DECEMBER 8, 1 Kings 3:16-28

A very tough puzzle was given to King Solomon. No one knew how to solve it and the case went all the way to the king for judgment. Here’s the puzzle:

Two pregnant mothers stayed together in a house, and gave birth 3 days apart. One of the mothers accidentally slept on her child and killed the child! She realised this at midnight and did something terrible: she exchanged her dead child with the child of the other mother. Now both women accused each other of lying. Each claimed that the little boy was theirs. With no other witnesses in the house, who was telling the truth? What would you have done?

Solomon did not hesitate. He understood the great love a mother has for her children. He called for a sword to divide the boy so that each mother could take half of him. At once, the real mother surrendered her right to the child. She loved her child so much she would rather give him up than see him killed. However, the woman who lied agreed to divide the little boy in two. How could she be the true mother?! Solomon’s shocking test revealed who the real mother was. What a brilliant solution!

What can we learn from this? God’s wisdom is above man’s wisdom. Where man is limited and has no solution, God shows that His wisdom enables us to find the right solutions. God’s wisdom is the key to all puzzles and difficulties of life! What was the result? The whole nation of Israel feared King Solomon because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to judge rightly. God’s name was glorified before the whole nation!

Thought: The proof of God’s wisdom is right judgment in difficult times.

Prayer: Father in heaven, help me to look to You as my source of wisdom and strength. Help me to judge rightly, that I may be a good testimony for You and a blessing to others. Please grant me the strength to continue to trust in You and to read and love the Bible, for there is great truth and wisdom in it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.