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"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:11-13). "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10).

Yesterday I bought 2 dozen eggs at Chris and Annie Fisher's produce stand. It's just up the road from us across from the Amish one-room schoolhouse where I am transporting Sylvia to and from school each day this week. Sylvia is the 18 year old teacher where the Fisher children attend school. Two days a week Sylvia has a young helper to assist her with the 30 scholars (as the students are referred to). 

All through our area you see hand-written signs along the road from small farms selling eggs directly. With the chickens scurrying around in the background you can't buy eggs much fresher. Our lead photo today shows Chris and Annie's small chicken coup.

If you live in the US you have noticed the sharp increase in egg prices as I understand due to the avian flu which has wiped out entire flocks and thus diminishing production. Galen is a longtime farmer friend who has a large commercial layer house and expressed to me the concern farmers have especially since his hen house is downwind from a huge commercial producer (Kreider Farms).

Fish and eggs have long been a part of the human diet for thousands of years. The first chronological mention of eggs in the Bible is found in Job, a reference to an ostrich egg! (Job 39:14)

In today's passage Jesus is illustrating the loving care of the heavenly Father by using an earthly father's nurturing concern in providing for the physical needs of his children.

Most of us consider scorpions and snakes practically inedible and that seemed to be the sentiment at the time Jesus taught upon this earth. Scorpions and snakes were used in this teaching in the sense as to what a father would not give to his children. However I read in some cultures snakes and scorpions are a dietary delicacy such as scorpion sticks!

Both of us recall eating eggs and fish growing up and all through life. But neither of our moms ever cooked up a dish of scorpions or snakes!

Our Lord's illustration presumes the caring relationship He has ordained that parents should have for their children. The phrase, "If you then, though you are evil", intrigues me. It could mean in the sense that even the best parents are still sinners. Or it could be in a comparative sense as Jesus shows us the caring heart of His Father. He contrasts our sinful and proneness to evil human nature with our holy and perfect God. We never have to question God's motives when He is at work on our behalf, though it may take time (hindsight) and an earnest study of the Scriptures to understand His ways in a variety of settings. In some matters we will just have to wait for the other side to understand, as the old hymn states, "We'll understand it better by and by".

One small portion of the text is especially encouraging, and I want to bring today's message to an end with this perspective: "How much more will your Father in heaven…" These powerful words bless and strengthen the child of God today and are true whether or not you've had a loving, caring earthly father. God is more than willing to give us all that we have need of and lovingly supplies far more than we actually need.

This phrase (how much more) is used in Romans several times such as our second daily text, "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10).

The study note in the Life Application Bible states "Christ is showing us the heart of God the Father. God is not selfish, begrudging or stingy and we don't have to beg or grovel as we come with our requests. He is a loving Father who understands, cares, and comforts. If humans can be kind, imagine how kind God, the Creator of kindness, can be."

Praise God for Jesus' comparative illustration that gives us boundless hope for those requests dear to our hearts as we go to Him in earnest prayer. The most important gift that our Father could ever give to us is salvation, "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 3:23). Our Father ever loves and cares for His own.

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13

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