The Enticement of Wild Daffodils

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Joshua 1-3)

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

“Dad. Can I just go across the road this once? I want to pick those yellow flowers.”

“No way!” was my father’s firm response. “ Four year old girls are not allowed to cross highways by themselves.”

Observing the crestfallen look on my face, he paused. “I tell you what, when I get home, I’ll walk over there with you, okay?”

I said, “All right,” but I didn’t mean it. His car had barely backed out of the driveway when my friend, Terry appeared. He was five and I regarded him as much older. He could go with me!

Later, when my father walked into the kitchen, his eyes fell on a scraggly bouquet of wild daffodils leaning precariously out of a glass. Quick strides took him to the front sidewalk where Terry and I were drawing sea lions on the concrete.

“Betsy,” he said, his voice very quiet, “I thought I told you that you did not have permission to go across that road by yourself.”

“I didn’t go anywhere by myself, Dad,” I replied innocently. (After all, Terry had been with me all morning)

My father knew how to deal with that. “Well,” he said, “I’ll bet you didn’t even look both ways when you crossed that busy street.”

“Oh, yes, I did, Daddy,” I answered fervently! Whoops!

The next thing I knew, my father had taken off his shoe, put me over his knee, and spanked me soundly. The spanking didn’t feel so good, but the worst part of it was being humiliated in front of my friends.

Terry had the audacity to say, “Mr. Billings, I just want you to know that I didn’t pick any of those flowers.” Then, my angelic friend left hastily. The rest of the neighborhood kids just stood there and watched.

I burst into tears over the indignity of it all. My dad put his arm around me and said, “You know you are getting double punishment because you not only disobeyed, but you also lied to me. You are not to play with Terry for a whole week!"

Sniffling into his jacket, I said, “I’m sorry, Dad.” I really was.

I didn’t know it but my father had taught me a lifelong lesson in truth and obedience that day. It’s a lesson I still remember.

Our Scripture today talks about being obedient to God’s word as it is written in His book. It is one of the most memorized verses in the Bible.

The year is 1405 B.C. The Israelites have finally grown up and are about to enter the Promised Land. After the death of Moses, God chose Joshua as their new leader. Joshua means “salvation” in Hebrew and “Jesus” in Greek. In fact there are a lot of parallels between Joshua and Jesus. Some call him a type of Christ. He was a very good leader.

One reason that he was such a great man is he had been discipled almost all of his life by the best of men, Moses. He had watched him, listened to him, and modeled his life after him. When God tapped him for leadership, he was ready.

Each generation must be taught the same lessons in truth and obedience. How are we raising our children? Are we taking the time to talk to them, to correct them, and to teach them how to be obedient men and women? What about our co-workers? Moses and Joshua weren’t related, but Moses took the time to train him perfectly. Who is in your life that could become a Joshua? Who are you nurturing?

Many years have passed and over the years I have crossed a lot of streets by myself. Now the snow is melting and spring is coming. Even Wisconsin has bits of green poking up in the cold soil. The tulips and the daffodils will eventually appear. But as I look at them, it is wild daffodils and my father’s training that I will be remembering.