2024 NABTEB C.R.K: 2025 NABTEB C.R.K (C.R.S) Verified Questions and Answers (8352)

(1a)

After the death of Ehud, the Israelites sinned against God by doing evil. For this reason, God sold them into the hands of the Canaanites under king Jabin. The commander of the  Canaanite army was Sisera.

   Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was the judge of Israel at the time. She usually sat under the palm of Deborah  between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim where she judged the  Israelites. As a prophetess, she was seen as a messenger of God, providing divine guidance and wisdom to the people of Israel. 

      During this time, Israel was suffering under the harsh oppression of Jabin, the king of Canaan, and his powerful military commander, Sisera. For twenty years, the Israelites were subjected to their rule, enduring great hardship and cruelty. Desperate for relief, they cried out to God for help. In response, God chose Deborah to lead them out of their misery.

     Deborah received a divine command to summon Barak, a capable military leader. She instructed him to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. There, God promised, He would deliver Sisera and his formidable army into their hands.          However, Barak was hesitant and insisted that Deborah accompany him to the battlefield. His request reflected both his respect for her and his reliance on her divine 'copied from e x a m p l a z a . c o m free' connection and leadership. Deborah agreed to go but warned him that the honor of the victory would not be his; instead, it would go to a woman.

     With Deborah’s presence and guidance, the Israelite forces were emboldened. They marched to Mount Tabor, ready for battle. True to God’s promise, Sisera’s army was thrown into disarray. A sudden and severe rainstorm caused the Kishon River to flood, rendering Sisera's iron chariots useless in the muddy terrain. The Israelite forces seized the opportunity and attacked, achieving a decisive victory. Sisera himself fled the battlefield on foot, seeking refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael welcomed him, but as he slept, she killed him, thus fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would claim the honor of the victory.

(1b)

(PICK ANY FIVE)

(i) Honesty

(ii) Integrity

(iii) Diligence

(iv) Fear of God

(v) Courage

(vi) Faith

(vii) Love

(viii) Patriotism

(ix) Wisdom

(2ai)

(i) Judgment of the Two Women: Solomon demonstrated his wisdom by resolving a dispute between two women claiming to be the mother of a living child. He suggested dividing the child in two, revealing the true mother through her willingness to give up her claim to save the child’s life.

(ii) Building the Temple: Solomon wisely engaged in the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, organizing resources, labor, and materials from both Israel and neighboring nations, notably making a treaty with King Hiram of Tyre for the supply of cedar wood.

(iii) Prayer for Wisdom: Solomon’s request for wisdom instead of wealth or long life pleased God, who granted him unparalleled wisdom along with riches and honor, demonstrating his prioritization of wise governance over personal gain.

(iv) Diplomatic Alliances: Solomon formed strategic marriages and alliances, such as his marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter, and maintained peaceful and prosperous relationships with neighboring kingdoms, enhancing Israel’s stability and economic strength.

(2aii)

(i) Idolatry: Solomon allowed his many foreign wives to influence him to worship their gods, leading him to build high places for these deities and engage in idolatrous practices, which angered God.

(ii) Marrying Foreign Wives: Solomon married many foreign women from nations that God had warned the Israelites not to intermarry with. These 'copied from e x a m p l a z a . c o m free' marriages eventually led his heart away from God and towards idolatry.

(iii) Heavy Taxation and Forced Labor: Solomon imposed heavy taxes and forced labor on his people to support his extensive building projects, including the Temple and his palace, which caused discontent and contributed to the division of the kingdom after his death.

(iv) Accumulation of Wealth and Horses: Despite God’s commandments, Solomon amassed excessive wealth, imported horses from Egypt, and built up a large military force. This reliance on wealth and military strength contradicted the trust in God that was supposed to characterize Israel's kingship.

(2b)

Foreign women played a pivotal role in Solomon's downfall by introducing idolatry and diverting his loyalty from Yahweh, the God of Israel. Solomon's numerous marriages to foreign wives from pagan nations led him to accommodate their religious practices, including building high places for their gods. Solomon's disobedience to God's commandments, influenced by his foreign wives, contributed to the spiritual decline of his reign and set the stage for the division of Israel after his death.

(3a)

Jesus and his disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. He took with him Peter, James and John to another place, leaving the rest behind. Jesus then left the three and went further to pray alone. He became greatly distressed and said "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me".  He then went a little farther on and fell tọ the ground to pray, saying "my father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; neverthless God's will should be done". This prayer shows the profound humanity of Jesus and his resolute courage and submission to the will of God.

  Jesus came back to the three, Peter, James and John found them sleeping and he asked Peter whether they could not watch with him for one hour. Jesus then told them to watch and pray so that they would not enter into temptation. He said the spirit is willing but the body is weak.

    Again, for the second time, Jesus went away to pray and he again asked that if it was possible the cup should pass by him. Jesus came back and found the three disciples asleep again. Jesus left them and went to pray for the third time and he came back to meet the disciples still asleep. He asked them whether they were still sleeping and taking their rest. Jesus then told them that the hour was at hand and the Son of Man would be betrayed into the hands of sinners. He made them aware that the betrayer was at hand so they should get ready to go.

  'copied from e x a m p l a z a . c o m free'   As Jesus was speaking, Judas Iscariot led a crowd with swords and clubs to arrest him. Peter, in a moment of passionate defense, drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Jesus quickly intervened, healing the servant's ear, and admonished Peter to put away his sword, reminding him that those who live by the sword will die by it.

Judas identified Jesus by greeting him with a kiss, which was a prearranged signal. This betrayal led to Jesus' arrest by the temple guards.

(3b)

(PICK ANY THREE)

(i) False accusations can tarnish a person's reputation irreparably, affecting their personal and professional life.

(ii) False accusations may lead to legal battles, expenses related to defense, and potentially even financial losses due to lost employment opportunities or damaged business relationships.

(iii) It can cause to significant emotional distress, including anxiety, depression and long-term psychological trauma.

(iv) False accusations can strain relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, as trust may be broken and suspicions may linger even after the accusations are disproven.

(v) False accusations can result in social stigmatization and isolation, as others may believe the accusations without considering the person's innocence.

(6ai)

Persecution refers to the systematic mistreatment, harassment, or oppression of individuals or groups based on their race, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, or other characteristics that make them a target of discrimination.

(6aii)

(i) Psychological Trauma

(ii) Displacement and Refugees

(iii) Economic Hardship

(iv) Human Rights Violations

(6b)

James advised Christians to be holy because God is holy and does not tolerate sin unless it is confessed and  repented of. He said that Christians should be joyful when trials come their way. James went on to say that testing of one's faith leads  to steadfastness, and steadfastness produces perfection. He also said that Christians  should be persistent in prayer.

     According to James, if anyone needs  wisdom he should ask God and he would be given generously. But petitions made to God should depend upon His will and glory, implying that God has the right to answer prayers. 

  According to James, faith is a necessary condition for answered prayer. If one shows doubt while praying the one is like a wave of sea that is driven and tossed by the  wind. A  double - minded person would not receive anything from the Lord. James holds the view that anyone who is  suffering should pray and be cheerful and sing hymns. Christians  should pray with humility. He said the sick should 'copied from e x a m p l a z a . c o m free' be prayed for by  the elders after anointing him with oil in Jesus name.

     For  James, the prayer of faith will easily heal the sick. James also advocated that we confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. He  further states that the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its  effects.

    Finally, James makes mention of the fact  that Elijah prayed that there should be no rain for three and half years and it  did not rain. He again prayed that it should rain and it did rain.