Raising The Standard: Hospitality Is Knowing How Long A Visit Should Last

"Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbors house; lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee." ~ Proverbs 25:17

From The Pages Of Scripture:

Every father and mother have a responsibility to establish godly standards of conduct for their sons and daughters. Guests in their home should either demonstrate or desire to learn godliness. King David purposed that he would make the godly of the land his heroes and invite them into his home (Psalm 101). Hospitality ideally should include an agreed upon schedule for both host and guest and clearly thought out purposes for each visit. Idle conversation and over indulgences in eating are two dangers of entertaining without purpose. One of the most shocking crimes in Scripture took place because a host did not know how long a visit should last.

How Does Scripture Illustrate The Need To Know How Long A Visit Should Last?

Scripture warns those who are guests in the homes of others not to overstay their visit. Where in Scripture did a man expose himself and his wife to a great danger because he violated that counsel?? The Levite and his concubine. It is one of the darker events in the history of Israel. "And it was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from this day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day." (Judges 12-30) One day a wife left her husband and returned to her father's house. Four months later this husband visited the home of his father-in-law in an effort to win back his wife. He stayed at her home for three days, enjoyed a pleasant visit, and achieved his objective. On the fourth morning he rose early and prepared to leave with his wife and servant, but his father-in-law insisted that he stay for breakfast. After breakfast, the girl's father pleaded with him to stay another day. He reluctantly agreed to do so. Little did they realize the consequences that were to come because they had not determined how long their visit should last of the further goals which they should have achieved during that time. Early the next morning the son-in-law prepared to leave. Once again the father-in-law persuaded him to stay for another day of feasting and leave sometime later in the evening. When evening came, the father-in-law wanted him to stay overnight so he could get an early start in the morning. But the son-in-law purposed to leave then, even though it was growing late for travel. The son-in-law, his wife, and the servant began their trip home. The dangers of the countryside increased with the lengthening shadows of evening. The three travelers hurried toward the safety of a city. Little did they realize that lurking behind the walls of that city was a danger far greater than anything they would experience along the lonely night paths. When they entered the city a strange feeling of foreboding began to creep over them. The customary practice of hospitality was absent. No one invited them into their home for the night. Finally an old man walked through the city gate. He had been working in the field all day. He urged these three travelers to come into the safety of his home. After he shut the heavy doors behind them, the darkness of night came over the city, and wicked men with perverted minds crept out of their houses. They pounded on the door of this old man's home and shouted their evil intentions to him. The old man attempted to reason with their corrupt minds. His shocked guests listened as these vile men refused to turn from their sinful demands. The husband knew that only his life was in danger, but he purposed to save himself. To him this meant sacrificing his wife. In a shameful act of moral weakness, he pushed her out the door. The wicked mob turned upon her. She became the victim of their violence, and in the morning she was dead. This husband had taken the journey to prove to his wife that he loved her. Instead, he required his wife to lay down her own life for him. The visit of this husband in his father-in-law's home was not only the wrong length, but it failed to achieve the right purpose. The father-in-law seemed more concerned about eating and drinking than about discovering the true character of the one who was to protect his daughter. Before consenting to allow his daughter to leave, he should have spent time teaching his son-in-law how to love his wife. Ironically, this son-in-law was a Levite. it was his job to help to teach the nation how to love God and how to love their neighbors as themselves. (From Judges 19:1-28)

What was the Levite's Motive In Retrieving His Unfaithful Concubine?

Although we read that the Levite "went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again," (Judges 19:3) there is evidence that he was not motivated by genuine love. First we must consider why his concubine was unfaithful to him. As a second-class wife, she felt that she would be treated better by her father than by her husband. In those days, harlotry was practiced for both mercenary and religious purposes. She may have become a harlot to earn money for food and clothing which her husband was not providing. A second consideration is that the Levite waited four months before he went after her (Judges 19:2). Third, his treatment of her in Gibeah was not the type of love which is "strong as death". (Song of Solomon 8:6) Fearing for his life, he allowed his own wife to be abused by worthless men while he went to bed in safety. Why was he not at least anxiously awaiting his wife's return so that he might comfort her? She may have spent hours before she died on the steps of the house while he remained in bed (Judges 19:27). His concern after arising seems to be impatience to leave rather than regard for his wife's safety. The evidence indicates that the Levite was motivated by a selfish desire for a concubine and servant rather than genuine love for her as a person.

Why Did The Levite's Father-In-Law Allow The Visit To Last Too Long?

The Mosaic Law meted a most severe penalty for harlotry and adultery. The punishment was stoning until dead (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:21). It is likely that one reason the concubine went back home was to seek the protection of her relatives. The father-in-law would want to make sure that the Levite did not intend to bring his wife back for a quick trial and stoning. An entirely different reason is that he may have desired the Levite to stay in his home permanently. It seems that the Levites had strayed from their original calling, and some had sold their services and become personal priests for a fixed wage (Judges 17:10). The father-in-law may have felt that the blessing of the Lord would be upon him with a Levite as his priest (Judges 17:13).

What Was The Levite's Response After The Murder Of His Concubine?

The Levite publicly declared righteous indignation. "They have committed lewdness and folly in Israel." (Judges 20:6) His actions, however, seemed to reflect a desire for bloody revenge rather than righteous justice. Burial for a loved one normally occurred on the day of death. This was encouraged by the ceremonial laws which warned against touching a dead body (Numbers 19:11-14). The denial of proper burial indicated a great disgrace (cf. Isaiah 14:18-20; Jeremiah 22:18-19). His gruesome actions attained the desired result. Four hundred thousand men gathered to hear the Levite's accusation against the men of Gibeah. The fact that over forty thousand men of Israel were killed in the war against the tribe of Benjamin indicates that neither the Levite's motives nor the motives of the men of Israel were entirely pure and that their intentions were less than honorable.

Illustrated In The World Of Nature:

The ruffed grouse, a native of North America, is known by many names --- drumming pheasant, birch partridge, shoulder knot, grouse, and drumming grouse. The plump succulent flesh of this bird is very delicious. The Indians of the northern United States and Canada relied heavily on it for food, and if the numbers of grouse were low in wintertime, it created a hardship for these northern tribes. The population of the ruffed grouse fluctuates; one year they may be in abundance --- the next year, scarce. Grouse are believed to be at their peak every ten and a half years. The exact cause of the fluctuation is unknown, and hunting pressure does not seem to affect it. Even in refuges where hunting is prohibited grouse experience a periodic population decline.

How Does The Ruffed Grouse Illustrate The Need To Know How Long A Visit Should Last?

Large, fluffy snowflakes tumbled through the air. A blanket of white engulfed the forest, creating beautiful and spectacular sculptures. It was one of the first storms of the season, and the blizzard was so thick that it was almost impossible to see hemlocks fifty feet away. It had been snowing for only a little while, but during this time the white powder had accumulated several inches. The cold, north winds howled as they whipped and blew the snow into deep drifts. Not yet accustomed to the biting cold, the few winter residents of the forest looked for shelter to protect themselves and gain a little warmth. Animals such as the bobcat, the white-tailed deer, and the snowshoe rabbit had grown thick coats. The grouse, too, had a warm, winter plumage to protect itself against the elements of cold. But even so, the frigid wind seemed to penetrate its insulated feathers. The grouse made its way through a curtain of falling snow as it left the protective bough of a spruce tree. It flew low to the ground and did something very unusual. With an explosion of flakes the flapping wings beat the snow as the bird dove down directly into a high snowdrift. Here the grouse would find relief and comfort. By roosting here, the snow's insulation would provide a warm, cozy resting place and allow the grouse to escape the biting wind. There the bird stayed, its feathers fluffed up to trap the maximum amount of air between its skin and plumage. The grouse could spend a few days without food and emerge from the snowdrift none the worse for the delay. As the bird sat there sleeping, many hours had passed. With time came a change in temperature. The sky cleared and the sun shone brightly on the following day. Warm rays of sun caused the surface of the snow to melt throughout the afternoon. When darkness shrouded the forest, it began to grow cold once again. All the while the grouse remained beneath the drift, comfortably resting in its warm confines. When night came, the temperature dropped lower and lower, falling well below freezing, in the morning the grouse began to venture from its dwelling place to forage for food, but as the bird tried to break through the surface of the snow, it was stopped. No matter how hard it struggled, its attempts were futile. The melting snow had refrozen during the night to form a hard, impenetrable crust over the drifts surface. The grouse's comfortable quarters had become a prison. Because of its failure to leave at the right time, what was once a place of safety turned into a tomb. For here the trapped bird would eventually starve to death.

Scriptural References to the Grouse:

"The king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains." ~ 1 Samuel 26:20

This picture was used to describe David when he fled from Saul in the mountains.

"As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a fool." ~ Jeremiah 17:11

The struggle of a partridge or grouse to hatch its brood provides significant parallels to a man who tries to retain unjust riches. The partridge begins with a large number of eggs; between eight and twenty have been found in a single nest. After a short time the partridge rolls out of the nest those eggs it believes are infertile. The eggs are laid in a depression on the ground and are subject to theft and destruction from hostile elements and prey. When a nest is disturbed or destroyed the partridge must begin all over again. These later attempts to nest tend to produce a higher proportion of infertile eggs. When the eggs finally hatch, many of the chicks break out of their shells within minutes of each other. The mother takes these chicks and leaves the nest, abandoning the unhatched eggs. Some would have hatched if she had stayed longer, and others had already become infertile. Thus the partridge, with much extra effort, has an unusually high nest mortality rate. In like manner, the rich man who walks in a vain show "reapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them." (Psalm 39:6) "The riches that he hath gotten are perished." (Jeremiah 48:16)

Hands of Kindness

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Raising The Standard: Hospitality Is Making Sure The Environment Is Suitable For Those We Serve

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." ~ John 14:2-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." ~ Hebrews 13:1-2

From The Pages of Scripture:

In the days when Scripture was being written, individual citizens were expected to welcome a traveler into the safety and comfort of their own home. Today the traveler simply stays at a local motel. But hospitality does not just comprise caring for the needs of a traveler. Hospitality also involves benefits and blessing for the host's home and family. Scripture urges us not to neglect hospitality. Through it some have even entertained angels unaware (Hebrews 13:2). There are many illustrations of genuine hospitality in Scripture. One example shows how a gracious hostess who provided a suitable environment for a traveler was greatly rewarded by her guest. The Scriptural account demonstrates the truth that in the same way we give to others, God gives to us.

One person in Scripture received a reward which meant joy, then sorrow, then great joy. It demonstrated the principle of birth, death, and fulfillment of a vision. Who provided hospitality that was not sought and received a reward that was not requested? The Shunammite woman.

Those who knew her might have assumed that she and her husband lived in two different worlds. He was old. She was younger and very vivacious. He spent his energy in the field with his hired men. She spent long hours at home. Perhaps their close friends wondered what held them together. There were no children to bridge the gap of their age difference and to provide common concerns and interests. But the fact was that she knew how to build fellowship with her husband and strengthen their happiness and security. Scripture calls her a "great woman." She was alert to the needs of those around her and discussed with her husband which needs they could meet with the resources God had given them. One day she invited a servant of the Lord to share a meal with them. They invited him to return to their home whenever he passed through their village. He accepted their invitation and ate many meals with them. She and her husband discussed how they could make their home more suitable for the needs of that servant of the Lord. They constructed an addition to their home --- an extra room --- and furnished it for their guests. God rewarded them for their care of His servant by giving them a child. But the joy that was brought into their home by that child was turned to sorrow years later when their son died. The servant of the Lord was summoned, and he raised the child back to life. After her husband died and a great famine spread throughout the land, the widow and her son were advised by the servant of the Lord to leave and live in a neighboring country for seven years. When she returned, she found that others had moved into her house and claimed possession of her fields. She went to the king to request the return of her house and land and was granted a hearing. After sh and her son entered the room a man who was talking to the king exclaimed, "Why this is the very woman I was telling you about and this is her son." This woman was then asked to explain in more detail how the servant of the Lord had raised her son to life. The king recognized that God had rewarded her and he purposed to add a further reward. He appointed an officer of the court saying, "Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day she left the land, even until now." She gave fellowship, food, and lodging to the servant of the Lord. God returned to the Shunammite woman a son, a home, and fruitful fields. With these provisions she could continue to demonstrate the hospitality that made her a "great woman." ~ From 2 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6

How Did The Shunammite Woman Provide A Godly Atmosphere In Her Home?

Aside from the common laws of hospility, which her neighbors were ignoring, the Shunammite gives evidence of other noble motives. At first she "constrained him to eat bread" and later "she said unto her husband, 'Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.'" (2 Kings 4:8-9) How had she developed such a keen sense of spiritual discernment in a land of abject apostasy? The clue is given in a later reply by her husband, "Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? It is neither new moon, nor sabbath." (2 Kings 4:23) This indicates that it had been her practice to meet at the prophet's house for worship and teaching on those days designated in the Law (cf. Leviticus 23; Amos 8:5) Prophets provided the few faithful people of the northern ten tribes with a substitute for the missing priests and Levites. By inviting Elisha into her home, the Shunammite had the privilege of sitting at the feet of the leader of all the prophets to bring his teachings and influence into her household. Such a great privilege and opportunity would not be overlooked by this wise and godly lady.

Why Didn't The Shunammite Request A Reward For Her Hospitality?

When pressed for a favor that Elisha could do to show his gratefulness for the Shunammite's hospitality she responded, "I dwell among mine own people." (2 Kings 4:13) She lived in peace and had no appeal to the king Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, knew the real desire of her heart. Barrenness was often accompanied by the reproach of the husband and was considered a sign of judgment of the Lord (Genesis 29:32; 2 Samuel 6:23). The woman's husband was old; they had been unable to have children (2 Kings 4:14). Although she believed in the Lord, she just could not muster the faith to ask for a son. She also did not want to raise her expectations again, merely to be disappointed. When her young son died she expressed this concern to Elisha by saying, "Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?" (2 Kings 4:28) When Elisha, as God's spokesman, gave her this unspoken request, her response was similar to that of her godly ancestress, Sarah (Genesis 18:12). "And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid." (2 Kings 4:16) How blessed was this faithful woman of God. She had proved faithful in little and now was to have the opportunity to be faithful in much (cf. Luke 16:10).

What Were The Lasting Dividends Of Her Generous Hospitality?

Because of the wickedness of the nation of Israel under the rule of King Jehoram, the Lord allowed the country to experience a seven-year famine to prod them to repentance. Elisha knew of the famine and told the Shunammite to take her household to Philistia for the duration. She returned to discover that her house and land had been illegally seized. It is almost certain that her husband had died by now (cf. 2 Kings 4:14, 18; 8:2). She should have been able to appeal to the town elders, but they were unsympathetic to the Mosaic Law and easily bribed. Shunem was only three miles north of Jezreel where Naboth had been murdered for his land through the proceedings of a corrupt court (1 Kings 21: 8-14). When she appealed to King Jehoram, Gehazi had just told the king of the miracle of her son's restoration to life.As a result of this supernatural timing, the king restored all that was hers (2 Kings 8:6). "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, but he will establish the border of the widow." (Proverbs 15:25)

Illustrated In The World Of Nature:

The dear mouse is a sociable little creature with a communication system all its own. Mice communicate with one another through a series of rapid taps against a hard surface. This sound can be imitated by drawing one's fingernail over a screen wire. The tone and volume of sound vary depending on the object on which they drum. It is an accomplished soloist, too. At its best it is able to buzz or sing for a period of five to ten seconds.

How Does The Mouse Illustrate The Need To Make Sure Its Environment Is Suitable?

It did not take them long to decide to stay. There was plenty of food and an array of assorted materials which could be used to build a warm, comfortable nest. The spot the mice had chosen was a summer home located on the Atlantic coast's oceanfront. Unoccupied for the past few years, the beach house had only recently acquired new owners. For the next few weeks the owners would visit only on weekends, but when school was over they planned to stay for the whole summer. They were not aware that two mice had chosen their cottage as headquarters. They carelessly left food out on the counter, and each night the little deer mice had a feast. But something even more important food was on the female's mind now. She needed to begin building a nest for her family. Searching in every nook and cranny, she looked for a suitable place. The nest should be close to the food supply and yet her young must be protected from possible danger. After looking for quite a while, she found what seemed to be an ideal location. She climbed inside a box-like structure for a final look of confirmation. Then she began to make many trips bringing soft material with which to form a warm, snug home for her expected family. Her mate came to join her. At first she fought his advances. Then the tables were turned, and the disinterested male played "hard to get." After much coaxing, she finally won his cooperation, and he joined her in the nest. But the reversals weren't over yet. When the time came for her to have her young, she again chased the male away. Not long afterwards five hairless little mice lay in the soft material. Until now, it seemed to be an ideal home. Then the owners returned to spend another weekend in preparation for their summer stay. The little deer mouse was extremely cautious not to expose her family or reveal the nest's location. She would wait until everything was quiet before slipping out of the nest to feed that night. But despite her intentions of good hospitality, the mouse family was in danger. As she sat on the nest waiting for the commotion in the room to subside, she grew warmer and warmer. It became uncomfortably hot. At first she did not sense anything unusual, but as the heat became more intense, she knew something was wrong. Because she was a good mother, she stayed with her helpless young. She hoped this would pass, but instead it grew hotter and hotter. Soon an awful aroma permeated the beach home. The owners had cooked their meal for the evening and they had cooked the visiting family of mice as well. The structure had provided a protected and secluded environment, but the oven made an unsuitable home for the infant family.

Scriptural References To The Mouse

"Wherefore ye shall make images of your... mice that mar the land." ~ 1 Samuel 6:5

Even though the Philistines were a heathen nation they understood that the destruction of their livelihood from the forces of nature or wildlife was in the control of God. They examined their ways and removed the cause of God's anger by returning the sacred Ark of the Covenant which they had previously captured in battle.

"These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth... the mouse... after its kind." ~ Leviticus 11:29

The Hebrew word for mice comes from two words which signify destruction of corn. The word referred to several different species of the rodent. One species will devour every kernel of corn and any sapling that is planted. It even burrows under the ground to dig out the seed before it sprouts. In spring it eats the green blades; in harvest it climbs the stalks to plunder the ripe ears. Later, the mouse invades the barn and continues to feast.

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Outside my own little world....

What if there's a bigger picture... what if there's a greater purpose I could be living right now?

I Will Rise

Beloved, the Holy Spirit sometimes is represented as the wind, the life-giving breath.

He blows upon the valleys thickly strewn with slain, and they are quickened to life. You and I, though we are made to live, often feel that life to be flagging, and almost dying. The Spirit of God can quicken us, revive in us the spark of divine life, and strengthen in our hearts the life of God. Pray for this quickening breath, and, my brother, God will give it you. As surely as you sincerely pray you shall have and feel the revival of the life within.

The Spirit of God is sometimes compared to water.

It is he who applies the blood of Jesus and sanctifies us. He cleanses us, fertilises us. Well, he will come to us in that capacity. Do we feel that our sin has much power over us? O Spirit of God, destroy thou sin within us and work in us purity. Thou hast already given us the new birth by water and the Spirit, go on and complete thy work till our whole nature shall be fashioned in the image of the Great Firstborn. You shall have it if you seek it; God will give you this Spirit if this you seek for.

The Holy Ghost is revealed to us under the image of light; he illuminates the mind, he makes our natural darkness flee.

Wait upon him, O child of God, that you may be led into all truth. He can make that which now perplexes you to become plain; he can uplift you into truths which are now too high for your attainment. Wait upon him! As a child of God, long to be taught of God. I do not know how to express to you the sense I feel just now of the deep condescension of God in promising to give us the Holy Spirit. He has given us his Son, and now he promises his Spirit. Here are two gifts, unspeakable in preciousness. Will God, in very deed dwell with man upon the earth? Will God dwell in man?

Can it be that the infinite Spirit, God over all, blessed for ever, will dwell in my poor heart, and make my body to be his temple? It is certainly so; for as sure as it is that God will give good things to those that ask good things, he will surest of all give the Holy Spirit to them that ask for the Holy Spirit. Sit not in the dark then when the light of God will break upon you if you seek it.

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Right Replies to Right Requests," delivered November 6, 1870. Image by Ragnar Jensen under Creative Commons License.

Raising The Standard: Joyfulness Is Knowing And Being Where God Intended Me To Be

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love ... these things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." ~John 15:10-11

From The Pages Of Scripture:

A sense of purpose and a sense of belonging are basic to joyfulness. We must know that we are needed and that what we have to contribute is of value to others. Based on these ideas, what could four lepers know about joyfulness? Shunned by family and friends, their lives held no purpose. The lepers had nothing to give. They were aware that they were going to die, and they realized than in them were no resources for life. This is the basis for being "poor in spirit" .God allowed these men in their pitiable condition to be in the right place at the right time to discover an important aspect of joyfulness.

How Does Scripture Illustrate Joyfulness In Being Where God Intended?

Jesus taught that unless we are prepared to lose our life for His sake we will never find it, and if we try to save our life four our sake we will lose it. Where in Scripture did four men save their lives and bring a message of joy to others because they were prepared to lose them? The four lepers of Samaria. Four ragged, starving men slumped against the city wall. They stared blankly into the distance. Death stared back at them. They could see a huge army waiting for their besieged, starving city to surrender. Within the walls a frantic woman cried out to the king. When he gave her permission to speak, she poured out a shocking story. "This woman said to me, 'Give your son that we may eat him today and we will eat my son tomorrow.' So we boiled my son and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son." The horrified king rent his clothes. News of what had happened reached the ears of those four starving men. It stirred them to action, but what could they possibly do? If they entered the city, they would die of starvation. If they remained where they were they would also perish from hunger. If they retreated to the camp of the enemy, they would probably be killed. Actually, these men were exactly in the place that God wanted them to be. The very law of God prescribed that they should remain outside the city. Each of them was afflicted with the dreaded disease of leprosy. They were forbidden to be with other people. The lepers began to reason among themselves. "Let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare us, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." When the four men reached their camp, they found it empty. God had caused the enemy to hear the pounding of hoof beats, the sound of chariots, and the shouts of a great army. The troops had fled in terror, leaving everything behind, in the belief that they were being attacked. Tents, horses, food, and their possessions all remained for the taking. With delight the lepers went from tent to tent, satisfying their hunger and scooping up silver, gold, and clothes. They took it out to hide it and then came back for more. Suddenly they stopped and realized what they were doing. For years they had survived by the generosity of their neighbors. They were always receiving and never able to give. They knew how it felt to be hungry and watch well-fed people pass by without caring. Now they were in a position to give, and their city was full of people who were starving to death. They said to each other, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good tidings. If we hold our peace --- if we wait until the morning light, some mischief will overcome us; now therefore come and let us go and tell the king's household." Because the four lepers of Samaria were where God wanted them to be, they experienced the joy of reporting a life-giving message. (From 2 Kings 6:24-7:20)

How Did God Bring The Lepers To The Place Where They Could Be Used?

The lepers knew that if they took no action, they would soon die. They had nothing to lose by asking the Syrians for food. "If they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." (2 Kings7:4) Death held no sting for these men. In fact, it might have been viewed as a welcome release from their difficult and at times painful existence. Because of the contagious nature of their disease, strict isolation laws were in imposed which made the lepers feel like feared outcasts. The disease could flare up for hours, days, or weeks during which time the victim would suffer fever, pain, and prostration. A leper could live as long as ten to twenty years, but death by tuberculosis or some other invasion of the weakened body was probable. The only hope a leper had was that his leprosy was of the less severe turberculoid type which, even if untreated, can heal in one to three years. These men lived in the presence of death constantly; they were free from its fear.

How Did The Lepers Demonstrate Human Nature When They Discovered Their Freedom?

"And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it." (2 Kings 7:8) They acted like self-centered men with a strong tendency toward materialistic greed. They knew that once the city realized what had happened, there would be a stampede to the camp. As lepers, they were prohibited by law from coming near a non-leper. This meant that they would have to get their spoil before the crowds came. They also must have been tired of begging for food and clothing from the Samaritans. If they had enough silver, gold, and clothing they would never have to beg again. Knowing that this was an opportunity that would never be repeated, they were storing up for the rest of their lives. The only problem with their plan was that their consciences would not cooperate in their self-centered endeavor.

How Did God Reward The Lepers For Being Where He Intended Them To Be?

Godliness is the opposite of self-centeredness. The Mosaic Law was clear in its command: "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:18) When a certain legal expert summarized the main duty of the Law he said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." (Luke 10:27) These lepers, so dependent on the charity of the citizens of Samaria in the past, could not withhold this new-found fortune from them. Possibly that very night another child would be boiled and eaten. Possibly that very night another weak man or woman would die of starvation. They realized that their self concern was not right. They were not treating their neighbors in the city as they were treating themselves until they came to their senses and proclaimed the good news to the men of the city. Soon everyone was comfortably fed. The lepers were heroes and experienced the satisfying joy of knowing that they had played a part in saving an entire city from death.

Illustrated In The World Of Nature:

Bay lynx or wildcat are two other names by which this carnivore is known. The bobcat is secretive and stealthy. Few see it or are aware that it is North America's most numerous wildcat. Until recently it coped very well with civilization, actually increasing in number and extending its range. Its coat color indicates its territory. A bobcat from the desert regions takes on a sandy, buff color; those from northern forest ranges are grayer with more distinct markings. The color of the animal does not change as it matures nor differ between the male and the female.

How Does The Bobcat Illustrate Joyfulness In Being Where God Intended It To Be?

A blood-curdling scream pierced the silence of the night. Each time the father and son heard the cry they worked even faster to complete their task. Their family was spending the summer in the Northwoods. Together they were building a small cottage on a lakefront property which the father had acquired the year before. This was their family project, something they had all saved their money for and looked forward to --- a place where they could retreat from pressures and interruptions in order to know one another better and meet each other's needs. The father and son had gone into town to pick up supplies. On their way back one of the car's tires went flat because of a sharp stone on the unpaved surface. Even thought they knew what the eerie sounds were, chills still crept up and down their spines. Hurriedly they completed the repair job and then continued on their way. The sounds were those of a bobcat calling its mate. In the weeks and months to come, this family would become very familiar with that wild animal. Several days later as they once again returned home along the dirt road, they spotted an object rolling around in the dust. When they drove beside it, they stopped. It was a little kitten playing in the road. The children excitedly jumped out of the car, but when they reached down to pick it up, they realized it was not a domestic house cat. Long tufts of hair on its ears and its short stubby tail identified it as a young wildcat of the Northwoods. Since no parent cat was in sight, they concluded that it must have been abandoned. Despite its warning snarls and hisses, they picked it up. Feeling sorry for the orphan, the parents agreed to allow their children to care for it until it was old enough to take care of itself. The children were diligent in their new task and spent much time trying to win its friendship. The kitten was a male bobcat and had a fierce disposition even at this young age. They hoped that with love and a little time they could win its confidence and affection. For a while their attempts worked; it seemed to respond to their love and warmth. But despite all their efforts, the cat never appeared to be really happy. When they first picked it up it snarled and showed its teeth, but with each stroke it quieted down and gradually purred like a house cat. The kitten seemed to love the outdoors and enjoyed going outside. When the children went to the lake to swim they tied a leash around its neck and brought it along. Although it was never too fond of the water, it romped up and down the shore looking for food and anything else that aroused its lively curiosity. As time passed the animal grew from a little kitten to a mature cat and its disposition changed, reverting back to the wild. One minute it was gentle; the next it was savage and fierce, lashing out with its sharp claws if someone came too close. The situation worsened. The cat's temperament simply wasn't suited for confinement. One day when the children were playing with a neighbor friend by the water, their guest teased the cat. In anger it lept on the child's leg; its claws making deep cuts. The family was forced to face the fact that it was no longer safe to keep the cat confined. They decided to release it to its natural home. They freed their cat to return to the wild. In subsequent years when members of that family heard the lonely call of the bobcat, they were reminded of their kitten and the fact that, although it looks like its domestic cousin, its personality and disposition are very different. One cat is tameable; the other is not. Their bobcat kitten did not really belong with them and would never truly be happy until it was released to return where its Creator intended it to be.