through the leash, essentially liberating the dog, he proclaimed, “I, too, serve the great Master. Yet I am unattached and share in his bounty on my own accord, not because I am bound to some tree stump.”
The dog, unable to control his animal urges, had put his nose to the ground and was unable to lift it back up. Instead of following the will of his Master, it turned out that he was bound to the will of his nose. The cat stood by as the dog wandered off, never to be seen again.
Elisha and the Bears
It was a strange time in the land of Israel. The prophet Elijah had just been scooped up by a fiery band of horses and taken to heaven. There was a general sense of uneasiness amidst everyone’s daily routine.
One day, Elisha, the best friend of Elijah, was traveling along a path when he was approached by an angry mob of boys. Now, these were not just any old boys out making trouble. No, these were raving teenagers that came from houses where their families worshipped idols. They never listened to their parents and they ganged up together like hoodlums and rebels.
When they came upon Elisha, they knew that he was probably still recovering from the sudden departure of his friend Elijah, so they aimed right for his soft spot:
Hey there baldy!
We saw your buddy in the sky!
Make like your old friend, baldy!
GO ON UP AND DIE!
The boys weren’t just jeering Elisha. They were threatening his very life and they wanted to kill him. They gathered around him and called him many hurtful names. As they circled and taunted, they gradually moved in closer and closer until Elisha dropped to his knees. He did the only thing he could do: he prayed to God that he would somehow be kept safe.
The angry mob was just about to pounce when a loud “ROAR!” was heard from the woods nearby. The boys all turned their heads to look, and sure enough, two black bears came charging out after them.
Elisha stood up us as the pack of rebels ran for their lives, the bears in hot pursuit. He knew that he did the right thing by not fighting all those boys and when he put his trust whole trust in God alone, God kept him safe.
The Hymn Book: A Blumhardt Tale
Young Bobby was tired of church. Day in and day out, Pastor Blumhardt would go on and on about Jesus and his kingdom. Then everybody would sing songs and then Pastor Blumhardt would talk some more.
Now, it wasn’t that the boy didn’t like the good Pastor. In fact, he loved him like a father. His whole family had moved to Bad Boll, a spiritual retreat center, because they trusted Jesus and felt secure in Blumhardt’s vision of God’s kingdom.
But young Bobby was easily bored and as young boys often do, he craved all the attention he could get. However, Pastor Blumhardt did not tolerate it when anyone thought of himself before the common good of all.
So, even though he knew he would receive a good row, he decided to test the good Pastor. He needed to know how much he really cared.
Late one evening, long after everyone in the house had gone to bed, young Bobby snuck out into the common meeting room and grabbed one of the worship hymn books, took it out to the hen house and threw in down in the hay. He also took some of Pastor Blumhardt’s papers and soaked them in the wash basin. And for good measure, he let the rooster loose in the meeting hall.
When the cock crowed, the women of the house were immediately worked up into a wild frenzy. Bobby hid in one of the closets peering through a peephole, doing everything he could to keep from laughing out loud.
One of the women found Pastor Blumhardt in his study and squealed, “Pastor! The boy has done it again! This time he put a hymnal in the hen house and now it’s filthy!”
Pastor couldn’t help but chuckle. Of course he did not approve of rebellion, but he saw right into the heart of the young boy, as well as the frustrated woman.
“Dear lady, let it go, already! You’ll give yourself a stroke trying to hold on to the many things of this world. Besides that, deep down, the absurdity of it tickles you pink! Let yourself smile, for once! Please, take a breath and go put the book back in the hen house.”
The woman did as she was instructed and shortly afterward, the entire household gathered together for a joyful communal breakfast. Bobby, expecting the worst, was completely disarmed when he sat down and not a word was spoken of his foolish pranks. From then on, he found better ways to get the Pastor’s attention.
Let the Little Children Come
Maybe you’ve heard the ancient Bible stories about how God spoke to his people in the past. Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to people today? Did you ever think that maybe God has spoken to you?
Well, a long time ago there was a boy named Samuel. Samuel lived in a time where God did not speak much, and even when he did, the people didn’t listen very often.
One night, as Samuel lay in bed, he thought he heard something. He thought he heard someone calling his name:
Samuel . . . Samuel . . .
The boy Samuel had no doubts about what he heard. So he got out of bed and went to his elder Eli and said, “Yes, Eli? You called me?”
Eli looked up at the boy. “No, Samuel. It is quite late and you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Go back to bed.”
Samuel obeyed and did as he was told. He lied back down but not even a minute later he heard his name being called again:
Samuel . . . Samuel . . .
The boy Samuel thought for sure Eli was calling for him. So again he got out of bed and went to his elder. “What is it, Eli? Why did you call my name again?”
Eli wrinkled his forehead and tugged at his beard. “Hmmm . . . Samuel, my boy, I already told you that I haven’t called your name. Now if you get out of bed again, there is going to be discipline! No more guff!”
Samuel lowered his head, a bit confused. He turned around and did just as Eli told him and went back to bed.
He lay back down and not a single minute passed before he was called yet again:
Samuel . . . Samuel . . .
Samuel did not want to get in trouble, but he sensed in the voice that he had no choice but to listen. Sheepishly, he inched his way toward Eli. Keeping his head low and his eyes directed to the ground, he whispered, “Eli . . .”
He did not even need to say another word. Eli knew that this behavior was so unlike Samuel that something bigger was happening here. He knew at that moment that God himself was speaking into the heart of the young boy.
“Samuel, my dear child, I have not spoken your name at all. Our Father in heaven wishes you to speak with him. Go back to bed and if you hear the voice calling out to you again, simply answer, “Yes, my Lord. What is it you want of me?”
The boy Samuel was nearly shaking in reverence and fear. It was not that he was scared, but he sensed that something great—something new—was breaking into his life. He did exactly as Eli told him.
He lied back down in bed and sure enough, immediately the voice called out again:
Samuel . . .
Samuel was ready and he answered back right away, “Yes, my Lord. What is it you want of me?”
At that moment, God broke into the heart of the young boy Samuel and because he offered himself up, God was able to do many mighty things