T
1 Kings 3: 16-28
his is an account of two women who lived
in the same house many centuries ago. Both
women gave birth to a baby boy only a few days
apart, but sadly one of the baby boys died. The
mother of the dead baby tried to steal the other
lady’s child by exchanging the deceased infant
for the living child whilst the other mother was
sleeping, thus keeping the alive infant as her own
son.
When the sleeping mother awoke she saw the
dead baby boy next to her. Realizing this deceased child was not hers, and her little baby boy
was now in the arms of the other woman, she
was distraught. Her baby had been exchanged!
Next thing we know the two women were
arguing continually as to the true identity of the
biological mother. Because the argument was
unresolved by the two women the matter was
then taken before the King.
Wise King Solomon heard all the details of this
very serious dilemma. Having weighed up both
arguments he told one of his men to take a
sword and divide the child in half giving each
mother half a baby boy.
Why or even how could anyone cut a child in half
to settle an argument? The answer is no one
would, but wise King Solomon knew that the
real mother’s love for her child would prevail no
matter what the circumstances. She would be
prepared to sacrifice her son (give him up) if it
meant saving his life.
The love that God has for us is demonstrated
when He allowed Jesus (His only Son) to be sacrificed (He gave Jesus up) on the cross. By allowing Jesus the Son of God to die on the cross for
us, in exchange for our sins to be forgiven.
This is the purest form of unconditional
love.
That one man should lay down his life for another. That’s the gospel of pure love. The greatest
exchange of all!
Perfect love, the perfect exchange! We don’t
understand how much our heavenly Father loves
us but He does and The Lord did everything He
could to spare us eternal separation from His
love.`
The real mother was broken hearted for
she loved her baby boy.
Through His love we are reunited with
She broke down crying and pleading should
our heavenly Father.
harm come to the boy, and pleaded with the king
would he please give the child to the mother of
the deceased child if it meant saving the infant’s
life. King Solomon in all his wisdom recognized
the distress and pure love this broken-hearted
mother had for her biological son.
The account ends with the child being returned
to its rightful mother. The dilemma was solved.
The story is one of love, jealousy, and
wisdom.
Linda
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