From Isaac's Perspective

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)


Growing up, my family and I made several trips around the state for a few days of camping. They were fun times that created memories we will always cherish.

There were times that my dad and I just went on our own. We had a pup tent that was just right for the two of us, but we eventually had to take the large family tent as I got older. We’d take our food and drinks, books, games, etc. to entertain ourselves and stay well fed.

When I think about those times, I can’t but smile at the times our family and my dad and I shared. Those are still some of the fondest memories I have from my childhood.

I wonder if a young boy from Genesis could say the same thing.

We hear of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, being without a child for 100 years. Then, Sarah, as was promised by the Lord, became pregnant and bore a son, Isaac. We know that many nations were promised to Abraham and that his faith was tested in Gen. 22:1-3 when God told him to take his only son, Isaac, and offer him there as a burnt sacrifice.

We have all heard sermons about Abraham’s faith and assurance in God. But how many lessons have we heard from the other eyes in this story?

Most scholars believe that contrary to some people’s beliefs, Isaac was not a “little” boy. Most scholars say that he was anywhere from about 10 to 36, and there are many Jewish traditions that say he could have been in his 30s at the time. We do know that he was old enough to travel three days without his mother, and that he was mature enough to carry wood up the mountain for the sacrifice. We also know that the conversation with his father was that of at least a young man.

We can also surmise that Isaac had to know something was up. After all, he asked where the lamb was, and he was told God would provide the lamb (vs. 7-8). And Isaac trusted his father enough that he kept walking with him. In verse nine, they reached the place where God told Abraham to build an altar, and he did so. Then, Isaac – again old enough to carry the very wood on which he was about to be placed – allowed his father to bound him and place him upon the altar. He could have run. He could have fought back. He could have probably laughed it off as his father did when he first learned of his only son. But he didn’t.

He trusted.

Then his father, the one who was promised nations, lifted his hand with knife enclosed in order to slay his son, but as he did, the angel of the Lord called out and stopped him. The angel said, “Now I know that you fear God…” (vs. 12). But what about Isaac? Did Isaac fear God, too?

I believe he did. I am sure that Isaac was taught the way of the Lord by his father, and he trusted his father so that when Abraham told him that this is what God wanted, Isaac was willing to follow through. He didn’t flee, he trusted.

Part of the special part of this story is the place where this occurred. The region of Mount Moriah is the place of many events in the Bible. Solomon built the house of the Lord on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1-2). Many of the events during the ministry of Jesus took place around Mt. Moriah with the scene of Christ’s arrest on the Mount of Olives just to the east and His crucifixion at Calvary just to the north.

As I hold my four-month-old son while I type this, I can’t even imagine what it took for Abraham to do what he did. But even more so, how much faith did Isaac have to trust in his own father when he could have clearly overpowered him physically. Afterall, Abraham was a bit over 100 at the time. But Isaac lay there without complaint. He did as he was told and trusted that his father knew best.

I did the same thing as I was growing up. When dad and I went camping, I trusted him. However, had my dad told me to lay down on an altar before lifting a knife above me, I am not sure that my trust wouldn’t have come to an abrupt ending. I'm not sure any of us would if we saw it coming. The problem is… our Savior saw it coming, too. And, thankfully, He, like Isaac, offered His body into the hands of His Father.

And God calls on us to give Him our undying trust each day. He calls us to give up ourselves and lay down. But do we? After all, the greatest memory of all didn’t come from a camping trip or a hike with dad, it came because one Son was willing to be bound and pierced. And praise God Jesus has more trust than me.

Father God, help me to have the faith and trust of Isaac. Help me to be willing to follow you where you lead me and do what you would have me to do. May I set aside my own agenda and trust in your way for you know what is best. Help me to live like Jesus and follow your path. Help me to be willing to be bound and pierced for You. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Joey Roberts
Stephenville, Texas

Can't Outlive a Good Story

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)


For most of us, our earliest childhood memories involved stories. In the context of stories we got our first exposure to biblical concepts like forgiveness, love, truth, God’s sovereignty, peace and calling to mention just a few. Verses were put into our minds. Texts came first and then their meanings. Our experience is sort of like a calculator in the hands of a five year old child. He knows how to turn the thing on, but he hasn’t figured out what all the buttons can do. It’s just a cool piece of technology. By the time he is a teenager he has figured out the buttons and can do sophisticated math problems.

I think about biblical stories in a similar fashion. This week our writers have reminded us of some great stories. Chances are you were familiar with the story line in each one. Every time I hear a story my mind drifts back to my first hearing of the story. I’m not exactly sure why I do that – it just happens. But more to the point, each “hearing” reminds me of the calculator example. The buttons in the story have come to mean so much more to me now than when I first heard them. Stories read differently now. They have taken on a larger dimension. They aren’t read simply to “remember the story line”. Colored pictures and flannel graph boards (remember those days?) have given way to more sophisticated reflection and imagery. The teaching imbedded in the story has overtime and through experiences of one kind or another sewn itself into my life. Some are read with a more serious attitude. Others still blow strong winds of joy and triumph through my heart. I don't think I understand every aspect of some stories, but I know I have a greater respect for the magnitude of what happened in a particular person’s life. I suppose a good way to describe it would be simply that the storylines have become “more human and real”. Perhaps that’s because I have become more aware of my own finitude, weakness, and need for God and His word. Stories are no longer “kids stuff”.

I think that’s why God gave us so many of them. We are children only for a season. As spring follows winter, we grow up and life is there to meet us. “Ready or not…here I come!” I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve fallen headlong into a story of some kind. On occasion they have served as a warm blanket that warmed my spirit or a stick across my spiritual backside or a strong hand that pulled me up and said “keep walking…straight ahead!” One thing is for certain: My life wouldn’t be what it is today without biblical stories.

Perhaps that’s what Paul meant when he wrote these words:
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Perseverence. Encouragement. Hope. Thy represent "big buttons" on our spiritual calculator. We do well to spell them as children. Learning what they mean is where the real blessing begins. And, I think stories – reading them, thinking about them, praying over them – are just the kind of travel companions we need as we experience life’s tests. Paul says God gave them to us for our instruction. It is up to us to find them, love them and live in the blessing that they provide.

Father, thank you for giving us stories that show us what it means to walk with you in all kinds of situations. Help us to lay our lives beside the stories of those who have gone before us so that we can know better how to journey with You. Your word is truly a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

JOSEPH: A CHOSEN BROTHER?

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)

If we all think back to the story of Joseph, we can probably remember the Sunday school teacher that caused the story to be so real in our minds. I can still remember the pictures that were framed in my head by a lady named Frankie Dee Pearce. Frankie brought the story of Joseph to life for me when I was about 6 years old. She helped me envision his coat of many colors that he and his father were so proud of and, the hatred that his brothers had for him. I remember how she described the tragedies that befell Joseph and, his brothers lying to Jacob about how the wild animal killed his favorite son.

I guess that is actually what could have happened had it not been for brother Rueben pleading with the brothers for Joseph's life. You know Rueben intended to rescue Joseph out of the cistern and return Joseph back to his father, but he was not able to find the courage to convince his brothers that what they were wanting to do with Joseph was wrong. As I grow older I wonder if I were in Rueben's shoes, what would I be willing to do? Would I be willing to take a stand against something if it wronged a Christian or blood brother?

We know Joseph was sold for 20 shekels (approx. 8 oz.) of silver to a band of Ismaelites that took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar the Captain of the Guard as a slave. Things looked pretty bleak for Joseph, but God was with him and was blessing him! Potiphar put Joseph in charge of all he had, both in his house and in his fields.

Genesis 39:6 says that Joseph was both well-built and handsome. Potiphar’s wife set her eye on him and pursued him on more than one occasion. Since he would not sin against God or Potiphar, a bruised ego gave way to anger and lies and Joseph soon found himself in prison!

When we heard this story as kids, it was difficult for us to believe Mrs. Pearce when she told us that God continued to bless Joseph even while he was in prison. But that’s exactly what happened. Joseph interpreted the dreams of the baker and cup bearer which eventually open the prison doors to freedom. Shortly thereafter, Joseph was summoned by Pharoah to interpret his dreams. God blessed Joseph through a strange series of events resulting in him being promoted to second in command under Pharoah. During the seven prosperous and seven poor years which Joseph interpreted from Pharoah’s dream, he was in charge of Pharoah’s palace. I still remember Mrs. Pearce telling us that the “seven years of famine” were also part of God’s plan for Joseph and his family so that could all be in Egypt together and advance God's purposes.

I still remember Mrs. Pearce telling all of her students that we should be like Joseph. Even though he was disowned by his brothers, sold to strangers, and thrown into prison because of lies Joseph continued to believe and trust in God and what God had in store for his family. She stressed to us that no matter what hard times Joseph had to endure, he always believed God was with him and God would help him through every tough situation. Isn't that what we need to believe today?

May we continue to pray that we all strive to allow God to control opportunities and challenges in our lives for his glory just as Joseph was always willing to do.

Father, thank you for your love, grace, and mercy for your children. May we strive to be more like Joseph and allow you to work in all situations in our lives. We pray for situations that will produce patience, peace, and faithfulness in us for your kingdom.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Rusty Rose
Stephenville, Texas

For a Drink of Water

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)

I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said, “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.” Lincoln certainly exemplified that truth. So did David.

I was listening in on a conversation about leadership a few days ago. Lots of book titles were shared back and forth. The conversation dissected techniques and strategies for leading and empowering people to become more capable and productive in different aspects of their lives. As I listened to the wisdom each person shared, my mind kept jumping in and out of David’s life story. People – even those who do leadership seminars! – often quip: Leadership is difficult to define, but you know it when you see it.” I think that’s what draws us to David.

Perhaps the greatest leadership time in his life came during the hardest time in his life. For some time David had been at King Saul’s table enjoying Saul’s friendship and favor. Then one day Saul turned on the patio radio and discovered that the number one song in the country had this unnerving chorus: ““Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!” Envy ran its course and David lost a beloved mentor’s love. And so begins “Part I” of David’s painful moments. But, like I said, it’s in these dark moments that David the leader shines like a super nova.

He flees into the wilderness and settles in the caves of Adullam. No more than a fugitive to the naked eye but still living under God’s anointing, he hides from Saul’s relentless anger. But before David left the palace and the city he loved so much, he established himself as a warrior and leader within Saul’s army. No doubt haunted by the details of his departure, it is not long before David the leader begins to realize what God is doing in his life. People began to leave Jerusalem and its environs and head off in the wilderness searching for David. And it wasn’t the “down and out” folk. Captains of thousands threw their pensions in the dirt and embraced the “unknown” with David. John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. “ That was David to a tee. What kind of leader was David? A page from David’s wilderness years speaks volumes. Sitting in the afternoon heat and remembering with fondness good times in Bethlehem…

”And David said longingly, 'Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!' Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD.”(2 Samuel 23:15-16)

I get goose pimples each time I read that story. What kind of leadership do you possess when you can simply sigh on a hot day about enjoying a drink of water from a special place and have it overheard by three friends who say to one another, “Let’s go get it for him”? When they got to Bethlehem they didn’t do the “drive-thru”! They fought their way in AND out of the city. At risk of life and limb they brought David some…water. Staggering!

From time to time I need to trace the outlines of that story in my mind. I need to see the look in the eyes of “the three”. I need to see David’s leadership mirrored in their hearts. Why? Because it cuts through all the rhetoric and theories about leadership and lays a single solitary truth in front of us: Leadership is about being a certain kind of person with consistency. People saw that in David and it commanded their respect. I can’t help but wonder what it might do to our families, marriages and congregations if we could buy into it as an ethic. No more looking to the left or right to see what the other person is doing or isn’t doing. Just getting out of bed and…DOING!

Come to think of it, that’s what Jesus did the heaviest night of his life. He got up after supper, took the towel and basin of water that everybody saw but ignored and started washing feet fifteen hours before he would hang on the cross. That’s leadership. John Quincy Adams was right. Actions inspire! Giving ourselves over to “selfless being” might not compel people to break into garrisons and bring us water but it will no doubt empower other things. And, I think the possibilities are exciting indeed. How about you?

O Father, teach us that the last truly are first in your order of things. Help us to throw aside our worries and fears driven by what people think or don't think about us. Remove the seeds of self-centeredness that often spring up in our hearts and choke out the impulses from your Spirit that can move us toward courageous acts of leadership. May we be like your Son who has shown us the way by laying down his life that we might have life. Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

Elijah: A Good Read

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)


It seems like I spent pretty much of the month of January in the house. I had the flu for a couple of weeks (I will be getting a flu shot next year!) My husband had an accident, so I stayed in with him for several days (Thankfully, Mike is fine now.) Then we had that cold, icy weather. All of this is to say that I caught up at home on some things I’ve been meaning to do including a bit of reading. I read a couple of books that had been recommended, and I guess they were OK. However, (and this is something all you readers already know) there is no better read than The Book. I really enjoy the stories in the Old Testament.

For me, it’s hard to pick my favorite Old Testament story or character. They are all so human. In fact, don't you sometimes think that you would have made better decisions than the Israelites did? How hard could it be to show obedience when God spoke to them so clearly and gave them so many signs & miracles and second chances?

The Old Testament is filled with accounts of men who seem larger than. When I read the stories about the prophet Elijah, it is difficult for me to think of him as just a man. The Jews and the first Christians must have felt the same way. James 5:16-17 says:
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Elijah’s life encourages me in at least two respects. First, I admire the courageousness of his faith. We first meet Elijah in 1 Kings 17. In a word, the nation of Israel is a mess. The wicked King Ahab is on the throne. His queen, Jezebel, is no better. In fact she contributes to Ahab’s rebelliousness. “Ahab did more evil than all who were before him.” Elijah goes to Ahab and says, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next years except at my word” (I Kings 17:1). To stand before a king and declare God’s power and supremacy above the false Baal gods was a great act of faith. Elijah said, “You will see it rain again when God – through me! – says it’s time to rain!” Wow!

I want to be courageous like Elijah. In many ways, the times we live in today aren’t that different from the days of Elijah. This brings to mind the words of the “Days of Elijah”.
These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
' Prepare ye the way of the Lord!'

In the days of Elijah, many no longer believed in Jehovah. They were days of darkness and great trial. Today, these are the days when we, as Christians need to have the boldness of Elijah to declare the word of the Lord.

Secondly, I am encouraged by how Elijah trusted God to take care of him. When a great famine settled across the land, God told Elijah to hide himself at the Kerith Ravine. There are no restaurants in the area! But, God kept the brook flowing with water and, he sent ravens with bread and meat every morning and evening (1 Kings 17:4-6). The bible says, “So he did what the Lord had told him.” This statement characterized Elijah’s life. Because he made a conscious decision to do what the Lord had told him, he was totally dependent upon God during this time of hiding. And he was completely alone with God. He was learning to trust the Lord for each day as it came, and to walk by faith.

Later, when the brook dries up, God sends Elijah to a widow’s house in Zarephath. It is there that Elijah is again cared for through the gracious hospitality of this special woman who God blesses with ample food for a period of time. His life is in a state of flux, but he meets each challenge with an unwavering trust in God.

Most everyone knows what it feels like to be in a state of “flux”. When the brook dried up, Elijah probably thought, “Now what?” I suspect similar thoughts go through our minds today. When the job we have put so much into dries up. When the good health and strength we have always enjoyed trickles away. When a loved one we have always counted on is suddenly gone.

For these reasons and others, I find the whole story of Elijah fascinating. And I believe every word of it. It is full of important details and modern day applications. My mind goes back to the scripture in James 5. I think James is exhorting us to be “Elijah-like”. He was a person with emotions, needs, and questions just like us. James encourages us to live in courageously in trust. God still looks for such in his people today. Our world needs to see “Elijah-like” people.

Thank you, Lord, for providing this story for us. It is so much more than a history lesson. It stirs our hearts and strengthens our faith in those moments when we stand in circumstances that need a word from you “through us”. And, thank you for Jesus who is the same today, yesterday, yes and forever. Amen.

Lynn Anne Hughes
Stephenville, Texas

Writing in the Margins

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)

Two of my favorite Bible stories are found in the gospels--the story of the man with the demon, called Legion, and the story of the woman who suffered from bleeding. I like the way that Luke tells these stories.

Jesus heads out to the Gerasenes via boat. As soon as he hits shore, a demon-possessed man who lives in the tombs gives him a warm welcome. “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God?” Jesus commands the unclean spirit out of him and right into a herd of pigs, who flee off a cliff and into the lake. The cleansed man begs Jesus to go with him, but Jesus commands him to go into the town and proclaim all that God has done for him.

Jumping forward in chapter eight, Jesus is on his way to help someone else, in the midst of an oppressive crowd. As he moves, he feels power leave him because someone who so desperately believes he can heal her has touched his robes. The disciples doubt him when he says this is so, but the truth comes out when the woman who has suffered from bleeding for twelve years comes forward.

My affection for these stories is not solely motivated by the stories themselves; I like where and how they are positioned in the gospel story. Luke includes the testimony of the prophetess, Anna, in chapter two. He tells of the cleansing of a leper, the healing of a crippled man, the calling of a tax collector, and Jesus dining with sinners in chapter five. In chapter six, he blesses the poor, hungry, and those who weep, then calls down woes on the self-satisfied--a little different from Matthew’s beatitudes. Chapter seven includes the story of a widow’s son who is raised to life, praise of John the Baptist, then moves into chapter eight with stories of women who do Christ’s work. Chapter eight ends with the story of thousands of demons driven out of a lunatic and the healing of an unclean woman.

More than anything else, this gospel emphasizes the fact that Jesus is very intentional with the marginalized. In a culture where women could not do much, Jesus invites them to serve Him and do His work. In a culture where tax collectors are looked down upon as cheating scum, Jesus invites them not only dine with him, but to be his disciples. He heals those who are banished from the city--a leper and a crazed, demon-possessed man. Pharisees and teachers of the law look at John the Baptist and deem him crazy, but not Jesus. Jesus praises John, despite his lack of luxurious clothes and living conditions. “But the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).

There are many “leasts of these” who we encounter daily. If I bumped into a demon-possessed man or a woman who was unclean going on thirteen years, I would probably head for the hills. The succession of stories in Luke--with the story of these two standing out most vividly for me--commands us repeatedly to hang tight when we bump into these people. Jesus cares about them.

When he is on his way to heal Jairus’s daughter he stops to heal a woman who people had probably been overlooking for years. Jairus is a leader of the synagogue. Jesus should take care of him first, right? Wrong. Jesus constantly goes out of His way to heal, spend time with, teach, and love those who the rest of society shoves to the margins.

These words ring out in my mind: “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God?” I think the man associates Jesus with the town leaders, teachers of the law, and “clean” people who are above his affliction. Jesus is the “Son of the Most High God.” Too good for a demon-possessed man. Well, we all have our own metaphorical “demons.” And just because some of us can hide them better with expensive clothes, shiny accomplishments, or “holy” works, it doesn’t mean that Jesus will show us more favor or that God’s people should show care to us first and in a more intentional way.

Right after Luke tells these stories, he records Jesus’ commission of the twelve: “He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases. Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2). That’s very specific, and this is what I read in between those lines: “Go out and find the people who are shoved to the margins. Write compassion, tenderness, and grace all over their hearts in My name.” I see modern versions of that demon-possessed man and woman with the hemorrhage everyday. It makes me want to pick up my pen and venture out into the margins.

God of the afflicted,
I praise You for the way that You show care to all people. Thank you for Jesus and the life that He lived--a life in which He was constantly seeking out those whom the world rejected. Help us to remember that we should love the way that He loved and expect nothing in return, because that is what You have called us to. We praise You for teaching us through the life of Your Son.
In His name, Amen.

Erin Daugherty
Abilene Christian University

Two Unwelcome Guests

Series: More Than Kid's Stuff (Favorite Bible Stories)


Our family normally celebrates Thanksgiving in Amarillo. We have a Thanksgiving like many families—with a meal jointly prepared by the several families participating. There is turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli rice casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, dressing, and hot rolls. There are desserts, including pies and cakes and candy. It is a feast. IMAGINE IF THAT FAMILY THANKSGIVING FEAST WAS INTERRUPTED BY A HOMELESS MAN ENTERING THE HOUSE UNINVITED AND JOINING IN OUR FEAST. HE JUST WALKS IN AND MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME. HOW WOULD YOUR FAMILY REACT TO THAT INTRUSION?

One of my favorite stories during Jesus’ ministry is in Luke 7:36-50. Jesus received an invitation to dinner at the home of a Pharisee named Simon. When Jesus arrived, he did not receive any of the courtesies normally extended to invited guests. NO FOOT-WASHING, NO KISS OF GREETING, NO ANOINTING WITH PERFUME. As they were eating, the unimaginable happens. A sinful woman (probably a prostitute) enters uninvited and goes to the feet of Jesus. She weeps on his feet and dries them with her hair, she kisses his feet, and then, she anoints his feet with expensive perfume. Simon is appalled. His guests must have shared Simon’s disgust. He is thinking to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know the kind of woman who is touching him.”

At this point, Jesus tells Simon and his guests a short parable. It is about two who owe amounts of money, but are forgiven. He asks Simon which person will love more. Both have been forgiven. When Simon answers, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled”, Jesus relates his parable to this sinful woman and Simon. She has demonstrated her love for Jesus by her loving actions. Simon has demonstrated his lack of love for Jesus and for the woman by his actions. This great story ends with Jesus pronouncing this woman’s sins ‘forgiven’.

What a great picture this story by Luke gives us of Jesus!! As He demonstrated so many times, He is the ‘FRIEND OF SINNERS.’ Are we? Would we be embarrassed, even appalled, to have someone like this woman approach us in the presence of people we know? How would we treat her? Would we be more concerned about how we look in the eyes of our friends than we would be about her welfare? Jesus has patterned for us attitudes and actions as we live daily in this world. Are we more LIKE JESUS or SIMON in our attitudes and actions?

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for how He loved and how He showed that love. Help me to be like Him as I interact with people daily. Amen.

Terry Brown
Abilene, Texas