God's Coaching #349

God's Coaching #349

At age 11, Adrian Moore was a scrawny sixth grader in Arkansas. He was still three years away from being able to legally get his learner’s permit in his home state and seven years away from being allowed to vote. But man, the kid sure could dunk!

In 2010, Adrian became an Internet sensation for his ability to rattle rims as a six-foot-two-inch middle schooler. That fall, Middle School Elite ranked him as the No. 6 player in the country. Rumors circulated that Baylor University in Texas had already taken note of his talent. Many of Adrian’s mad skillz (when you can dunk at 11, your abilities graduate from “skills” to “skillz”) can be found online. One of the best highlights is a dunk where Adrian launched into the air for a one-handed jam, like a young Michael Jordan. At age 11, the sky truly seemed to be the limit for Moore.

What’s the Score?

Adrian’s basketball talent got him a lot of notice at a young age. But that’s nothing compared to King Josiah of the Bible. Sure, Josiah might not have dunked (basketball was about 2,500 years from being invented), but like Adrian, he was way ahead of his time. Josiah was one of Judah’s greatest kings, ruling in Palestine for 31 years. But check this out: he became king at age eight!

Josiah took over as king under terrible circumstances. His father, Amon, and grandfather Manasseh were two of the worst kings in Judah’s history, having plunged the nation into idolatry and wickedness. Two years into Amon’s reign, his servants murdered him and replaced him with Josiah. To make matters worse, Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia were all jockeying for Middle Eastern control. With this moral and political chaos going on, Josiah spent his time as king trying to return Judah to worshiping the one true God. He repaired God’s Temple, destroyed the country’s idols, reinstituted the Passover celebration, and told the people to obey God. Josiah proved that age matters little to God. What’s important is following God with all your heart. The Bible sums up Josiah’s life by saying, “He did not turn away from doing what was right” (2 Kings 22:2). Whether you are an eight-year-old king, an 11-year-old basketball prodigy, or just a normal kid, God wants you to follow him, no matter what.

On the Ball

Read about Josiah’s amazing life in 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35. Write down some parts of his life that impress you most:

Coach’s Comment

[Josiah] did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. 2 Kings 22:2