For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalms 139:13-16
Psalm 139 is a beautiful and personal poem exploring God’s intimate knowledge of us since the moment of our conception. These verses launched me into a search for some of the Bible’s children, and how their stories have inspired God’s people ever since. Old Testament kids include Miriam, Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon, Naaman’s slave girl, Josiah and Daniel. In the New Testament are Mary, Jesus of course, and later Timothy. All these children became role models of trust and obedience to God’s call for both the young and the young at heart…
Miriam (Exodus 2, c. 1400s BC), watched the basket carrying her baby brother Moses as it floated gently down the Nile River. When the king’s daughter drew the baby from the water, little Miriam “found” a Hebrew woman to nurse the child….their own mother, Jochebed! So Jochebed was paid for Moses’ nursing and care until he was old enough to return to the king’s household as his grandson. As an adult, Miriam was a faithful leader with her brothers Moses and Aaron as the Hebrews made their exodus from slavery in Egypt.
Moses (Exodus 2, c. 1400s – 1200s BC) was born after the king of Egypt had ordered, “Every Hebrew boy that is born, you must throw into the Nile.” God had used his sister Miriam to save his life and thereby place Moses right where God ordained him to be: in the palace of the king. There he grew and received the best education in the world of that day. That and his knowledge of God’s chosen tribe, and with many more lessons along the way, prepared Moses to serve God as he led His people to the promised land.
Samuel (1st and 2nd Samuel, c. 1070 – 1012 BC) was born after his mom Hannah prayed for years that the Lord would allow her to have a child. In gratitude, as soon as he was weaned, Hannah gave him over to the Lord for a lifetime of service. As a little boy wearing a linen ephod, Samuel served the Lord under Eli the priest in Shiloh. Samuel became the last judge in Israel, and then the first monarchical prophet, functioning as a priest, a prophet and a leader. He anointed Saul as the first king of Israel and later anointed David as the second king. He led Israel in a significant victory over the Philistines and called the people to repentance.
David (1st and 2nd Samuel, c. 1040 – 970 BC), slayed Goliath the Philistine (jumbo-sized at 9 feet 9 inches tall) as a youth. Having already killed a lion and a bear defending his sheep, he met the challenge head-on as he slung a smooth rock from his well-used slingshot, killing the enemy of God with one blow. The Bible records David’s poems and songs. We can easily imagine the strum of his harp as his sheep grazed in the fields, and later in performance before King Saul. His escapades, good, bad and ugly are all recorded, providing us with a wealth of life lessons. Through them all, knowing David’s wholehearted love for Him, God called David “a man after my own heart.” (Acts 13:22)
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:3-4
To be continued…