In early November, we had the blessing of going down to Corpus Christi to cheer our Bible Bowl participants on as they competed in a friendly tournament of Bible knowledge and study skills. The time there was special, and all of our kids did a great job! Let me share with you some key takeaways upon reflection of the event:
- God ’s Word is Inexhaustible. The section of scripture for the 2021 Bible Bowl was essentially the second half of Genesis from chapters 25 -50. In total, 532 questions asked of the text! From facts and figures: “How many years did Ishmael live?” (137 cf. Gen. 25:17) to theology: “Why was Joseph treated so well in prison?” – Because the Lord was with him and made all he did prosper (Gen. 39:21 -23). The Bible has staying power. It is able to stand up to repeated questioning for the earnest studier, and each time we can learn to delight in God ’s Word (Psalm 119:9 -16).
- God ’s People Love Hard. Only the Lord knows how many people were instrumental to making Bible Bowl a success. Many were involved in monitoring tests, watching halls, and grading. There were people who set up for lunch, distributed food, and cleaned up the mess when finished. Drivers, coffee runners, and time – watchers had their jobs cut out for them. At the end of the day everyone was dog -tired, but all seemed to enjoy being there together. This doesn ’t include the months of preparation by all those who helped train and drill our kids. James 2:14 -26 describes a faith that works, works! It is caring, active, visible, and deep.
- The Faith of our Children is a Worthy Priority. The Graeber kids earned the awards they received and accomplished a great deal! From knowledge to memorization, they shined brightly that day. But the task of training does not end with Bible Bowl and an award that shows their accomplishment. What we teach our kids to do with that knowledge will have eternal consequences. What our kids do with the meaning of the message of Genesis will depend on what we do with it. Do we trust in God ’s plan to redeem man through His promised Seed (Gen. 3:15, 12:1 -3, Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:15 -22)? The world is full of competitions and accolades that will matter little when the Lord returns. But how marvelous to hear our Savior ’s voice say to us and our children, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mt. 25:21, 23)!
Next year, Lord willing, the time will come for another Bible Bowl. That means study sessions, drills, and a whole lot of work for everyone to do! As we study God ’s inexhaustible word with our kids, my prayer is that they will see working love and active faith among parents and servants. Remember, our kids are ours for a while so they can be God ’s for eternity!
-L.S.
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