Introductie
Hallo vrienden. God houdt van en geeft om allen die Hem gehoorzamen en dienen. Luister naar deze waargebeurde verhalen terwijl je naar de foto's kijkt (in het Gele boek). Kijk naar de volgende foto als je dit geluid hoort. (Signaal)

Afbeelding 1. Een familie vlucht voor hongersnood. Ruth 1:1-5

God schiep alle mensen, maar zij keerden zich tegen Hem. Toen koos God het volk Israël om Hem te kennen en te aanbidden. Maar soms rebelleerde Israël ook tegen God. Toen aanbaden ze afgoden en valse goden zoals de andere mensen. God zond oorlog en hongersnood naar het volk Israël om te proberen hen terug te brengen naar Zichzelf. Een familie besloot naar het land Moab te vluchten om voedsel te vinden. Tien jaar lang woonden ze in dat vreemde land. De vader stierf daar. De twee zonen trouwden met vrouwen uit Moab. Toen stierven de zonen ook. De moeder bleef achter met alleen haar schoondochters in dat vreemde land. (Signaal)

Afbeelding 2. Naomi en Ruth keren terug naar Israël. Ruth 1:6-22

De moeder van dat gezin heette Naomi. Haar Moabite schoondochters waren Ruth en Orpah. Naomi besloot terug te keren naar het land Israël. Ruth en Orpah gingen met haar op reis. Toen zei Naomi tegen hen: "Ga terug naar huis, mijn dochters. Waarom ga je met me mee? Ik krijg niet meer zonen die je man kunnen worden. God heeft zich tegen mij gekeerd." Orpah kuste Naomi en ging terug naar het huis van haar ouders. Maar Ruth klampte zich vast aan Naomi en zei: "Laat me je niet verlaten. Waar jij heen gaat, ga ik. Uw volk zal mijn volk zijn en uw God zal mijn God zijn." Ruth ging met Naomi naar Bethlehem in het land Israël. (Signaal)

Afbeelding 3. Ruth in het oogstveld. Ruth 2:1-23

Naomi en Ruth waren erg arm. Ruth zei tegen Naomi: "Laat me naar de velden gaan en het overgebleven graan ophalen." Ze ging naar een veld waar de arbeiders de gerst aan het oogsten waren. De eigenaar van dat veld was een man genaamd Boaz. Hij vroeg zijn arbeiders naar de buitenlandse vrouw in zijn vakgebied. Zij zeiden: "Zij is de Moabieten die met Naomi meekwamen." Boaz hoorde hoe goed ze was geweest voor haar schoonmoeder. Hij zag dat ze een goede werker was. Dus zei hij tegen Ruth: "Blijf bij mijn arbeiders tot ze klaar zijn met het oogsten van mijn graan." Hij zei tegen zijn arbeiders om haar geen kwaad te doen, maar graan achter te laten voor haar om zich te verzamelen. Die avond vertelde Ruth Naomi over de vriendelijkheid van Boaz. Naomi zei: "Moge God hem zegenen! Hij is ons naaste familielid." (Signaal)

Picture 4. Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor. Ruth 3:1-18
When a man died in Israel, his nearest relative could marry the dead man's wife. One day Naomi said to Ruth, "I must find a husband for you so that you will have a home of your own. Boaz is our relative. This evening he will be threshing barley. So wash and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go where he is threshing. Notice where he lies down, and after he falls asleep, lie down at his feet." Ruth did just as Naomi had told her. When Boaz awoke he found Ruth at his feet. He knew that she wanted to marry him. So he said to her, "Ruth, I will do everything you ask, for everyone knows that you are a good woman." (Signal)

Picture 5. Boaz and the Elders of Bethlehem. Ruth 4:1-22
Boaz called ten elders together at the gate of Bethlehem. Another relative had the right to marry Ruth first, but they all agreed that Boaz should have her. To seal the agreement, the relative gave Boaz his shoe. This was the custom in Israel. So Boaz took Ruth as his wife. They had a son called Obed. Then the women said to Naomi, "Praise God! He has given you a grandson to take care of you. Your daughter-in-law loves you. She is better to you than seven sons." Friends, Ruth found great joy when she served God and His people. And Obed became the grandfather of David, the great King of Israel. (Signal)

Picture 6. Mary and the Angel of God. Luke 1:26-38
Many generations after Ruth, God chose another woman to serve Him. Her name was Mary. She was descended from Ruth. Mary was a virgin. She was promised to a man named Joseph. But before they were married, an angel of God appeared to Mary. He said to her, "Do not be afraid Mary. You have found favour with God. You will give birth to a Son and you will call Him Jesus. He will be the Son of the Most High God." Mary said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Then the Holy Spirit of God came to Mary, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a Son. So Mary became the mother of Jesus, the Son of God! (Music)

Picture 7. Hannah Prays to God. 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Just after the time of Ruth, in the land of Israel there was a woman called Hannah. Her husband loved her, but Hannah was very unhappy because she did not have any children. Every year they went to the House of God at Shiloh. They took offerings and made sacrifices to God. Hannah went into the House of God and said, "O God, if you will remember me and give me a son, then I will give him to you all the days of his life." Her lips moved as she spoke to God, but she made no noise with her voice. Eli, the chief priest, saw her. He thought she was drunk. But God heard the prayer of Hannah, and sometime later she gave birth to a son. She called him Samuel. (Signal)

Picture 8. The Child Samuel in the House of God. 1 Samuel 1:24-28, 2:12-17, 3:1-21
While Samuel was still a little boy, Hannah gave him to God. She took him to live with Eli in Shiloh. Eli taught Samuel how to serve God. Eli had two sons. They were priests, but they were wicked men. So God stopped speaking to the people through His priests. One night Samuel was lying down in the House of God. Suddenly God called his name. Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call you, go and lie down." This happened three times. Then Eli realized that it must be God calling Samuel. So he told Samuel to answer God and say, "Speak, Lord, your servant hears." God spoke to Samuel many times and he became a great prophet and leader in Israel. (Signal)

Picture 9. Samuel Prays for Israel. 1 Samuel 4:10-11; 7:2-14
God punished the wicked sons of Eli. They were killed in battle and Israel was defeated by the Philistines. For over 20 years the Philistines ruled over Israel. Then Samuel said to the people, "If you return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods, and serve God only, He will deliver you from the Philistines." The Israelites obeyed Samuel. They came together at one place. Then Samuel offered a sacrifice to God and prayed for Israel. The Philistines gathered together to attack Israel, but God sent a great thunderstorm upon them. The Philistines fled in fear, and Israel was able to defeat them all. (Signal)

Picture 10. Samuel Anoints Saul with Oil. 1 Samuel 8:1-9; 9:15 - 10:1
God was the real King of Israel and Samuel led the people for Him. But the people wanted a man to be their king, because the other tribes had kings of their own. Samuel was not pleased when he heard this. But God said to him, "It is not you they have rejected as king, but it is Me. Listen to the people and give them a king." There was a young man named Saul. He was tall and good looking. One day Saul went to visit Samuel. When Samuel saw him coming, God said to Samuel, "This is the man...he will rule over my people." So Samuel took a flask of oil. He poured the oil on the head of Saul. This was the sign that he was chosen to be king. For 40 years Saul ruled as king over Israel. (Signal)

Picture 11. Saul Tears Samuel's Robe. 1 Samuel 15:1-29
The Amalekites were very wicked people who had harmed Israel. So Samuel said to king Saul, "Listen to the message from God. Kill all the Amalekites and destroy everything that belongs to them." God helped Saul and his army to defeat the Amalekites, but they disobeyed God. They saved the Amalekites' animals to sacrifice to God and they did not kill the Amalekite king. Then Samuel said to Saul, "Because you have rejected the command of God, He has rejected you as king." Samuel turned to leave and Saul grasped Samuel's robe. It tore in his hand. So Samuel said, "God has torn the kingdom of Israel from you, and has given it to a better man." Friends, Saul offered sacrifices to God but he did not obey Him. Samuel obeyed and served God all the days of his life. Obedience pleases God, more than offerings please Him. (Signal)

Picture 12. Jesus in the House of God. Luke 2:41-50
Many years after Samuel, Jesus was a child in Israel. Mary was His mother, but God was His Father. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph. Jesus became lost. Mary and Joseph searched for Him. After three days they found Jesus in the House of God. He was talking with the Jewish teachers about God. Mary said to Him, "We have been so worried trying to find you." But Jesus said, "I had to be in My Father's House." When Jesus was just a boy like Samuel, He knew that He had come to serve God. Jesus came to lead all people back to God, for God is the True King and leader of everyone. (Music)

Introduction to Side B
Some of the greatest men who ever lived were servants of God. These stories tell the secret of their power (how God made them great). Look at the next picture when you hear this signal. (Signal)

Picture 13. David, The Brave Shepherd. 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 17:34,35
Saul was the first king of Israel, but he disobeyed God. So God left Saul and did not help him any more. There was a young boy named David. He looked after his father's sheep. He trusted in the Living God. He was not afraid of danger. One day a lion took one of the sheep. David killed the lion and saved the sheep. He made beautiful music and sang praises to God. David became the kind of man God wants all men to be, so God chose David to be king after Saul. (Signal)

Picture 14. David and the Giant. 1 Sam. 17:1-54
There was war between the Philistines and Israel. The Philistines had a giant called Goliath. He called to Israel and said, "Choose a man...if he is able to kill me, then we will be your slaves but if I kill him, you shall be our slaves." The men of Israel were afraid of Goliath. No one would fight him. Then young David said, "Who is this Philistine who does not know God? He should not threaten the army of the Living God!" David was not afraid of him. God could help him kill the giant. So David took his sling and cast a stone right at the giant's head. Goliath fell to the ground and David ran to him. He took Goliath's own sword and cut off his head. So the army of Israel was able to defeat the Philistines. (Signal)

Picture 15. Saul Tries to Kill David. 1 Sam. 18:6 - 23:29
At first Saul was pleased with David because he saved Israel. The people of Israel loved David. He became a great soldier and leader. Then Saul became jealous of David. He wanted to kill David. One day David was making music for Saul on his harp. An evil spirit entered Saul. He picked up his spear and threw it at David, but it missed him and stuck in the wall. After that Saul tried to kill David many times. Saul's son Jonathan and many Israelites helped David, but he still had to flee to the desert to escape from Saul. (Signal)

Picture 16. David Spares Saul's Life. 1 Sam. 26:1-25
Saul and his army went to capture David in the desert. At night, when Saul and his men were asleep, David and his friend, Abishai, crept into Saul's camp. Abishai wanted to kill the sleeping king, but David stopped him. He said, "God will punish whoever harms His chosen king." David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head. When they had gone out of the camp, David cried out to awaken the men. He said, "You have not protected your master. Look! Here is the king's spear!" David said to Saul, "Just as I have spared your life today, may God spare my life too." So after that, Saul stopped trying to kill David. (Signal)

Picture 17. David is Made King. 1 Samuel 31:1-6, 2 Sam.5:1-25; 8:1-15
The Philistines came to fight Israel again. King Saul and Jonathan were killed in the battle. Then the people made David the king of Israel. He built his palace in the city of Jerusalem. God said to David, "I took you from looking after the sheep, and I made you king over my people Israel. I will make you great like the greatest men of the earth." So God made David great and gave him power to defeat all the enemies of Israel. (Signal)

Picture 18. David and Bathsheba. 2 Sam. 11:1 - 12:20
One day David was walking on the roof of his palace. He saw a beautiful woman having a bath. David wanted her for himself. The woman's name was Bathsheba. She was the wife of Uriah who was a soldier in David's army. Uriah had gone away to fight the enemies of Israel. So David sent a message to the captain of his army. He told the captain to make sure that Uriah was killed in the war. Then David took Bathsheba to be his own wife. But the thing that David had done did not please God. The first son of David and Bathsheba died. David asked God to forgive him for the terrible thing he had done. (Signal)

Picture 19. A House for God. 2 Sam.7:1-29; 1 Chronicles 22:1-19
David sinned against God. However, he loved God and wanted to serve Him. He wanted to build a great house to worship God. But God said, "You are not to build a house for Me, because you have killed many people. You will have a son. His name will be Solomon. He is the one who will build a house for Me. I will establish his kingdom forever." David prepared many things for the house of God before he died, but it was Solomon who built it. That house of God was very beautiful. It took seven years to build. The people of Israel worshipped God at the house in Jerusalem for hundreds of years. They never forgot that David was their greatest king. (Signal)

Picture 20. Jesus Comes into Jerusalem. Matthew 21:1-11
About 1000 years after David, Jesus was born. He was a descendant of King David. His mother was the virgin Mary. His Father was Almighty God. Jesus was the greatest servant of God. He taught the people the truth about God. He worked miracles by the power of God. Saul and David and all of us have sinned against God, but Jesus never sinned. One day He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people cried out to Him, "Hosanna (Greatest One)! Son of David! Great and honored is He who comes in the Name of God!" For the people saw that Jesus was even greater than David. He is the King above all kings on this earth. (Music)

Picture 21. The Birds Feed Elijah. 1 Kings 16:29 - 17:6
After David and Solomon, other kings ruled in Israel. One was a man called Ahab. He had an evil wife called Jezebel. She killed many of the followers of God, and she forced the people to worship the idols of Baal. Elijah was a great prophet of God. He went to Ahab and said, "In the Name (by the power) of the Living God of Israel, there will be no rain for the next three years." So God sent a great famine upon the land of Israel. However, God cared for his servant Elijah. He sent Elijah to a place called Cherith, where he could drink from a stream. And every day the birds brought food for Elijah to eat. (Signal)

Picture 22. Elijah and the Fire of God. 1 Kings 18:16-39
In the third year of famine, Elijah called Ahab and all the people to Mount Carmel. He said to them, "If the Lord is God, then follow Him; but if Baal is god, then follow him." The people killed a bull as a sacrifice to Baal. Then Elijah said to the priests of Baal, "Call on your god, and I will call on the Lord God. The one who answers by fire, He is God." All day the priests of Baal called to their god. They danced around their sacrifice and cut themselves with knives. But there was no fire. At evening, Elijah prepared his sacrifice. He even soaked it with water. Then he prayed to God. Immediately fire fell from Heaven. It burned up the sacrifice and the water as well. And all the people cried out, "The Lord - He is God!" (Signal)

Picture 23. Elijah Goes to Heaven. 1 Kings 19:1-21; 2 Kings 2:1-14
Elijah killed those priests of Baal because they were so wicked. Then Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah. He was afraid, so he fled to a desert place. There God met Elijah. Then Elijah was afraid no longer. He continued to teach the people to worship the One True God. Elijah chose Elisha to help him. One day as they walked along together, a chariot of fire rushed between them. God lifted Elijah up to Heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha saw him no more. (Signal)

Picture 24. Elijah with Jesus and Moses. Luke 9:28-36
In the time of Jesus (700 years later), Elijah returned to earth. One day he appeared on a mountain with Jesus. Moses, the great prophet who lived before Elijah, appeared with them too. Three men saw them all shining with the glory of God. Then God Himself spoke from Heaven. He said, "This is My Son... listen to Him." Friends, God and all the great men of Israel point us to Jesus. Jesus came to serve all men. He died as a sacrifice to pay for our sins, and He rose from death to give life to our spirits forever. So listen to Him and find everlasting life. (Music)