Paul's Parables

Pharaoh dreamed about skinny cows and fat cows, good full ears of corn and stunted corn.  No one could tell him what his dreams meant.  Joseph was remembered by the butler.  God gave Joseph the meaning of the dreams, offering advice to Pharoah.  As a result, Joseph was appointed to be the Prime Minister, because the spirit of God was in him, and he ruled all of Egypt.

The consequences of the brother’s hateful actions against Joseph could not be reversed and Jacob felt he only had Benjamin left.  God blessed Joseph in Egypt, but when he when accused of abusing his wife, Potiphar had him put in prison.  God did not abandon him, and soon he was responsible for all the prisoner’s care.  God revealed the meaning of two of the prisoner’s dreams, but they forgot their...

When the caravan arrives in Egypt his owners sell Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of pharaoh’s guard.  He is treated well.  God blesses him and soon he is given responsibility over all that belongs to his owner.  Meantime his brothers give Joseph’s bloody coat to Jacob and lead him to believe that a wild animal has killed Joseph.  He refuses to be consoled.

Joseph’s jealous brothers tear off his colorful robe and throw him into a pit rather than killing him as they had first planned.  A Caravan of traders headed to Egypt presents the opportunity to sell him as a slave so he will never bother them again.

Joseph, as Jacob’s most loved son, is favored by his father who gives him a very special coat.  His brothers come to hate him, especially when he shares his dreams of them bowing down to him.  When they see him coming to check on them to bring a report back to their father, they plot to kill him.

Rebecca overhears Isaac making arrangements with Esau to give him God’s special blessings, first promised to Abraham.  Rebecca wants her favorite son to receive the blessing so schemes to make it happen.  She and Jacob trick old Isaac to give the blessing to Jacob instead, making Esau angry enough to kill his brother.

God told Isaac and Rebecca that the older twin would serve the younger one, which was something contrary to the customs in that land.  Their parents had favorites.  Esau exchanged his birthright for porridge supplied by Jacob, the trickster.  The Bible states that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, who saw no value in God’s promises.

Auntie Winnie uses the camel to finish the story of the successful mission to bring back a wife for Isaac from among Abraham’s God fearing people.  The family was glad to hear how God had blessed Abraham and she willingly left her family to take the long journey to be married to Isaac whom she had never seen.

When 40 year old Isaac was ready to get married his father Abraham made the plans to select a bride for him.  He sent his servant with 10 loaded camels on the long journey back to his country and relatives to return with her. Isaac was not to go there but she was to leave her home and come to the land God had given to Abraham and his descendants.  One of the thirsty camels tells the story.

Isaac tells the story of the test Abraham faced when he was told to offer his promised son back to God.  Isaac had many questions as he obeyed his father.  God did provide a sacrifice that day and renewed His promise to make through the descendants of his son Isaac a numerous nation through whom all the earth would be blessed.

Sarah finally understands that God will still send a son of promise even though Hagar has returned and submitted to her.  Sarah laughed when three men come and told Abraham that she would have a baby in nine months and that they should call him Isaac.  God told Abraham that Sodom would be destroyed because of their wickedness.   Abraham prayed for the city, but only a few were spared.

Abraham moved to Hebron and God promises that his descendants would be as numerous as the uncountable stars and that the world would be blessed through him. After he hears of the defeat of Sodom and the capture of his nephew, he rescues Lot, gives gifts to God, and refuses rewards.  Sarah gives her slave to Abram to get a child but harmony is lost

When God told Abraham to move and that he would become a great nation he started his journey from home with his father and his nephew but they stopped on the way.  God called him again after his father died so he traveled onwards to Canaan.  After a while he and his nephew, Lot, separated because they need more space.  God renewed his promise to Abraham to give him many children and all the land h...

When Noah’s sons and their families began to multiply they settle near each other and began to build cities.  Nimrod inspired them to build a tower in on the Shinar plain that would reach to heaven. They had forgotten God and exalted themselves to become God.  God saw their work and how they worked together when they all understood each other.  God confused their languages and they began to fight,...

Every living thing in the ark is thinking of getting out on the land that after a year has finally dried.  The birds are able to leave first. The door is opened and all the animals leave, some with new babies.  Noah calls his family to the alter he built to give thanks to God for delivering them from the flood.  God sends the first rainbow with His promise.

God sends to the Ark pairs of every kind of bird and animal.  All enter with Noah and his family, then God closes the door. Torrents of rain fall continuously for over a month until the world was completely flooded and every creature outside the ark has drowned. The rain finally stops and the boat settles on a mountaintop when the water begins to recede.

Noah receives plans from God to build a boat and works with his sons to build a huge waterproof vessel far from water because it will rain, something they have never heard of, and God will flood the earth. God says he will save the animals and Noah’s family.  They begin work as Noah’s sons find wives. The people from town think he is crazy.

Cain’s hatred of his brother is seen by the little lamb Able cares for so tenderly.  The lamb’s big brother, a first born lamb, was offered by Able back to God and was accepted.  His jealous brother became so angry he did a terrible thing when his gift was not accepted.

When the snake persuaded Adam and Eve to sin, God gave the punishment. Snake, you crawl on your belly. Eve, you may want to boss your husband but I am putting him in charge of you. In pain will you will give birth to children. Adam, the ground is cursed because of you and only by hard labor will you feed your family. God then killed an animal to provide a covering and sent them out of the garden.

As God saw that it was not good for man to be alone so he created a beautiful woman for him. He told them that they were to be one unit.  Among the many created animals was one that tempted the beautiful woman so they both disobeyed God, eating the fruit God had told them not to eat. The monkeys were horrified! Adam and Eve ran away from God and hid themselves.

Auntie Winnie, my sister, tells Bible Stories to Kids which were broadcast in South Africa and this is the first one of the Beginnings. The newly created animal with a long tail discovers all kinds of animals but can’t find any just like himself.  When he discovers a beautiful brown one with big eyes he decides to call her “Honey”. She thinks he is perfect and names him “Sweetheart”.  They decide...

A preview of the booklet on kindle

Virtual currency exists in many countries and there are more and more stores who don’t even want to handle cash. They would rather have touchless payment. Saving up the world’s treasures to live a long life of pleasure, when only God knows the future, is foolish.

Stories of Zack, my beautiful useless horse, have been compiled into a booklet that is now available as an Ebook on Kindle.  Free hard copies are also available. Just send the address to paul@paulsparables.com.

Compliance is an interesting word implying a conflict of wills. In the DRC the motivation for those demanding payment, when non-compliance was discovered, was Nouveau Zaires. Who pays the COVID Compliance officers in this country and sets the fines? Is enforcement of compliance motivated by protecting people?