WAEC Christian Religious Knowledge 2005 Past Questions & Answers

According to the creation story in Genesis chapter 2 verses $10-14$, a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided into four rivers. The Bible names these four rivers as Pishon, Gihon, Tigris (also called Hiddekel), and Euphrates. Therefore, option C correctly lists the four rivers mentioned in the biblical account of creation.

Common mistake: Students might choose other options because they correctly identify some of the rivers, but get confused by the incorrect names like 'Hauijah' or 'Assyna' that are mixed in.

The correct answer is based on the account of creation in Genesis chapter 1. The Bible repeatedly states that God created the living creatures, including the beasts of the earth, 'each according to its kind' $(Genesis 1:24-25)$. This phrase emphasizes the order and specific design God put into His creation, demonstrating His sovereign power.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option A because they confuse the creation of animals with the creation of man, who was uniquely made in God's own image.

This prophecy is from Genesis 25:23, where God spoke to Rebekah about the twins struggling in her womb. The two peoples were her sons, Esau and Jacob, who were destined to become the fathers of two separate nations, Edom and Israel. This event demonstrates God's divine plan and guidance for the future of His people even before the children were born.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Esau and Ishmael' because both were older brothers who were not chosen for the covenant blessing, but they were not the twins from Rebekah's womb.

According to the story in Exodus chapter 2, after Pharaoh's daughter found baby Moses in the river, his sister Miriam offered to find a nurse for him. Miriam then went to call their mother, Jochebed, who was hired by Pharaoh's daughter to nurse her own son. This event is a clear example of God's divine providence and protection over Moses' life from his infancy.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Pharaoh’s daughter' because she adopted Moses and raised him as her son, but the Bible clearly states his own mother was hired to be his nurse.

The name Ichabod is found in 1 Samuel chapter 4. After the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines, the Ark of God was captured, and Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed. When the wife of Phinehas heard this tragic news, she went into labour and named her son Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel,' because the Ark of God, which symbolized God's presence, had been taken.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C, confusing the meaning of Ichabod with that of Samuel ('I have asked him from the Lord'), as both figures are prominent in the same biblical book.

According to 1 Samuel chapter 26, David and Abishai found Saul sleeping, but David refused to harm him because he was 'the LORD's anointed'. Instead, David took Saul's spear and water jug from beside his head. The purpose was to prove later that he had been close enough to kill Saul but chose to spare him, thereby surprising Saul with this act of mercy and trust in God's justice.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'slay him' because Abishai suggested it and Saul was David's enemy, but they forget that the main point of the story is David's refusal to take revenge.

The correct answer is A because King Saul's downfall and death were the direct result of his history of disobeying God's clear instructions. For example, he offered an unlawful sacrifice and later failed to completely destroy the Amalekites as commanded by God through the prophet Samuel. These acts of disobedience led God to reject him as king, which ultimately resulted in his tragic death in battle.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B because consulting the witch of Endor was a major sin Saul committed just before his death, but this act was a symptom of his long-standing disobedience, which was the root cause of his rejection by God.

The story of King Ahab and Naboth's vineyard is a primary example of greed and its terrible consequences. Naboth refused to sell his vineyard because it was his ancestral inheritance, passed down from his fathers. According to the Law of Moses, such family land was considered a sacred trust from God and was not to be sold permanently, so Naboth was being obedient to God's law.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, thinking it was a business argument, but they forget that Naboth's refusal was based on God's law concerning ancestral inheritance, not on the price Ahab offered.

The story of Eli in 1 Samuel is the key biblical example used to teach about parental responsibility. Although Eli himself was a poor example, his story demonstrates the serious consequences of failing to discipline one's children. God held Eli responsible for the evil deeds of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and brought judgment upon his household because he did not restrain them.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose David, who also had family problems, but the story of Eli is the specific biblical case study focused on a leader's failure in parental discipline and its dire consequences.

This question refers to the account in 1 Kings $3:5-14$ where God appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon. When God offered to grant his request, Solomon asked for a discerning heart, which means wisdom and understanding, to be able to govern God's people and distinguish between right and wrong. God was pleased with this unselfish request and not only granted him wisdom but also gave him the riches and honour he did not ask for.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'long life and prosperity' because Solomon was famously wealthy, but the Bible shows he received these things as an extra blessing for asking for wisdom first.