Chapter 1<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> \"Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.\"<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#9: The Priests Must Decide If They Believe God Enough To Start Crossing The Jordan Before He Dries It Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joshua 3:1-17<\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> and they commanded the people, saying, \"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> \"However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.\"<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Then Joshua said to the people, \"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.\"<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, \"Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.\" So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Now the LORD said to Joshua, \"This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> \"You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'\"<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, \"Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Joshua said, \"By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> \"Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> \"Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> \"It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.\"<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest),<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#8: The Disciples Must Decide If They Will Go Back To Bethany Though Their Lives Have Been Threatened<\/strong><\/p>\n

John 11:1-44<\/p>\n

Chapter 11<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, \"Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> But when Jesus heard this, He said, \"This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.\"<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Then after this He *said to the disciples, \"Let us go to Judea again.\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> The disciples *said to Him, \"Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?\"<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Jesus answered, \"Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> \"But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> This He said, and after that He *said to them, \"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.\"<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> The disciples then said to Him, \"Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> So Jesus then said to them plainly, \"Lazarus is dead,<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.\"<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, \"Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.\"<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Martha then said to Jesus, \"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> \"Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.\"<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> Jesus *said to her, \"Your brother will rise again.\"<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> Martha *said to Him, \"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.\"<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Jesus said to her, \"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?\"<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> She *said to Him, \"Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.\"<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, \"The Teacher is here and is calling for you.\"<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him.<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, \"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.\"<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> and said, \"Where have you laid him?\" They *said to Him, \"Lord, come and see.\"<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> Jesus wept.<\/p>

36<\/small><\/span> So the Jews were saying, \"See how He loved him!\"<\/p>

37<\/small><\/span> But some of them said, \"Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?\"<\/p>

38<\/small><\/span> So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.<\/p>

39<\/small><\/span> Jesus *said, \"Remove the stone.\" Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, \"Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.\"<\/p>

40<\/small><\/span> Jesus *said to her, \"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?\"<\/p>

41<\/small><\/span> So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, \"Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.<\/p>

42<\/small><\/span> \"I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.\"<\/p>

43<\/small><\/span> When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, \"Lazarus, come forth.\"<\/p>

44<\/small><\/span> The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, \"Unbind him, and let him go.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#7: Young Queen Esther Must Risk Her Life To Deliver Her People From Death<\/strong><\/p>\n

Esther 4:12-16<\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/h4>

12<\/small><\/span> They related Esther's words to Mordecai.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, \"Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> \"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?\"<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> \"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#6: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Must Bow To An Idol Or Be Thrown Into A Fiery Furnace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel 3:1-30<\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Then the herald loudly proclaimed: \"To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language,<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> \"But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.\"<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: \"O king, live forever!<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> \"You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> \"But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> \"There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, \"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> \"Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?\"<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, \"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> \"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> \"But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.\"<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> For this reason, because the king's command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, \"Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?\" They replied to the king, \"Certainly, O king.\"<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!\"<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, \"Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!\" Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king's high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, \"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> \"Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.\"<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Top 10 Toughest Tests\u00a0Honorable Mentions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now don\u2019t get testy, there were many more tests in the Bible than we could include. Here\u2019s a look at a few that didn\u2019t make the grade:<\/p>\n

Daniel Must Decide Between Praying To God Or Being Thrown Into The Lion\u2019s Den<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel 2:1-49<\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> The king said to them, \"I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: \"O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.\"<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> The king replied to the Chaldeans, \"The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> \"But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.\"<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> They answered a second time and said, \"Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> The king replied, \"I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> The Chaldeans answered the king and said, \"There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> \"Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.\"<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> he said to Arioch, the king's commander, \"For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?\" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter,<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Daniel said, \"Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> \"It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> \"It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> \"To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us the king's matter.\"<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: \"Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.\"<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: \"I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!\"<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, \"Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?\"<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> Daniel answered before the king and said, \"As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king.<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> \"However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> \"As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> \"But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> \"You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> \"The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> \"You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> \"Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.<\/p>

36<\/small><\/span> \"This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king.<\/p>

37<\/small><\/span> \"You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory;<\/p>

38<\/small><\/span> and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.<\/p>

39<\/small><\/span> \"After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.<\/p>

40<\/small><\/span> \"Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.<\/p>

41<\/small><\/span> \"In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay.<\/p>

42<\/small><\/span> \"As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle.<\/p>

43<\/small><\/span> \"And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.<\/p>

44<\/small><\/span> \"In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.<\/p>

45<\/small><\/span> \"Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.\"<\/p>

46<\/small><\/span> Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense.<\/p>

47<\/small><\/span> The king answered Daniel and said, \"Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.\"<\/p>

48<\/small><\/span> Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.<\/p>

49<\/small><\/span> And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

Peter Must Choose If He Wants To Be Identified As A Disciple Of Jesus Or Deny Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luke 22:54-62<\/p>\n

Chapter 22<\/h4>

54<\/small><\/span> Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.<\/p>

55<\/small><\/span> After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them.<\/p>

56<\/small><\/span> And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, \"This man was with Him too.\"<\/p>

57<\/small><\/span> But he denied it, saying, \"Woman, I do not know Him.\"<\/p>

58<\/small><\/span> A little later, another saw him and said, \"You are one of them too!\" But Peter said, \"Man, I am not!\"<\/p>

59<\/small><\/span> After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, \"Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.\"<\/p>

60<\/small><\/span> But Peter said, \"Man, I do not know what you are talking about.\" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.<\/p>

61<\/small><\/span> The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, \"Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.\"<\/p>

62<\/small><\/span> And he went out and wept bitterly.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

The Children of Israel Must Trust God And Cross The Red Sea Or Be Wiped Out By The Egyptian Army<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exodus 13:17-14:31<\/p>\n

Chapter 13<\/h4>

14<\/small><\/span> \"And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> 'It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.'<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> \"So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.\"<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, \"The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.\"<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#5: David Must Choose To Fight Goliath Or Allow Him To Curse God<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Samuel 17: 1-51<\/p>\n

Chapter 17<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, \"Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> \"If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Again the Philistine said, \"I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> Then Jesse said to David his son, \"Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> \"Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> \"For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.\"<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.<\/p>

23<\/small><\/span> As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.<\/p>

24<\/small><\/span> When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.<\/p>

25<\/small><\/span> The men of Israel said, \"Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.\"<\/p>

26<\/small><\/span> Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, \"What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?\"<\/p>

27<\/small><\/span> The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, \"Thus it will be done for the man who kills him.\"<\/p>

28<\/small><\/span> Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, \"Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.\"<\/p>

29<\/small><\/span> But David said, \"What have I done now? Was it not just a question?\"<\/p>

30<\/small><\/span> Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.<\/p>

31<\/small><\/span> When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him.<\/p>

32<\/small><\/span> David said to Saul, \"Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.\"<\/p>

33<\/small><\/span> Then Saul said to David, \"You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.\"<\/p>

34<\/small><\/span> But David said to Saul, \"Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,<\/p>

35<\/small><\/span> I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.<\/p>

36<\/small><\/span> \"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.\"<\/p>

37<\/small><\/span> And David said, \"The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.\" And Saul said to David, \"Go, and may the LORD be with you.\"<\/p>

38<\/small><\/span> Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.<\/p>

39<\/small><\/span> David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, \"I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.\" And David took them off.<\/p>

40<\/small><\/span> He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.<\/p>

41<\/small><\/span> Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.<\/p>

42<\/small><\/span> When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.<\/p>

43<\/small><\/span> The Philistine said to David, \"Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?\" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.<\/p>

44<\/small><\/span> The Philistine also said to David, \"Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.\"<\/p>

45<\/small><\/span> Then David said to the Philistine, \"You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.<\/p>

46<\/small><\/span> \"This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,<\/p>

47<\/small><\/span> and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands.\"<\/p>

48<\/small><\/span> Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.<\/p>

49<\/small><\/span> And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.<\/p>

50<\/small><\/span> Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand.<\/p>

51<\/small><\/span> Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#4: Jesus Must Choose Between God\u2019s Word Or Satan\u2019s Promises<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matthew 4:1-11<\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> And the tempter came and said to Him, \"If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.\"<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> But He answered and said, \"It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'\"<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> and *said to Him, \"If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'\"<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Jesus said to him, \"On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> and he said to Him, \"All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Then Jesus *said to him, \"Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'\"<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

Esther 7:1-10<\/p>\n

Chapter 7<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen.<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, \"What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.\"<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> Then Queen Esther replied, \"If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.\"<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, \"Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?\"<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Esther said, \"A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!\" Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, \"Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?\" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, \"Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman's house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!\" And the king said, \"Hang him on it.\"<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's anger subsided.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#3: Abraham Must Show He Is Willing to Sacrifice His Only Son Isaac If That Is What God Requires<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genesis 22:1-19<\/p>\n

Chapter 22<\/h4>

1<\/small><\/span> Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, \"Abraham!\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"<\/p>

2<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.\"<\/p>

3<\/small><\/span> So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Abraham said to his young men, \"Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.\"<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, \"My father!\" And he said, \"Here I am, my son.\" And he said, \"Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> Abraham said, \"God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.\" So the two of them walked on together.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, \"Abraham, Abraham!\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.\"<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, \"In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.\"<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> and said, \"By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> \"In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.\"<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#2: Job Must Decide Whether He Will Trust God Through Disaster Or Curse Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job 1:6-22<\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/h4>

6<\/small><\/span> Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> The LORD said to Satan, \"From where do you come?\" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, \"From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.\"<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> The LORD said to Satan, \"Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.\"<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Then Satan answered the LORD, \"Does Job fear God for nothing?<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> \"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> \"But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.\"<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> Then the LORD said to Satan, \"Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.\" So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> a messenger came to Job and said, \"The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.\"<\/p>

16<\/small><\/span> While he was still speaking, another also came and said, \"The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.\"<\/p>

17<\/small><\/span> While he was still speaking, another also came and said, \"The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.\"<\/p>

18<\/small><\/span> While he was still speaking, another also came and said, \"Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,<\/p>

19<\/small><\/span> and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.\"<\/p>

20<\/small><\/span> Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.<\/p>

21<\/small><\/span> He said, \"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.\"<\/p>

22<\/small><\/span> Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#1: Adam And Eve Must Choose Between Obeying God\u2019s Warning Against Eating From The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil Or Falling For Satan\u2019s Temptation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genesis 2:15-3:7<\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/h4>

3<\/small><\/span> Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.<\/p>

4<\/small><\/span> This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.<\/p>

5<\/small><\/span> Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.<\/p>

6<\/small><\/span> But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.<\/p>

7<\/small><\/span> Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.<\/p>

8<\/small><\/span> The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.<\/p>

9<\/small><\/span> Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.<\/p>

10<\/small><\/span> Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers.<\/p>

11<\/small><\/span> The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.<\/p>

12<\/small><\/span> The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there.<\/p>

13<\/small><\/span> The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush.<\/p>

14<\/small><\/span> The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.<\/p>

15<\/small><\/span> Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.<\/p><\/div>\n

Translation: NASB<\/em><\/p>\n

Downloads<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Life is full of tough tests and so is the Bible. Reading it gives us a look at some of the excruciating tests of faith, courage and endurance the heroes of our faith endured which still provide encouragement to us today. Some tests were passed with flying colors and some were failed, but just like …<\/p>\n

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