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October Bible Quiz- The Exodus
The Rest of the Story
Sometimes when we are studying the Bible, we come across something that seems contradictory. There are even those who actively
seek to find contradictions in the Bible. Oftentimes, we are guilty of looking at a verse in isolation and not combining
the information provided in that verse with other things we read in the Bible. For example, if we compare Genesis 16:14 -
15 “ Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within
and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred
cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubit.” (emphasis added)
with Exodus 25:10 “And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall
be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.”(emphasis
added) you have an apparent contradiction. How can you make the ark with a length of 300 cubits and also make
the ark with a length of 2.5 cubits. And how can you make the ark of gopher wood and at the same time make it of shittim wood.
So obviously the Bible is lying to us, right?? You probably realize that the two Bible passages are, in fact, talking about
two entirely different arks - in Genesis 16, God is giving Noah the plans for the ark that would save his family from the
flood but in Exodus 25, God is giving Moses directions for the ark of the covenant or the ark of testimony that was to be
placed in the tabernacle. The reason these two verses seem to contradict is simply that they are talking about two totally
different things. Sometimes, we have to use a little bit of reasoning to understand all of what the Bible is telling us.
So in the example above, if we take the words at face value we would obviously have a contradiction, you can’t make
something entirely out of gopher wood and entirely out of shittim wood and you can’t make something 300 cubits long
and 2.5 cubits long at the same time. Only by reading the context of the verses, do we realize that there isn’t a contradiction
at all. Just a misunderstanding of God’s word.
Other times in Bible study, we have to put together all the facts from more than one location in the Bible to fully understand
what God is telling us. As an example, let’s look at the night that Jesus was betrayed.
In Mark 14:45-47 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed
him.
And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.(emphasis
added) we learn that after they seized Jesus someone took a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the
high priest.
In Matthew 26:49 - 52 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said
unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And, behold, one of them
which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off
his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish
with the sword. (emphasis added)
we learn that it was one of Jesus’ disciples who drew his own sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest.
In Luke 22:47 - 51 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve,
went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him(emphasis added)
we learn that the servant of the high priest lost his right ear and we also learn that Jesus healed the servant of
the high priest.
And in John 18:7-12 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's
name was Malchus.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, (emphasis added) we discover
that it was Simon Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. So when you combine
the four gospel accounts, you realize that on the night that Jesus was betrayed Simon Peter drew his own sword and cut off
the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest and that Jesus immediately healed Malchus and rebuked Peter for his
rash action. So if you take any one of these four accounts in isolation, you do not get all of the details of the story.
You might even be lead to believe that these accounts are contradictory when in truth they are sharing different details
of the same event.
The same is true for all of our Bible study. We must remember to look are everything the Bible says about a given subject
rather than looking at one or two verses in isolation. We must remember to be like Paul Harvey and find “The Rest of
the Story” to fully understand God’s word.
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