Trivia. A collection of obscure facts. To many, collecting bits and pieces of trivia is a hobby, but in today’s society it can become much more.
Read through a TV program listing and you’ll find all sorts of game shows where people win large sums of money by answering trivia questions. A few have won close to a million dollars because of their knowledge of trivia.
Go down the game aisle in a toy store and you’ll find numerous trivia games. The games are used for family fun and ways for friends to spend an enjoyable evening together. You can even find Bible trivia games.
Bible trivia. At first, the statement almost seems like an oxymoron. If God cared enough to include it in the Bible, it isn’t trivial, it’s important. But, unfortunately, the Bible seems to be read less and less today and much of the information in it has become obscure facts.
But, just as a good knowledge of trivia can lead to riches on game shows, a good knowledge of Bible trivia can lead to spiritual treasure. The key to the last phrase was “can lead to.” You see, 1 Corinthians 8:1 tells us that knowledge alone puffs up or leads to pride. Just having a head full of Bible facts does not lead to spiritual treasure.
To find treasure, you have to hunt and dig. Treasure doesn’t jump up and yell, “I’m here…I’m here.” It’s discovered after a careful search. So how does Bible trivia lead to spiritual treasure?
You use the trivia fact to open the door to further study. The easiest way to do that is to ask questions about the fact and then search for the answer. Here are some questions to consider:
- What is the meaning of this Bible character’s name or the places in the story? (You can discover that online or with a good Bible concordance.)
- Why did God word this sentence in that specific way? (Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I am…” Is that poor grammar or did he mean it that way and if so, why? Hint: check out Exodus 3:14)
- Why did God use this word instead of a more common one?
- Why did this event happen? (In Joshua’s first battle, why did victory depend on Moses holding his hands up?)
- Is there a particular custom at work here that I don’t know about? (A good source for Bible customs is Manners and Customs of Bible Lands by Fred Wight. Do an internet search for that title and you can find a free copy.)
- What does this piece of information tell me about God?
The key is to discover the meaning of his name. Methuselah means “When he is dead, it shall be sent.” That seems like a strange name until you start digging. When you look at the ages recorded in Genesis 5 and 6 you’ll find that Noah entered the ark 969 years after the birth of Methuselah.
Coincidence? I don’t think so. It’s an example of God keeping his word. God gave mankind 969 years to turn from their sin and they refused. Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) so it wasn’t as if they had no warning.
During a time of severe punishment, God showed his grace in an unbelievable way. He could have brought the punishment sooner, but showed patience and grace for almost a thousand years. It wasn’t until the thoughts and imaginations of men were evil all the time that God finally acted.
God is still a gracious God today, but we need to remember the warning given in Genesis 6:3 “…My spirit shall not always strive with man…” People in Noah’s day would have been far better off by receiving God’s grace instead of spurning it. The same is true today. Unfortunately there are still many who spurn the grace of God.
But, this bit of trivia gives me added comfort. God is gracious and shows that grace every time I sin. While I try to not sin, it still happens. I don’t have to constantly look over my shoulder, ready for the hammer to strike. Instead, I take it to God and he forgives and gives grace. What an awesome God we serve!
What can you learn from Bible trivia? Here are some trivia questions to get you started.
- In Judges 4-5, why was it so important that Jael gave Sisera milk instead of water?
- How did Elijah get to Heaven? (Hint, it wasn’t a fiery chariot; but then what was the purpose of the fiery chariot?)
- What important book was found discarded in the house of the LORD and taken to King Josiah in 2 Kings 22? What does that say about the people of the time?
- What is the one thing the fire burned when the three young men were thrown in it in Daniel 3? What does that say about God and problems?
- How long did it take Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem? Why is that such an amazing feat?
- According to Jesus, what is the greatest command in all the Word of God?
- Who shut the door to Noah’s ark and why is that important?