Hurlbut Jesse Lyman - 365 read-aloud bedtime Bible stories illustrations by Kathy Arbuckle

1995 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-55748-264-8

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-62836-240-4
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-62836-241-1

Also published as Bedtime Bible Story Book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: From 365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683,
www.barbourbooks.com

Printed in the United States of America.

Genesis 1:119

T he earth is very old. No one knows when it was made. But God has always been alive. He created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty and very dark and covered with water. Nothing lived on the earth.

God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. He called the light Day and the darkness Night. This was the first day. On the second day, God spoke and made the sky.

Next God said, I want the dry land to come out of the water. So it did. God named the land Earth and the waters Sea. God saw that this was good. Then God said, Let all the green plants grow out of the earth. All this happened on the third day, and it was good.

Then on the fourth day, God spoke again. He said, Let the sun and moon and stars come into the sky. So this happened. God put them in the sky to give light to the earth. The sun shines in the day. The moon and stars shine at night. God saw that this was good, too.

Questions: What lived on earth before the first day? Name some things God created in the first four days.

Genesis 1:202:3

O n the fifth day, God spoke again. He said, I want the seas to be filled with living things. I want birds to fly in the sky. So God created everything that lives in the sea and flies in the sky. And God blessed them.

Then God said, Let the animals live on earth. So he created big animals and little things that creep on the ground. God saw that all this was good.

Finally God said, Now I am going to make human beings. Unlike the animals, they will stand up tall and have a soul. They will be like me, rule the earth, and care for it. So God took some dust from the ground and formed man. He breathed the breath of life into him. Man became alive.

God blessed them saying, I want you to live all over the earth. God saw that everything he had made was very good. This ended the sixth day.

On the seventh day God rested. His work was done. So He blessed that day and made it holy.

Questions: How many days did God use for creation? What did God do on the seventh day?

Genesis 2:824

T he man God created was named Adam. God planted a garden in Eden to be Adams home. This garden was big. Four rivers ran through it. Beautiful plants and trees grew there. They were good for food. God told Adam to take care of the garden.

Next God created the animals and birds out of the dust. He brought them to the man and Adam named them all. But Adam was alone. This is not good, God said. I will make someone to be with Adam and to help him. So God made Eve.

Questions: What was the name of Adams home? Who gave names to all the animals?

Genesis 2:203:7

G od made Eve in a wonderful way: When Adam was asleep, God took a rib out of him. God made a woman with that rib and brought her to Adam. They loved each other. Adam named the woman Eve. They lived at peace in their beautiful garden. They cared for it as God asked, and God walked with them there.

Two special trees grew in Eden. One was named the Tree of Life. God warned them about the other tree. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat of this tree, he said, you will die.

Now there was a sneaky creature in the gardenthe serpent. He said to Eve, Did God say you shouldnt eat the Tree of Knowledge? Eve answered, He said if we do we will die.

That is not true, the serpent lied. Eat it and you will be like God. Eve believed him and ate the trees fruit. She gave some to Adam and he ate it. Suddenly, they knew they were wrong. For the first time they were afraid to meet God.

Questions: How did God make Eve? What is the name of the tree they ate from?

Genesis 3:824

G od walked in the cool garden breeze. But Adam and Eve were hiding among the trees. Where are you? called God.

I heard you and was afraid, the man answered. So I hid from you.

Did you eat from the tree I warned you about? asked God.

The woman gave me the fruit. I ate it, the man said. So God spoke to the woman. What have you done?

The serpent tricked me, she said, and I ate. God turned to the serpent. You have done this, so you will always crawl on your belly. You will hate the woman. She will also hate you. You and her child will fight. He will crush your head. You will bite him on the heel.

Then God told the woman, You will have children. But you will be in pain when you do.

Adam, God said, you listened to her and ate from the tree. So you must work for all you get from the earth. You will sweat and suffer all your life. I made you out of dust. So you will turn back into dust.

Then God sent them out of the garden.

Questions: Who tricked Eve? How did God punish the serpent?

Genesis 3:234:16

A dam and Eve lived outside the garden until they died. A flaming sword guards the path to the Tree of Life. No one has gone back there since they left.

Eve gave birth to a baby boy named Cain. Her second baby was a boy named Abel.

When the boys became men they worked like their father. Cain was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. One day Cain brought fruit to give to God. He worked to grow the fruit on his farm. Abel had a gift for God too. He gave a lamb that had been born in the field. God was happy with Abels gift. But he refused Cains gift.

Cain became angry, so God asked him, Why are you angry? Be careful. Sin might catch you. Later, Cain killed Abel while he was walking in the field. God asked Cain, Where is your brother?

I dont know, Cain answered. Should I care for my brother?

What have you done? God said. Listen, Abels blood is crying to me from the ground. You murdered Abel. You will always live under a curse.