ABOUT A BOY
I had an experience that I, at the time, did not understand the totality of its significance. One Saturday night a group of us left our local church in the Bronx, New York and visited a church in Yonkers, New York. Sister J., who was sitting next to me, was fascinated by the ring I wore. I inherited it from my late father. I slipped it off and gave it to her so she could take a closer look. When the service ended I forgot to ask for the return of the ring.
The next morning, on discovering that she had lost it, we decided to revisit the church. We got there during the worship so we sat in the closest available seats. I asked the lady that we were sitting next to, whether she had heard that anyone found a gold ring. She did not. I proceeded to write a note to the pastor with the intent that just before dismissing the congregation, he would make an announcement about the ring. Before I could pass the note to an usher, a boy of about four years-old came in the sanctuary and sat next to Sister J. and began to play with her hand.
It so happened that we were sitting next to his grandmother who kept asking him why he had left Children’s Church. Several times she told him to go back, but he ignored her and kept playing with Sister J’s hand. Momentarily, he asked, “Do you want to see what I found?” Without waiting for a reply he pulled my ring from his pocket and gave it to Sister J. The alarm, joy, gratitude, questions and relief were all unimaginable. Suddenly, I remembered and shared with Sister J., a promise God made to me a couple weeks before. The grandmother then said, “Children have a place.”
What are the chances that: we sat next to his grandmother; he left Children’s Church and came to play with Sister J; he showed her what he found; he did not cry when we kept the ring? I was so lost in the events that led to the recovery, I did not even ask for his name. He was just the little boy who found the ring that was very dear to me.
REFERENCES: (Exodus 2:1-10; 1 Samuel 1:9-24; Matthew 14:14-21; Matthew 2:1-14) NKJV
Exodus 2:1-10 1. And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. 5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
There is something special about children. It is little wonder, then, that visionaries try to save them from an untimely termination. A baby boy had to be hidden by his mother, Jochebed, because his life was threatened by the ruling Pharaoh. Jochebed, saw that her boy was extra special. Imagine how she prayed fervently as with tear-stained face and grief-stricken heart she placed him on the River Nile. Miriam, his sister, watched to see what would happen to her brother, but their mother was not far away, watching them both.
Definitely, God had dispatched angels who were on their watch also. Then Pharaoh’s daughter arrived at the river at the appointed time, fell in love with this baby and rescued him. She named him Moses (saved from the water) and paid his own mother to care for him. No doubt, Jochebed taught him some Hebrew customs. He was being prepared in Egypt’s palace although the work, for which his life was spared, would be executed mainly outside of Egypt. In time, Moses, told Pharaoh about the God of the Hebrews who did signs and wonders.
Jochebed might not have known that he would: be named and raised by Princess Pharaoh; have a king for his grandfather; have a personal encounter with God; deliver the Hebrews from Egypt; transport the Ten Commandments and; lead the Hebrews to the Promised Land. Today, those Commandments are the basis of laws for many nations. She did not know, but it was extremely important to her to protect her boy.
1 Samuel 1:9-24 v.9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” 15 And Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His[f] word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls,[g] one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.
A woman named Hannah was desperate for a son. She had no children and amidst the ridicule and stigma of her condition, she cried to God to take away her barrenness. This praying woman promised that when her boy was weaned she would give him to the work of the ministry. In offering her worship she also offered up her: faith; petition; pride; time and finally; her as yet unconceived son. Had Hannah become discouraged when Eli misjudged her desperation for drunkenness, she would have stopped praying. However, she knew that God had the final decision. Her tenacity caused her to wait on the prophecy of Eli, the priest. God honored her faith and in time, she kept her promise and left her son, Samuel, with the priest. Proverbially, Samuel cut his teeth on the church pew.
As a boy, Samuel: heard God’s voice; answered His call; became a messenger to Eli; ultimately became one of the judges and prophets of Israel and; anointed David to become king over Israel. Imagine what Hannah would have deprived both herself and her son of! She would have thwarted God’s plan for her son, Samuel, whose name means heard of God.
Matthew 14:14-21 14. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
In this deserted place, there was a boy who was instrumental in giving his lunch to the disciples. Maybe, he thought they just wanted to see what he had. Not in his wildest imagination could he envision what would become of his lunch. When Mother packed that lunch, it was for him. What was he doing in that crowd anyway? Maybe he was sent on an errand, but curiosity got the better of him. Circumstances dictated that it was not an ideal place to picnic. It was a desert, it was late, it was crowded and people were tired and hungry. Unknown to the kid, he was about to see a miracle. He had exciting news for his Mom and his friends.
Isn’t it amazing that in a crowd of over five thousand people a boy with a lunch kit was not easily overlooked? Why was that kit prominent enough for the disciples to not only remember it, but also, to mention a seemingly unimportant lunch? While it was in the child’s hands it was insufficient for everyone, but when Jesus blessed it, it was no longer only five loaves and two fish.
The child released what he had, not knowing what would become of it. Later, it became abundantly clear that had he kept it, everyone else would be starving while he would be selfishly trying to fill his stomach. No doubt other little kids would be staring or even asking for some. . He could not refuse to obey these grown men, anyway.
Mother did not know that her boy’s lunch had divine purpose. Her provision became useful in God’s institution. Those resources were so valuable in that they still impact nations today, wherever the story is told. Yet he was only a boy.
Matthew 2:1-14 1. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ “7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, ….
Here we are told of another boy who brought concern to a king. This boy, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem, during Herod’s reign. Herod saw this boy as a threat to his majesty so he planned to kill Him. He sent wise men to find Jesus. What did grown men want with a baby? They had to be truly wise in order to know that He should be worshipped. In executing Herod’s order, the wise men followed a star that mapped out the way to the Star of Bethlehem. Mary, Jesus’ mother, pondered things in her heart because she knew that He was special.
In the meantime, Herod devised a plan. He would dethrone Jesus as soon as the wise men returned. God, however, redirected both the wise men and Joseph to detour from their original plan. God’s purpose must prevail (Proverbs 19:21). God’s plan cannot be negated. The very foundations of Earth are impacted by A Boy who lived over two thousand years ago. Should we allow His life to mould us and propel us into our destiny, we will experience an unsurpassed relationship with Him. It behooves us to approach Christ with the attitude of little children because of such is the kingdom of heaven.
He is no longer Mary’s baby boy. He became the Man of Sorrows when He died for us. Of all boys born to women, He: Emanuel; Prince of Peace; The Resurrection and Life; King of kings; the God of all Flesh; Ruler of Earth; Savior and the Soon Coming King is to be remembered and celebrated always. What will you do with Him?
REFLECTION
- What is your view of the importance of children?
- We are not given much information about Jesus’ boyhood, but what are your thoughts on His childhood?
Dr. O. A. James