In step

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DANIEL IN THE LIONS’ DEN

(Daniel 6:1-28)

Purpose: To teach God’s care for those who dare to take a stand for Him.

When the Medes and the Persians conquered the Babylonian Empire, they extended their dominion over almost all the Old Testament World. Darius, king of this vast domain, had chosen over a hundred princes to help him in the governing of the people. King Darius had a high regard for the intelligence of other men. And Daniel, because of his great wisdom, was a favourite of the king. Daniel was given the place of authority over all the other princes. Only the king could tell Daniel what to do. Because of Daniel’s position with the kingdom, the other princes hated him. Jealously made them bitter and they reasoned within their hearts that somehow they must get rid of Daniel. If Daniel were out of the way, one of them would surely be put in his place. So the princes started to spy on Daniel.

They watched every move that Daniel made. They were hoping their leader would do something wrong so they could run and tell the king. But Daniel was a good man. Day after day Daniel lived as he felt the Lord would have him live, and the princes were greatly disappointed to find nothing wrong with Daniel’s conduct. Spying on Daniel was proving to be a waste of time. In order to rob this man of his position and authority, the princes knew they must think of a plan... ...a plan that would trick Daniel into disobeying the king!

And it wasn’t long before the evil men had thought of a plan that would cause Daniel to lose his life. The princes gathered together outside the palace and asked for permission to appear before the king. The king was surprised when he heard the request. Such a thing was not at all common. Ordinarily the rulers of the provinces were called together only by a royal decree. Still, the king was curious. What was it the princes wanted? It must be very important, thought the king, otherwise the princes would never dare to ask for such a thing. So the king gave them permission to come before him, and the one who had been chosen to speak for the group stepped forward with the usual greeting.

“King Darius, live forever,” he said, and then he went on to tell the king that all the princes of the kingdom were anxious that a new law be made as a special honor to their beloved ruler. No one throughout the entire kingdom was to ask anyone – God or man – for anything for 30 days, unless it be asked of the king. And if anyone broke the law, that person would be thrown in the den of lions. King Darius was flattered by such a request. It didn’t even occur to the king that Daniel might have been left out of the planning, so he signed their decree and made it law. When Daniel heard about the law, he knew in his heart that this was a trap that had been set for him. Daniel knew the next time he got on his knees before his open window to ask God for divine guidance and continued blessing, the men who had plotted this thing would report him to the king. Daniel could have closed his window.

He could have drawn his drapes and prayed to God in secret. But Daniel knew that to do such a thing would be cowardly. He also knew that regardless of anything, God’s will in his life must be done. So Daniel continued to pray before his open window just as he had done before. And this was the moment the princes were waiting for. Daniel was breaking the law! According to the signed decree Daniel would be thrown to the lions! When the princes went to the king and demanded that Daniel be thrown to the lions, King Darius realized the cruel purpose of their law. This was no law to honor the king. It was an evil plot to get rid of Daniel.

King Darius was very fond of Daniel. He considered Daniel a trustworthy friend and he greatly relied on the judgment of this wise man. But the king was trapped. According to the law, Daniel must die. King Darius spent the day searching through the laws hoping to find a way he could save his friend, but the law was clear. Once the king had signed the law, not even the king himself could undo what he had done. With the setting of the sun, the king was forced to command that Daniel be seized and taken to the place where the lions were kept. The animals were crazy with hunger and whatever was thrown to them was instantly torn to pieces. The king told Daniel how sorry he was – how he’d been trapped into doing this thing, and how, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, not even the king could revoke a royal decree.

And then, Daniel was thrown to the lions... ...and a great stone was brought and placed over the hole... ...and the seal of the king was placed on the covering so that no one would dare to remove it. The king returned to the palace with a very heavy heart. All night long the king thought about Daniel and wondered if he would ever again hear the voice of his friend. Daniel must have known about the law, and yet Daniel continued to pray. Was it possible that God would save Daniel from the lions? When the rays of the morning sun told King Darius that his night of despair was over, the king hurriedly dressed himself... ...and he ran to the place where the lions were kept and ordered the stone be taken away. The stone was removed and the king cried out, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” And the King Darius listened, hoping to hear the voice of his friend.

“O king, live forever.” “My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” The king was happy to hear the voice of Daniel and he commanded that his friend be taken out of the lions’ den at once. And he further commanded that the wicked princes – the men who had plotted against Daniel – be thrown to the lions in Daniel’s place. And then the king signed another law. This law said that all men were to tremble and fear before God. The God of Daniel was the living God, and steadfast forever. “He delivereth and rescueth...and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:27)

 

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THE BABY MOSES (Ephesians 2:10) Purpose: To show that God prepares our lives for the work He has chosen for us. Many hundreds of years ago the Pharaoh of Egypt was a rich and powerful king, so rich that he had his slaves build great treasure cities where he could store away his vast wealth. This Pharaoh had made slaves of the whole nation of Israel, the people of God, and made them serve him with hard labor. But there came a time when Pharaoh began to worry about something. Everywhere the king went he could see that a dangerous situation was developing. The Israelites were growing in number so rapidly that the land was filled with them, and that made the king afraid. Because of his fear, the king became more cruel than ever to his slaves. He made their lives so bitter that they cried to God to deliver them from their cruel master. And then an amazing thing happened! The harder the king made them work, the more the Lord blessed them, and the Israelites multiplied and grew in number more than before for the Lord was making His people strong. At last this evil-hearted king decided to do something about the situation, something that would weaken Israel as a nation. And so he made up his mind to do a terrible thing. Pharaoh issued a command that every baby boy that was born to the Israelite people be thrown into the river to die! But in one of the slave families of Israel, God was working out a plan of His own, and God chose that very time to send a tiny baby to Amram, the father and Jochebed, the mother. There were already in the family a daughter named Miriam and a son whose name was Aaron. And then there was the baby, a baby so dear and tender, so innocent and sweet that some of heaven's glory seemed tangled in his tiny curls, a baby that filled their hearts with joy! But Pharaoh's order had said that all boy babies should die . . . . . . and this baby was a boy! Whenever the parents looked at him, their joy was turned to sorrow, because the sentence of death hung over this precious child! How could they hide this dear little baby from the eyes of a king whose guards and servants were everywhere? The grief-stricken family knew of only one possible way to keep the baby safe. They would ask God to do it for them for they believed in a God who was greater than any pharaoh, and they knew that God's ear is always open to the prayers of His people. Because of her faith in God, the mother was not afraid to disobey the king's command. And as she looked with tender love at her son, the slave-mother thanked God again and again for the gift of this wonderful baby. For three months the Israelite woman managed to keep her baby hidden, going as usual about her daily tasks. But every day the little boy grew bigger and bigger, and every day the hope of keeping him hidden grew smaller and smaller. Just like all babies, the child would cry once in a while and if one of Pharaoh's guards should ever hear the child ... . . . the mother realized that her son would be torn from her arms and thrown into the river to die! She could not hide the boy any longer. Something had to be done! For the whole family was in danger if the child were discovered. Then just at the right time, God in His wisdom gave the mother a most amazing plan. From the banks of the river Nile the Israelite woman gathered some plants called bulrushes, and in the mother's work to save her son God was working out a plan to save all the people from their life of slavery . . . ... for the mother and her baby and the whole nation of Israel, were together in the circle of God's care.

And so all that the mother did was part of God's plan. First the mother took the reeds and she wove what appeared to be a simple basket, and with each reed she wove a prayer of faith. But soon the basket changed into a very strange looking object, for over the basket the mother put some m&d from the river, and over the m&d she spread some pitch. Actually what the mother made was a small boat, and she called it an ark. No one looking at that queer little ark would have guessed that God had anything to do with it, but God was directing the mother every step of the way. Inside the ark the mother made a nice soft, bed. Then came the hardest part of all! Into the carefully prepared little bed the mother put her beloved son.

She tucked him in tenderly, and with a prayer in her heart closed the basket over his rosy little face. Then with Miriam by her side, the mother carried her precious bundle to a place that she knew along the edge of the river Nile . . . ... and she left the ark there in the reeds at the river's brink, a lonely little speck beside the great river. Only the sister Miriam was stationed near enough to see the ark. She would watch what happened to her baby brother. All at once, Miriam leaned forward and listened. By the sound of voices, she knew someone was coming, and when she saw that everything was happening just as they expected Miriam's heart began to pound with excitement! Walking slowly down toward the banks of the river was one of the most important people in all of Egypt . . . ... the Princess of Egypt herself! Pharaoh's daughter had come down to the river to bathe!

For a while neither the Princess nor the maidens noticed anything unusual, but when the Princess came down to the edge of the water ... . . . she saw the strange object almost hidden among the reeds. Right away the Princess was curious. Whatever could be inside such an odd looking thing? A baby? In a kind of a boat! . . . But the baby . . . oh! . . . the baby was a perfectly lovely child! . . . The most beautiful baby the Princess had ever seen ... fit to belong to a king! And when the dear little baby started to cry, the daughter of Pharaoh found her heart melting with pity and love just as God had planned. She knew this was one of the Hebrew babies her father had tried to destroy, but the Princess longed to save it and since she had found this precious child she decided to keep it for her own!

When Miriam saw the Princess take the baby up so gently and begin to comfort him, she knew her brother's life was spared. But God's plans for the baby didn't end here. And so God encouraged Miriam to do something few slaves would dare to do. She went to the Princess to ask a very bold question. Miriam trembled with eagerness as she spoke to Pharaoh's daughter. "Shall I go and call a nurse for you?" And when the Princess of Egypt said "Go! ... Miriam ran to call the child's own mother to be the nurse. Not only was their baby going to be safe, he would be watched over and cared for by his very own mother!

But God, in His infinite wisdom and love, had wrought a far more wonderful thing than they knew! Here was a baby born into slavery but God had given him two mothers! One, the Princess of Egypt . . . with the power and wealth of a kingdom to offer him, the other his real mother who knew the Lord and would teach the child to love and obey Him. In this way, God was preparing this child to do a great work . . . . . . for this little child was the baby Moses sent by God to His people Israel. And this same Moses would one day lead them out of the land of Egypt, out of their life of slavery, to a promised land of plenty that flowed with milk and honey.

 

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THE WALLS OF JERICHO

(Ephesians 6:10-11)

Purpose: To teach that a life of victory and blessing depends on faith in God and obedience to Him.

When the people of Israel entered the land of Canaan, Joshua was their leader a man chosen by God who had commanded . . . "Behold, I have set the land before you: Go in and possess the land." Canaan was a good land flowing with milk and honey. But this beautiful land was filled with the wickedness of the Canaanites. In cities like Jericho, people worshiped evil and magic and sacrificed their children to idols. God said these things were abominations and the people who did them must be driven from the land. That was to be Joshua's task, and it was a tremendous one. But Joshua had God's promise . . . "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. Only be thou strong and very courageous." So Joshua, at God's command, led his people to the plains of Jericho. The great city of Jericho shut its gates when they heard the Israelites had come. They were afraid of these people and hated their miracle-working God.

But instead of changing their ways Jericho prepared to resist. They gathered together their weapons and got ready for war. Day and night the men of war kept watch from the top of the walls that surrounded the city. Nearby the city of Jericho, Joshua looked at the walls so tall and thick and strong. He knew no human power could break them down. But Joshua remembered… God had said . . . "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life." And as Joshua looked to the Lord for help, a strange thing happened! There stood a man with a sword drawn in his hand! And when Joshua asked . . . "Are you for us, or for our enemies?"

The man said "As captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy." Joshua obeyed with humble worship. And he listened carefully to all that the Lord said to do. When Joshua returned to camp he called together his men. These men of Israel had sworn to obey Joshua as they had Moses ... ... but as they listened to Joshua's orders the men of Israel realized that obedience would test not only their loyalty to their leader, but their faith in the Lord as well. Surely no soldiers ever heard orders such as Joshua's men heard from their leader! But the men were encouraged when Joshua told them . .. The Lord said the walls of Jericho would fall down flat!

And every man would go into the city straight before Him! So the men of Israel prepared to obey. Inside the walls of Jericho the alarm suddenly rang out . . . "The Israelites are coming!" "To the walls! To the walls!" they shouted, as every man hurried to his place. From the top of the wall, Jericho's men of war watched tensely as the Israelites approached. First came armed men, then something that looked very strange in the ranks of an army! Seven priests were blowing their trumpets continually, and following them . . . ... a mysterious object was hidden beneath rich blue coverings. What could it be?

Only the people of Israel knew it was the ark of the Lord and it was there to remind them that the Lord went before them, and victory was in the Lord. Strange as it seemed, all the Israelites did was to march around the city in a quiet and peaceful way. Not a single word was spoken! The only sounds to be heard were . . . ... the steady tramp of marching feet . . . ... and the endless blast of the priests' trumpets! The people of Jericho just stood still and watched in amazement as the long column of Israelites disappeared among the hills and returned to their camp. Jericho's fighting men were troubled . . . and uneasy. What could it mean? Was it a trick of some kind?

On the second day the Israelites did exactly the same thing as they had done the day before. The priests carried the ark of the Lord around the city, seven priests always blowing their trumpets before it, and armed men marching in front and the rear. The Israelites marched once around the city then returned to camp without anyone saying a single word! Every day for six days the same thing happened, and every day the people of Jericho watched and waited. Some were still fearful and troubled, remembering the things they had heard about Israel's Almighty God. But others began to mock. These foolish Israelites marching around and around the strong walls of Jericho, blowing their trumpets and carrying a mysterious box!

Anyone could see they'd never get into the city that way! On the morning of the seventh day, the Israelites marched around the city as before. But then, instead of returning to their camp, they marched around a second time, and then again and again and again! Seven times the Israelites marched around the city. At the end of the seventh time, every man stopped and faced the walls, completely surrounding the city of Jericho. And suddenly the trumpets stopped! Every man waited for the Lord's appointed signal! A long blast of the trumpets! Then Joshua cried . . . "Shout! For the Lord hath given you the city!" And while the people of Jericho looked on, not knowing that their end had come . . . . . . the people of Israel raised a great shout of victory! And the walls of the city fell down flat!

And every man went up into the city straight before him, just as the Lord had said. "And they utterly destroyed all the evil that was in the city" for this was the Lord's command. After that time, wherever they went in the promised land the Israelites had victory as long as they had faith in the Lord and obeyed His commands. To every believer today God promises a life of victory and a life of blessing on the same condition! Have faith in the Lord, obey His commands, be strong and very courageous. The Bible says . . . “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

 

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GIDEON

(Philippians 4:13)

Purpose: To teach the true meaning of trusting and obeying God.

The Bible tells of a time when the Midianites, a wicked and war-like people, came like a plague of grasshoppers and swarmed over the land of Israel. The Midianites just took over the land, and hopelessly outnumbered by their enemies, the people of Israel left their homes and fled for their lives into the wilderness, leaving most of their possessions behind. Living in the wilderness often meant being hungry and cold and the Israelites had a real struggle for existence. The rich people became poor, and the poor people became destitute. Israel, as a nation, was poverty-stricken and they cried to the Lord to deliver them from this miserable existence. We read in the Bible that the family of Gideon was one of the poorest in Israel . . . and Gideon was the youngest son. That, according to custom, made him the least important. So Gideon was used to taking orders and to plenty of hard work.

When Gideon was told by an angel of the Lord that God had chosen him to deliver Israel from the Midianites, Gideon's reaction was much as we might have expected it to be. "Me? I'm supposed to deliver my people from the Midianites?" Gideon felt sure that a mistake had been made. Gideon explained to the angel that his family was poor, and being the youngest son,he wasn't an important person at all! But the angel told Gideon no mistake had been made. Gideon was the one God had chosen, and God would help him if he would do as he was told. So on the basis of his personal faith in God Gideon started to work. In the camp of the Midianites, the midnight hour was the time for changing the guard. It was a noisy affair and that provided a wonderful opportunity for Gideon.

While the Midianites were changing guards, Gideon and his men carried out the first part of their plan. As far as the Midianite guards were concerned, there was nothing surrounding their camp but the emptiness of the night air. Little did they realize that Gideon and his men were stealing through the darkness on a very peculiar mission, each one carrying a pitcher in one hand, and a trumpet in the other, and hidden within each pitcher was a lighted firebrand. At last every man was in position, waiting for the signal from Gideon, ready to do exactly as their leader did. Then Gideon blew on his trumpet . . . ... he broke his pitcher . . . ... and he held high his torch and cried . . . "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!"

And all around the camp of the Midianites the 300 men did as their leader had done. The Midianite guards were struck dumb! In a matter of seconds the camp of the Midianites was a scene of fear and confusion. They thought a great army had taken them by surprise. Their entire camp must be surrounded! Where could they go? What should they do? Like a herd of wild animals in utter panic the Midianites began to stampede. Suddenly in the midst of all this confusion, Gideon's men blew loud and long on their horns again. Then a strange thing happened in the army of the Midianites.

Every man turned blindly on his neighbor and began to fight one another... for the Lord caused it to happen. Gideon drove the Midianites clear out of the land, and they never came back again! And the Lord gave a tremendous victory to Gideon, because he believed in God enough to let Him do it. Gideon learned that where God is concerned believing and doing go together. But more important still, one man multiplied by God's power equals victory, no matter what the odds! The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

 

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Here is something to think about: why does God seek to find a "little person" when He is looking for leadership? He did it with Moses. He did it with Samuel and David. He chose Saul when he was small in his own sight. But when Saul became big in his own sight God rejected him.

In the New Testament there was a Saul, "Big Person", who became Paul, "Little Person", and God used him as a great missionary.

Is it not because God loves little, humble people? It runs through Scripture.

Lesson 1: God

Written by Vaughan Durston, Founder of U.B. David & I'll B. Jonathan Inc.
Most of the time we can live like God doesn't exist, but He does. In the story of David and Goliath, God is very much alive. He is very interested in the events taking place, and you can be sure He is involved. He is the first Person we must consider in this story.

We could discuss God's character as I did in "The Boy & the Cabin" (series 1), but instead I would like to touch on one aspect of the nature of God which I have been thinking about for a long time: He is not impressed with man's greatness.

Most of the time when He looks at what man thinks is great it is like someone with a pea shooter trying to impress a man who owns the atomic bomb. I think God smiles a lot. Maybe we can lift two hundred pounds. Do you think that God thinks this is amazing? I wonder what He can lift? He likes to see that we are capable, I'm sure, but when it goes to our heads and we become proud, He is not pleased.

There is a truth that runs through Scripture and that is…

God Loves Little People
In this story of David and Goliath, there are two big people and two little people. This has nothing to do with their physical size, but rather everything to do with the way they think. And because David and Jonathan had humble attitudes God made them far more successful than Goliath and Saul, the "big guys" of the day.

Way back in the early stories of the Bible, you will recall a character named Jacob. His name meant "supplanter" or "grabber" and for much of his life he ruthlessly schemed, manipulated and deceived his way to the top of the heap. Jacob's theme song could have been "I Did it My Way."

The crucial turning point of his life came one night when God wrestled with him and wouldn't let him go until Jacob acknowledged who he was, what his name meant, what kind of person he was deep down: a tricky deceiver (see Genesis 32:24-29—click link).

It was a humbling confession. But only then was God able to give him a new identity, expressed in a brand new name: Israel ("Prince with God"). And then Jacob experienced the blessings of God for which he had been striving all his life.

This truth can also be seen in the life of Moses. He spent 40 years becoming somebody (in the Palace of Egypt), 40 years becoming nobody (in the desert looking after sheep), and 40 years finding out what God could do through a nobody (under God's direction).

Looking after sheep must have been a humbling experience after growing up in Pharaoh's palace as a prince of Egypt! But when he became smaller in his own eyes God was then able to use him in a marvellous way as the deliverer and leader of the people of Israel.

Take another example. Solomon was the privileged son of the great King David, chosen to be the next king of Israel. He could easily have felt that he was well able to lead his nation with his own abilities. But he didn't.

It was when he humbly came to God declaring that he was but a little child, not knowing how to govern the people, that God gave him honour, riches and wisdom that became legendary.

In New Testament times, when Jesus was asked who was the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven, He chose a little child and set him in the midst of them and declared that only the humble ones would see the Kingdom. What a lesson this is!

God Saves the Insufficient and not the Self-Sufficient

Perhaps the fact that Goliath and Saul were physically big helped them think that they were self-sufficient. This often happens when we receive fame, a lot of money, win our game, or are successful in some way. It goes to our head and we become filled with self importance. God says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). That certainly describes the sad stories of Goliath and King Saul.

In contrast, David was a person after God's own heart, or a person who pleased God. David, because he humbled himself before the Lord, had his prayers answered and saw God bless so that things which happened in his life were far beyond anything that he could have asked or thought.

Thomas À Kempis wrote:

"Always take the lowest place, and the highest will be given to you, for high structures require a solid foundation. The greatest, in the judgment of God, are the least in their own opinion; the more worthy they are, the more humility will be seen in them."

Final Word
If you want God's blessing in your life, then consider the characters presented in these lessons. Read the Scriptures to gain more information, particularly 1 and 2 Samuel, the book of Psalms and Proverbs.

This could have been a series about God the Giant Killer, but when it comes to killing giants God likes to work through people…like David. If the Giant is actually King Self, and it is the one thing that is actually defeating you all the time, then you could become a little person and…Remember, God through His Holy Spirit will kill the giant, if you want Him to. (For more lessons on this important topic, see "All About Me—the Big #1")

In my life I have found that many principles can be learned by going through tough experiences ourselves or from watching others and learning from them. In the next four lessons we will take a little journey together through the lives of four Old Testament characters whose stories have much to teach us.

Now may God bless you abundantly and cause you to be one who pleases God.

 

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Goliath

Written by Vaughan Durston, Founder of U.B. David & I'll B. Jonathan Inc.
One of the most interesting stories in the Bible is the story of David and Goliath. It is found in 1 Samuel chapter 17.

The amazing thing about the Bible is that regardless of how many times we read a story, there are always other things that can be gleaned from it if we ask the Lord for more understanding concerning the truths that are hidden in it.

The hero of this story is David, who was said to be "a person after God's own heart." This phrase means "one with whom God is pleased." If we can understand what it is that God is pleased with, this series should be a worthwhile adventure.

Each of us has behaviour patterns based on the way we think; and the way we think is tied into what is going on in our heart. The "heart" in my opinion is that very important part of us that causes us to love, hate, choose, and desire. A person after God's own heart then, is one who loves the things that God loves, hates the things that God hates, chooses the things that God would choose, and desires the things that God desires.

In this short course I want to look at the remaining four characters involved in the story of David & Goliath (we already looked at "God" in Lesson 1). Somewhere in the philosophy of these characters we might be able to see ourselves and what it is that makes us behave as we do. God's Word says, "As a man thinks in His heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Consider what is going on in the heart of these individuals.

The first character that I would like us to look at is Goliath.

How Big He Is

The first thing that you will read about him in 1 Samuel Chapter 17 verse 3 is how big he is. Apparently, he was nine feet, three inches (2.8 meters) tall. No wonder they called him a giant! He was not only a big man but he also wanted everyone to know how big he was. I wonder how many times he let people know that he was the biggest man in the whole Philistine army.

It reminds us of some of the football players today when they make a sack, or the wrestlers when they become champions, or the world boxing champions when they have a T.K.O. "I'm the greatest" seems to be what even the little fellows like to say when they win their game.

How do you get to be the greatest? Many have asked themselves that question. There are many different ways to be the greatest, and some would like to be the greatest in different ways than others. If you want to become financially the greatest, become the richest man in the world. Physically the greatest, become the world boxing champion. Politically the greatest, become the president. Educationally the greatest, get a doctorate. The most beautiful, win the Miss Universe Contest.

One of the problems with trying to be the greatest is that you can never be sure you are because someone else may be in the process of becoming greater. There is nothing wrong with seeking to do well and wanting to be successful, but when our eyes are on our greatness we could be heading for a fall. Some have even considered themselves to be greater than God, and therefore have no need of Him, and even declared Him dead. What a surprise these people will have when they meet Him face to face and see how great He is. Goliath had a big fall and it came from an unlikely source. It was a real surprise, and he never recovered! Be great if you can, but do not count on your greatness.

How Secure He Is

The second thing that we read about Goliath is how secure he is. The Bible says that he wore a suit of armour, made of brass. It weighed one hundred and fifty pounds (68 kg). His spearhead weighed nineteen pounds (8.6 kg), and one bearing a shield went before him. He was not only the biggest but also considered himself the most secure. If a person has no security but his own security, he better have lots of it. Goliath apparently ended up not having enough. He had a false view of himself.

Interestingly, it would appear that at times Goliath suffered from a superiority complex when he thought he was secure and that nobody could touch him, and yet at other times he suffered from an inferiority complex and decided that he better thicken up his armour because someone might defeat him. Otherwise why would anyone carry around all that armour if he felt so secure?

Do you know anyone who suffers from a superiority complex one minute and an inferiority complex the next? I am afraid I do, and the answer doesn't seem to lie in being the greatest.

David didn't seem to have this problem. I wonder why? What must God have thought as He watched Goliath thinking he was so big and secure? He must have laughed at how Goliath had such a high opinion of himself.

The Way He Does Things

The third thing that we learn about Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter seventeen is the way he does things. In verses 8 and 9 he asks Israel to send a man down to fight with him. As far as Goliath is concerned it is a "dog-eat-dog" world. Might is right, and he might as well get others before they get him. Self is on the throne of his life and it shows up in the way he talks and the way he behaves.

Goliath lives for no one but himself. He knows nothing about God—His greatness, His protection, and His way of doing things. Probably he could have learned if only he was teachable but he was too self sufficient.

Full of Pride

The fourth revelation of Goliath's character is found in verse forty-four of the same chapter. Here he tells David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air." In other words, I will feed you to the birds. Have you ever heard that expression before? This is where it comes from. Goliath was full of pride. The Bible says that pride comes before destruction, and it certainly was true here.

Pride comes when we think more of ourselves than we ought to think. Goliath's thought pattern was: I am the greatest, I am the most secure, I can fight and beat anyone…this will be no contest! He didn't feel he needed God or even the Philistine army to help him. Goliath is a picture of a man who has turned his back on God, thinks he doesn't need Him, and can solve all his problems without Him.

In this course I said there would be the story of five characters. This is the second one. I hope he isn't a picture of you; but if he is, then the question could be asked, "What is the answer to his problem?"

Goliath needed to see how small he was in God's eyes, humble himself before God and ask for forgiveness. In today's world he should ask Jesus to save him from his sins and change his way of thinking about himself. For a big person this type of humbling is almost impossible unless he has major problems come into his life such as a major financial loss, great sickness, or a bad accident. It is amazing how many Goliaths there are in this world and usually it is because they haven't been encouraged to put their faith and trust in God when they were young, see their need of the Saviour and rely on Him.

The end of Goliath is sad and yet he brought it on himself due to his lack of humility and unwillingness to see himself as he really was. Many may wonder why they spend eternity separated from God, and it will be because they—like Goliath—rejected God, and what He has done for them. If you don't need God here, you won't have Him in ete

 

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Lesson 3: David

Written by Vaughan Durston, Founder of U.B. David & I'll B. Jonathan Inc.
The third character in this story that we must look at is the hero, David. He is a very different person than Goliath.

In reading about him in the Bible we discover that he was born in Bethlehem. Jesus' birth made this town famous but in David's day it was just an ordinary little village.

Trusting God

David was the youngest of eight boys. How would you like to have seven older brothers? Because of these seven older brothers he wasn't able to say that he was the biggest, greatest, knew the most, etc. Instead I am sure he was taught just the opposite.

The question is, "What was David going to do with this information concerning his place in the family?" He could have spent his life feeling inferior, full of fear, self pity, or any number of other things that could bother someone in his position. Instead, he does something that many a little person has done: he put his faith and trust in someone else. Who? God! This was the greatest decision that he made. Often those of us who have problems that are bigger than ourselves put our trust in the wrong person or thing, and we go from the "frying pan into the fire."

David put his trust in the One who is faithful and true. Goliath's philosophy was, "I will save myself." David's philosophy was, "God will save me." What a difference this made in these two men's lives!

Learning about the Shepherd

Because David was just a little fellow he was given the little tasks around the farm. I can imagine what they would have been: get in the wood, haul the water, look after the sheep, etc.

Speaking of sheep, this became one of his main tasks as a young fellow. David wrote Psalm 23 (click link) and it is a psalm all of us should memorize.

In it David reveals that the Lord is his Shepherd. He found out that the shepherd can help the sheep that stay close to him—the ones that are close enough to hear his voice, take his instructions, heed his warnings, and follow in his paths.

He soon learned that the sheep were incapable of living on their own, and those who tried often ended up in grave trouble. I'm sure when he found a lamb that had been killed, or badly wounded, he would say to himself, "This didn't need to have happened. If only it had listened to the shepherd it could have been so much better off." David came to see that if you wanted the blessings that the shepherd had to offer, obedience was required.

The Value of Obedient Trust
Trust and obey are the two things that are emphasized over and over again in David's writings. Is it any wonder that when God was looking for someone who would trust and obey Him so that He could work through him, He found the shepherd boy who had learned so many things from the sheep?

David, in all sincerity said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing." It was said by one who was talking from experience. He came to this place realizing that if he was going to be successful, he was going to need God's help.

Many of us think that we need to be something in ourselves in order to receive His good things. Obedience and faith seem to be the things God is looking for. Obedience comes from finding out what God wants us to do, through the studying of His Word. Faith as well comes from reading God's Word. By reading the Bible we learn of the great things God did for those who put their faith and trust in Him. These accounts tell of individuals, families and nations for whom God did marvellous things because they put God first. Perhaps this is the reason why, later on, the young shepherd boy was chosen instead of the older brothers, or anyone else in Israel.

A Person After God's Own Heart
David is referred to as the person after God's own heart, or one who pleased God. As I said in Lesson 2, I like to think of this as one who loves the things that God loves, hates the things that God hates, chooses the things that God would choose, and desires the things that God desires. The nearer we get to God the more we will come to be in tune with Him.

We get to know God through His Word. How well do you know God's Word? That is probably how well you know Him and how to please Him.

There is a very powerful verse in 2 Chronicles 16:9. It says,

"The eyes of the Lord (God) run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him."

Wow! what a verse! David believed it, David experienced it. If you and I will take God seriously, seek to get to know Him and practice a life where we are concerned about God's opinion of what we are doing, and not just what we can do without others finding out, we too could experience what David experienced.

When Testing Comes

David was tested to see if he would trust God in small things, such as when he met the mountain lion and the bear. He probably had even smaller things than this to begin with, but the Bible tells us of these two.

What does God see us doing when we have a problem? Trusting Him or faithlessness? How can God fulfill 2 Chronicles 16:9 in our lives if we do not trust Him when we have a problem?

By now you can see that meeting Goliath was just one more event in the life of this youth who had found his God bigger than any problem that he had faced in the past. Each victory and answer to prayer helped develop his faith.

We are often concerned whether God will come through in our time of need. David, on the other hand, seemed to spend a great deal of time concerned about his own purity and righteousness before God. It was he who wrote in Psalm 66:18:

"IF I REGARD INIQUITY IN MY HEART, THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME."

I'm sure, if we asked David how he killed Goliath, he would tell us that the Lord did it. He would tell us that without his faith in the Lord he wouldn't even have been there. When the Lord is in things, the big problems are little ones. It is interesting that Goliath even provided the sword to finish himself off!

Here at David & Jonathan, we say, "U.B. David"—A Person After God's Own Heart, or one who pleases God. If you would make David's desire your desire and find out from the Word of God how He wants you to live, I'm sure you will be able to tell your story of the faithfulness of God, just like he did.

Remember, God saved David from a mountain lion, a bear, Goliath, King Saul, King Saul and 3,000 men, from himself in the cave of En Gedi…and if He did all this, then He could save you!

The cave of En Gedi is an important event because it tested David as to what he would do when he could save himself in the flesh (by his own self-will). The story is told in 1 Samuel 24:4–12 (click link).

Many of us call on God when the problem is bigger than we can handle, like a mountain lion or a bear. But there are other times when we think we can handle the problem without God and so we take things into our own hands. This shows whether we really are practicing the "God-will-save Life". Remember, David was cutting off the hem of King Saul's garment when it seems that God said to him, "Saving yourself David?" WOW!

No one is really ready for spiritual leadership until he learns the lesson of trusting God in ALL situations. David was very close to failing the test and it seems that God decided to run it by him a second time. Read about it in 1 Samuel chapter 26.

 

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Lesson 4: Saul

Written by Vaughan Durston, Founder of U.B. David & I'll B. Jonathan Inc.

The fourth character in the story of David and Goliath that we must consider is the king of Israel whose name was Saul. The Bible tells us that he was head and shoulders above everyone else in Israel. He wasn't as big as Goliath, but he was the biggest man that Israel had.

The Desire for a King
God never intended that Israel should have a king. God wanted to be their king. He wanted to fight their battles for them, and meet their needs as they would come to him in simple faith. Instead, the Israelites looked around them and saw that the heathen nations had earthly kings who were their leaders. You would think that they would rather have the God of the universe as their supreme commander than any earthly person, but this required them to walk by faith, come to Him in prayer, and wait on Him for His answers.

They decided that they would rather have a leader that they could see, an earthly king like the other nations had. You can read about it in 1 Samuel chapter 8. Time after time they would come to Samuel the prophet and make their request.

This displeased Samuel very much. Do you know that the Bible says that God knows what we say in our hearts as well as what we say with our mouths? It says so in Jeremiah 17:10. Can you imagine what the prophet was thinking when he listened to the people and realized what the people were saying, while God was listening? They were rejecting God from being their king.

God Looks for Little People
Whenever God has something to do with putting someone into leadership, He will always find a little person. By this I mean one who is small in his own eyes, humble, willing to listen and take direction.

Although Saul was a tall man when Samuel went to make him king, he was so small in his own eyes that he went and hid himself amongst "the baggage", according to 1 Samuel 10:22. It is interesting that the name Paul means small, and the name Saul means big. In the Old Testament, God found someone who was small in his own eyes, but as time went by he became big in his own eyes, and God could not use him. In the New Testament there was a man who was called Saul, who became small and God changed his name to Paul. What a lesson for all of us.

Saul, in our story, started out well. Because he was humble, God chose him to be king. Samuel anointed him, which was a sign before the people that this was not a decision of Samuel's but it came from God. God wanted Israel's kings to come to Him for guidance and help. When we realize that God loves us and is all wise and all powerful, we should constantly seek His wisdom and His power to do things.

The Danger of Disobedience
Saul said, "God saves," but was always saving himself.

Saul went wrong when he didn't wait on the Lord. You can read about it in 1 Samuel chapter 13. Because of not waiting for direction from the Lord he did the next thing that happens: he became disobedient. Saul's disobedience leads to cover-up, and lying. All this was displeasing to the Lord and led to the Lord rejecting Saul as king of Israel. A little later on, the Bible tells us that an evil spirit troubled him.

What a sad thing to see someone who used to do what the Lord wanted him to do but now is not obedient to Him. Is it any wonder when the giant Goliath came on the scene that Saul lacked faith in God and was fearful and dismayed?

A lack of faith leads to all kinds of strange behaviour. False beliefs, false feelings, and false actions caused Saul to function so strangely that many have questioned if he was a believer. I'm sure he would consider himself to be one, however.

The Danger of Self-Reliance

Saul was the man who should have fought Goliath but instead of looking to God to save him in the time of trouble, he looked at Goliath and then looked at himself and said, "I don't stand a chance."

All religion is either a 'save yourself' religion or a 'God saves' religion. Remember, Goliath's religion was "I will save myself." David's religion was, "God will save." Saul's religion was, "I believe that God saves too, but right now I'm saving myself." Saul was the type of person that said one thing and practiced another. He ended up with very little respect because his walk didn't match up to his talk. Today we would call him a carnal Christian because he didn't live like a mature Christian should.

Hebrews 11:6 says,

"But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

I'll never forget the day that I came to see that the only way I could receive eternal life was by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, by faith. This is brought out throughout the Scriptures.

Then there came the day that I came to see from Scripture that we are to live the Christian life on earth by faith as well. David did this, but Saul did not. The evidence of whether we live our life on the earth by faith or not, will show up in our behaviour.

There is a truth running throughout the Bible and it is that he who lives for self (faithlessly) will find he has to save himself. If God saved him it would teach him that this was an acceptable way to live. Saul's faithlessness caused God to leave Saul without His help. Otherwise, how was God to teach Saul and us that this is not the way to live or to solve our problems? God is too wise to do this.

God Saves Those who Live for Him
He who lives for God will find that God will save him. David lived for God and God saved him. Goliath, who did not believe in God, lived for self and sought to save himself. You will notice that he did not do it very well. Saul would like us to think that he lives for God, but his actions show us that he is living for self.

Had he really believed that God would save, then he would not have needed to be fearful. He could have waited on the Lord to save him, been obedient to the Lord, not had bad attitudes, nor envied David and sought to kill him. You see, because he did not trust God one problem led to another.

On the other hand, as David trusted God in one situation, it encouraged him to trust God in the next challenge. One answer to prayer gave him faith to believe that the Lord would solve the next problem.

It is important to realize that, for the Christian, "Jesus saves" means more than just 'in the by and by', as wonderful as that will be. It should have to do with the here and now as well. This is basically the difference between the way David lived and the way Saul lived. Both would say that they believed that God saved, but in David's life you could see it, while in Saul's life you could not. Today people would call him a hypocrite. One lived the faith-rest life while the other didn't seem to know what it was about.

The evidence that we are living the "save-yourself-life-on-earth" is when we are arguing, fighting, living in rivalry, being immoral, or striving. Each of these things are sins that God will not bless. They all come from self will. There is nothing wrong with honest work; in fact God expects us to do this, only with a right spirit.

There are some important verses in Jeremiah 17:5-10:

"The Lord says, 'I will put a curse on people who trust in mere human beings, who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength, and whose hearts have turned away from the Lord. They will be like a shrub in the desert. They will not experience good things even when they happen. It will be as though they were growing in the desert, in a salt land where no one can live."

"My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit…I, the Lord, probe into people's minds. I examine people's hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.'" (NET Bible)

Saul and David were two believers who are contrasting examples of what these verses are about.

The sad thing about Saul is that although he started well he ended up in a bad way and died before he ordinarily should have.

What a sad thing to see some people start out well when they are young, but stop trusting in the Lord, begin to do the wrong things, and have a sad ending. This can happen to any of us if we are not on guard. Even David was not perfect, but the good thing about him was that he came to God in repentance (sorrow). God forgave him. This was what was really missing in Saul's life.

May it be a lesson for all of us.

 

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Lesson 5: Jonathan

Written by Vaughan Durston, Founder of U.B. David & I'll B. Jonathan Inc.
We have been looking at the philosophy of three different characters in the story of David & Goliath. Each one is thinking differently in their heart.

We could ask, "Which one is a picture of you and how you live your life?" I guess when I look at these characters I can see myself in all three, at different stages of my life. Praise God there is a life on a higher plane than Goliath and Saul lived!

Meeting the Humble Hero

The fifth person (including God) who was there when David slew Goliath was Saul's son Jonathan. If you know the story, David became a national hero after he slew Goliath and he was invited to the "White House" of his day, to appear before King Saul. It was here he met Jonathan.

Usually, when someone became a hero and came to the palace, many would gather around to hear how the task was accomplished. I'm sure this wasn't the first time that Jonathan was at one of these events. The hero would tell how he did it with great gusto, making sure everyone was impressed. What was different this time was that this fellow was very humble about what had been accomplished and instead of seeking to impress others as to how he did it, David was giving the glory to God.

Jonathan had grown up in a similar situation as that which David had experienced. David had to learn to live with his brothers while Jonathan had to learn to live with his father. In each case, their problems were bigger than they were and they came to put their faith and trust in God. In a matter of minutes Jonathan felt a kindred spirit with David, and they became the best of friends.

When these two gave their lives over to God, He filled them with His Spirit. Self took a back seat to seeking to live for God.

Advancing Others
Jonathan's idea of David becoming king instead of himself almost seems unreal. It certainly would have been to Goliath and it certainly was to Jonathan's father, King Saul. Living to help others fulfill God's purposes for them became Jonathan's driving force.

"He must increase and I must decrease" is a strange philosophy to the average person in the world. It takes a great deal of dying to self, which is something that even many Christians seem to have a hard time comprehending these days. This is why there is such division in the Body of Christ where there should be unity.

Jonathan's major task after he met David and decided to seek to advance him, was to protect him from his father. He knew that his father was only interested in his own kingdom and although at times the king acted like he was interested in David, his real interest was how he could use him. What a wicked heart Saul had!

I wish there weren't any 'Sauls' living today but—sad to say—there are all too many. You can usually pick them out by discerning whether they are interested in the cause of the King of kings or just their own little world. The unfortunate thing is that these people are often dressed in sheep's clothing when they are actually wolves.

It seems that the number one objective today is to look out for yourself. Put yourself in control, get it for yourself, keep it for yourself, and do it for yourself are values which are constantly being fostered. Love, joy, and peace are hard to come by in this environment. Most of us know all too well the unhappiness that selfishness brings, especially if we are on the receiving end of it. Jonathan apparently had enough of this and wanted to live in a climate that was different.

Often it takes being on the short end of selfishness for us to see how ugly it is. When we gain a clear picture of it in others, then the Lord gives us an opportunity to see what it is like in us. Apparently Jonathan had gone down this pathway not only seeing it in others but also seeing it in himself. He decided that this wasn't the way to live and came to the place of asking God to show him each time he was selfish, so that he could confess it and make things right.

Inwardly God caused him to become love-full, joy-full and peace-full. Towards others he came to be longsuffering, full of gentleness and goodness. People began to notice his faith, meekness and self control. He gave the praise and glory to God.

Jonathan was amazed at the joy he was getting by seeking to advance David. It was not until he got actively involved that he discovered this. Those who watched from the sidelines could not figure it out. It seemed foolish for him to try and explain it, until God revealed it to them like He had to him.

Paying it Forward
Most of us can understand why Goliath died and why, when Saul was so disobedient, he died. But why did Jonathan die so young? One could give all kinds of reasons why he should have lived. Some things are not told us down here and we will have to wait until we meet the One who decides these things to find out for sure. I like to think that he died so that someone else would play that role.

Let me explain what I mean. Do you know who first told me the story of David & Goliath that I have been telling you about in these pages? It was my twin brother Con. After he told the story to me and before he wrote it down he had a tumour of the bowel and then a tumour of the brain and died when he was just 38 years old. He knew before I did about Goliath and who he was a picture of—namely old king Self. Con was my Jonathan.

I must have asked God a hundred times why Con died. And I could take you to the spot where God said,

"You keep asking that question and now I will tell you the answer. He wanted you to be like David and now I want you to be like Jonathan. Go find another David and tell him to kill the giant in the power of the Spirit of God."

Ever since that time I have been motivated to do just that.

Why did Jonathan die? Probably he finished the work that God wanted him to do and God took him home to his reward.

Do you remember how David went and found the crippled boy who was Jonathan's son and had him live in the palace with him (2 Samuel 9)? Would it seem foolish for you to do this?

Think about this: it wasn't hard for David once he pondered all the things that had been done for him by Jonathan. Each one of us owes a lot to many people if we would just pause to consider it. The problem is that many of them are dead now, or at least not around, so we will have to find someone else to whom we can show kindness.

Who are you? No doubt as you have studied this series the Spirit of God has talked to you about who you are like. You may even be a pastor, a Christian leader, or have one of a hundred different titles or positions. Has it been His Kingdom or your Kingdom that you have been building? You have come to see SELF. Probably at first in others, but now in yourself.

"God loves Little People", so we all need to humble ourselves and ask God for forgiveness.I believe that God wants to have a "Little Peoples Revival". God wants His people to humble themselves and become one, and then win and disciple other Little People for God.

Information is one thing—Action is another.

 

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Lesson 1: Our God is Wonderful

Long ago, before there was the first happy home on the earth, before there were even any flowers or birds or trees to make the earth beautiful, there was God. God who is full of love, joy, and peace, gentleness, goodness, and self control. God who loves that which is right, desires truthfulness and order.

This God wanted to make the earth-home a beautiful home for the boys and girls and the fathers and mothers who would live here.
So God made the green grass to grow over the earth like a lovely, soft, velvet carpet and He made beautiful tall trees to give shade and to bear fruit to eat. He put birds in the branches of the trees where they could sing their sweet songs.

He made springs and streams and rivers to give water to the growing things and to His children. To make it all more beautiful He made many colored flowers, pink, blue, white and yellow to grow on the earth, and bright butterflies to fly about from flower to flower.
Over it all was the blue sky, with the heavenly Father's sun shining down, and the heavenly Father's breezes making the air cool and lovely. It was a beautiful world.

So that the boys and girls and the fathers and the mothers could have rest and sleep, God made the quiet nighttime. He made the twinkling stars and the moon to shine in the night sky.

After the summer God made the winter to come. He sent the snow to cover the earth like a soft white blanket.
And the boys and the girls and the fathers and the mothers looked around at the lovely things God had made for them to enjoy, and they said, "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

That was a long time ago, but today the heavenly Father is still making beautiful things for us to enjoy. Every year He makes the flowers bloom for us. The butterflies fly from flower to flower, and the birds sing in the branches of the trees. He sends the day and the night, the summer and the winter, because He loves us and wants us to be happy.

The next time you see a beautiful sunset or a starry sky or some lovely gift God has made for us to enjoy, can you say the verse below?

 

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Working Together

Abraham and Lot were shepherds. Abraham was Lot's uncle. Lot lived with his uncle Abraham in a big tent home. When Abraham took down his tent and moved to a new place Lot went, too.

Even though he lived in a tent home Abraham was very rich. He had much silver and gold. He had many flocks of sheep. He had hundreds of cows and goats and camels. He had a great many servants to take care of the sheep and the cows, and to watch the goats and camels.
Abraham was a very great man.

Lot was rich, too. He, too, had hundreds of sheep, cows, goats and camels. He, too, had a great many servants.

Each day the servants of Abraham and the servants of Lot took their flocks of sheep out to find grass. And then trouble began. For both Lot's servants and Abraham's servants tried to get the place where the best grass grew for their sheep. Both Lot's servants and Abraham's servants wanted to be first at the wells where they got water for their sheep.

"We were here first," Lot's servants would cry angrily.
"Our master is greater than yours, so we have a right to the place," Abraham's servants would answer.
And so the servants quarreled among themselves. They could not work together happily at all.
One day Abraham was out walking. He heard the loud and angry voices. He listened. He could hear the servants quarreling. And Abraham was sorry. He did not want his servants and Lot's servants to fight among themselves.
Abraham went to find Lot. He took him up on a hill where they could see all the land around them.

Then Abraham said to Lot, "There must be no quarreling between you and me, and between your servants and my servants. Do you see the whole land here before us? There is room for all of us to live and work without quarreling. There is grass for your sheep and mine. There is water for all.
"So now," said Abraham, "we must make a plan so our servants will not quarrel. You can choose whatever part of the land you like for your servants and for your sheep. And I will take what is left. Take whichever part you like."

Lot stood by Abraham and looked at all the country before them. Then he said, "I will go to the east." So Lot took his tents and gathered together his flocks and herds and moved to the east.
Abraham was happy because he had put an end to the quarreling. And God was pleased with Abraham, too.

One day after Lot had left him, God spoke to Abraham and said,"Lift up your eyes and look. As far as you can see, north and south and east and west, I will give the land to you and to your people forever."

 

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Avoiding Quarrels

There once lived a hard-working farmer whose name was Isaac. Isaac was a quiet, peaceable man. He did his work and let other people do theirs. He minded his own business and hoped that other people would mind theirs. He did not want to get into trouble with anyone.
Isaac had many men working for him. They helped to take care of his cattle. They planted his wheat and barley. They worked hard, even as their master Isaac did.
And because Isaac and his helpers worked hard, Isaac soon had the biggest crops of anybody around. He had more wheat and barley than any other farmer had.

The people living around Isaac did not like this. They were jealous. They went to the king. The king said to Isaac, "You'd better move on. You are stronger than we are and our people do not like it."
Now Isaac might have said: "I have done nothing but worked hard. Your people could do the same and have as fine wheat and barley as I have. Why should I have to move?" But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he moved on as the king had told him.

He and his men came to that part of the land where Isaac's father had once lived. Isaac needed water in that land for himself and his cattle. He remembered that his father had dug a well there, and he hunted for the well.

But when he came to the place where the well had been, he found it filled with dirt and stones. The people of the land had filled it. Isaac and his men got to work and dug out the dirt and stones. Then the water flowed up once more, and there was enough for him and his servants and his cattle to drink.
But the people of that part of the land came to Isaac and said,"This is our well. You must move on and leave the well for us and our cattle."
Now Isaac might have said, "This is a well which my father dug. It rightly belongs to me. Besides, you threw dirt and stones into it. If you had worked hard and dug out the dirt and stones, you could have had water for your cattle even as I have. Why should I move?"
But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he took his servants and moved on to another place.

There he found another well that his father had dug. For Isaac's father had dug many wells. But the people had filled this well with stones and dirt just as they had the other. And when Isaac and his servants had to dig out the stones and dirt, the people came to him again and said, "This is our well. It does not belong to you."
Now Isaac might have said, "This well also is one which my father dug. I have every right to it. Besides, my servants and I dug out the stones and dirt. What right do you have to it, anyway?"

But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he took his servants and moved on to another place. Once more Isaac and his men dug a well, that they might have water. And the people of that part of the land did not come and try to take it away from him. They saw that there was no use trying to quarrel with a man like Isaac. So they left him in peace.
By and by the king of the land came to the place where Isaac was living. "Why have you come?" asked Isaac. "You drove me out of your land. Why do you follow me here?"
"We see that God is your Friend," said the king. "You are a man who will not quarrel and we want to be friends with you."

So Isaac and the king agreed to be friends. Isaac made a feast for the king, and they ate and drank together.
From that time Isaac grew his wheat and barley in peace. He dug wells and used the water for himself and his servants and his cattle. And God greatly blessed this quiet, hard-working farmer who would not quarrel. He gave him lands and cattle, and was with him in all that he did.

 

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God Sees in the Dark

Jacob was going on a long journey. He was going to visit his uncle Laban who lived far away. He said goodbye to his father and mother. He took his little bundle of food and clothes. And he started on his way.
In those days there were no cars or automobiles. There were no trains in which to ride. Jacob had to walk. It would take many days to get to his Uncle Laban's. All morning he went on, tramp, tramp, tramp, over the dusty road. At noon he sat down by the roadside and ate his lunch. Then all afternoon he went on, tramp, tramp, tramp.

Jacob was getting farther and farther from home. He passed some people, but they were all strangers. He saw some homes but he did not know who lived in them. He thought about his own home,and his father and mother. Jacob felt very far away and very lonely.
It began to grow dark. Soon it was too dark to see the road. One by one the little stars came out in the sky. It was bedtime. There was no place for Jacob to sleep except there by the roadside under the stars.

Jacob looked around until he found a smooth flat stone. He put it down by the roadside for a pillow. He layed down and rested his head on the stone. Overhead he could see the little shining stars. But Jacob was lonely and afraid. Home seemed very far away in this strange place. His father and his mother seemed very far away. And because he felt so strange and lonely, even God, the heavenly Father, seemed to Jacob to be very far away.

At last Jacob fell asleep. As he slept he had a dream. He dreamed he saw steps like a great tall ladder reaching up towards the sky. Going up and down the steps were beautiful angels. Then Jacob heard a voice coming from the top of the steps. It was God's voice, and it was speaking to him. Jacob listened.
"I am with you!" God said to Jacob. "I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!"
And then Jacob woke up. "Surely God is in this place and I did not know it," he said.
And then Jacob knew that wherever he was, God was with him, watching over him and taking care of him. Even though he was far from home and in a strange place God was very near.

 

[RiverOL]

Jealousy and Hatred

Joseph's brothers were tending their sheep in the green fields of Dothan. They were far away from their home. It was a long time since they had seen their father and their little brother Benjamin. It was a long time since they had seen their brother Joseph, but they did not care about that, for they hated Joseph. They could not speak pleasantly to him. They could not even to say to him,"Peace be unto you."

As the brothers tended their sheep they looked off across the green fields. They saw somebody coming towards them. It was a boy. He was far away. They could not see him plainly. He wore a long coat and it shone like a rainbow. It was the coat of many colors. "Here comes Joseph!" the brothers said.

They watched Joseph come nearer and nearer. They could see plainly the coat of many colors. They remembered that their father had not given them such a coat. They remembered that he loved Joseph best. They remembered what the coat meant—that Joseph would be head of the family. They made fun of him. They said, "Here comes the dreamer!" As they talked about him they hated him even more.
Joseph had seen the white sheep feeding in the green fields. He knew that the men with them were his brothers. He waved his hand as he came towards them. The brothers did not wave back. He shouted. They did not answer.

Their faces were cross and ugly as they talked about how they hated Joseph. At last they said, "Let's kill him!"
In the field there was a deep deep hole—a pit. "Yes, let us kill him," the brothers said, "and throw him into the pit, and we will say, 'A wild animal has eaten him.'"

Reuben heard this. Reuben was the oldest brother. "Let us not kill him," Reuben said. "Throw him into the pit." He thought that by and by he would take Joseph out and give him back to his father.

Then Joseph came into the field. With scowling faces his brothers pulled off his coat—the coat of many colors. They threw him into the pit roughly. There they left him, at the very bottom. He could only see a bit of blue sky above him. The sides were too steep to climb up. He called. The brothers did not answer. He begged them to take him out. They did not go near him. They sat down and ate supper, as if they did not hear his cries.

By and by they saw a line of camels coming towards them. On their backs were very heavy bundles. Some men drove the camels. These men were taking spices and sweet-smelling perfumes down to Egypt to sell. Judah said to his brothers, "Why should we kill Joseph when we can sell him and get some money? Come, let us sell him to these men!"
The brothers lifted Joseph out of the pit. They called to the men on the camels to stop. "Here is a boy," they said. "Would you like to buy him? How much will you pay for him?" The men said, "We will buy him for twenty pieces of silver."

So Joseph's brothers sold him. The men counted out twenty pieces of silver and gave them to the brothers. Then they led Joseph away, and their camel train started; soon they were only black specks, far, far off.

Now, Reuben had not been with the other brothers when they sold Joseph. He came back to the pit and looked in. "The boy is not here!" he cried. "Where shall I go? What shall I do to find him?"
Then the brothers took Joseph's coat, the coat of many colors, and they killed a goat, and dipped it into the blood of the goat.

They took the coat of many colors home to their father, and showed it to him, all covered with blood. "We have found this," they said. "Do you know if it is Joseph's coat or not?"
Jacob knew it. It was the coat of many colors that he had given Joseph. "It's my son's coat," he said. "A wild animal has eaten him. Joseph has been torn in pieces."
Oh, how unhappy Jacob was! All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but they could not. "I shall always long for my son," he said.

And where was Joseph all this time? The men with the camels had taken him far from home. But the heavenly Father knew where Joseph was. God was caring for him. And all the wonderful things that happened to Joseph, and how God took care of him belong to another story.

 

[RiverOL]

A Long Way from Home

Joseph lived in Egypt. Joseph was far away from his home. He was far away from his father and from his brothers. It was a long time since the men on camels had brought him to Egypt. Then he was a boy. Now he was a man. He was a good man and loved God.

The king saw how Joseph loved God and he made him his helper. The king had Joseph dressed in fine clothes, and put a ring on his finger, and a gold chain about his neck. Joseph helped the king by storing away in big houses all the grain that the people could not eat.

Then came a time when no grain would grow. The people were hungry. They came to Joseph and he sold them grain from the big houses that he had filled with it.
No grain would grow at the home of Jacob, Joseph's father. Jacob said to his sons: "Why do you look so unhappy? Go to Egypt and buy grain, that we may not be hungry."

So all Jacob's sons except Benjamin went to Egypt to buy grain. Jacob could not bear to send Benjamin. He was the youngest. Jacob was afraid some harm would come to him.

The ten men came to Joseph. They bowed their heads low before him, for he was a great man. He looked at them closely, He knew them. They were his brothers. But they did not once think that the King's helper who sold them grain was their brother Joseph. Joseph said to them, "Is your father alive? Have you another brother?"
They said, "Benjamin is at home with his father."

Joseph acted cross. He made them think he did not believe them. He shut up one of the brothers and said,"I will keep this man shut up until you go home and bring back your youngest brother Benjamin. If you bring him back, I shall believe you are telling the truth."
They said to each other, "This serves us right. We would not listen to our brother Joseph when he cried for help. Now we must suffer." They did not know that the great man before them was their brother Joseph, and that he understood all they said, and only pretended that he was cross.

They went home and got Benjamin, the youngest one. They brought him to Joseph. Again they bowed their heads low before him.
Joseph asked, "Is your father well?"
They said, "Our father is well."
Joseph saw Benjamin. "Is this your youngest brother?" he said.

They said he was. Joseph gave them a splendid dinner. He saw how kind they were to Benjamin and how they loved their old father.
By and by he said, "I am Joseph. I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. See! I am Joseph."

The brothers could hardly believe that this great man was their brother Joseph. They were frightened. They thought he might punish them.

Joseph said, "Do not be unhappy because you sold me. God took care of me. God made everything come out right." Joseph kissed them over and over again.
Joseph, the kind brother, said, "Go home and tell my father what a great man I am, and bring him here to live near me. Bring your children and your wives and your sheep and come here to live. I will care for you."

 

[RiverOL]

God Has a Plan

Once there was a father, a mother, a sister and a brother. One day a little baby boy was born to that family. How happy the mother was when she looked on his face.
The father, sister, and brother were very proud of the baby and loved him very much. Although the family was happy about the new baby, they did not tell anyone at all about him. They hid him in the house and kept him very quiet, for they were afraid that the king would find him.

The king of the country did not like the heavenly Father’s people, and he said that all their little boy babies belonging to those people should be thrown into the river and drowned.
The baby grew very fast. After three months the mother knew she couldn’t hide him any longer. He cried and laughed so loudly. What could she do? The heavenly Father helped her to think of a plan.

She went to the river and gathered some tall reeds and grasses. She took them home and made a basket big enough to put the baby in. She wove the basket close and tight and then put some kind of soft clay all over it to fill up the open places and keep the water out. When it was finished it was a snug little basket boat that would float in the water.
Then she put her baby in the little basket boat and carried it down to the river. There among the tall grasses that grew along the river bank she hid the boat.

But she did not leave the baby alone. Miriam, the big sister, hid in the grasses near by and watched to see that nothing harmed him. All was still. Then Miriam heard footsteps, patter, patter, patter! She peeped out. It was the king’s own daughter and some girls who waited on her. They were coming down to the river to bathe, and coming right toward the place where the little basket boat was hidden! Would the princess see the basket boat? Miriam wondered.

Yes! The princess saw the boat. She sent one of her maids to get it for her. And then she found—you know what! When the baby saw that it was a strange woman and not his mother looking at him, he began to cry. The princess felt sorry for him. “What a dear baby!” she said. “I will keep him for my own so that the king will not harm him.”
When Miriam heard these words, she came up to the princess and said, “Shall I get you a nurse for the baby?"

“Yes,” said the princess. “If you know of a nurse bring her here at once.” So Miriam ran as fast as she could and brought—who do you suppose?—the baby’s own mother!
The princess spoke kindly to the mother and said, “Take the baby and care for him, and I will pay you for it.”

The baby Moses was safe now. The king would not harm him. How happy the mother, father, brother and sister were! I am sure the family thanked God, the heavenly Father, for caring for their baby.

 

[RiverOL]

Giving Thanks​

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Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, had come to a new home to live.

Ruth wondered how they would find enough to eat in this new country. One day she saw some fields of barley. In the top of each stalk there were little seeds which people used for food. Now that the barley grains were ripe enough to eat, the stalks turned yellow, and then people would soon come to cut down the barley. Ruth wished she could get some for Naomi and herself.
One day she saw men coming to cut the ripe, yellow barley. Other men followed to tie it into bundles. As they worked some pieces fell to the ground. In that country whatever fell to the ground was left for anyone who needed it. As Ruth saw other girls go to pick up what was left, she said to Naomi, ”Let me go into the fields to pick up barley that falls to the ground.”
Naomi said,”Go daughter.”

Ruth went to one of the fields and asked the head man to let her follow the workers to pick up the barley.
“Yes, you may,” said the head man. Ruth was happy to be in the field with the other girls, gathering barley for her mother-in-law and herself.

She worked hard in the hot sun, bending over and picking up the barley.
After a while the owner of the field came to see how his workers were getting along. He was a kind man and spoke pleasantly to his workmen. As he watched the girls gathering what had dropped he noticed Ruth. He knew that he had never seen her before. “Who is she?” he asked the head man.

“That is Ruth,” the man answered. “She has been working all morning to gather barley for her mother-in-law Naomi and herself.”
“I have heard about her before,” said the owner of the field. “I have heard how hard she works to help her mother-in-law Naomi. You can help Ruth by dropping some bundles in her way where she will find them. I will tell Ruth to come here every day.”

Then the owner of the field went to Ruth and spoke kindly to her. “You may come to this field every day,” he said.
“You are very kind,” said Ruth, as she thanked him.
“I have heard how kind you are to Naomi,” he answered, “and how hard you are working for her. When our workers eat their lunch, come here and eat with them, and drink from the water jars our young men have filled.”

At noon Ruth ate her dinner with the other workers. She had all she wished to eat. When she started to work again she did not know why she found so much barley. She did not know the men had been told to drop it on purpose for her.

When evening came, Ruth took a stick and beat out the barley. Out flew the little round grains until there was a big pile of them. Then she gathered them up and carried them home to Naomi.
Each morning after this Ruth went out into the barley field and came back in the evening. Each night she gave Naomi the seeds she had beaten out of the barley she found. Ruth and Naomi were happy now and thanked God that they had all they needed to eat.

 

[RiverOL]

Happiness is Others​

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There was once a little boy five years old who was a prince. His father was Prince Jonathan and his grandfather was King Saul. One day they were both killed. Men came to the little boy’s nurse and said, “Prince Jonathan is dead! King Saul is dead!”

The nurse took the little boy in her arms and ran away with him, for who could tell what would happen to a little five year old boy, with no father and no grandfather to take care of him? She was so frightened and hurried so fast that she dropped the child. Oh, how it hurt him! It hurt both his feet and made him lame. The kind nurse had only meant to take good care of him. She picked him up again and ran and ran, and never stopped till she came to a safe place, where no one would find him.

Here the little prince lived, but he was a little lame prince. He never could run and play like other boys. His feet never got well. He grew and grew till he was a big boy. He could not ride and learn to be a soldier like other big boys, because he was lame. By and by he grew up to be a man. He could not work and fight like other men, because he was lame. Besides, the lame prince was poor.

But one day something wonderful happened to him. I will tell you about it. At this time David was the king. The shepherd boy had become a man. David did not take care of sheep any longer. He lived in the king’s palace, and he dressed in fine clothes, and he wore a crown of yellow gold on his head. King David had servants to wait upon him. He had rich food to eat. In the palace there was often sweet music.
King David tried to take care of his people, as a good king should. He did not stay in the palace all the time, eating and drinking and listening to sweet music. He fought the soldiers who tried to hurt his people. King David did not think about being happy all the time. He thought about making other people happy.

One day King David sat in his palace, thinking of the time long ago when he was a shepherd boy. Then Prince Jonathan had been his friend. He did not know anything about Prince Jonathan’s son, the lame prince.
King David called his servant Ziba.

“Did Prince Jonathan have any sons I can be kind to?” he asked.
“Yes,” Ziba said, “Prince Jonathan has a son who is lame.”
“Where is he?” King David asked. Ziba told him.
King David sent for the lame prince. He came to the palace. He stood before King David. He was afraid. He thought King David might hurt a poor lame prince who could not fight or work. He bowed his head to the floor before King David.

King David said, “Do not be afraid. I will be kind to you because I loved your father. You shall eat at my table all the time.”
The lame prince looked up to King David. His face was happy. “Why are you so kind to a poor lame prince like me?” he said.
King David had the lame prince sit beside him. He told Ziba to wait upon him. He gave him fine clothes. He had rich food to eat. He treated him as well as if he had been his own son.

---

 

[RiverOL]

God Provides​

---

There was once a man who was away from home most of the time. His name was Elisha. Elisha was a special friend of God. The reason that Elisha could not stay at home was because he traveled about from one place to another helping people. He went to carry messages that God gave him. Elisha traveled alone, except for one servant, Gehazi. Gehazi went everywhere with him, and was his helper.
Often in the morning Elisha did not know where he would sleep that night. When he ate breakfast he did not know where he would eat supper. Elisha cared more about helping people than about eating and sleeping. He was always ready to go where anybody needed him. No matter how tired he was, he would start the moment he knew somebody was in trouble.

Now, it happened that one day Elisha came to a rich woman’s house. She asked Elisha to come in and have something to eat. He was glad to do so. When he had eaten he felt rested and went on his journey.
Often after this Elisha stopped at the rich woman’s house and ate and rested. It was very pleasant to have a place like this where he might go. When he was traveling he tried to get to her house at dinner time or at supper time. He was sure of a welcome there.
One day the rich woman said to her husband, “I can see that this is a real friend of God who passes by us so often. Let us make a little room on the roof, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a chair, and a lamp. Then when he comes to us he can go in there.”

The roof of the rich woman’s house was not pointed. It was flat, like a floor. There was a wall around it. Stairs led up from the ground to the roof. These stairs were outdoors, so that anyone could get up to the roof without going into the house.
The rich woman had a room built on this flat roof. It was only a little room, but it was large enough for one man. In it there were four things—a bed, table, chair, and a lamp.
The next time Elisha came to the rich woman’s house he stopped as usual and ate. After he had eaten she took him outdoors, and up the outside stairs. Up, up they went, until they reached the roof. Elisha wondered why the rich woman was taking him there. She led him to the corner, where the little room was built. She opened the door and Elisha looked in. There he saw a bed, table, chair and a lamp.

“It is for you,” the rich woman said. Oh, how pleased Elisha was! It made him happy to know that somebody was taking care of him.
Now whenever he came to the rich woman’s house he went up the outside stairs to the little room on the roof—his own little room. Sometimes he sat in the chair and rested. When it grew dark he lit the lamp on the table. If he came past at night, he knew that a bed was waiting there for him.

It was cool on the roof for the winds blew there. It was quiet, for it was above the street. At night he could step out of his door and watch the stars. In the morning he could see the sun shining on the white roofs of the houses.

Sometimes he ate supper with the rich woman before he went up to his little room. When he was very tired he climbed the stairs without her knowing it, and Gehazi, his servant, waited upon him.
When he was traveling about helping people he would often think of his little room on the roof. He would think of the chair where he could sit and rest. He would think of the lamp on the table, which he could light. He would think of the bed waiting for him when night came. When he was hot he would think of the cool winds that blew over the roof where his little room was. He remembered how at night God’s stars kept watch.
Elisha never forgot who thought of the little room, with its bed, table, chair and lamp. It was pleasant to know that the good woman was showing her love to him, who only a little while ago was a stranger.

---

 

[RiverOL]

God's Gift of Love​

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Long ago in the quiet little town of Nazareth there lived a lovely young woman, Mary, and a strong carpenter, Joseph. Everyone in the village knew that Mary and Joseph loved each other. They were going to be married and have a home together.
Mary and Joseph loved God, too. They tried their best to live as God would want them to.

One day the governor sent a message to all the people in the land. “Everyone is to go to the place where his family lived,” was the message. “Each person must write his name in a big book there.” That was to help the governor to collect the taxes from the people.
“We must go to Bethlehem, Mary,” said Joseph. Bethlehem was where his family had lived. Mary and Joseph got ready for their trip.

They started down the road. Joseph walked beside the little donkey. One day they came to Bethlehem. Click-clack, click-clack sounded the hard hoofs of the little donkey as it walked slowly down the street.
Joseph led the little donkey straight to the inn. He knocked on the door. When the innkeeper opened the door, Joseph said, “We would like to stay here for the night.”

“I am sorry,” answered the innkeeper, “but the inn is already full of people.” Then he looked beyond Joseph to Mary who was still sitting on the little donkey’s back. He turned again to Joseph and said, “Near here is a stable built in the rocks, there you will find some clean hay out of which to make beds.”

That night a wonderful thing happened in the stable. A baby boy was born to Mary. It was the little Jesus.
On that quiet night long ago some shepherds were watching their sheep on the hills just outside the town of Bethlehem. It was dark. The sky was filled with bright stars.

Suddenly, a strange light shone all around the shepherds. An angel of God appeared and spoke to them. Of course the shepherds were afraid when they saw the bright light around them and heard the angel.
“Do not be afraid,” said the angel. “I bring you good news for all the people. There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour.
"He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds looked up at the sky; it seemed to be filled with happy angels praising God.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” the angels sang. Then the angels went away.
“Let us go to Bethlehem.”

There they found the baby Jesus lying in a manger. They knelt down and worshipped him. They were very happy. Then they started back to the fields.
That was the way God chose to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Jesus was God’s gift of love. God sent Him into the world to bring people peace with God by dying on the cross for their sins.
The baby Jesus grew and grew, and finally He grew to be a man. Then Jesus went about the land teaching the people about God.

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