A heroine by the name of Jehosheba reminds us of our calling to intervene on behalf of the vulnerable

3 min read

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

-Jesus, Matthew 18:10

Have you ever tried to approach a family of Canadian geese? It’s not a good idea. If you get near a mating pair with little goslings in tow, they will make it clear to you that it’s not okay. They will hiss, flap their wings, and charge if necessary to make sure you get the point.

God created geese (and all birds and animals for that matter) this way. The instinct to protect their young is how they survive. In a world full of predators, without this instinct, they would go extinct.

Of course, God gave this same protective sense to us as human beings. We, too, are on full alert when there is a threat coming near our little ones.

But I wonder, are we presently at risk for losing this God-given sense? Have we become too comfortable with the always-present threats to the wellbeing of our children? Have we been lulled into a sense of complacency because the lurking opportunists seem so harmless? These are valid questions.

The kid became king

There’s a story in the Bible that illustrates the point. Jehoash was one of the rare good kings in Judah. Because of his upright approach to leadership, the people rejoiced and there was peace in the land.

But Jehoash almost didn’t survive past infancy. There was a plot by his wicked grandmother to wipe out Jehoash and all of his siblings so that she could be queen. Little did the queen know, however, there was an unassuming heroine by the name of Jehosheba who courageously intervened and hid Jehoash away in a closet in the Temple so that he would not be murdered. There she safely kept him for six long years.

When the time was right, Jehoash was brought out of hiding and installed on the throne that was rightfully his. He was only 7 years old.

Jehoiada (the high priest) led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They clapped their hands and cried out, “Long live the king!” -2 Kings 11:12

Miraculously, the kid became a king. And he was a good one, too. Thank God for the kind woman who protected him.

A society that does not exercise vigilance in the protection of its children is doomed, for children are the future. This is more than a cliche. Literally, today’s child is tommorow’s parent. Today’s child is tomorrow’s doctor. Today’s child is tomorrow’s educator, spiritual leader, governor, engineer, researcher, and so on…

Maybe this is why Jesus broke from the customs of his day and paid a lot of attention to the kiddos in the crowd. To the consternation of his disciples, Jesus put a child in the middle of their circle and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” (Matthew 18:1-5). Turns out, the Kingdom belongs to the kids and those who care for them.

In the midst of all the turmoil today, one of the best and wisest ways I have found to evaluate most issues on the table is by asking some simple questions: “Is this good for our children?” “Does this bode well for their future?” “Will it help them flourish?” If the answer is “No,” then I’m not for it. In fact, I’m against it and I will oppose it with all that I have.

Kind of like a goose protecting its gosling.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.