Bible Stories For Big Kids - Blog

HOW BIG ARE YOUR SHOES?

8/22/2021

How big are your shoes?

I am not referring to the actual shoe size but instead, your capacity to stand in someone else's shoes.

Recently, I have been taking notice of people's interaction with me and have been unpleasantly surprised at how few people are actually interested in me. Now that sounds totally narcissistic so let me explain. I can think of three recent instances where I have asked a person a question - eg 'how are you enjoying the Whitsundays?' and instead of an answer which can be discussed, they have proceeded to tell me about people and places which are not at all relevant to me. They have physically been here in the Whitsundays but their mind/attention is still in their own world - their comfort zone. And that set me thinking!

When Jesus visited his good friends Mary and Martha, Mary remained with Jesus to chat and learn, while Martha became hot under the collar, preparing a meal all by herself. There was no microwave nor instant oven or stove top, so it would have been a time consuming task to prepare a tasty meal, and Martha was well known for her hospitality. Martha was doing her best for Jesus, or so she thought, but he rebuked her for this. Wasn't that just a bit unfair? Martha was sincere in wanting to serve Jesus a proper meal, but in this instance, she was sincerely wrong. Why?

Let's stand in Jesus' 'shoes'.

Mary and Martha probably didn't know at this stage that Jesus would only be on this earth for 3 years, so didn't realise the urgency in spending as much time with him as they could. Jesus was reaching out to them and although we do not have a record of the conversation, I am sure it wasn't about the weather! I would assume Jesus wanted to teach them as much as possible about his role as the Messiah and what that would mean for them as his followers yet Martha could not see past her own thoughts and ideas to appreciate why Jesus came to visit. Martha could not 'walk in Jesus' shoes' as the saying goes. Instead, she was caught up in her world and her own capable role and was probably not in the habit of seeing things from another person's point of view.

I have always been aware of asking people about themselves, but since thinking more about this issue, I am even more aware of 'standing in their shoes'. It is interesting what worthwhile conversations can be had when we stop and listen to what the other person is actually saying. Listening to what Jesus has to say can be another experience again!

STRANGE THINGS DO HAPPEN

7/4/2021

Why did Jesus allow John the Baptist to die in prison? I can't answer that question.

Jesus and John were cousins; they would have played together as children; John was the last prophet, preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus; John baptised Jesus, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, yet Jesus made no attempt to save John from being imprisoned, let alone save him from being executed. Why? I find that hard to fathom, especially when Jesus healed so many people, fed thousands, even raised people from the dead. Why not save John the Baptist?

John was a rather rough character - the new Elijah as foretold by the prophets much earlier - and his role was to prepare the people for the long awaited Messiah, Jesus. Despite his forthright nature - he called the Pharisees and Sadducees 'you brood of vipers' and condemned Herod for his illicit marriage, landing him in prison, - he was very humble, publicly stating that he, John was not worthy to untie Jesus' sandals, let alone baptise him.

While John was in prison, he started to question what was really going on with Jesus and while some commentators suggest John was starting to doubt if Jesus really was the Messiah, I wonder if John was questioning why Jesus did nothing to save him let alone visit him in prison ( we don't have a record of that happening). John managed to send a message to Jesus' disciples asking if Jesus really was the Messiah, and Jesus' reply was to reassure John that Jesus was fulfilling all the prophecies of the promised Messiah - not even a direct 'yes'.

The next thing we know is that Herod's wife conspired to have John's head on a platter, and as Herod had made a promise he could not cancel, John was duly executed. Why did Jesus save so many people yet not save John the Baptist?

That really puzzles me. I realise most of Jesus' disciples became martyrs for their faith, but John was not martyred. All I can deduce from this is that despite so many promises of God's care and protection, unjustified bad things will still happen, and we must concentrate on our ultimate goal of heaven - being with Jesus.

Strange things do happen!

TIMELESS

6/27/2021

'What is the world coming to?' - a common expression in the more mature age group as yet another disastrous headline grabs media attention. But IS our world any worse than in days gone by?

I recently watched a documentary on the private life of King Henry 8th and what a gruesome moment in history that was. How many world leaders past and present, have started out with such promise, only to become tyrants, unfriendly dictators or weak and useless. One perception of God of the Old Testament is a God who is judgmental, vengeful and ready to punish, whereas Jesus in the New Testament is perceived as a loving God. How can this be when Hebrews 13:8 states that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever"?

If there was anyone who seemed most unlikely to be a patriarch of what would become the Israelites/Hebrews/ Jews, it was Jacob. He was a cheat and a liar and destined to become a loser, yet years later he was feted by the Pharaoh of Egypt. How did this come about?

While Jacob was at his lowest, having had to flee his home and country as a result of his cheating and lying, God met with him and reassured Jacob that he, God was with him now and always, and would bring him safely back to Canaan. Jacob was a changed man after that encounter, and through the ups and downs of 20 years living and working at his Uncle Laban's property, Jacob knew that God was his friend and he could now say with certainty that God was his God - 'a loving God, slow to become angry and abounding in steadfast love.'

As we observe the changes in people and society, some good and some not so good, we can always rely on the promise that our God has not become out of date nor out of touch.

He is the same 'yesterday, today and forever.'

VICTIM OR VICTOR?

5/18/2021

I wonder if Isaac were alive today, whether he would be making public, the trauma of his childhood and how it had affected his mental health. I think Price Harry has nothing on what Isaac endured.

Isaac's father Abraham, took Isaac ( an only child) and some friends on a long walk as God wanted Abraham to offer a sacrifice in a certain place. Unfortunately, there was no animal to sacrifice but that didn't deter Abraham. "When we return" was his comment to his friends as he and Isaac set off to the place of sacrifice. God had told Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, and although Abraham obeyed God, Abraham knew that (a) Isaac was to be the recipient of God's promise of a great nation so therefore could not die prematurely, but (b) if Abraham did in fact sacrifice Isaac - child sacrifice was abhorrent to God - Isaac must come alive again.

Back to Isaac. Imagine a young boy lying on a pile of rocks ( altar) with his father holding a knife above him, ready to kill him. Just at the last moment, a lamb could be heard, caught in a bush, so Isaac was freed and the lamb was used as the sacrifice. Abraham's faith in God is another story!!!!!! but how traumatised was Isaac? We are not told but just imagine if Isaac were alive today to tell his story! Isaac could either be the victim of an horrendous situation ( it must have been frightening), or use the ordeal to demonstrate how strong Abraham's faith was in God and how God could be trusted.

I don't know how Isaac reacted to this episode in his childhood, but I am disappointed in his lack of trust in God as he matured. He and Rebekah had been married for 20 years before they had any children and when they did, God had made it quite clear that Jacob, the younger twin, would be the recipient of God's special blessing, yet Isaac did not appear to take this seriously. Isaac favoured Esau, the eldest son, while Rebekah favoured Jacob, and what a mixed up family situation that ended up to be. Complicated is an understatement, yet through the entire story, God was in control, fulfilling his promises.

"Life wasn't meant to be easy" is a quote from a previous Australian Prime Minister, but taken in the context of our story today, it is true. However, God has promised us that "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God......"
( Romans 8:28) so if our trust is in God, then we are not the victims of difficult situations, but the victors, even when life does not turn out the way we would have preferred.

The choice is ours - victim or victor!

HOW'S THIS FOR FAITH!

3/14/2021

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1)

Around 4000 years ago, God gave Abraham four very important promises.

God said he would bless Abraham and he sure did. Abraham became a very wealthy and influential person, wealth not only in flocks and herds but in silver and gold as well.

God said he would give Abraham his own land, the land of Canaan, and this God did. Abraham travelled from Ur to eventually settle in Canaan where his family remained till the famine in the time of Joseph in Egypt.

Now here it gets a bit tricky. God promised Abraham he would be the father of a great nation, yet Sarah was now too old to have children. How would God solve this problem? Well, no problem. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy whom they named Isaac. With one child, Abraham would now have to depend on God to fulfill that promise, because, although Abraham had more children, God told him that through Isaac, God would continue the promise. Abraham would not see the great nation - the Hebrews, the Israelites, then the Jews.

The final promise was that through Abraham, God would bless everyone. This seemed even more difficult to pull off, but 'with God nothing is impossible' as back in the beginning of time, God set in motion a plan of redemption, and Abraham became a vital part of that plan. It took 2000 years for God to keep that promise, and like the plagues of Egypt there were two very different parts to this plan - what you saw and what God was doing.

Jesus was the promised Messiah and being perfect - God's son - he showed up the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who were very anxious to be rid of him. This they thought they did on Good Friday when they nailed him to a cross and watched him die, but what they did not realise was that God allowed them to do this as this was the climax of God's plan of redemption, a plan set in motion thousands of years before and promised to Abraham.

When Jesus died, God punished Jesus for all the wrongs of people like you and me, instead of punishing us and cutting us off from God. Jesus opened the way for us to be reconciled with God, as the Bible so clearly explains in John 3:16. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life". God brought Jesus back to life to show that death and sin had been conquered once and for all. (Unfortunately it did not relieve this world of the God haters who still make life so very difficult for millions of Christians even today.)

Abraham never saw this promise brought to fruition yet by being obedient to God, he showed that he trusted God to fulfill yet another promise for the distant future. He was listed with the people in Hebrews 11 being commended for their faith in God to carry out his promises.

God still has many promises to fulfill and it is easy for us to wonder 'what the world is coming to'. Do we despair and give up, or like Abraham, trust God to keep those promises, many of which we may not see in our lifetime.

Jesus will return completing God's plan of redemption - we can trust him by faith.

WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

2/18/2021

There is a lot involved in writing and publishing a book and in my case, much help was needed, especially in the editing department.

The wonderful lady who put my book together started with a completed manuscript which she wisely suggested having one copy published and checked for final editing. Just as well. We had God playing golf in one story, but the punctuation errors were so obvious which meant re-editing the whole book, page by page. There were lots of corrections to be done, and where I saw 'Bible Stories For Big Kids' as a story of God's love and care for his people, this lady saw all the battles, blood and guts. She wasn't terrible impressed! I agree, a lot of the stories involve fighting but the battles show how God looked after his people or how he abandoned them to their own devices when they turned away from him. I guess it depends on your perspective.

It is easy, when listening to the news, to wonder where the world is heading and despair at the behaviour of dictators to footballers, but that does not mean that God doesn't know what is going on. History has some pretty gruesome stories to tell and I am so glad I am not living in the medieval days before hot showers and flushing toilets! Political intrigue such as the story of Esther, is still alive and well today, causing tensions in many parts of the world.

However, one aspect of life today I have found so positive and absolutely intriguing. I am not a 'greenie' as such but I am fascinated by the small groups of conservationists working around the globe, doing their part to preserve flora and fauna. One group in outback Australia was on the news recently, so excited about achieving their goal of breeding these small fish which they thought were extinct. After 13 years, the conservationists were so excited to be putting these fish back in the natural water where they form an important part of that area's eco system.

Similar good news stories have been part of Simon Reeve's BBC documentaries as well as stories from other travellers to remote areas. These people really are making a difference each in their own small way and often in very trying circumstances.

So what does all this have to do with writing a book?

Many people see the Old Testament as depicting a judgmental God, bent on revenge and punishment, whereas I love the Old Testament for its continual theme of a God who loves forgives and cares for his people.

It depends on your perspective I guess.

WHO'S TELLING THE TRUTH?

12/1/2020

I am always fascinated to read about who is being upset by whom in the world of intolerance and supposed diversity. This time it is some staff at Penguin book publishers, condemning management for publishing a book about which these employees do not agree. Talk about free speech - for these woke people, free speech appears to be free as long as the ideas agree with theirs. This example is only one of many which have been published over the past year.

Balancing new ideas with established ideas can be a minefield, but instant dismissal of a different point of view is certainly not a good idea. I was brought up in a very conservative household, and was quite shocked to learn there were other ways a Christian can live, while still maintaining Christian values. This started me questioning my own little world resulting in me being thrown out of a Christian home for my new thoughts and values. Imagine what the great inventors, thinkers and those wanting social change for the genuinely disadvantaged went through!

Reading Psalm 119:142ff was such a welcome change from all this woke culture. "Your law is the truth"; " You are near Lord and all your commandments are true";
"Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever" - (the joys of being in the more mature age group); "The sum of your word is true". The words true and truth are such a welcome change from reading between the lines of suspect journalism or political statements. When I was involved in small town politics, I would always sigh with relief when I read the Bible as I knew I did not have to look for hidden nasties compared to reading the political agenda for the next meeting.

Jesus said "I am the truth...." We can always trust him.

What's YOUR Problem?

11/2/2020

I have a problem.

I am tired of trying to stay positive with all the negativity, sad or bad news around me.

People I know have become seriously ill, politics is so nasty, people who should know better, display incompetence, corruption in whatever form seems to abound, and to top it off, I can't see my grandchildren because of closed borders. Someone telling me I can't travel to see family, really tugs at my sense of freedom. I am sure there are many more negatives if I choose to look for them, but that is enough for the time being.

I can count my blessings which far outweigh all that negativity but there are times when even that does not erase the negative thoughts. It is times like this that I keep coming back to the promise in the Old Testament "You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love". There are so many references to this throughout the Old Testament covering hundreds of years and that in itself is encouraging!

At the end of the story of Moses in 'Bible Stories For Big Kids', I included many of the messages from God, which Moses related to the people, and on reading these recently, what struck me was how positive God is in his promises so I shall include that chapter of the book below. Reading this must be the most positive read for the day! Enjoy!

“I have taught you all the laws as the Lord my God told me to do. Obey them in the land you are about to occupy. Obey them faithfully and this will show the people of other nations how wise you are. When you hear of all these laws, they will say ‘What wisdom and understanding this great nation has.’”

“No other nation, no matter how great, has a God who is so near when they need him as the Lord our God is to us. He answers us whenever we call for help. No other nation, no matter how great, has laws so just as those that I have taught you today. Be on your guard! Make certain that you do not forget, as long as you live, what you have seen with your own eyes. Tell your children and your grandchildren about the day you stood in the presence of the Lord your God at Mt. Sinai.”

“You will look for the Lord your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him. When you are in trouble and all those things happen to you, then you will finally turn to the Lord and obey him. He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors.”

“The Lord has worked miracles to prove to you that he alone is God and that there is no other. He let you hear his voice from heaven so that he could instruct you.”

“So remember today and never forget: the Lord is God in heaven and on earth. There is no other God. Obey all his laws that I have given you today, and all will go well with you and your descendants. You will continue to live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to be yours forever.”

“Never forget the Lord your God or turn to other gods to worship and serve them. If you do, then I warn you today that you will certainly be destroyed. If you do not obey the Lord, then you will be destroyed just like those nations that he is going to destroy as you advance.”

“The Lord your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty and he is to be obeyed.”

FACING DISAPPOINTMENT

10/3/2020

Moses didn't want the job which God insisted on him doing, but in the end, Moses agreed to lead the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and bring them to the Promised Land of Canaan. No wonder God spoke face to face with Moses as he would have needed that assurance of God's help as he faced one disappointment after another.

Although the Israelites had seen the miracles which God had performed in decimating Egypt, still they failed to get the message that God was taking care of them along their journey. Each day God's cloud was in the sky and each night the pillar of fire was there, and yet they still grumbled when the Egyptians were coming after them, and when they wanted food, water and later, meat. I feel so sorry for Moses, having heard the people say that they would agree to God's 10 Commandments, then in a matter of weeks, here they were worshipping a golden calf. Where was the good news in all of this, for Moses?

Maybe when the people saw their destination, things would change for the better, but no, the people were afraid to enter Canaan and would not listen to Joshua and Caleb's version of God's ability to help them conquer the land. Imagine being so close but now having to wander in the desert for 40 years, and through no fault of your own.

It is usually people who do the right thing who are disadvantaged by those who don't, so what do we learn from Moses?

Moses grew up in privilege at Pharaoh's palace, then spent 40 years living rough as a shepherd, possibly being reminded each day that he was now of no use in helping his people in slavery, then at the age of 80, God gave him this mammoth task, a task which he did not want nor receive much thanks from the people he was helping.

But the book of Hebrews tells us that by faith Moses carried out God's instructions, as Moses knew that God had promised his people the land of Canaan - a promise first given to Abraham, but Moses also had a promise of eternity with God. Moses faced disappointment after disappointment while doing the job which God had given him, yet he remained faithful to God's calling.

God does not always call us to a life which may be our choice, but whatever the circumstances, he calls us to have faith in him. Whether that brings joy or disappointment, Jesus' words " I am with you always" will always be there. What more could we want?

LIFE IS LIKE AN ICEBERG

8/31/2020

Life is like an iceberg.

When we meet people, we only see what they want us to see, and much can be hidden from our 'view'. Unfortunately, many people present well and say they are 'okay' but underneath that smile, much can be going on. The statistics of mental health in whatever form, are starting to emerge with extended lock downs due to Covid 19 and while many people are coping well or seeking assistance, many others are like the iceberg - hiding much from friends and family.

I have had the privilege and joy of teaching my two grandchildren Bible stories via Zoom, and I used the iceberg to illustrate these stories - Old Testament stories ( of course). As young children, only so much of the story can be relevant to the age group, but I point out that as they become older, they should take a deeper look at these stories and start asking the 'why and how' questions. There is so much depth and theology to these stories and searching for answers from the bottom of the iceberg helps us understand so much more, the greatness and love of God.

One Bible verse I taught them was 'God created people to be like himself' - rephrasing 'in his image' but explaining this was once again difficult. As my daughter is a doctor, I asked her to simplify the meaning of DNA for the children, so I could now tell them that God gave us some of his DNA so we can be part of his family, in the same way they are part of their own family. This may not pass a theological test but it seemed the easiest way for them to understand why God loves us and cares about us so much.

We may only see what people want us to see about them but of course, true friends start to ask the harder questions when they suspect things may not be as they seem.

In the same way, we need to keep asking the harder questions about God and his character, delving into the bible stories so that our relationship with God is not superficial, but goes much deeper, just like that iceberg.

And just like that part of the iceberg which cannot be seen but which supports the visible part, so a deeper relationship with God helps or supports us in life's journey of ups and downs. Praise God for his faithfulness!