I recently won this Tommy Nelson kids' Bible through a contest on Becky's blog. Thanks Becky! My kids love this Bible. They keep asking to read it when it's time for bedtime stories.
The other day we were reading the story about Jacob working seven years for Rachel. You probably all know the story:
Rachel's father Laban tricked Jacob so that he ended up marrying Rachel's older sister Leah first. He also got to marry Rachel, but he had to work for another seven years. And probably the worst part for everyone involved: he had to be married to Leah when he couldn't care less for her, and was madly in love with her younger sister. POOR LEAH!
My kids looked a little shocked when I read the part about Laban's trick, so I thought I should talk to them about it:
"Wow, Jacob had to be married to two wives."
They still looked confused. Anna piped up, "But how can he?"
I explained that back in those days, it was culturally acceptable for men to marry more than one woman.
"How would you like it if Daddy had more than one wife?" I asked. (Why I ask these questions, I don't know! Someone just clonk me over the head with a hammer right now.)
Gabe looked especially worried by that idea.
"Boy, Daddy would have to do a lot of kissing."
Yep. I guess that about sums it up.
Isn't it wonderful that my kids are learning such valuable lessons from our Bible-reading time together?
Gabe's response is priceless:) Thanks for sharing this little peek into your life.
ReplyDeleteI love the spin in these bible stories for children books.
ReplyDeleteI remembering reading one about Noah's Ark, where the author managed to squeeze in Jesus' name and importance into the story at least a dozen times, despite the obvious handicap of not being in the Old Testament whatsoever!
And yes, two wives would certainly be a handful!
I was laughing out loud reading this. I'm glad you all are enjoying your Bible and getting such valuable lessons out of it. : ) Wouldn't that just be horrible for poor Daddy, LOL?
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your comment on my blog today. I think you're right about getting outside. I get housebound too easily. Enjoy the sunshine! : )
Absolutely so funny! I laughed for sure. Go Gabe! You've got those funny answers coming! I can see it.
ReplyDeleteHilarious, Amy!!
ReplyDeleteIf you have access to the Jesus Storybook Bible, it has an interesting perspective on the Leah story--(Although, unfortunately it just leaves that two-wife quandary for us parents to deal with on our own!)--it makes the journey from "poor Leah" to "wow, she birthed Judah, an important part of Jesus' family line. She wasn't chosen by Jacob, that's true; she was chosen by God!"
(So, Jesus made an appearance, so to speak, in this OT story too, but in this case at least, it was well done and served to teach children about the cohesiveness of the Bible by introducing Jesus' family lineage.)
Anyhow, will have to check out this version sometime. Then maybe my son can someday come up with such astute observations as Gabe!
Gabe totally made me laugh. I always feel sorry for Leah when I read that story too.
ReplyDeleteLoved it!
ReplyDeleteSnort and laugh ... Gabe is too funny. We've had quite a few lively discussions reading the Old Testament ... but my kiddos were a bit older.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my favorite children's Bible is the DK version -- it's got beautiful sidebars with historical stuff, maps, etc. and of course, all the really racy stories are edited out.
We've transitioned to the adult Bible now ... and for the first time they were introduced to Jezebel ... Yup. Ain't pretty at all.
I don't remember that story at all from schooldays, but Gabe's response is priceless! Out of the mouths of babes...
ReplyDeleteKids are brilliant! Never a dull moment is there?
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I have a similar story. I asked my kids the same thing and here's what they said. "That wouldn't be fair unless you got more than one husband too." haha too true.
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