It’s time for another Bible Study using a metaphor. Many stories in the Bible find ways to use everyday examples of God’s Wisdom. This study will use the adage, “Raising children is like tending to a hive“. Like bees work tirelessly to maintain their hive, parents continuously nurture and care for their children. The ideas formed for this study come from an article1https://www.facebook.com/share/p/165yDz71Bf/ on how a beehive replaces its leader, the queen bee, in the event of her death.
Everything appears bleak when a beehive loses its queen, which is essential for laying eggs and maintaining order in the colony. The hive’s activity slows, and the colony’s future is uncertain without new eggs. Within a few weeks, the colony could face extinction. However, the bees do not panic or look for help from the outside. Instead, demonstrating remarkable collective intelligence and instinct, they initiate extraordinary emergency procedures that seem almost unimaginable in the insect world.
The replacement begins with essential but straightforward choices. The worker bees choose common larvae—those who are mere workers. They are nothing special. They are not born different. But their fate changes completely. Here, we gain insight into God’s amazing plans and learn how we can impact a child’s life. Yes, every child, like an ordinary bee, can be nurtured to become a leader among their peers. More importantly, every child can be nurtured to have faith in God. First, let’s look at the bees.
The larvae selected to become the future queen are fed a special Royal Jelly, secreted through a gland in a nurse bee’s head. This rare food source, produced by healthy bees, is rich in proteins, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, making it truly royal. Unlike other larvae, those fed exclusively on royal jelly undergo a different developmental process. Within just a few days, their bodies start to change significantly. Their ovaries become active, and they grow larger and stronger. Remarkably, their lifespan increases nearly twenty times that of regular bees. The selection of the queen is not based on genetics; instead, she is shaped by the nurturing provided by the colony. One of the selected larvae will emerge as the future queen, who will not work but command. She will not follow a routine but will give life to the hive.
This process is inspiring, as worker bees and queens share the same genetic code. DNA does not dictate destiny. Instead, the nourishment and attention provided by the bees in the hive shape their futures. Imagine, in a compassionate society, the possibility of transforming an ordinary child into an extraordinary faith-filled person through care, a nurturing environment, and unwavering support, achieved solely through love and encouragement from family, without any genetic intervention.
(Proverbs 22:6)2NIV New International Version Translations – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
The Bible offers numerous verses emphasizing the importance of nurturing and guiding children with love, discipline, and wisdom. To the hive, a leader is born out of a crisis. This does not just save the larvae; it saves the entire beehive. Once the new queen is ready, she takes over the hive, begins to lay eggs, restores order, and begins a new cycle of collective life. Once threatened with extinction, the colony is reborn stronger, more organized, and more balanced. This metaphor holds for the Christian family as well. If future generations are to live under God’s generous Grace as Christ’s Church, God-fearing children do not happen; they are nurtured in their faith to believe in God.
Providing children with the necessary care, environment, and support is essential to help them grow into strong, wise, and faithful individuals. Their families, the hive, must provide encouragement, discipline, and guidance in nurturing children, reflecting the transformative power of love and vision. This is the “Royal Jelly” that Christian children must be fed.
As in the hive, it is not what you start with that matters, but what you receive, how you are treated, and the decisions others make in difficult times. Sometimes, the strongest leaders are born during the most challenging times—not by chance, but through crisis, vision, and transformation. Our story illustrates that leadership and our Christian faith are not inherent traits but a result of nurturing, support, and the right conditions. It emphasizes the role of the community or society in shaping individuals into leaders through collective effort and vision. Even during times of crisis, faith can be strengthened by those experiences.
Click on the link below for ideas for raising the next generation to believe in God. This is a free resource in the downloads section of Lostpine.com.
Raising the Next Generation to Believe in God
Contemplations
- How does selecting and nurturing a new queen bee reflect the importance of one’s environment and care in human development?
- Ideas to Explore: How does the nurturing environment that parents and caregivers provide influence a child’s development and future potential? Consider the role of education, emotional support, and community involvement in shaping a child’s character and abilities.
- What can we learn from bees’ collective intelligence and instinct when faced with a crisis, and how can this be applied to human communities?
- Ideas to Explore: How does the concept of collective intelligence work in human societies, particularly during times of crisis? Investigate how communities can support one another, make informed decisions, and find practical solutions without relying on external assistance. Discuss the importance of resilience, cooperation, and shared vision in overcoming challenges.
- In what ways does the transformation of an ordinary larva into a queen bee illustrate the potential for greatness in every individual?
- Ideas to Explore: Reflect on the idea that every person has the potential for greatness, regardless of their background or initial circumstances. How do opportunities, mentorship, and encouragement unlock this potential? Consider real-life examples of individuals who have achieved remarkable success through perseverance and support.
- How does the metaphor of the beehive and the role of the queen bee relate to the concept of leadership in human societies?
- Ideas to Explore: Analyze the qualities and responsibilities of effective leaders in human societies and compare them to the role of the queen bee in maintaining order and ensuring the hive’s survival. Discuss the importance of vision, decision-making, and the ability to inspire and guide others in leadership.
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- 2NIV New International Version Translations