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IJMB 2025 CRS PAPER 1 QUESTIONS BELOW
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IJMB 2025 CRS PAPER 1 ANSWERS BELOW
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*NUMBER 1*
The birth of Samuel is recorded in
(1 Samuel 1).
Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was childless and deeply distressed. Every year, Elkanah would offer sacrifices to God at Shiloh, and Hannah would pray fervently for a child. On one such occasion, she prayed silently, pouring out her heart to God, and made a vow: if God granted her a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service as a Nazirite.
Eli, the priest, observed Hannah’s lips moving silently and initially thought she was drunk. However, after understanding her situation, he blessed her and prayed for God’s favor.
God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she conceived, giving birth to Samuel. After weaning him, Hannah fulfilled her vow, dedicating Samuel to God’s service at the tabernacle under Eli’s care.
The name Samuel means heard by God, reflecting Hannah’s prayer being heard and answered by God.
*Lesson Learned from the call of Samuel*
The call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3) offers several valuable lessons:
“`(1.)“` *Listening to God’s voice*: Samuel’s experience teaches us the importance of being attentive to God’s guidance and direction.
“`(2)“` *Humility and obedience*: Samuel’s response to God’s call demonstrates humility and a willingness to obey God’s will.
“`(3)“` *Spiritual mentorship*: Eli’s role in guiding Samuel highlights the value of spiritual mentorship and guidance.
“`(4)“` *Trust and surrender*: Samuel’s story encourages us to trust God’s plan and surrender to His will.
“`(5)“` *Responsiveness to God’s call*: Samuel’s call serves as a reminder to be responsive to God’s call in our lives, whether it’s a specific task, ministry, or life direction.
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*NUNBER 2*
Duties of a Prophet in a Society are:
“`(1)“` *Divine messenger*: Prophets act as messengers of God, conveying divine messages, revelations, and guidance to people.
“`(2)“` *Calling to repentance*: Prophets often call people to repentance, urging them to turn away from sin and towards God.
“`(3)“` *Social justice*: Prophets frequently speak out against social injustices, advocating for the rights and dignity of marginalized and oppressed groups.
“`(4)“` *Guidance and counsel*: Prophets provide guidance and counsel to individuals and communities, helping them navigate complex moral and spiritual issues.
“`(5)“` *Warning and prediction*: Prophets may warn people of impending judgment or consequences of their actions, and sometimes predict future events.
“`(6)“` *Intercession*: Prophets often intercede on behalf of people, praying for their well-being and forgiveness.
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*NUMBER 4*
The offenses committed by Israel during the time of Prophet Amos can be summarized below
– *Social Injustice*: Israel was plagued by social and economic sins, where the wealthy exploited the poor through cruel and dishonest means. The poor were systematically cheated, oppressed, and even sold into slavery for trivial gains, such as a pair of sandals.
– *Corruption*: The society was corrupt, with sexual immorality being a significant issue, particularly in connection with pagan shrines where prostitutes operated. Amos condemned the social and economic sins that allowed one group to prey upon another.
– *Idolatry and Apostasy*: Judah’s offense was primarily spiritual, as they had rejected the law of the Lord and failed to keep His statutes, turning to idolatry and forsaking the true worship of God.
– *Disregard for Human Life and Dignity*: While not directly attributed to Israel in the provided texts, the surrounding nations’ offenses give insight into the types of sins that were prevalent and condemned by God, such as ripping open pregnant women and desecrating corpses.
– *Oppression of the Poor*: Selling the righteous into slavery and trading needy people for trivial gains.
– *Economic Exploitation*: Raising prices, cheating with dishonest scales, and buying poor people to make slaves out of them.
– *Lack of Fairness*: Refusing to be fair to those who are crushed and treating God’s name as if it were not holy.
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*NUMBER 5*
From David’s experience seeking refuge among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27-30), we can learn several lessons:
Lessons Learned
“`(1)“` *Trust in God’s provision*: David’s decision to seek refuge among the Philistines reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision and protection. This experience teaches us to trust in God’s ability to provide for and protect us, even in difficult circumstances.
“`(2)“` *Faithless solutions*: David’s choice to seek help from the Philistines, a pagan nation, demonstrates a faithless solution to his problems. This experience highlights the importance of seeking God’s guidance and solutions that align with His will.
“`(3)“` *Consequences of doubt*: David’s actions led to consequences, including having to pretend to be insane to save his life (1 Samuel 21:10-15) and later facing the destruction of his city and family (1 Samuel 30). This experience teaches us that doubt and lack of trust in God can lead to negative consequences.
“`(4)“` *God’s sovereignty*: Despite David’s mistakes, God remained sovereign and worked to protect and deliver David. This experience demonstrates God’s ability to work in all situations, even when we make mistakes.
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*NUMBER 7*
The names of Prophet Hosea’s children (Hosea 1:4-9) hold significant meaning:
The Names
“`(1)“` *Jezreel*: Meaning “God scatters” or “God sows,” this name symbolizes God’s judgment on the house of Jehu for the bloodshed in Jezreel.
“`(2)“` *Lo-Ruhamah*: Meaning “no mercy” or “not pitied,” this name indicates God’s withdrawal of mercy and compassion from Israel due to their sins.
“`(3)“` *Lo-Ammi*: Meaning “not my people,” this name signifies God’s rejection of Israel as His people due to their disobedience and idolatry.
Significance
The names serve as:
“`(1)“` *Symbolic prophecies*: Conveying God’s judgment and message to Israel.
“`(2)“` *Warning*: Emphasizing the consequences of Israel’s sins.
“`(3)“` *Hope*: Implicitly pointing to a future restoration.
These names highlight God’s justice, mercy, and ultimate plan for redemption.
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*NUMBER 8*
King Solomon’s mistakes that threatened his throne include
“`(a)“` *Drifting Away from God*: Solomon’s love for his many foreign wives led him to build altars and temples for their pagan gods, directly violating God’s commands. This act of idolatry angered God and ultimately led to the downfall of his kingdom.
“`(b)“` *Compromising His Faith*: Solomon’s marriages to foreign women were strategic, designed to forge alliances with neighboring nations. However, these women introduced him to their gods and religious practices, leading him away from his devotion to the Lord.
“`(c)“` *Materialism and Excess*: Solomon’s wealth and power became a source of temptation, leading him to indulge in desires and build grand structures. His pursuit of wealth and pleasure distanced him further from God and the things that truly mattered.
“`(d)“` *Pride and Lack of Accountability*: As Solomon’s fame and power grew, he became prideful and relied too much on his own wisdom and wealth. He stopped seeking guidance and accountability from others, leading to poor decision-making.
“`(e)“` *Disobedience to God’s Commands*: Solomon’s disobedience to God’s commands, particularly regarding the worship of other gods and the accumulation of wealth and wives, ultimately led to the division of the kingdom after his death.