As I've mentioned before, I'm endeavoring to read through The Bible in 90Days. Once I got going, it has been easier to keep up with than I expected. (I hesitate to write that, fearing that will be the beginning of my downfall!) Having a more short-term goal is better for me, and reading multiple chapters a day makes it much easier to see the overall "big picture" - it's like reading a novel.I'm awed by how one can discover new things that pop out of a familiar passage. Some prick my heart with conviction, some make my eyebrows go up in surprise, and some just make me laugh at the detail provided. For example. . .
. . .I was surprised to realize that when Abraham sent his servant to get a wife for Isaac, when the servant met Rebekah and knew she was the one God had led him to, he gave her a nose ring! (Gen. 24:22, 47) I'm thinking there are some teens who do not need to hear that story!
. . .I did not remember that God specifically tells the Israelites they may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.(Lev. 11:21-22) Uh, I'll pass on that one!
But this one totally made me laugh out loud:
Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men."
One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.
Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:38-41)
My kids don't like every meal I cook, but at least no one has ever said, "O Mom, there is death in the pot!"
I think I would have remembered if I had heard that story in Sunday School! Now there's even a children's book you can download about it!
So tell me. . . do you remember ever reading - or hearing a sermon! - on Death in the Pot?!
BTW, Spurgeon did! And he shows that this passage actually has a great application for our lives! I wonder...next time I review a book that has faulty theology, should I title the review "Death in the Pot"?!
Picture courtesy of Christian Clipart.
Don't you just love the things you find for the first time or that you forgot about!!! That book is ALIVE AND ACTIVE!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is funny Linda. I will have to read it to my kids, when my kids don't like dinner some night. I can remind them that there is not death in that pot! :) Love how you are reading through the bible. You go girl!
ReplyDeletethanks for posting the link to this challenge...I think I will try it.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard that story before!
I am going right now to see what Spurgeon has to say about it!
Never heard it, but it sounds like a "just say no to drugs" slogan. There is death in pot. LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I wanted to tell you I received the kids books I won and my daughter LOVED them. She said they were awesome. So thank you SO SO Much!!!!! We are going to be buying more as they come out.
Sounds like you'd recommend the Bible in 90 days. Perhaps I should give it a go?!?!? How long does it take you each day to read that day's section?
I read the entire Old Testament straight through in a little over a month and had many moments like these you've described. I remember the death in the pot one, but I don't recall the locust thing surprising me. That might be because I grew up too close to a couple of weird survivalist cults.
ReplyDeleteWHY aren't you in my small group?? I just love your sense of humor. Geez!
ReplyDelete