Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
My brothers’ names start with the letters ‘St’ and my sisters’ names begin with the letters ‘Sh’; even our milk cow’s name was Shirley. My question: Have you ever heard of anyone being killed because they couldn’t pronounce the ‘Sh’ sound? Drastic but true!
In Judges, chapter 12, the inhabitants of Gilead fought and defeated the men from the tribe of Ephraim. The Ephraim survivors fled home, only to find the Gileadites waiting for them at the Jordan River. In order to identify that a refugee was from Ephraim or not, the Gileadites came up with a test:
They had each captive say the word, ‘Shibboleth’; if they couldn’t pronounce the ‘Sh’ sound and said ‘Sibboleth’ instead – they were killed! Forty-two thousand Ephraimites died from failing to pass the ‘Sh’ test! SHa-BANG!
For your information ‘Shibboleth’ is a Hebrew word that literally means the part of a plant containing grains, such as an ear of corn growing out. Had any Jersey corn lately? Best ‘Shibboleth’ I’ve had!
“And He was saying, ‘The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil… The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head…he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29) It seems like all my spiritual family’s name begins with ‘Sh’!
Can you say, SHIBBOLETH?!! God is good all the time! Mr. Steve