Christin Ditchfield - Bible Stories of Boys and Girls

Copyright 2010 by Random House, Inc.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2008942728
ISBN: 978-0-375-85461-3
ISBN: 978-0-307-98262-9 (eBook)

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T he Bible is full of stories of boys and girls who did great things for God. They loved Him with all their hearts and learned to walk in His ways.

Rebekah the Kindhearted

Every evening, Rebekah joined the other girls from her village as they went to the well to draw fresh water for their families. Rebekah had to carry a large pitcher on her shoulder. When it was full, it was very heavy.

One night, a weary traveler came to the well. He was hot and thirsty. His camels were thirsty, too!

Please give me a little water from your jar, the traveler said to Rebekah.

Rebekah gave water to the man and said, Ill draw water for your camels, too. It was hard work, but Rebekah didnt mind.

The traveler was touched by Rebekahs kindness. He had been praying that God would help him find a very special young woman to marry Isaac, his masters son. The master was Abraham, a great man of God.

Now the traveler knew that God had answered his prayers. He asked Rebekah to introduce him to her family. He gave them gifts of gold and silver and fine jewels, for Rebekah had been chosen by God to marry Isaac.

Joseph the Dreamer

Once there was a boy named Joseph. Josephs father loved him very much. He gave him a gift of a beautiful coat of many colors. This made Josephs brothers jealous.

God gave Joseph special dreams about things that would happen in the future. Joseph often dreamed that he would do something very important one day, and that his family would be grateful to him.

Josephs brothers got tired of hearing him talk about his dreams. They wanted to get rid of him, so they sold him as a slave. He was taken far away to Egypt. But God watched over Joseph as he grew up in that land, because He had a very special plan for him.

One night, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a frightening dream. With Gods help, Joseph told Pharaoh that the dream meant hungry times were coming. Joseph said that the king must start storing up food for his people so that they would have enough to eat for many years.

The king was very pleased with Joseph. You shall be in charge of my palace and all my people, he told him.

Years later, when Pharaohs dream came true, there was enough food stored up to feed all the people in the land, and no one went hungry. Now Joseph understood why God had wanted him to live in Egypt. He forgave his brothers for what they had done to him. He even invited them to come and live with him in Egypt so that he could take care of them and their families. They were very gratefuljust as hed dreamed they would be!

Miriam the Good Sister

Many years later, Gods people were still living in Egypt. A new ruler forced them to work as slaves. He even sent soldiers to harm all the newborn Hebrew boys. When a baby named Moses was born, his mother wanted to keep him safe. She laid him in a basket and hid it among the reeds by the riverbank.

Mosess older sister, Miriam, was very brave. Day after day, she stood at the edge of the water, watching over the baby. She prayed that God would protect Moses and keep him hidden from the soldiers.

One day, the kings daughter came to the river to swim and found the basket with the baby in it, crying.

This is one of the Hebrew babies, said the princess. She felt sorry for Moses and decided to keep him. But someone must care for him, she said.

Miriam came out from her hiding place. Shall I bring a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for you? she asked.

Yes, go, answered the princess. So Miriam ran and brought her own mother. The princess told her, Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.

The baby Moses would grow up to lead Gods people out of slavery in Egypt and back to their homeland. And his sister, Miriam, would be with him every step of the way.

Samuel the Prophet

Long ago, a woman named Hannah prayed and prayed that God would give her a son. She promised that if He did, she would give the boy back to Himshe would teach her child to love God and serve Him all his life. God answered Hannahs prayers. He gave her Samuel.