Reconsidering Bible Stories for Children

 

Our local library just had a used book sale where I found a Bible storybook for children I hadn’t read. I bought it, thinking I’d review the book on this site, but when I saw it had the same stories almost every other storybook had, I decided to complain!

Inevitably, Bible stories for children include tales of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and one most favored by his father. Of those sons, however, God didn't choose Joseph to be the forefather of David, Solomon, and Jesus. He chose Judah about whom far less is known.

Judah’s name means praise, and a closer reading of his story reveals the first person in the Bible who ever admitted he’d done wrong. True, he suggested earlier that his brothers sell Joseph to a tribe of Ishmaelites, who descended from Abraham as they had, but this act kept Joseph from being killed.

Later, when the Jacob’s sons had to go to Egypt for food during a famine, Judah pledged his life as a substitute for his youngest brother, Benjamin, because he could not bear for his father to suffer any more grief over the loss of a favored child. Despite this selfless act, which foreshadowed the sacrifice of his descendant, Jesus, few children or adults know anything about Judah the person – only as one of twelve tribes.

Another descendant of his, however, does receive attention in children’s Bible storybooks – David, the young shepherd boy widely known for killing Goliath with a slingshot, then cutting off the giant’s head with Goliath’s own sword! Although we all love a victorious story of an underdog, is it wise to focus on the hero’s decapitation of the enemy? Instead, why not draw attention to David’s musical ability or his poetry in the Psalms, filled with praise and prayers to God? Or mention how, in the midst of terrible times, David consistently talked to the Lord about everything bothering him, and, with almost no exception, ended on an uplifting note of praise.

Since many other examples of unsung biblical heroes exist, I hope you’ll add those you’re drawn to in the Comments section below. As we focus on the importance of confession, sacrificial love, honest prayers, heartfelt praise, and poetry surely we’ll offer uplifting stories and faith-builders for readers of all ages.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler
who loves poetry, prayers, Psalms, and overlooked Bible people

 

 

New Bible storybooks bring parables of Jesus and Christmas in July

Did you know the ever-popular Arch ® Books for children have been around since 1965? I didn’t! To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Concordia Publishing House released some of these favorite Bible storybooks as the Best-Loved Christmas Stories and the Best-Loved Parables of Jesus, both of which the publisher kindly sent me to review.

Each book contains six of the previously published Arch ® Books in a sturdy, lightly padded hardback cover with the original or revised text and accompanying artwork inside. Each book also offers the work of a variety of talented artists and writers, who present Bible stories from various perspectives.

In the Best-Loved Christmas Stories, for example, “Mary’s Christmas Story” gives her view of that first Christmas while “Joseph’s Christmas Story” gives his. Other stories follow the star, shepherds, and wise men until the last story ends with the special joy and celebration found in the homes of young readers on Christmas morning.

You needn’t wait until Christmas, however, to read this book with your kids or grandchildren! As young children often say, “Tell me about when I was born,” they can readily connect, year-round, with stories about Jesus’ birth too.

Children also relate to the parables of Jesus, which give them a good story to remember even if it takes time for the full meaning to unfold. Most likely, that’s what Jesus expected when He first told the stories to grown-ups, who just didn’t get what He was saying! Maybe the meaning would “suddenly” come to them that night or the next morning or weeks later as they turned the stories over and over in their minds.

With the Best-Loved Parables of Jesus, children can do this too. The colorful artwork and poetic texts will help them to envision and recall “The Wise and Foolish Builders” as well as the Good Samaritan, lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son (aka Prodigal.)

The remaining story of “The Parable of the Talents” illustrates the talent from the Master as gold coins put to good use, but….

But Servant Three made a foolish choice:
He went home and dug a hole!
“I’ll put this deep into the ground
And keep his talent whole.”

After the parable has ended, the story goes on to ask young readers about the special gifts and abilities they have been given before closing with this good word:

Whatever our gifts that Jesus has given
Here’s what He has in store:
When we use our talents to honor Him,
He will bless them and give us more.


© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer, is a traditionally published author of many books in all genres, including poetry and books or prayer.


Best-Loved Christmas Stories, hardback



Best-Loved Parables of Jesus, hardback



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