautiful. Abraham decided to convince Sarah to tell the half truth that she was his sister instead of his wife. She was in fact his half sister.

This was a very unwise choice. The Egyptians saw that Sarah was very beautiful and took her to Pharaoh, who would have made her his wife had God not sent plagues to him. Abraham lost favor with Pharaoh and had also almost put his wife in the position of committing adultery to save his own life.

"And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had."
(Genesis 12:17-20)

Abraham did not learn his lesson though because he did it again in Genesis 20 to King Abimelech in the land of Gerar.

Answer: he chose to pitch his tents towards Sodom

Lot moved toward Sodom.

"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom."
(Genesis 13:10-12)

Lot made a very good choice for his flocks and herds, but he made a very bad choice for himself. Sodom and Gomorrah were very wicked cities and Lot became attached to them. He eventually moved inside the city. When the angels came to visit him, Lot was willing to put his family at risk in order to please the mob outside his door. The angels had to force Lot and his family to safety before they destroyed the city with fire. Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot also lost one of his daughters and his sons-in-law in the destruction of the city because they would not leave.

Answer: his father-in-law, Laban

After fleeing for his life and deceiving his family, Jacob went to live with his uncle Laban. He agreed to work for seven years to marry Laban's daughter Rachel. However on the wedding night, Jacob discovered Laban had tricked him into marrying Leah, Rachel's sister. Laban agreed to let Jacob marry Rachel as well if he worked for another seven years.

"And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."
(Genesis 29:25-27)

Fourteen years is a long time to be engaged! However to Jacob it only seemed like days as he worked to marry Rachel. In the end, God turned what was meant for evil into good! Jacob gained two wives, had many children, and also gained many flocks from his work for his uncle.

Answer: he had sexual relations with his father's wife

Reuben had sexual relations with his father's wife.

"And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve"
(Genesis 35:22)

Bilhah had served as the handmaid of Jacob's favorite wife Rachel and also bore Jacob two sons, Dan, and Naphtali. It is believed Bilhah was Jacob's favorite wife after Rachel died.

There is no record of what Jacob did when he found out Reuben's deed, but addressed Reuben formally just before he died. When Jacob blessed his sons before he died he told Reuben:
"Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch."
(Genesis 49:3-4)

Reuben's decisions cost him the blessing of the firstborn and his inheritance. It would have paid to think about his actions before he had committed them.

Answer: He forgave his brothers and saved his family from the famine.

Joseph had the opportunity to take revenge on everyone that had harmed him when he became the second in command in Egypt. When his brothers came up to Egypt during the famine they did not recognize Joseph when they saw him as a leader. Joseph did play a few tricks on his brothers to test them and see if they had really changed, but ultimately he forgave his brothers. Joseph moved his whole family to Egypt so that they would survive the famine and it saved their lives!

Later when their father died of old age, Joseph's brothers asked again for his forgiveness and Joseph wept.

"And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
(Genesis 50:18-21)

Answer: He struck Miriam with leprosy.

Miriam was struck with leprosy for speaking against Moses.

"And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it."
(Numbers 12:1-2)

God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam out from the tabernacle and spoke to them. God was very angry and told the three that He would make himself known to whoever He chose. After God was through speaking, the cloud of His presence departed off the tabernacle and Miriam was struck with leprosy.

Had it not been for her brother Moses pleading with God, Miriam could have been a leper for the rest of her life.

"And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again."
(Numbers 12:13-15)

Answer: He willingly handed the kingdom over when God chose another king.

In 1 Samuel 13, Saul grew impatient when Samuel did not show up on time to offer a sacrifice and offered the sacrifice himself. As soon as he had offered the sacrifice, Samuel arrived and asked Saul why. Saul told Samuel the people had left him and the Philistines were about to attack. Samuel told Saul that he was foolish and God would take the kingdom away from him. Later David would be anointed as King.

In 1 Samuel 14, Saul's son Jonathan and his servant won a great victory over the Philistines by themselves. However Jonathan broke a fast that his father had made. Saul had declared a fast before the battle that no man could eat anything or he would be cursed. Jonathan had not heard. The soldiers became very weak and faint, and Saul said even if his son broke the fast he would kill him. When Saul found out his son had eaten some honey, Saul almost killed his son but his soldiers rose up against him.

"And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not."
(1 Samuel 14:45)

Saul continued to make unwise choices. On another occasion, in 1 Samuel 15, we find that Saul was commanded by God to destroy all the Amalekites. Saul did listen to a certain extent; however he did not fully obey God's instructions. In that day, kings would often spare the king, certain people, and animals as trophies to parade their great victory. When Samuel heard the noise of the parade when Saul returned, Saul greeted him and told Samuel he had done all God commanded. Samuel in rage, took a sword and killed the enemy king himself. Later Samuel wept for Saul.

The Spirit of God left Saul and stopped guiding him because Saul would not listen. Later David was anointed to take Saul's place and Saul repeatedly tried to kill him.

Answer: Uriah

David was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He killed Uriah to cover up what he had done with Bathsheba.

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
(2 Samuel 11:1-3)

It's interesting to me that David knew who Bathsheba was from the very beginning and still committed his sin. David got carried away with lust. His choices led to him becoming an adulterer and a murderer. He had Joab put Uriah on the front lines so he would be killed and married Bathsheba afterwards. However God knew what David had done and sent Nathan the prophet to him. David was not able to hide his sin or his bad decisions for very long and repented. In the end Uriah was dead, and the baby Bathsheba had died as well.

Answer: make their work harder

The tribes of Israel came to Rehoboam shortly after he became king and asked him if he could make their work easier. Rehaboam's father Solomon had made their work very hard, put heavy taxes on them, and forced them to build many temples for his wives. The old advisors told Rehoboam if he spake kindly to the people and did as they requested, making their work easier for them, the people would be his servants forever. However Rehoboam did not listen to them and took the advice of his friends who had grown up with him in the palace. His friends had no experience ruling a kingdom, and in that culture they had been sheltered from the outside people with palace life. They told Rehoboam to make the people's work harder.

"And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. "
(2 Chronicles 10:10-11)

After Rehoboam told the people that, Israel decided they had no part in the kingdom. Ten tribes left Israel and only two remained with Rehoboam, causing the kingdom to split. Afterwards they were the separate kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Answer: He told Jehoshaphat to wear his kingly robes and Ahab would disguise himself.

Jehoshaphat made many unwise choices in this situation! Not only was it unwise to go into battle with a king who was wicked and did not obey God, Ahab tricked Jehoshaphat into putting his own life in danger!

At first Jehoshaphat tried to make wise choices and asked for a prophet of the Lord's advice of their choice to go into battle. The prophet told them that their battle would end in disaster. Ahab, however, told Jehoshaphat that the prophet always said bad things and his prophets of Baal had predicted they would win. Jehoshaphat took Ahab's side without considering the reason why the Lord's prophets always prophesied bad things were because Ahab would not serve God.

Ahab was determined to go into battle, but decided to resort to trickery to protect himself, just in case things did not go well.

"And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle."
(1 Kings 22:30)

Ahab was not a very good friend. His plan was that the enemy would see Jehoshaphat in kingly robes and think it was the king of Israel. He predicted that they would go after Jehoshaphat and not him because he would be disguised as a common soldier.

Jehoshaphat trusted Ahab as his friend though, and did what Ahab had suggested. Ahab's plan would have worked had it not been for God's intervention. When enemy soldiers tried to kill Jehoshaphat, he cried out and they realized it was the wrong man. Ahab may have been disguised, but God knew where he was. God guided a stray arrow that hit Ahab right between the joints of his armor, the only place he was not protected. Ahab bled to death.

Its important to choose wise friends and friends who will make good choices rather than use a friendship to hurt someone!

Answer: He was given the choice to come to Babylon or stay in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah went through many unpleasant things for preaching about God's coming judgment the Jews, but because Jeremiah had obeyed God and continued to do what was right, God took care of him. Nebuchadnezzar had heard of Jeremiah's preachings and his effort to get the people to surrender to spare their lives when it reached the point that God would not save the city. When Nebuchadnezzar conquered the city of Jerusalem, he told his captain to give special attention to Jeremiah and did not harm him. After the city was destroyed, Jeremiah was given the choice of where he wanted to go.

"Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go."
(Jeremiah 40:3-5)

Despite all the things Jews had done to him, Jeremiah chose to stay with the people that were left and continued to preach. He knew God would eventually bring his people back and wanted to give hope to the remaining Jews.