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BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

UNIT 1 JACOB'S FAMILY UNIT 2: THE CALL OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES UNIT 3: THE LOVE OF JESUS UNIT 4: HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY UNIT 5: THE CALL OF MOSES UNIT 6: HEALING MIRACLES UNIT: 7 HIV AND AIDS UNIT 8: THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNIT 9: THE DEPARTURE OF THE HEBREWS FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN UNIT 10: TOLERANCE UNIT 11: DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

UNIT 1 THE FAMILY OF JACOB

JACOB'S FAMILY
(Genesis 35:23-26; 37:1-36)

Jacob had thirteen children, one daughter and twelve sons from four different mothers. One of the sons was Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph more than the rest of the children. This caused his brothers to hate him. In addition, Joseph had dreams which angered his brothers the more. This anger and hatred for Joseph led his brothers to sell him to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites sold him to Egypt where he rose to the position of prime minister. Famine in Canaan forced Jacob's family to move to Egypt. After staying for many years in Egypt, the Hebrews were made slaves.

JACOB IN CANAAN AND EGYPT
(Genesis 35:23-26; 37:1-36; 40:1-22; 41:1-57)

Isaac lived in Canaan and had two sons, Esau and Jacob. The family of Isaac used to keep livestock as their main occupation. Rebecca, Isaac's wife, planned that the heirship should go to Jacob against patriarchal tradition. Because of this planned deceit, there was rivalry between Jacob and Esau. Jacob fled to Mesopotamia where he lived with his uncle Laban. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob loved the younger one, Rachel. The custom required that the older daughter marries first. However, Laban disguised Leah and gave her to Jacob instead of Rachel after seven years of work as dowry (lobola). This became possible because marriage was always consummated in the night. In the morning, Jacob discovered that Laban had given him Leah instead of Rachel. He was angry.

Laban promised to give him Rachel after serving another seven years. Because of his love for Rachel, Jacob agreed.

UNIT 2 THE CALL OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Disciples are the followers of Jesus.

Apostles are the messengers of Jesus.

THE CALL OF THE DISCIPLES
(Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20)

After baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert. Subsequently, Jesus began His ministry in Galilee. The news about His ministry spread throughout Galilee. Many people followed Him because of the teaching, miracles and acceptance of the outcast. Some of the disciples were Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.

THE CHOICE OF THE APOSTLES
(Mark 3:13-19; Mark 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-13)

Jesus had disciples who followed him. From these disciples, Jesus chose twelve men whom he named apostles. He gave them the power to preach, heal and drive out demons.

The names of the twelve selected men as apostles were:

• Simon (Jesus named him Peter)
• James (son of Zebedee)
• John (son of Zebedee)
• Andrew
• Philip
• Bartholomew
• Matthew
• Thomas
• James (son of Alphaeus)
• Thaddaeus
• Simon (the Zealot)
• Judas Iscariot (he betrayed Jesus)

To the sons of Zebedee, Jesus gave them the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”.

BELIEVERS TODAY
(Matthew 4:12; Luke 4:14-15; 5:1-5; Mark 2:12-13)

Every Christian today is supposed to be a follower and believer of Jesus Christ. In the past, followers of Jesus Christ were told to abandon their activities and sell their wealth in order to dedicate their lives to God.

DUTIES OF JESUS' FOLLOWERS

• Preaching the Word of God
• Praying for themselves and others
• Helping the needy

UNIT 3 THE LOVE OF JESUS

TEACHINGS ABOUT LOVE
(Matthew 15:22-28; Luke 7:1-10; 10:25-30; Mark 7:24-30; Mathew 25:31-40)

Love is the foundation of unity, peace and justice among people. Christians are taught to love one another.
The commandment on loving one another as one loves oneself concerns people's relationships. Jesus, love therefore is more than just a word or feeling.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

• Love brings about a sense of belonging
• Love makes people to feel pity for those in troubles and help them
• Love makes people to be tolerant
• Loves makes people to love one another
• Love makes people to trust one another
• Love makes people to protect human rights
• Love makes people to promote justice

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
(Luke 10:25-30)

A teacher of the law came up and tried to trap Jesus. He asked, “What must I do to receive eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “What do the scriptures say? How do you interpret them?”

The man answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself”.
“You are right,” Jesus replied, do this and you will live. But the teacher wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”

Jesus answered, “There was a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way, robbers attacked him, stripped him and beat him up, leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest was travelling on the same road, but when he saw the man, he walked by, on the other side. So too the Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, he just walked by on the other side.
But a Samaritan who was travelling on the same road came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn where they cared for him.”

UNIT 4 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN
(Luke 2:42-49; 18:15-17; Genesis 2:7)

A right is an entitlement. When a person is entitled to things, it means that he or she can demand that thing. A right is different from a privilege. If a person has a privilege to have something, he or she may have it, but can be withdrawn at any time the person giving it decides to do so. On the other hand, a right as an entitlement cannot be withdrawn anyhow.

RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

• Right to education
• Right to be cared for by parents
• Right to life

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS

A family is composed of parents or guardians and children. Each member in the family has rights.
In addition, each member has responsibilities to carry out within the family. Similarly, within the Christian families, there are rights and responsibilities.

However, children belong to one of the vulnerable groups in the society.
In most of the policy-making bodies, whether in a family or society, children are not consulted in the decision-making processes.
As a result, laws and decisions made by adults do not take into consideration the needs, interests and aspiration of children.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN AT HOME

• Respecting parents and siblings
• Doing household chores like cleaning plates, sweeping the surroundings and mopping

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN AT CHURCH

• Respecting the elders and others
• Keeping quiet during sermons
• Keeping the surrounding clean

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN AT SCHOOL

• Respecting teachers and other learners
• Keeping the surrounding clean
• Writing exercises given
• Studying notes
• Writing tests and examinations

CHRISTIAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Bible has stories about the roles and responsibilities of family members. In Genesis 25:27-34, for example, each member in Isaac's family had some responsibilities to assist in the welfare of other people.

UNIT 5 THE CALL OF MOSES

THE BIRTRH OF MOSES
(Exodus 1:15-18; 2:1-10)

Moses was an Israelite but born in Egypt to a man of the tribe of Levi who married a Levite woman. The name of the mother of Moses was Jacobed. When he was born, his mother saw that Moses was a fine child and she hid her for three months.

However when she could hide him no longer, Moses' mother got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.
Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
The mother hid Moses along the river bank because the mother feared that Moses could be killed by the Egyptians.

THE FLIGHT OF MOSES FROM EGYPT TO MIDIAN
(Exodus 2:11-24)

When Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labour.
He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this this way and that way and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”
The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptians?”
Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”
When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian.

GOD'S CALL OF MOSES
(Exodus 3:1-21; 7:1-11)

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from with a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Then Moses went over to see that strange sight. When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush. Moses wanted to go closer but God told him to do so. And God told him to take off his sandals (shoes) because the place Moses was standing was a holy ground. It is there when God told him (called him through the burning bush) to go back to Egypt to release the Hebrews from slavery. Moses took his brother Aaron to go to Egypt with him.

UNIT 6 HEALING MIRACLES

THE MIRACLES THAT JESUS PERFORMED UPON REQUEST
(Luke 5:17-26; 7:1-10; 8:40-42; 49-56; 17:11-19)

The Bible gives various examples of healing miracles by Jesus. One factor that needs emphasis is that Jesus healed people upon request by the sick themselves, or by their relatives.

The miracles that Jesus performed upon request

• The healing of a man with leprosy
• The healing of a paralysed man
• The healing of a Centurion's servant
• The healing of ten men with leprosy
• The healing of Jairus' daughter

THE MIRACLES THAT JESUS PERFORMED OUT OF MERCY
(Mark 5:1-20; Luke 6:6-11; 13:10-17; John 5:1-10)

The other factor is that Jesus healed some people without being requested but just to show an act of sympathy or mercy.

The miracles that Jesus performed out of mercy

• The healing of a demon-possessed man
• The healing a man with a shrivelled hand
• The healing of a crippled woman
• The healing of a woman at the pool

UNIT 7 HIV AND AIDS

HOW HIV AND AIDS IS SPREAD

• Unprotected sex
• Sharing of sharp objects such as razor blades and needles
• Sharing of tooth brushes
• Mother to child

HOW HIV AND AIDS CAN BE PREVENTED
(Genesis 39:1-23)

• Avoiding sharing of skin-piercing instruments such as needles and razor blades
• Avoiding taking intoxicating drugs and substances like Indian hemp
• Avoiding harmful cultural practices such as sexual cleansing, wife cleansing and wife inheritance
• Being faithful to a mutually-faithful and unprotected partner
• Avoiding sexual intercourse before marriage (abstinence)

UNIT 8 THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

GOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(Genesis 2:12)

God created a beautiful earth with all sorts of animals and plants so that people should live a happy life. God made people in charge over all the creation. This task came with great responsibility of looking after the creation. It is therefore the duty of people today to take care of the environment to ensure that what God created is sustained and preserved.

There are, however, numerous problems associated with the destruction of the environment. Malawi is slowly losing trees, soils, animals and other resources. The rainfall pattern is also greatly affected because most areas have no trees which help in the rain formation.

CHRISTIANS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
(Genesis 1:20-25; 2:8-16)

There are various roles people can play in the protection and preservation of the environment. The story of creation in the early chapters of the Bible gives a very clear picture of these roles. Adam and Eve were placed in the garden of Eden ‘to work on it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15)' This gives a picture of the earth as God's garden and people as stewards. The garden of Eden can be looked at as the model of the environment which God created and valued. The environment of Eden was meant to sustain life in all its forms of human industry. The book of Genesis 2:12 tells us that God also made mineral resources for use by people. In addition, the environment of Eden was meant to be maintained as a place of beauty. Trees in this garden added a lot of beauty to the environment.

SOME IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

• People get food from the environment
• People get medicine from the environment
• Some environment in used for transportation
• Some environment provide raw materials for making clothing

SOME RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHRISTIANS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

• Caring for trees by not cutting them wantonly and planting more trees
• avoiding smoking
• Using the natural resources like soil wisely
• avoiding polluting water
• Avoiding siltation of water bodies such as rivers and lakes
• Avoid poaching wild animals

UNIT 9 THE DEPARTURE OF THE HEBREWS FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN

THE MEANING OF THE TERM ‘PASSOVER'

Passover is a Jewish religious festival commemorating the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

THE PASSOVER
(Exodus 12:1-11)

The Lord had warned Pharaoh that if he refused to let the Hebrews go, Pharaoh's first son would be slain. However, before the Lord exe_cuted this punishment, He gave direction to the people of Israel concerning their departure from Egypt. Each family, alone or with others, had to kill a lamb without any blemish.

Its blood was sprinkled on the door posts.The blood was to prevent the destroying angel of death from entering such a house at midnight. During the evening, the Hebrews ate the meat roasted with bread made without yeast (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs. The feast was called the Passover, which means the angel of death would pass over any house with blood on the door posts. The Lord said this to Moses and Aaron in Egypt.

TWO ANIMALS WHICH WERE USED IN THE PASSOVER

• Sheep
• Goats

THREE FOOD ITEMS THAT MADE UP THE PASSOVER

• Meat
• Unleavened bread
• Bitter herbs

HOW ISRAEL'S HOUSES WERE PROTECTED FROM THE LORD'S ANGEL OF DEATH

• By the blood which was put on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses

THE JEWISH EXODUS
(Exodus 12:37; 13:20-22)

The Passover created an atmosphere for the departure of the Israelites from Egypt which began between 1400 BC and 1300 BC. By day the Lord went ahead of the Israelites in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

TWO THINGS GOD USED TO GUIDE THE HEBREWS ON THEIR JOURNEY

• The pillar of cloud
• The pillar of fire

Exodus means going out or departure of many people at one time.

UNIT 10 TOLERANCE

THE MEANING OF TELERANCE
(Mark 12:28-33; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 17:1-3; Luke 7:1-10; Luke 23:33-34; John 8:1-11)

Tolerance is the acceptance of one another regardless of the different opinions people might have.

It is one of the most important basic principles among Christians. When people from different cultures, religions and political groups live together and care for one another, they enjoy the unity that is in the society.

Christians have a great responsibility in the promotion of tolerance.

TOLERANCE AS AN ACT OF LOVE
(Mark 12:28-33; Luke 17:1-3)

In his prayer, St Francis said, ‘Where there is hatred, let me bring love, where there is injury, let me bring pardon, where there is doubt, let me bring true faith, where there is despair, let me bring hope, where there is darkness, let me bring light and where there is sadness, let me bring joy.'
For Christians, this is the basis for tolerance.

SITUATIONS JESUS SHOWED LOVE TO EVERYONE

• People's sicknesses
• When He was sentenced to death on the cross
• When He was crucified on the cross
• When a woman was caught in adultery
• When He was hated (hatred)
• People's sinfulness

THE BIBLE AND TOLERANCE
(Luke 23:33-34)

Jesus promoted tolerance through His deeds and works.
He taught His followers about love as the corner stone for unity, peace and tolerance among people of different tribes and religions.
Love among Christians is the greatest commandment and all Christians find their basis in love. Without love, there cannot be tolerance.
Christians also have a responsibility to promote tolerance in a democratic society.

UNIT 11 DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

THE CAUSES OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• peer pressure
• frustration
• curiosity
• loss of loved ones
• loss of goods and finances
• failure in examinations
• wanting to commit suicide
• ignorance of harmfulness of the drugs and substances

EFFECTS OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• contracting HIV and AIDS
• committing suicide
• stealing other people' property
• violence
• being jailed
• becoming mad
• killing others

BIBLICAL STORIES ON DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
(Genesis 9:20-25; Proverbs 20:1; 23:32-35; Habakkuk 2:15-16; Isaiah 5:10; 28:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The Bible does not allow people to abuse drugs and substances. This is because when drugs are abused they reduce the reasoning ability of a person. God commands Christians to avoid drug and substance abuse. And drug and substance abuse does not please God.

REFERENCES

MIE (2008), Bible Knowledge Teacher's Guide for Standard 5, Domasi; MIE. The Holy Bible