Lesson #12

Lesson #12

Hundreds of Years of Bible History in 20 Verses

The long history books of the Old Testament may seem incomprehensible. One way to approach them is to read summaries.    

Stephen’s Summary
Before Stephen was stoned, he summarized God’s actions in the history of God’s people.
Read the speech Stephen made before the Sanhedrin, and then read the fuller account from the Old Testament references.
(2) Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. (3) “Leave your country and your people,” God said, “and go to the land I will show you.”
(4) So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. (5) He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. (6) God spoke to him in this way: “Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years. (7) But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,” God said, “and afterwards they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.”
(8) Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
(9) Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him (10) and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
(11) Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food. (12) When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. (13) On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. (14) After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. (15) Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
(16) Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.
(17) As the time drew near for God to fulfil his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased. (18) Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt. (19) He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.
(20) At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father’s house. (21) When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
Acts 7:2–21

Stephen’s Speech – Old Testament References

A Biography – The Life of Daniel

Opening Observations

Nothing bad or negative is recorded about Daniel.
This is in striking contrast to people such as:
• David (a liar, adulterer and murderer).
• Jonah (who deliberately disobeyed God).
• Elijah (who expressed the wish to commit suicide).

Build Up a Picture About Daniel’s Circumstances

Find out about Daniel’s background:
• Daniel was a prisoner of war. Daniel 1:1–2
• Daniel’s family. Daniel 1:3
• The seven things mentioned about him. Daniel 1:5
• The gifts God gave him. Daniel 1:17

Compile a Character Profile of Daniel

• He shares problems with his friends. Daniel 2:17
• He takes his problems to God in prayer. Daniel 2:18
• He remembers to thank God for answered prayer.
Daniel 2:19–23
• He makes it clear that his gifts are given him by God. Daniel 2:27–28
• He does not let honors go to his head. Daniel 2:48–49; 5:29
• He tells the truth, even if it means he might suffer for speaking up. Daniel 5:1–31
• He trusts God, even if it means he might be killed. Daniel 6

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Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Read chapter six, no matter how well you know the story. Note the following points.

• Even the best of God’s followers are persecuted: see what Daniel was accused of. Verses 1–9

• Daniel deliberately goes against the king’s decree. Why? Verses 10–12

• Daniel’s faithfulness has quite an effect on the king. Verses 13–18

• How does Daniel give God the glory for what happened? Verses 19–23

Daniel’s Friends

Study chapter three, where Daniel’s friends are thrown into the fiery furnace. In what ways do the men show their faith in God?

Concluding Thought

• Daniel was about eighty years old when he was put in the lions’ den. But he stayed faithful to God in his old age: “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.” Daniel 6:22

              Source: Water, M. (1998). Bible Study made easy. The Made Easy Series (30). Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd.