Horses

Dear Boys and Girls,

“Come on, Trixie, let’s get your saddle on,” I said brightly, carrying the saddle over one arm and the bridle over the other. Trixie took one look and turned her back to me. She began to walk towards the barn, and I laughed. “Don’t be lazy, Trixie,” I chided. Trixie caught sight of my daughter and turned to follow her. Did she smell the horse cookie hiding in the hollow of her hand? Soon, Trixie was saddled and ready to ride. I shook my head at her. “You wouldn’t go anywhere if you didn’t have that bit and bridle, would you? You seem to be forgetting today how much fun you have on the trail.”

Imagine if one of us sat on Trixie’s back and had not put a bridle on her. The bridle fits around her face and attaches to the bit in her mouth. The reins attach to the bit as well, and with these, we can tell her where to walk or trot. Without it, she would either stand still or wander wherever she pleased. Perhaps she would meander to the backyard to snatch a mouthful of grass. Maybe she would trot into the middle of the road in front of an oncoming car.

We had brought Trixie home several months before I was able to ride her. When my daughters rode her, it looked easy. When I was seated in the saddle, however, I felt as though the horse could take me anywhere she pleased and I’d have no say in it. How was I to control her? It had looked so simple. After a few moments, though, I realized that with the lightest touch of the reins, Trixie responded and turned. It felt as though my hands were connected to her head, and she knew just what I meant whenever I moved them.

Horses were used in Bible times by the Egyptians and Canaanites before they were used by the Israelites. The Egyptian and Canaanite enemies seemed much stronger with their war horses and chariots than the Israelites did on foot, but the Lord helped the Israelites. Horses are mentioned in the visions John writes about in Revelation and in more places in the Bible. Horses are mentioned in Psalm 32 which says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.”

If a horse is frightened by something and begins to rear or turn around, one can barely restrain her. With the reins, the rider is able to control and force the horse to stay on the right path or trail. In Psalm 32, David says that we should not be like such a horse that wants to go in the opposite direction. The Lord, in His Word, points out the way to eternal life. He calls, directs, and is able to bring a person on the right way. A person who continues on the wrong way will go lost forever. That is why He instructs us, through His Word—on Sundays in church, at school during the Bible story, and in the evening when you read the Bible before bed.

What do you do with the Lord’s callings and direction? What do you do with the Bible? Maybe you say, “I don’t feel like reading the Bible right now.” Perhaps you hurry through your prayer without thinking about what you are saying. Often, you would rather be doing something else. You are being just like the horse that wants to go the other way. You are working against the Lord. We all do this. No one of himself wants to listen to the Lord. We sin again and again, but the Lord knows our heart.

He is able to rein in the heart of a sinner. He is able to turn a person completely around, so that he will begin to go the right way. This is the way back to the Lord. It is a way in which a person will be sad and displeased with his own heart and look for a way to be saved. He will begin to wish to do God’s will instead of his own. God can and does do this, because He is gracious. Ask the Lord if He will also change, direct, and renew your heart. Then the Lord will guide you on the right way.

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.”

—James 3:3

Write the answers to questions 1-12 and then find them in the word search.

1. Which creature is the horse compared to in Job 39, where it is said that the war horse is strong and not afraid? ________________

2. What did Joseph give the Egyptians in exchange for horses, in Genesis 47? ________________

3. In Exodus 9, what disease was inflicted upon horses? ________________

4. In Exodus 14, who pursued the Israelites with horses and chariots? ________________

5. To whom did the Lord say He would deliver the enemies as well as their horses and chariots in Joshua 11? ________________

6. In 1 Kings 4, which two things were provided for the horses and dromedaries? ________________

7. In 2 Kings 5, at whose house did Naaman stop with his horses and chariot? ________________

8. Which city did the king of Syria surround with horses and chariots and a great host to catch Elisha in 2 Kings 6? ________________

9. In the same chapter, what were the horses and chariots made of which Elisha and the young man saw round about them? ________________

10. In 2 Kings 7, who were frightened by the noise of horses, chariots, and a great host? ________________

11. How many stalls did Solomon have for his horses, as we can read in 2 Chronicles 9? ________________

12. In Acts 23, men and horses were made ready to bring Paul secretly and safely unto the governor whose name was ________________.

Follow the directions to find the hidden texts. Words are hidden in the box below.

13. If you are 5, 6, 7, or 8 years old, write down all the letters in order which have a number 5.

14. If you are 9, 10, 11, or 12 years old, write down all the letters in order which have the number 9.

15. If you are 13 years old or over, write down all the letters in order which have the number 13.

BONUS: Can you find where your text is written in the Bible?

For the Older Children

Match the letter to the correct description of the horses mentioned in these passages.

16. Rusheth into the battle ___

17. Snorting ___

18. Run upon the rock ___

19. Be cut off and destroyed ___

20. Swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves ___

21. Walk through the sea ___

22. Their strength destroyed and overthrown ___

23. Riding and standing among the myrtle trees ___

24. Confounded in the fight ___

A = Jeremiah 8:6

B = Micah 5:10

C = Habakkuk 3:15

D = Jeremiah 8:16

E = Haggai 2:22

F = Amos 6:12

G = Habakkuk 1:8

H = Zechariah 1:8

I = Zechariah 10:5

For the Younger Children

25. Look up Zechariah 6:6 (the first part), Revelation 6:2, and Revelation 6:4. Which color are the horses mentioned in these texts? Color one horse of each color.

*****

Answers to last month’s “Example” quiz:

1. Talk

2. Sin

3. Acts

4. Heart

5. Looking

6. Privily

7. Intent

8. Admonition

9. Rest

10. Flock

11. Pattern

12. Gold

13. Prophets

14. Christ

15. Sodom and Gomorrha

Answers to previous quizzes were received in July from:

Anabelle Berkenbush
William Berkenbush
HayleyBosch
Garret Bouman
Stephanie Bouman
Michelle Driesen
Bereket Engelsma (2)
AdrianGroenendyk (3)
Ben Groenendyk (2)
Jack Groenendyk
JacobaGroenendyk (3)
John Groenendyk (2)
Karter Hoogendoorn
Dwayne Keurhorst
Stephanie Keurhorst
AshleyKnibbe
Ben Knibbe (2)
Courtney Knibbe
Lindsey Knibbe
Lydia Knibbe (2)
NathanKnibbe
Rebecca Krygsman
Sarah Krygsman
Shaylen LeLoux (2)
Kaelyn Maljaars
Tyson Maljaars
Jacob Mol (2)
Krystina Mol (2)
Lydia Mol
OliviaMol
RachelMol
Sabrina Mol (2)
Jayden Overbeek (2)
Alec Post
Hunter Post
Nate Post
Nicolas Post
McKenzie Spaans
Isaac Stam (3)
Derek Teunissen (2)
Esther Teunissen
Joel Teunissen (2)
Lydia Teunissen (2)
Arielle Van Deuveren
Conrad Van Garderen
Maurice Van Garderen
Thirza Van Garderen
Julianna Van Maren
Kaitlynn Van Maren
Olivia Van Maren
Alivia Vande Hoef
Leah Vande Hoef
Micah Vande Hoef
Conner VandenHoek
Kornell VandenHoek
Brandon Vrieselaar (2)
Kyra Vrieselaar (2)
Noah Vrieselaar (2)
Jonathan Wesdyk
Laura Wesdyk
Arthur Wisse
Gertrude Wisse
JoannaWisse
Lane Wisse
Leah Wisse
Bethany Ymker (2)
Cameron Ymker (2)
Jacalyn Ymker (2)

Please send your answers to the address shown below:
Aunt LenaBeth
180 Jacobs Road, Newfoundland, NJ 07435
Fax: 973-409-4549
E-mail: auntlenabeth@gmail.com

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