Scripture Stories for Little Saints

31: The king who trusted a shepherd (1 Samuel 10-17)

1 Samuel 17:47 And that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand. (ESV) The word was out: Samuel had chosen their very first king. And so the people came from all over to find out who it was going to be. And there were no hotels large enough to accommodate a crowd that size, and so they brought their sleeping bags, tents, and pads. And when everyone had arrived, Samuel stood up on a platform to introduce the family of Jacob to their new leader. “Meet Saul,” he said, “your king.” “Saul? Who is Saul?” The people asked each other. “Does anyone know an important person named Saul?” They thought the king would be someone rich or powerful, smart or well-known. And so they were all surprised when a simple man from the family of Benjamin stepped out from behind a pile of sleeping bags and said, “Hi everyone, I’m Saul.” But their disbelief did not last long. Saul was tall and handsome, with large arms, broad shoulders, a square chin, and a round head that seemed built to wear a crown. Maybe Saul wasn’t famous or rich, but he was strong from years of hard work. Which made him look like a warrior, like someone who could really fight for them. And he did. Like Samuel predicted, Saul became a great warrior king who fought bravely and boldly for the people. And the people rallied behind him. They served him, followed him, and went to war for him. And while having the people support him like this was really helpful, it was also really complicated. Because it is no easy thing to ask a person to go to war. At first, Saul truly believed God would help them win all their battles. But Saul was wrong. Sometimes they lost, and a lot of people died. Sometimes they won, and still a lot of people died. Saul’s life had been so simple before. Before he became king, he only worried about his land and his animals. Now he had to worry about everyone’s land and everyone’s animals. Before he prayed for rain, now he prayed for life. Before, he only had to protect a few sheep. Now he was responsible for tens of thousands of people. As a warrior king, Saul had to slaughter livestock and burn cities. He saw friends die, armies fall, and battlefields covered in blood. So much death, so much suffering. And when the family of Jacob won, Saul thanked God. And when they lost, Saul wondered what they’d done wrong. Why hadn’t God helped them win? God wasn’t knocking down walls or sending plagues or parting seas anymore. Winning felt harder than it should. And so Saul became practical. Maybe God would help them, maybe he wouldn’t. And since they couldn’t count on God to save them, they had to take responsibility for winning their own wars. They had to make their own plans, fight their own battles, and be their own heroes. Saul trained his soldiers harder and harder. He developed supply lines and appointed commanders. Because he thought that if they fought well enough, smart enough, and strong enough, one day all the fighting and bleeding and dying would come to an end. And then, there would be peace. But that never seemed to happen. And right after one war ended, another began. And this new war was against a new army led by a new warrior. But this time, the warrior was even taller than Saul, a lot stronger, and better at fighting. His name was Goliath. And if that sounds like the name of a giant, that’s because it was. Goliath was ginormous, scary, and strong. And the family of Jacob was pretty tired of war and very afraid of fighting a giant. And so when Goliath made Saul an offer, Saul listened: Instead of the two armies clashing and thousands dying, the family of Jacob could simply send their strongest warrior to face Goliath. And the two of them would fight, and the winner would decide the entire battle, the entire war. One person would die instead of many. Saul was the tallest, strongest, and best fighter in his entire army. He would have to face the giant. But if he faced the giant, he would probably lose. And if he lost, it was the end of his army, his kingdom, everything. The family of Jacob would become slaves again to a foreign nation. “God,” said Saul, “I don’t know if you’re listening, but if you are, I could really use your help.” He waited for a moment, but nothing happened. No answer, no miracle. In truth, Saul hadn’t really expected much. He was used to taking care of himself. But this time was different. He didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, he didn’t think he could defeat a giant alone. On the other hand, he didn’t want a bunch of people to die in his place. On the other, other hand, he didn’t want his people to be slaves again. On the other, other, other hand, if he wasn’t brave enough to face a giant, what would everyone think? Saul was stuck. And so he did nothing. And the armies just sat looking at each other, waiting for Saul to make up his mind. Forty days passed by, and everyone just kept waiting and waiting and wondering what Saul would decide. But all that was about to change because a young shepherd boy named David was just arriving with some cheese. He was part of the supply chain. Not a captain, not a soldier, just a regular boy who was delivering some food. But when he saw Saul’s predicament, he had an idea. “I’ll fight Goliath,” he said. Now this sounded ridiculous because David was not tall or particularly strong. He didn’t look kingly or fearsome. His only experience fighting was warding off wild animals that occasionally attacked his sheep. Saul tried to explain, “This is a terrible idea. Chasing away wild animals is nothing like fighting a giant. Why do you think you even have a shot?” David shrugged and replied, “The God who rescued me from the paws of lions and the claws of bears will rescue me from the hand of this giant.” And what was most remarkable was the way David spoke. It was simple. Like he believed every word he said. And it reminded Saul of himself when he was younger and less experienced. Before all the war and death. Before the victories and the defeats. Before he’d given up always relyingied on another miracle. But here was a boy who believed so simply and purely that Saul was unable to say no. Hearing David made Saul want to believe again — believe in the boy and believe in the God that the boy believed in. The God who still performed miracles. The God who fought for the family of Jacob. The God who answers prayers. And so Saul did a remarkable thing. Even though David was young, and weak, and inexperienced, even though it was a very bad strategy to risk the freedom of every single person in the family of Jacob, Saul said, “Okay.” And he gave his own armor to David. “Fight for our people,” he said. “If you win, we will be free. And if you lose, we will all become slaves. But I believe in you. Somehow, I believe you will win. I don’t know why, when it seems so impossible, but I do. So go, take my armor, and fight.” But Saul’s armor was too big, and so David went to fight Goliath without any armor at all, carrying only a stick and his slingshot. Was it brave or remarkably stupid? The people weren’t sure. And they held their breath as they watched David approach the giant. There was something about the way he ran towards it, so confident and unafraid. He knew he would win. And for just a moment, Saul saw himself in the child. Young again, with a pocket full of faith. Off to find some lost donkeys. And Saul prayed for the boy., “God be with you, my son,” he said. And David hurled a single stone right at the giant. And somehow, the rock hit its mark, and Goliath fell to the ground dead. The battle was over before it had begun. David had won. And the family of Jacob breathed out a collective sigh of relief. The Promised Land rang with their cheers. The God who had defeated giants before had done it again, right in front of their eyes. And the family of Jacob cheered louder for David, the miracle worker. David, the giant slayer. David, their savior. And they cheered for Saul the King, who saw strength where others saw weakness, faith where others saw simplicity, and victory where others saw defeat. Louder and louder they cheered. They cheered for David, who never doubted. And they cheered for Saul, who doubted but still chose to believe. To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/], visit ForLittleSaints.com [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/] To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe. [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.faithmatters.org/subscribe [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

29: Ruth, who lost a husband and gained a family (Ruth)

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. (KJV) By now, I’ve told you a lot about heroes, leaders, prophets, patriarchs, matriarchs, and people with big, important jobs doing big, important things. But this story is different. This story is about a little, unimportant family too poor to buy food. They were part of the family of Jacob living in a place called Bethlehem. But because of their poverty, they made the hard decision to move to a foreign land called Moab, hoping to find work, food, and a chance to start again. But things were about to go from bad to worse. Just months after arriving in a new city, the father became ill and died, leaving his wife to raise the two boys alone in a country she hardly knew with people who didn’t know her. But she was resilient. And she struggled and fought and worked for years and years and years to provide for her two precious boys. And her boys grew into men, and she rejoiced when they fell in love with girls from the city and got married. And for a moment, she thought she’d done it. Her family’s future was secure. They’d have friends, money, and everything they needed. But that is not what happened. Because a disease swept through the land and killed both of her newly married boys. And the mother had to bury her sons in a land that was not their homeland, and she was left trying to survive, all by herself, all over again. And that’s really where this story begins. Because this is a story about a mother. She was a widow named Naomi. She’d lost her money, her home, her husband, and both of her beautiful children. And so there she stands over the graves of her family, with a suitcase in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. She falls to her knees to say one final goodbye before returning to Bethlehem, hoping to find someone there who might take pity on her. Maybe an aunt or uncle, maybe a niece or nephew. Someone to give her food and a place to sleep for the last few years of her life. She was just starting her journey back home when she heard a voice. “Wait!” It was her daughter-in-law, the widow of Naomi’s oldest son, a woman named Ruth. “Wait for me. I will go with you,” Ruth said. “No,” said Naomi, “I must return to my people, and you must go back to yours. No one will take care of you in my homeland. I don’t know if they will even take care of me. And if they do, I don’t know if they will have food to give me anyway. But they won’t have food to give you. Because you are a Moabite.” And Ruth understood exactly what Naomi was saying. But you might not, because I have not told you that story. There once was a time when the family of Jacob was in the wilderness, and they were weak with hunger and thirst. But instead of coming out and helping, the Moabites shut their gates and shouted at the family of Jacob to go away. And the family of Jacob never forgot how they’d been treated. And they told their children stories about how cruel, and mean, and bad the Moabites were. But Moabite or not, generational feuds aside, Ruth was not going to let her aging mother-in-law travel alone. And so she looked steadily at Naomi and said, “I’m coming with you.” And when Naomi raised her hand to protest, Ruth continued, “Wherever you go, I want to go. Wherever you live, I want to live. Whoever are your people, I want them to be my people. Whoever your God is will also be my God.” And this made Naomi cry because deep down, she didn’t want to go alone. As impractical as it seemed, she wanted Ruth to stay with her. It was hard to admit this and even harder to accept Ruth’s offer. But it was more than an offer. Ruth insisted. And so Naomi let down her hand and the two women embraced and cried and fell to the earth laughing for joy. Joy, because after all they had lost, after all they had given up, at least they had each other. And they kept laughing until Ruth finally stood up and said, “Hand me that bag, mother,” and they started walking. The two women walked across rivers and through the wilderness until they arrived back at Bethlehem. And when they arrived, there was no one to welcome them. Naomi was a penniless widow, and Ruth was a Moabite stranger, so the people drew back from them in the streets, diverted their eyes, and tried to avoid contact. But Naomi walked proudly. She had endured much worse than this. And she was never going to be embarrassed to have Ruth beside her. She was too grateful. And together the women found an affordable room next to a goat pen. There, Naomi lay down to rest while Ruth went to the plowed fields to gather some barley that had been left behind after the harvest. Day after day, she gathered stalks and tied them in bundles, then carried them home to Naomi, who was too old and frail to gather the food herself. It was hard work, but Ruth knew how to work hard. And there was something about how she worked so desperately, so intently, that caught the eye of the owner of the field, a man named Boaz. He could tell she was someone with a purpose. She didn’t stop to snack or drink water like the rest. She didn’t take breaks in the shade. He’d seen this before. Someone on a mission. They weren’t gathering food for themselves, but for someone else. Children, maybe? An injured husband? Boaz wondered. “Who is that woman?” he asked his workers. “That’s Ruth,” they told him, and then they added in a whisper, “She’s a Moabite.” “How’d she end up here?” Boaz asked. “She is Naomi’s daughter-in-law. Do you remember Naomi? She was your brother’s wife’s cousin. Ruth is taking care of her.” Boaz was a little surprised. “A Moabite, really?” he thought. “Taking care of an elderly member of my own family.” That didn’t sound like the Moabites he’d heard of. “Do you want us to send her away?” his worker asked. Boaz raised his eyebrows but shook his head. “No, she can stay for as long as she likes. In fact, leave extra barley for her. And give her some water and some extra food when you take a break. I owe her that much. She is taking care of my relative.” So the workers brought Ruth food and water, and Ruth looked up to see Boaz, who quickly looked away. But for a moment, she saw them — transparent and undeniably beautiful eyes. They were brown eyes. Brown just like hers. They were kind, too. And so Ruth decided to try and marry Boaz. Then she’d have more than enough food and money to take care of Naomi. But Ruth was not cunning, or sneaky, or particularly clever. She didn’t know how to be mysterious or subtle. She didn’t know how to play hard-to-get or how to flirt or seduce. Instead, she went straight to his home and asked to marry him. “We need someone to save us,” she said. “We need someone to claim us. We need someone like you. And so here I am, and there you are. Will you marry me?” It was pitiable, and surprising, and perplexing, and unromantic, and inconvenient. And at that moment, Boaz had two clear options. He could say no, and Ruth and Naomi would continue living off the extra crops on his field. He could say yes, and he would have to marry a Moabite woman, which was a very, very unpopular thing to do. It could cause problems for him. It could cause problems for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. But Ruth was not at all like what Boaz had thought the Moabites were like. She was not cruel or self-interested. She was not manipulative or shallow. She was generous, honest, and bold. She had helped her mother-in-law across the wilderness, made a home with her, and worked tirelessly to find food to keep her alive. She prayed with her, cried with her, and loved her. Wasn’t this exactly the sort of person Boaz wanted in his family? Wasn’t this exactly the sort of person he wanted to marry? And so Boaz looked straight into Ruth’s tired, hungry, desperate eyes and said, “Yes.” And Boaz married Ruth in front of the whole city of Bethlehem. And they had a baby boy named Obed. And the city had to decide what to do with Obed. Would they accept him as one of their own, or reject him like the Moabites had rejected the family of Jacob? And the city decided to welcome Obed. And Obed had a son named Jesse, and Jesse’s son David would become their king. And someday, David’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson would be born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem under a new star. And the family of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi would grow even larger. Everyone in the whole world would be welcomed in — Jew and Gentile, Israelite and Moabite, Russian and American, Chinese and Korean, new friends and old enemies. Remember that this Christmas when you talk about Bethlehem. Remember Ruth, who took a mother there, and Boaz, who took a wife. And try to be like Boaz, who was not ashamed of goodness. Be like Naomi, who wasn’t too embarrassed to accept help. And be like Ruth. And if you are blessed to be able to help another person like she was, don’t walk away. Say, “I will go with you.” And do whatever it takes. To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/], visit ForLittleSaints.com [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/] To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe. [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.faithmatters.org/subscribe [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

27: Moses gives advice and says goodbye (Deuteronomy)

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. (KJV) It had been forty years since Moses had led the family of Jacob out of Egypt and into the desert. That’s almost half a lifetime. In forty years, the family of Jacob had traveled all around the wilderness. They had endured plagues and poison. They had birthed babies and buried their dead. They walked and worked and wandered until their feet were calloused and their skin was salty with sweat. And now, after all of that, they were right back to where they had been forty years prior. They stood on this side of the River Jordan with their faces towards the Promised Land — the land with grapes and honey and milk and giants. All the children in Egypt were now parents and had children of their own. The parents were grandparents. And the grandparents were dead and gone. Except for Moses. Moses was the oldest of them all. He’d never plant a garden or dig a well on the other side of the river. No, this was as far as he would ever go. His legs were feeble, his ears dull, his throat tired, his lungs weak. But he had one last adventure in him. And so one morning, he set off to climb to the top of a nearby mountain and look out over the river, and see the miles and miles of Promised Land. And there it was. Trees and bushes, antelope and cattle, olive orchards and tomato gardens, grape vines and sumac, rivers and tributaries. It was better than he’d remembered. And now, they were back at the river. But this time, they were ready to cross over. It was the finale, the final frontier, the last battle. No more wandering under the stars. No more living in tents or camping in deserts. This is where they would stay, planted like a seed that would grow into a forest called home. And it was not just their home. It was going to be the city of God. Moses’ family and friends, his nieces and nephews, would become priests and priestesses, kings and judges, heroes and legends here, in this place, just beyond the river. The longer Moses looked, the further he saw. And God expanded his vision so that as he looked into the distance, he was looking across time as well. He could see now that crossing the river and beating the giants was not the final hurdle at all. It would not bring the end of their suffering. And building the city of God was no sure thing. There would be battles, and failures, fear and doubt, jealousy and anger, pride and disappointment. All their struggles were only going to continue. And their victories weren’t going to last. Their cities would burn and crumble in pieces. And the family of Jacob would sit down by new rivers and weep. “No!” Moses cried, “It can’t be!” What was the point of all their struggle, of all their seeking and wandering, of their snake bites and starvation, their faith and hopes? They had come all this way, suffered so much: death, pain, homelessness, poverty, thirst, sickness, tragedy. And for what? But maybe there was still hope. Maybe there was still a chance. And so Moses ran down the mountain. It had been a long time since he’d moved this fast, but he felt a new urgency and a new energy entering his bones. He had to warn the people. He’d tell them what he’d seen. And maybe that would be enough to change the future. Maybe they’d succeed in building God’s city after all. When Moses arrived at the base of the hill, the people had already gathered to hear what he had to say. And between deep breaths, he told them that there were much scarier things than giants awaiting them on the other side of the river. There was work, and peril, and failure. And no matter how hard they tried, no matter how much they wanted it, there was a very real possibility that the family would be defeated and scattered. And everything they had built would be destroyed. They had called this place the Promised Land, yet nothing was guaranteed. “But,” Moses said, “ we must not give up. Not here at the beginning of everything. God has already given us what we need. The laws, the commandments, they are more than just rules. They are the key to unlock the door of God’s kingdom on earth. Because the Promised Land is not just a place. It is a way of living. And so hold fast to the law of God, and we will yet succeed!” And so Moses re-taught everyone the law of God. He explained that the law was more than a list of things not to do. It was more than not killing, or lying, or swearing or complaining. It was even more than a list of things to do, like going to church or offering sacrifices or honoring parents or respecting authority. The law could not be written on two stones or a million pieces of paper. It was too big and complex, but it was also plain and simple, like an angel on their shoulders, or a whisper in their ears. The law was justice, truth, and mercy. But it was more than that. And someday, God would walk beside them, and only then would they begin to understand that it was him the whole time. Because the law radiated from him like light from the sun. And living with God is to have his law beating upon your face. And there is no sunscreen, there is only grace. And you must apply it daily, slather it on, or you will burn up. And you must love God with your whole heart, only then will you be able to stand in his presence and say, “Oh what a truly marvelous day.” “And so,” Moses said, “it all comes down to this. Can you love God more than anything else? Can you love him with your heart, and mind, and whole soul? Because if not, you won’t survive the other side of the river.” This was a lot to take in, and for a moment, the people were quiet. They looked behind them at the wilderness, then forward to the Promised Land. And it seemed like they might turn back. But then something amazing happened. All at once, the people stood and cheered. Even knowing they’d likely fail, they were still going to cross the river. They would face giants and their own inadequacies and cling to the law with everything they had. No matter what, they were going to try to build God’s city. They were going to try to live in his light. And that is incredible. Because trying really hard to do something even when you know you will probably fail takes real courage. And they were able to be so brave because their parents and grandparents had been brave before them. They had packed up their lives, walked out of Egypt, across a sea, and through the desert forty years earlier. They had spent decades walking and trying and failing and preparing to bring their children to this place at this moment. And while they would not cross the river themselves, they had brought their children this far. And they had not brought their children this far for them to stop at the water’s edge. And so the family of Jacob packed up their campground one last time. They were bound for the Promised Land. They were going to do it. And the grandparents, who were too weak to cross the river, gave their children their coats and walking sticks and packed snacks in baskets for the grandchildren. They kissed their faces and cried and said how proud they were. And then they stood back with Moses by the mountain. They watched as their children and grandchildren walked into the distance. Joshua was leading them. And when they reached the river, it parted, just as it had for Moses. And the people walked into the Promised Land on dry ground. And the grandparents shouted and waved, “Go on, we’re cheering for you. You’re doing it. You’re doing it. Remember what I taught you about brick making and grape management. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. And when you build your home and start your farm, if you remember, put my picture on the mantle.” And the children walked on, propelled by the faith and failures of their ancestors. They were across the river now. God’s Promised Land was underfoot. Giants lay before them. But they were the family of Jacob, descended from those who had built an ark, bargained with God, and wrestled with angels. They’d try to make God’s city no matter what. And they’d plant God’s temple right in the middle of it, and invite him to live with them. And they’d stand in the blinding light of his law and his love. And they’d try their very best not to not burn up. To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/], visit ForLittleSaints.com [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/] To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe. [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.faithmatters.org/subscribe [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

25. Seventy helpers (Numbers 9-11)

Numbers 11:17 And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself. (Berean Standard Bible) Camping in the desert is not easy. Sometimes the wind blows sand in your eyes. Other times poisonous snakes bite you. But mostly, it’s just really hot. And so the family of Jacob always anxiously awaited the weather report and prayed for cloudy days. Because when there are clouds, the sun doesn’t beat so tirelessly against your skin, and sweat doesn’t pour so profusely from your forehead. But ever since building the tabernacle, every day was partly cloudy. Because even on sunny days, one cloud always remained. It hovered directly over God’s tent. So when people went to worship God, they didn’t have to do it in the sun. And that was nice. You might think that if the days were so terribly hot, that the nights would be warm or even a little pleasant. Nope. At night, temperatures could drop like a bowling ball on your toes. And the people had to wrap themselves in blankets to stay warm. But at the temple, God kept a fire that burned all night, every night. Which helped the people stay warm. Then in the morning, God scattered bread on the ground like dew, and the people would gather it so they’d have food to eat. And that’s how the people lived. Fed by God in the morning, shaded by God in the day, and warmed by him in the night. Until one day, the cloud started to move. “Wait!” the people yelled. “Come back, cloud! Where are you going?” But the cloud kept floating away, moving on across the wilderness. It was leading them to a mysterious Somewhere, a place they called the Promised Land. The time had come. The camping trip was almost over. The people collapsed their tents, rolled up their mattresses, stuffed their sleeping bags, took apart their stoves, filled their water bottles, packed their bags, and buried their ashes. And finally, the trumpets were blown and the whole family of Jacob began their hike to a new home, a place they just knew would be full of fruit trees, rose gardens, water, honey, and meat. Oh yes, they imagined a lake next to a small hill with a charcoal grill on top. They’d cook some hamburgers and hot dogs and cut up tomatoes and onions. And on the side they’d have watermelon split into wedges, dripping with juice. They could see it already, almost smell it. It was a perfect summer barbeque. And so while they walked, they salivated. And they walked and walked and walked and drooled and drooled and drooled and got hungrier and hungrier and hungrier. It’s true, God was still sending them bread, but they didn’t want bread anymore. “We want meat,” they told Moses. “Our bodies need meat. It contains crucial proteins, macronutrients, and vitamins!” Moses couldn’t deny that meat sounded delicious. But how would he ever secure meat for all of these people? And so he shrugged. “We just have to keep enjoying the bread God is sending us.” And the people tried. They took out forks and knives and cut the bread like it was a steak, and chewed it slowly and smacked their lips and said, “Deee-licious!” But they couldn’t trick their own bellies. And at night they dreamt of grills and spits and charcoal pits. They wanted it. They needed it. Without meat, they grew weak and dizzy and sick. And then the sickness moved from their minds into their bodies, and people started to feel weak. And the hungrier they got, the grumpier they became. And soon enough, they were not just hungry and grumpy, they were angry. And they were angry with Moses. They yelled at him and said he should never have brought them into the wilderness if he didn’t have plans for how he was going to feed everyone. What good is freedom without survival? Slavery is better than starvation. And Moses began to wonder if the people were right about him. He was their prophet. He had brought them here. He was the one who told them when to walk, how far to go, and where to camp. He was responsible for keeping all these thousands of people alive. Most of them he barely knew. And yet here he was, leading them. And it was worse than that. He wasn’t just in charge of keeping them alive. He was supposed to be liberating them from slavery. And yet things had gotten so bad that they wanted to put their chains back on. Because at least in Egypt, they had enough food to eat. And it was even worse than that. Moses wasn’t just supposed to liberate them from slavery. They weren’t just supposed to be free. They were supposed to be God’s people. They were on their way to build God’s city in God’s own Promised Land. And yet here they were, hating God’s bread and complaining about God’s plan. It seemed like everything was falling apart before it had even begun. And Moses felt like a failure. Failure, a definition: A failure is someone who has given up because they think they can’t succeed, even if they try. And it’s easy to be a failure. Because it often feels like the whole world is against you. And nobody wins in a fight against the entire world. But in reality, the world is not fighting against you. On the contrary, the world is giving you food and water and sunshine and air and friends and family and everything that is good and necessary and beautiful. Most of the time, if you look around, you will find that the world is blessing you so much more than it is hurting you. And do you know what I think? I think the world wants you to succeed. And so when you feel like a failure, turn to the world, turn to your friends and family, and turn to God and ask for help. And help will come. Asking for help is exactly what Moses did. And do you know what happened? The world came to his aid. People came running. “Moses,” they all said, “you are not alone. You do not have to do this by yourself.” And it wasn’t just one or two people, or a small group, or a few friends. Seventy people came, rolled up their sleeves, and said, “How can we help?” And Moses accepted their help. There was a lot to do, from leading to organizing to praying. And they prayed together, and God answered all of their prayers and sent a huge flock of migrating birds right over the family of Jacob’s caravan. And they captured the birds and lit fires, and started rotisseries and imagined they were already in the Promised Land. And in a way, they were. “This is the life,” the people said, filling their mouths with perfectly tender meat. And they could feel the nutrients dissolve, the vitamins distribute, and the fats and proteins fill their bodies. And they rejoiced and prayed and thanked the earth and God and Moses for providing the exact thing they needed when they needed it. And Moses thanked all the people who had come to help. And the people picnicked together under the shade of God’s cloud, fed by God’s bread and birds, looking forward to God’s own Promised Land. And for the first time in a long time, they felt full. To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/], visit ForLittleSaints.com [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/] To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe. [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.faithmatters.org/subscribe [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

23. A new law and a new king (Exodus 16-40)

Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (KJV) The family of Jacob had escaped from Pharoah and were now totally free to do as they pleased. Right? Wrong. The family of Jacob had escaped one king, but they were just getting to know their new king. This ruler did not hide in palaces or pyramids. He did not build monuments to himself or empires. He did not raise armies or have slaves. Instead, this ruler stood on mountain tops and in fiery pillars. He built the world and made everyone in it. He raised winds and waves. The sun and the stars did his bidding. This king was not called Pharaoh. He was called God. And the family of Jacob were pretty excited to have God as their new leader. They had already seen how powerful he could be. “This is great news,” they said to themselves. “We don’t need to be scared of anyone. If God is on our side, we can do anything.” And so they followed their new leader into the desert where they camped and waited for their new leader to lead them to their new home. At first, camping can be lots of fun. You get to cook hot dogs and marshmallows and see so, so, so many stars at night. But try camping for two weeks. Then five weeks. Then six months. Then seven years. Eventually, you will be very tired of camping. You will want bathrooms and air conditioning and running water and grocery stores and restaurants. And so we should not be surprised that it didn’t take many months before the family of Jacob grew tired of camping and started to complain to their leader. “God,” they cried out, “aren’t you ever going to give us our new home?” “Little children,” God replied, “I am preparing you a home, but before that I am preparing you for the home. I need you to learn how to make a city. My city. The city of God.” “Oh, that’s no problem,” the people responded. “If there’s one thing we learned in Egypt, it’s construction. We already know all about building cities. Just tell us when and where, and we will get started.” “Not so, little children,” laughed God. “I don’t mean building with bricks and mud and sand. I’m talking about building hearts, minds, and souls. That’s the strongest, best, and most precious material that you can build with. And it’s the foundation of any city of mine.” And so God decided to give Moses some instructions on how to build the foundations of this city, which was the City of God. It was a ten-step plan. He called the steps commandments, and he wrote them out on stone tablets so Moses wouldn’t forget them. “Commandment number one, two, three, and four,” said God, “Don’t worship any other God or any other person other than me. And definitely don’t worship yourself or the things you make. Respect me. Worship me.” The first four steps for building this foundation seemed simple enough. The people just had to remember what they were doing. They were not following a pharaoh, or a celebrity, or a billionaire, or a politician, or an idea, or their own ambition, or anything or anyone other than God. “Commandments number five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,” God continued, “Honor your parents. Don’t kill. Keep your word. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Don’t be jealous.” These rules also seemed pretty obvious. In short, God was saying, “Follow me, and treat each other well.” If they could master that, they’d have a home in no time. “Oh, great,” said Moses. “This will be no problem.” And he took this blueprint for the foundation of God’s city and brought it to the people. And the people smiled widely, because they, too, thought it would be so simple. But the problem was, while the commandments seemed very easy, they were actually surprisingly difficult. And they are difficult because none of us are quite as good as we should be. We all want to be better than we actually are. We make mistakes. We’re mean, or untruthful, or say bad things — even though we don’t want to and wish we hadn’t. Even though we know we shouldn’t. Even though we know other people shouldn’t. Still, we hurt people we love. Even when we try really hard not to. We say things that are rude and bad and ugly for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes because we’re tired. Sometimes because we’re hungry. And always because we’re human. And the family of Jacob was just like us. They were imperfect. They tried to worship God, but they would get distracted by things like gold or money or food or other people, and they would forget all about him. So then they tried to be kind and honest to other people, but they failed at that, too. They were mean to each other. They forgot about God all of the time and followed other people, other leaders, and their own ambitions. They stole, and lied, and were jealous. Children screamed at their parents when they didn’t want to leave the playground. Parents lost their tempers. People even fought and killed each other. Before long, they had messed up all ten of the commandments. And everyone was so embarrassed to be so bad at keeping such simple rules. And maybe that was what God was trying to show the family of Jacob: they were not as good as they ought to be. They had a lot to learn. But when they failed, God did not give up. Instead, he gave Moses some new laws for his city. But these laws were very different from the first ten. Instead of being obvious but hard to do, these new laws were not obvious at all and were much easier to do. God told the people to plant food, but then not harvest all of it. They had to leave some food behind so others could pick it for themselves, even though these people hadn’t planted it or paid for it. If they wanted it, they could get it for free. And this was very confusing. Why give food away? Who will buy food if they can get it for free? “God,” they said, “you are going to make us all poor!” Then God told them that every seven years they should stop planting food and just let the ground grow whatever it wanted. And they should forgive all debts, anything anyone owed them. But if the land grew whatever it wanted, it would grow weeds! No one wants to eat weeds. And who will pay a debt if they can just wait a few years to have it forgiven? Then God told them to return any land they had bought every fifty years. “God,” the people cried again, “Enough! This is a very crazy economic system! We will never be able to make a living if we are always giving our food away, or giving our land back, or not even planting any food on it. We have no doubt that you are great and powerful, but maybe you don’t know very much about farming. How about you leave the farming to us.” But God had created the dirt and the seeds. And he was telling the people that the world does not work the way they imagine. Gold will not save you. Crops will not always grow. The dirt is not your servant. The poor deserve food. All people are free. And everyone should be treated like a friend, even if they aren’t from around here. Because everyone in the world is your neighbor. Even if they live far away. Nothing is quite as it seems. And even though they were strange, illogical, bizarre laws with scary implications, the people found that they could follow these laws much easier than the first ten. And as they lived the laws, they began to see the world differently. And they began to see each other differently, not as competitors, but as sisters and brothers. They were a family. And the only way for a family to succeed is to help each other. It was different and scary to see the world this way. But it gave them a glimpse of a possibility. Maybe if they followed these laws long enough, they would be ready to try the first ten commandments again. And maybe this time, they’d do it. The people would be less tired and less hungry and lose their tempers less often and respect their parents more and remember God always. Because maybe, just maybe, they were better than they feared. And they could be a little less human if the world they lived in were a little more divine. To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/], visit ForLittleSaints.com [https://forlittlesaints.com/product/the-bible-storybook-the-old-testament/] To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe. [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.faithmatters.org/subscribe [https://www.faithmatters.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]