Questions and Answers

By Odon Bulamba (1st December 2000)

Everybody will participate, and everybody will learn. We are going to have a Bible study and I will ask you a few little questions, very basic ones and you will try to answer me not with your head but with the Bible. 90% of what we are going to talk about, we have already talked about.

HOW MANY TIMES HAS GOD USED HIS HANDS TO FORM HIS CREATURES?
Because God said: Let there be light. And the light was.
God said: Let there be birds in the sky. And the birds were there.
The Bible also said that God went and He used His hands to make something.
What was it, with references in the Bible.

In Psalm 8, it is written that the heavens are the works verse 3 of His hands and everything we can touch (v.7)

This is something David talked about in a psalm, and this was a song, and a song is a poem. As you know sometimes in a poem, we use things that are a bit hidden.

When God created He used His voice: ‘Let there be darkness.” And the darkness was there. Next, He used His own hands to create other things, what are these other things?

He created a human being: not human being as spirit but as body. But man as spirit was created in Genesis 1:27, as you know. And in chapter 2 He created man’s body with His own hands.
What else did He make?

Genesis 2: 21-22,
21 ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

This is also in the same package when He created man, He created both, man and woman.

What else did He create?

He also created all the animals, birds… (verse 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.).


WHAT DOES EVE MEAN?

Eve means life.
She was called Eve because she is the mother of all living beings.


WHO WAS THE FIRST MAN TO BE RAISED TO THE HEAVENS?

Genesis 5:24 says that Enoch was raised up to the heavens.

Who is this Enoch? How many Enochs do we have in the Bible? He was 365 years, and his name was Enoch Methuselah.

Genesis 5:23
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25 ¶ And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

There is also another Enoch in the Bible.

WHEN DID MAN START TO CALL GOD, LORD?

Genesis 4:26, it was in the time of Seth, when he had his son Enos.
26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

IN GENESIS 12: 11-13 DID ABRAHAM LIE OR NOT?

No. In Genesis 20:12 it is written she is my sister.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Sarah was Abraham’s sister: they had the same father but different mothers. So what Abraham said was right. Many people say that Abraham lied but he actually didn’t. Was Sarah older than Abraham? She was 10 years younger than him. Abraham had 2 wives.

WHEN ADAM AND EVE ATE THE FRUIT, GOD CURSED THEM.
TRUE OR FALSE?

God cursed the ground, Genesis 3:17 but he didn’t curse Adam and Eve. God cursed the ground but didn’t curse Adam and Eve.

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

This is a very good point because in some churches, they talk about “being delivered from the curse” and there was no curse.


These questions help us discover all the little mistakes we have been taught and know where the truth is. I don’t condemn others, they are also servants of God and I must respect them but sometimes they teach things that are not real.

In verse 16, I will greatly multiply your sorrows in your conception is this not a curse? No, it is a punishment. There is a difference between a curse and a punishment.


WHAT TRIBE WAS ABRAHAM FROM?

Genesis 14: 13, Abraham was an Hebrew.
13 ¶ And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

THE BIBLE SAYS, IF YOU STEAL SOMETHING, YOU MUST GIVE IT BACK TO THEIR OWNER WITH A CONDITION. WHAT IS THIS CONDITION?

Leviticus 5: 23-24,
4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

Exodus 22:1 1
If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it;
he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

Leviticus 25:37
37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

We must always give back what we have stolen with one fifth interest. So if you steal something, you must give it back with one fifth more.


AMONG THE LEVI’S LIGNAGE, WHO WERE THOSE CARRYING THE ARK AND HOLY UTENSILS?

Numbers 4: 25-27, the children of Gueshomites were carrying the drapes that cover the Holy Place, the skin blanket and the drapes at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

Those people would carry everything related to clothing or fabrics.

Numbers 4: 25-27
25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.

Who would carry and be responsible for the holy utensils?

Numbers 7: 9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

& Numbers 4: 2 & 12
2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:

The Bible says it was the sons of Kohath.

WHAT WAS JOSHUA’S WORK BEFORE LEADING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?

He was once a spy; it was part of his training.
He was Moses’ servant, Joshua 1:1

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

THE BIBLE SAY THAT GOD WROTE THE 10 COMMENDMENTS:
WHO MADE THE TABLES, AND HOW MANY TIMES DID GOD WRITE THEM?

Deuteronomy 10:4
4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

and Exodus 31:18
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.


WHEN PEOPLE MOURN FOR A PARENT,THEY USUALLY SHAVE THEIR HEAD. IS IT A SIN?

Deuteronomy 14:1
1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

WE ALL KNOW MOSES’STORY. WHEN HE STRUCK THE ROCK TWICE GOD TOLD HIM HE WILL NOT ENTER THE COUNTRY OF CANAAN.
MOSES DID GET IN?
DID MOSES BEG GOD TO FORGIVE HIM OR NOT?

Deuteronomy 3: 26
26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

In verse 26, God rejected Moses’ request.

IMAGINE YOU ARE WALKING AND YOU FIND A BIRD’S NEST WITH THE MOTHER AND ITS CHICKS.WILL YOU TAKE THE MOTHER AND LET THE CHICKS LIVE OR WILL YOU TAKE THE CHICKS AND LET TRHE MOTHER LIVE?

Deuteronomy 22:6-7
6 If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
If you want to have a long live, don’t take the mother away,

and if you want a short life, take the mother. So, be careful. Some people eat the chicks.

IF YOU MAKE A PROMISE AND DON’T FULFILL IT, IS IT A SIN OR NOT?

Yes.
Deuteronomy 23:21.
When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

PEOPLE SAY THAT NOBODY HAS SEEN GOD. BUT THE BIBLE SAY CLEARLY SOME PEOPLE SAW GOD, ATE WITH GOD AND DRUNK WITH GOD. WHO WERE THOSE PEOPLE?

The apostles.
Yes, this is one answer.

Genesis 18:8
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Abraham has also welcomed 3 people in his house and among them, God was there.

Exodus 24: 9-11

9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,
and seventy of the elders of Israel:
10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand:
also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

WHO IS JESUS’ FATHER?

John 10: 36
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Yes, but who is God?
Jesus is the Son of God. “I am who I am.” God answered Moses that way because Moses needed a revelation to know who God was exactly.

Hebrews 7:3
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Son of God, no father, no mother.
- Who was Mary?
- A surrogate mother.
- Yes. Who was Jesus’ father?
- The Holy Spirit. That’s it. Matthew 1:18.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.


WHAT IS GOD’S NAME?

- God’s name is in 1 John 5: 20, so His name is Jesus Christ

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
1 John 5:20

So He gave us understanding to discover the true God. People who pray to little gods, know their names; we talk, for example, about Pharaoh, Baal, but Christians don’t know the name of their God! Some will speak about Jehovah, Jehovah Shama, Jehovah Nissi…

Actually, all these names are not names but titles.


THERE WERE 3 CROSSES AT GOLGOTHA

To end the meeting I want to talk about something which will be your homework. When Jesus died, the Bible said there was an earthquake. Did Jesus really die or not?

The Bible said that when Jesus went to Golgotha, He was not alone and was hung with 2 other people. The three of them carried their cross. The Bible said that Jesus’ cross was in the middle and one thief was on his right and another on his left. The three of them were on the Mount Golgotha, and everybody could see them.

And when you Christian pray and you tell God you turn your eyes towards the Mount Golgotha, what cross are you looking at? Among the people who were together at Golgotha, some came to see Jesus Christ and others came to see the other two (family, friends). Everybody was there to watch only his friend or brother.

And you, Christian, what cross are you looking at? Many churches tell us to go to Golgotha, and pray at Jesus’ cross and when they talk about Calvary, they only talk about Jesus’ cross.

I have neither seen Jesus’ nor Barabbas’ face, and there were no cameras at that time. We see Jesus on movies as a handsome man but in the Bible, Isaiah said he was ugly. So in the movies we misrepresent the real Jesus.

Here is my questions and homework for you:

1. How do we tell the difference between Jesus’ cross and the other crosses?

My second question:
- Jesus was tortured and whipped and the Bible says that because of the whipping he was wounded, and blood poured down.
- Secondly, when He was on the cross, blood ran over His hands and feet as well.
- Thirdly, a crown of thorns was put on his head, and blood run for the third time and He gave His last breath,
- Fourthly, someone came and pierced Him and water and blood came out.
2. Among these 4 types of blood, which one purifies us (one of those 4)?

3. What role/ meaning has each type of blood?

We will stop here for tonight and I thank you for your participation.

This is also why we say Melchizedek has no beginning and no end, no mother no father. Try to understand the full meaning of this, as well as the meaning of this name, Melchizedek and you will find who God is. (Hebrews 7:10). Some versions say: Melchizedek, the Prince of peace.

In some Bibles we find this story: when the soldier pierced Jesus, blood and water splashed on a soldier’s eye and healed him, he could see. Try to find this story on your computer, go to “life and death of Jesus” and click on His story and you will find that.

Question: We always assimilate the fact we are sinners with the curse. Why are we sinners if it’s not a curse?

Answer: Sin is very different from curse. Adam and Eve have sinned first but God cursed the ground afterwards, and because they sinned God punished them. God has cursed the earth because they were taken from the earth, so it was the source that gave man power to go to evil and disobey. “They have defiled my image; I have therefore decided to curse the ground and to send man’s body back to this dust. I want to take back what I’ve put in man”.

Imagine you want to cut some roses here, and you know if you do it, they will reproduce. In order to stop the plant’s growth, you will cut the plant very low, by the roots, or even pull the whole plant out with its roots so that they will not produce anymore, because you know that the life of the plant comes from the roots.

Another example: if someone has committed a crime, we can pinpoint the crime: “Yes, he is a murderer” but people will also try to look for the reasons why, in order to solve the problem in depth. This is why God decided that men will not live as he was meant to but return to dust and breath will go back where it comes from as well.

Question: Is it the reason why the earth must be destroyed by fire?

Answer: Yes, but we will have a new earth later. And this new earth won’t be cursed.

Question: Is it just the earth that will be new?

Answer: Even the air we breathe will be new, because impure spirits might be in this air.

Genesis 3:17-19
17 ¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The Bible tells us 2 things here: first the ground is cursed and the ground is what was taken to shape your body and then God said you will sweat to make it produce food for you. But today there are many farms here in New Zealand: people grow all sorts and reap a lot. So where is that sweat? Was the ground really cursed or not? Cows never lack grass.

Here God was talking about spiritual food. Instead of giving us our essential spiritual food, our body will give us thorns, something that will harm our spirit. When we want to plant something spiritual in that body, it will produce nothing but thorns. Have you already walked on a thorn? It is even impossible to put your foot down, and until the thorn is pulled out walking properly is difficult. God wanted to tell us that our body will always be a pain for us to grasp spiritual things.

For example, people who drink: someone might say: “From today on, I decide to stop drinking. I have wasted $1,000 in drinks 2 months ago, and then I had an accident. Now I know who God is and I decide to stop.” But later, if they see an empty bottle of alcohol, just to see it, thirst comes instantly, life is there.

You experience how your body always urges you to do evil, and when you take that beer, it will harm your spirit again, like a thorn planted in your spirit. And after drinking you say, “Ah what did I do?” Some Christians go to prostitution, and afterwards they bitterly regret but it’s too late. This is how Adam reaped thorns with everything he tried to plant in his body. So God came down from Heaven, he killed a lamb and the blood of the lamb was for their purification, and he clothed them with its skin to cover their nakedness. Our spiritual nakedness is sin.

HOW MANY RACES ARE THERE ON EARTH?

Some people say there are 5 races on earth: yellow, red, black, white, metis (people of mixed race). Some people add another race with the albinos. But God created only one person. Asians say Jesus was an Asian, Africans say Adam was African, white people say Jesus was white.

What colour skin did Jesus have, because Jesus came as the second Adam? So what was his skin colour?

People thought he was Joseph’s son, so he must have had the same skin colour.

In Genesis 11, people build the Tower of Babel. The Bible said that everybody spoke the same language, so they all belonged to the same tribe, they lived together. When the languages appeared they were scattered. So what race was it, what skin colour did the people who were building the Tower, have?

Why do we have different races on earth?