Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: CHILDHOOD (03/09/17)
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TITLE: If Biblically-Notable Persons Heard Common Parental-Sayings | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Gage
03/14/17 -
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Consider: “If Biblically-notable persons heard common-parental-sayings:”
Rahab’s mom, “Don’t ever talk to strangers.”
Rahab not only talked to strangers, she welcomed spies into her home, hid them, lied to king’s authorities regarding their whereabouts and helped them escape. Amazingly, she also trusted these strangers with her life and the lives of her family when their city was destroyed.
God encounter: God had revealed to Rahab that He is the God in heaven and on earth and that The Lord had given Jericho to Israelites. (Joshua 2)
Zacchaeus’ father, “Money does NOT grow on trees.”
Maybe his father said so many times that money is hard to come by, that when Zacchaeus became a tax collector he made his own path to riches. He stole taxpayers’ money.
God encounter: Zacchaeus, climbed a tree, not looking for money, but to see Jesus as he passed through Jericho. The crowd scrutinized Jesus when he chose to spend time with the thief. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus and immediately gave up his crooked ways, promising to give to the poor and repay those he cheated four times over! (Luke 19:1)
John the Baptist’s mom, “You can catch more bees with honey”
John’s mother may have been giving career advice, but John mistook it for diet advice. If so, he mixed up locusts with bees, because his only food source was locusts and honey.
(Do children ever really remember exactly what parents say?)
IF John applied the honey-bee analogy to draw people to God, it would seem that calling people vipers or having them admit they are sinners in need of repentance wouldn’t work.
God encounter: John’s voice called in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord.” He brought many of the people of Israel to the Lord, Jesus. (Luke 2, 3)
Noah’s dad, “Close that door! Do you think we live in a barn?”
Parent’s words can return like a boomerang, hitting right in the funny bone.
At age 600, Noah and his family lived in a floating house with animals that he purposely welcomed in.
God encounter: Noah was obedient to God’s command to build an ark that kept his family and some animals safe during the flood that wiped all humans from the earth. (Gen 6-8)
(Unfortunately, his parents weren’t there to feel it in the funny bone.)
Sarah’s mom “Your face is going to freeze like that.”
Sarai(Sarah) may have been that child that always made faces when told what to do or how to do it.
God encounter: Sarah was 90 when she overheard an angel telling Abraham that they would have a child. She laughed. It’s doubtful that she laughed when her husband was lying with another woman to conceive a child. It’s doubtful that she laughed for the 12 years while he was doting on Ishmael.
But, when Sarah birthed the promised son, they named him Isaac, which means laughter. Sarah said. “God has brought me laughter.” (Gen 17)
(That would be the best ‘freeze-face’)
Moses mom, “Don’t run with that stick in your hand!”
Could his mother ever imagine what wonders God would do with a ‘stick’ in Moses hand?
God encounter: Moses raised a staff and wrought plagues upon Egypt, parted the Red Sea, made water come out of a rock and helped
Israelites defeat the Amalakites, all in God’s power. (Ex 14-17)
Cain and Abels’s mom, “Hey guys, don’t forget the sunblock.”
Great advice for those spending lots of time in the sun. Most parental advice is great, but maybe too much is spent on the superficial; regarding such temporal things like what to wear, what car to drive or what people to impress. If children were taught more about our eternal God, maybe when sibling rivalry occurred it would stay temporal and not become eternal.
God encounter- Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God. Cain’s was not. Cain killed Abel. Cain went out from the Lord’s presence. (Gen 4)
Most parents, when teaching and guiding their children, have the best intentions. Throughout their child’s temporal life on earth, some parental words stick and some don’t, thankfully.
If parents teach their children: God created them, God loves them, God gave Jesus as savior, God has a purpose for their life, God’s Word is truth, the impact is eternal!
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