We’Re in Heaven, and I Have Some Questions

By Vanessa Echols

What will Heaven look and be like when we get there? How will we recognize our loved ones? Will we be able to meet some of the great heroes from the Bible whom we’ve read about? In We’re in Heaven, and I Have Some Questions, author Vanessa Echols offers a faith-based and humorous look at some of the questions you might ask of the great figures from the Bible.

From Abraham to Stephen and other Biblical characters, forty in all, Echols explores a snapshot of their lives and describes what they’re most known for. Each chapter ends with a key question and points you back to scripture, encouraging you to write your own questions.

Offering an imaginative look at the Bible and the characters within, We’re in Heaven, and I Have Some Questions presents unique insight into some of the greatest Bible characters and mysteries of the time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665728133

Vanessa Echols

Vanessa Echols is an award-winning journalist who spent forty years as a television news anchor covering major local and national stories. She is the winner of three regional Emmy Awards and the recipient of a Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists award for a podcast on the 1920 massacre in the town of Ocoee, Florida. She is also the winner of a Black Podcasting Award and an Anthem Award for her podcast, Colorblind: Race across Generations.

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Copyright © 2022 Vanessa Echols.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2812-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2813-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022914239

Archway Publishing rev. date: 08/15/2022

Contents

Abraham

Adam

Daniel

David

Deborah

Dorcas

Enoch

Esther

Eve

Gideon

Hannah

Isaac

Jacob

Job

John the Apostle

John the Baptist

Jonah

Joseph (Old Testament)

Joseph (New Testament)

Joshua

Lazarus

Luke

Lydia

Mark

Martha

Mary

Mary Magdalene

Mary of Bethany

Matthew

Moses

Noah

Paul

Peter

Rahab

Ruth

Samaritan Woman at the Well

Samuel

Sarah

Solomon

Stephen

Woman with the Issue of Blood

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

This book is

dedicated to my parents, Hosea and Mary Echols, who have made me feel loved every single day of my life, and who made sure Sunday school was a major part of my childhood. The Bible stories came alive at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama, and that is where I started asking questions.

If you don’t have a sense of humor, don’t read this book. It’s not for you. Most authors would not start by telling a group of people not to read her book, but that’s exactly what I’m doing. This book is for those of us who believe not only is God okay with us having a sense of humor but also He has one too. If you know me, you’ll hear my voice throughout these pages. If you don’t know me, you’ll be familiar with my voice by the end. So get ready for a few y’alls and other things we used to say while growing up in Alabama.

You’ll see me refer to the Book. That of course is the book, the Bible. And I’ve chosen to capitalize He and Him when referring to God and Jesus.

I’ve chosen to tell the stories of forty people because forty is a significant number in the Bible. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah all fasted for forty days. Jesus was tempted for forty days. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Those are just a few examples.

After the end of each chapter, you’ll see one final question, Scripture references (not all Scriptures about each person, but some key ones), and a blank page. That’s for you to write your own questions and thoughts.

I’m so happy you are on this journey with me. Let’s ask some questions.

Abraham

Well, if it isn’t Mr. Father of Many Nations himself. I have so many questions for you, but they can all pretty much be summed up with this: Dude, what were you thinking? Yes, I realize that crazy plan to have a baby with the maid was Sarah’s idea, but you went along with that! You had to know that was not gonna turn out well.

Before all that real-life soap opera stuff, though, you showed us what obedience to God looks like. I see why you are listed in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. You were all settled in, living your best life in Haran. You probably had a custom tent, the latest camel, a pension, and a 401(k). Then God told you to move, but He didn’t tell you where. What was that conversation like with Sarah? Honey, I’m home, and we’re moving, and I don’t know where we’re going. I’m sure the folks at the moving company were like, Let me get this straight. We’re going to load up your stuff, but nobody knows where you’re going yet?

But you obeyed, and God fulfilled every single thing He promised you. Every. Single. One.

Then He really blew your mind when He told you that He was changing your name and was going to make you a daddy. Yes, you a daddy at one hundred, this time with your actual wife, who was also no spring chicken at ninety.

How you must have loved baby Isaac and felt such joy watching him grow. And then God came along and told you to do something none of us can imagine. He told you to kill your own son, the same son He had promised you. I’m guessing you were like, "Wait … what? You want me to do what?"

That must have been the most difficult part of your life, going to Moriah and knowing what you were about to do, with Isaac being none the wiser. And I guess you didn’t tell Sarah what you were going to do because she would have stood at the door of the tent and tried to block you. But I noticed when you got to Moriah, you told the servants with you that we would be