Thematic Bible: Instances of the courage of conviction
Thematic Bible
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » Peter and john, in refusing to obey men, rather than God
But Peter and John answered unto them and said, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, judge ye.
Peter and the other apostles answered, and said, "We ought more to obey God than men.
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » Ezra, in undertaking the perilous journey from babylon to palestine without a guard
For I was ashamed to require of the king, soldiers and horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the way. For we had said unto the king, "The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him in goodness, and his violence and wrath is upon all them that forsake him." So we fasted, and besought our God for this; and he heard us.
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » The three hebrews, who refused to bow down to the image of nebuchadnezzar
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, an said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we ought not to consent unto thee in this matter. For why? Our God whom we serve, is able to keep us from the hot burning oven, O king, and can right well deliver us out of thy hands: And if he will not, yet shalt thou know, O king, that we will not serve thy Gods, nor do reverence to the Image which thou hast set up."
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » Gideon, in destroying the altar of baal
And the same night the LORD said unto him, "Take an ox of thy father's and another of seven years old, and destroy the altar of Baal that belongeth unto thy father, and cut down the grove that is about it, and make an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock and furnish it. And take the second ox and offer burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove, which thou shalt have cut down." Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD bade him. But because he durst not do it by day for fear of his father's household and of the men of the city, he did it by night. read more.
When the men of the city were up early in the morning: Behold the altar of Baal was broken, and the grove that stood about it cut down. And the second ox offered upon the altar that was made. And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And they enquired and asked. And it was told them that Gideon the son of Joash had done it. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it." And Joash said unto all that stood by him, "Will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders? He that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a god, let him strive with him that cast down his altar!"
When the men of the city were up early in the morning: Behold the altar of Baal was broken, and the grove that stood about it cut down. And the second ox offered upon the altar that was made. And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And they enquired and asked. And it was told them that Gideon the son of Joash had done it. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it." And Joash said unto all that stood by him, "Will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders? He that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a god, let him strive with him that cast down his altar!"
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » In offering isaac
After these deeds, God did prove Abraham and said unto him, "Abraham." And he answered, "Here am I." And he said, "Take thy only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee unto the land of Moria, and sacrifice him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will show thee." Then Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass, and took two of his men with him, and Isaac his son: and clove wood for the sacrifice, and rose up and got him to the place which God had appointed him. read more.
The third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off, and said unto his young men, "Bide here with the ass. I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again unto you." And Abraham took the wood of the sacrifice and laid it upon Isaac his son, and took fire in his hand and a knife. And they went both of them together. Then spake Isaac unto Abraham his father and said, "My father?" And he answered, "Here am I, my son." And he said, "See, here is fire and wood, but where is the sheep for sacrifice?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide him a sheep for sacrifice." So went they both together. And when they came unto the place which God showed him, Abraham made an altar there and dressed the wood, and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, above upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to have killed his son. Then the angel of the LORD called unto him from heaven saying, "Abraham, Abraham?" And he answered, "Here am I." And he said, "Lay not thy hands upon the child, neither do anything at all unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, in that thou hast not kept thine only son from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked about: and behold, there was a ram caught by the horns in a thicket. And he went and took the ram and offered him up for a sacrifice in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, "The LORD will see." Wherefore it is a common saying this day, "In the mount will the LORD be seen."
The third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off, and said unto his young men, "Bide here with the ass. I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again unto you." And Abraham took the wood of the sacrifice and laid it upon Isaac his son, and took fire in his hand and a knife. And they went both of them together. Then spake Isaac unto Abraham his father and said, "My father?" And he answered, "Here am I, my son." And he said, "See, here is fire and wood, but where is the sheep for sacrifice?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide him a sheep for sacrifice." So went they both together. And when they came unto the place which God showed him, Abraham made an altar there and dressed the wood, and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, above upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to have killed his son. Then the angel of the LORD called unto him from heaven saying, "Abraham, Abraham?" And he answered, "Here am I." And he said, "Lay not thy hands upon the child, neither do anything at all unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, in that thou hast not kept thine only son from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked about: and behold, there was a ram caught by the horns in a thicket. And he went and took the ram and offered him up for a sacrifice in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, "The LORD will see." Wherefore it is a common saying this day, "In the mount will the LORD be seen."
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » Abraham, in leaving his fatherland
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee. And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth." read more.
And Abram went as the LORD bade him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old, when he went out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, with all their goods which they had gotten, and souls which they had begotten in Haran. And they departed to go into the land of Canaan. And when they were come into the land of Canaan, Abram went forth into the land till he came unto a place called Shechem, and unto the oak of Moreh. And the Cananites dwelled then in the land. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD. And then Abram departed and took his journey southward.
And Abram went as the LORD bade him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old, when he went out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, with all their goods which they had gotten, and souls which they had begotten in Haran. And they departed to go into the land of Canaan. And when they were come into the land of Canaan, Abram went forth into the land till he came unto a place called Shechem, and unto the oak of Moreh. And the Cananites dwelled then in the land. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD. And then Abram departed and took his journey southward.
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » The jews, in returning answer to tatnai
But they answered us with these words, and said, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
Courage » Instances of the courage of conviction » Daniel, in persisting in prayer regardless of the edict against praying
Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time.