Definition and Context:
Survival, in a biblical context, refers to the act of enduring or continuing to live through difficult circumstances, often by relying on faith, divine intervention, and adherence to God's commandments. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on survival, emphasizing reliance on God, wisdom, and community support.

Biblical Examples of Survival:

1. Noah and the Ark:
One of the earliest and most profound accounts of survival is that of Noah and the Ark. In Genesis 6-9, God instructs Noah to build an ark to survive the impending flood meant to cleanse the earth of its wickedness. Noah's obedience and faith in God's command ensured the survival of his family and the animal species. Genesis 7:23 states, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."

2. Joseph in Egypt:
Joseph's account, found in Genesis 37-50, is a testament to survival through divine providence and wisdom. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph rises to power in Egypt and devises a plan to survive a severe famine. His ability to interpret dreams and his administrative skills, granted by God, not only ensure his survival but also that of his family and the Egyptian nation. Genesis 50:20 reflects Joseph's understanding of God's plan: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people."

3. The Israelites in the Wilderness:
The survival of the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness is chronicled in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Despite numerous challenges, including scarcity of food and water, God provides for them through miracles such as manna from heaven (Exodus 16) and water from a rock (Exodus 17). Their survival is attributed to God's faithfulness and the leadership of Moses.

4. David's Flight from Saul:
King David's survival during his flight from King Saul is a narrative of faith, cunning, and divine protection. Throughout 1 Samuel, David evades Saul's attempts on his life, often seeking refuge in caves and foreign lands. His reliance on God is evident in the Psalms he composed during this time, such as Psalm 57:1 : "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed."

5. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath:
In 1 Kings 17, during a severe drought, the prophet Elijah is directed by God to seek sustenance from a widow in Zarephath. Despite her meager resources, God miraculously provides for Elijah, the widow, and her son, ensuring their survival. This account highlights God's provision and the importance of faith and obedience.

Theological Insights:

· Divine Providence:
The Bible consistently portrays survival as an outcome of God's providence. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's plan and provision, as seen in Matthew 6:31-33 : "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."

· Faith and Obedience:
Survival often requires faith and obedience to God's commands. Hebrews 11, known as the "Faith Chapter," recounts numerous instances where faith led to survival and triumph over adversity.

· Community and Support:
The Bible emphasizes the role of community in survival. The early church, as described in Acts 2:44-45 , exemplifies this: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need."

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to prepare for physical and spiritual challenges by cultivating a strong faith, seeking wisdom, and fostering supportive communities. The Bible provides guidance on enduring trials, as seen in James 1:2-4 : "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."1. (n.) A living or continuing longer than, or beyond the existence of, another person, thing, or event; an outliving.

2. (n.) Any habit, usage, or belief, remaining from ancient times, the origin of which is often unknown, or imperfectly known.

2421a. chayah -- to live
... his life (1), saved (1), saved our lives (1), saving (1), spare (3), spared (2),
stay alive (1), surely live (9), surely recover (2), survival (1), survive (2 ...
/hebrew/2421a.htm - 6k

Survival of the Fittest
... Survival of the Fittest. Formed part of preceding address. PERHAPS the ... The name
of this law is the Survival of the Fittest. Eternal life ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/survival of the fittest.htm

The Survival of the Fittest.
... STUDY IV THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. THE STORY OF THE GREAT FLOOD."Gen.6-8. Parallel
Readings. Hist. ... V. SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IN THE NATURAL WORLD. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study iv the survival of.htm

The Indestructibility of the Bible is a Proof that Its Author is ...
... The survival of the Bible through the ages is very difficult to explain if it is
not in truth the Word of God. Books are like men"dying creatures. ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter eleven the indestructibility of.htm

Species, or Units of Nature.
... The teachings of Darwin require an answer in the affirmative. The survival of the
fittest is one of Darwin's emphasized laws of natural selection. ...
/.../species or units of nature.htm

The Book of God
... Often the survival of the fittest is just a survival of those fittest to
survive, and not the survival of those who ought to survive. ...
/.../mcconnell/understanding the scriptures/chapter iv the book of.htm

Simplicity Toward Christ
... Of course, there is a kind of simplicity which is a survival of childhood, a guileless,
childish ignorance; but when a man is simple in a childish way, he is ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxxxix simplicity toward christ.htm

The Struggle for Life
... exaggerated by the imagination, has led to Nature being conceived of as a vast
murderous machine for the annihilation of the majority and the survival of the ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter vi the struggle for.htm

Corinth
... expectation of blessed immortality"not for all but for the chosen few"fostered by
the mysteries was probably most often conceived as the survival of the ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/iv corinth.htm

Knox in Scotland: Lethington: Mary of Guise: 1555-1556
... wafers anointed with oil." The argument from analogy was, I infer, that the Mass,
with its wafer, was precisely such an "offering," such a survival in Catholic ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter vii knox in scotland .htm

The Nile and Egypt
... The primitive civilization of Egypt"Its survival into historic times"The women
of Amon"Marriage"Rights of women and children"Houses"Furniture ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

Survival (1 Occurrence)
... is often unknown, or imperfectly known. Multi-Version Concordance Survival
(1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 6:24 Yahweh commanded us to ...
/s/survival.htm - 7k

Immortal (3 Occurrences)
... THE CHRISTIAN HOPE 1. Immortality through Christ (1) Survival of the Soul (2) Union
with Christ in Unseen World (3) The Resurrection (4) The Wicked Also Raised ...
/i/immortal.htm - 33k

Immortality (6 Occurrences)
... THE CHRISTIAN HOPE 1. Immortality through Christ (1) Survival of the Soul (2) Union
with Christ in Unseen World (3) The Resurrection (4) The Wicked Also Raised ...
/i/immortality.htm - 35k

Punishment (417 Occurrences)
... PUNISHMENT, EVERLASTING. pun'-ish-ment: I. PRELIMINARY ASSUMPTIONS 1. Survival after
Death 2. Retribution for Sin 3. Conscious Suffering in Future II. ...
/p/punishment.htm - 62k

Nightmonster
... is also an interpretation, inasmuch as it implies that the Hebrew word is a Babylonian
loan-word, and that the reference indicates a survival of primitive ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... is also an interpretation, inasmuch as it implies that the Hebrew word is a Babylonian
loan-word, and that the reference indicates a survival of primitive ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

Everlasting (192 Occurrences)
... James Orr. PUNISHMENT, EVERLASTING. pun'-ish-ment: I. PRELIMINARY ASSUMPTIONS 1.
Survival after Death 2. Retribution for Sin 3. Conscious Suffering in Future II ...
/e/everlasting.htm - 68k

Survive (20 Occurrences)

/s/survive.htm - 12k

Premillennial
... TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES 1. Expectation of the Advent 2. Possibility of
Survival-Its Implications 3. Prophecy of "Man of Sin" 4. No Room for Millennium ...
/p/premillennial.htm - 23k

Millennium
... TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES 1. Expectation of the Advent 2. Possibility of
Survival-Its Implications 3. Prophecy of "Man of Sin" 4. No Room for Millennium ...
/m/millennium.htm - 24k

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