When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Was my arm too short to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
    I turn rivers into a desert;
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.

• Isaiah 50:2

Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

• 2 Chronicles 33:14

The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.

• Nehemiah 3:3

In the Scriptures above, there is a common word, “fish.”  When I was growing up, there were few Catholics in the area, maybe no churches until I was in high school.  I was never exposed to the rampant fish eating during Lent, which started this past Wednesday on Ash Wednesday.  Odd how my wife and I had our latest nice dining experience at a seafood restaurant before Lent began.  Did we screw up the tradition, or did we simply get what we wanted to eat?  My wife, the ex-Catholic, though had surf and turf (Shrimp and steak) and I had rainbow trout.

I have written about how people in SW Pennsylvania, USA, get crazy about eating fish or forcing others to eat fish during Lent.  I think more money is made by volunteer fire departments and Protestant churches having fish fries on Fridays during Lent than with any other money earning project (except for our little town’s very big fireworks near the Fourth of July – but most of it going to pay for the fireworks, making the money off concessions, etc. that night, part of a summer festival).

But as for my Catholic friends, there is nothing wrong with fasting during Lent. There is nothing wrong with eating a fish sandwich every now and then. I have had seafood four days this week already, just not on Friday.

In this quiz, I give you the verse and a question about that verse, usually what or who is the verse talking about – type question.  The Bible Reference for the verse will be given in the next section, before giving the answers.  With the Bible Reference, most of the questions should be easy, but the twelve verses with no hints might be baffling.  Could it not be just about anything or anyone?  Well, not all of them.

The Questions:

#	Quoted Verse	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.	Who is this verse referring to?
2	“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”	Who is Jesus talking to?
3	They gave him a piece of broiled fish,	Who is this verse referring to?
4	He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.	Who is this verse referring to?
5	He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.	Who is the “He” who says this?
6	“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”	According to the Scriptures, how many were fed?
7	The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”	Which of the Egyptian plagues is this referring to?
8	or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.	Part of a long list of things, what is the list warning regarding an image that looks like these?
9	the birds in the sky,     and the fish in the sea,     all that swim the paths of the seas.	Part of a long list of things, who are all these things placed under the feet of?
10	Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.	How did Jonah get out of the fish?  (Warning: It is kind of “messy.”)
11	Because of this the land dries up,     and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea are swept away.	What nation(s) are cursed here?
12	“I will sweep away both man and beast;     I will sweep away the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea—     and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind     on the face of the earth,” declares the Lord,	What nation(s) are cursed here?

Okay, for a big hint, there are two questions with the answer of Jesus.  And the two questions are not consecutive questions.  Oddly, both of the questions refer to appearances of Jesus after He was resurrected.  I think these stories, involving fish, are eyewitness statements that cause people to throw out the idea that Jess appeared as a ghost or hallucination.  The things Jesus did after His resurrection could only be performed if He was flesh and bone and alive.

Oh, and regarding eating fish on Fridays or binge-eating fish throughout Lent, there are 74 references to “fish”, “fishermen”, or other variations in the NIV (Oddly, 37 in the OT and 37 in the NT), but none that connect “fish” with “Lent” or “Friday.”

Sorry about that.

Bible References:

#	Quoted Verse	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.	Who is this verse referring to?	Genesis 9:2
2	“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”	Who is Jesus talking to?	Matthew 4:19
3	They gave him a piece of broiled fish,	Who is this verse referring to?	Luke 24:42
4	He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.	Who is this verse referring to?	1 Kings 4:33
5	He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.	Who is the “He” who says this?	John 21:6
6	“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”	According to the Scriptures, how many were fed?	Mark 6:38
7	The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”	Which of the Egyptian plagues is this referring to?	Exodus 7:18
8	or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.	Part of a long list of things, what is the list warning regarding an image that looks like these?	Deuteronomy 4:18
9	the birds in the sky,     and the fish in the sea,     all that swim the paths of the seas.	Part of a long list of things, who are all these things placed under the feet of?	Psalm 8:8
10	Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.	How did Jonah get out of the fish?  (Warning: It is kind of “messy.”)	Jonah 2:10
11	Because of this the land dries up,     and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea are swept away.	What nation(s) are cursed here?	Hosea 4:3
12	“I will sweep away both man and beast;     I will sweep away the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea—     and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind     on the face of the earth,” declares the Lord,	What nation(s) are cursed here?	Zephaniah 1:3

My wife and I had a playful argument throughout our married life, now 47 years and still going.  Being an ex-Catholic, loving fish or at least seafood, and wanting the healthy aspects of eating fish for the family’s healthier eating habits, she would schedule fish on Fridays.  I would throw a fit.  Have fish two days a week if you want, but not on Fridays!  We are Presbyterians, for crying out loud!!!!

Really, fish is rather expensive when you get the filets.  Eating nice cuts of fish can increase the family food budget a great deal.

Then, years later after my wife was well-trained, she would have a variety of upsets in the menu for the week, and wouldn’t you know it?!  The only food set aside for that week that we had not eaten was the meal that included seafood.  She would humbly beg the family’s indulgence, just this once.  It would be much better to have the fish this Friday than to make a special trip to the grocery store.

Before she got through her soliloquy, the boys and I were usually laughing like crazy.  With us entertained by her humble apology, we never figured out if this was the occasional accident in scheduling or was she playing a trick on us so that she could have fish on Friday?  She is very sneaky.  I would not put it past her to do that.

   …

   …

   …

The Answers:

#	Quoted Verse	Question	Bible Reference	Answer
1	The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.	Who is this verse referring to?	Genesis 9:2	Noah (really mankind)
2	“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”	Who is Jesus talking to?	Matthew 4:19	Simon (Peter)
3	They gave him a piece of broiled fish,	Who is this verse referring to?	Luke 24:42	Jesus
4	He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.	Who is this verse referring to?	1 Kings 4:33	Solomon
5	He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.	Who is the “He” who says this?	John 21:6	Jesus
6	“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”	According to the Scriptures, how many were fed?	Mark 6:38	5,000 men (but probably more than double that considering women and children)
7	The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’”	Which of the Egyptian plagues is this referring to?	Exodus 7:18	The first: the water turned to blood.
8	or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.	Part of a long list of things, what is the list warning regarding an image that looks like these?	Deuteronomy 4:18	Warning against making such images idols.
9	the birds in the sky,     and the fish in the sea,     all that swim the paths of the seas.	Part of a long list of things, who are all these things placed under the feet of?	Psalm 8:8	Mankind
10	Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.	How did Jonah get out of the fish?  (Warning: It is kind of “messy.”)	Jonah 2:10	The fish vomited him out.
11	Because of this the land dries up,     and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea are swept away.	What nation(s) are cursed here?	Hosea 4:3	Israel
12	“I will sweep away both man and beast;     I will sweep away the birds in the sky     and the fish in the sea—     and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind     on the face of the earth,” declares the Lord,	What nation(s) are cursed here?	Zephaniah 1:3	All on earth

However you did, enjoy Fishing in the Sky sung by Travis Smith.  We do not know what Heaven will bring, but why not?

This one was an unexpected song, both touching and funny.  Here is Randy Travis, Pray for the Fish.

And here is Larry Fleet singing That’s where I Find God.

And for a change of pace, how about the singing group that kids love, Go Fish, He Leadeth Me or at least their version.  This is the group that brought us It’s Called Christmas with a Capital “C”.

And for another, Go Fish, All for You.

And for another, Go Fish, Jump.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.