2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (NASB)

Last November, my sister gave me a birthday present which she described as "so you". I have to agree — she was right. Her gift, The book of useless information, was perfect for me, since I have a very curious nature about a variety of things. In this book, one of the most horrifying, yet fascinating stories that I read happened in 1945 on a farm in Fruita, Colorado, USA. One particular chicken had survived decapitation, living without a head for about eighteen months; this unusual bird was called Mike the Headless Chicken. Scientists concluded that the farmer missed Mike's jugular vein and a blood clot prevented him from bleeding to death.

Now that I have learned this bizarre story, I am no better off than I was before. The book of useless information merely provided me with an amusing hobby. In contrast, the Bible also includes bizarre, seemingly useless facts; however, they are never without a meaningful purpose. Take for instance, this strange story:

Deuteronomy 3:11 – Only Og King of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites. (NIV)

Wow! That was some king-sized bed! Obviously, Og was a huge man, a descendant of a certain race of giants known as the Rephaites. However, since all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, there must be a good reason why the dimensions of Og's bed are recorded in this account. In looking at the whole picture, Og was one of the most feared warrior kings prior to the Hebrew people's entrance into the promised land. Perhaps the size of his bed is meant to emphasize the greatness of Israel's victory over such a powerful enemy. It is also a wonderful application for believers today, encouraging us to trust the Lord as we face spiritual giants in our everyday lives.

Therefore, nothing in God's Word is ever useless, no matter how strange it may seem. The challenge for us is to search the Scriptures for understanding as we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Then, whatever we learn will become useful information to help us in every aspect of living.

Prayer: Lord, according to Your Word, we call upon Your Spirit to guide us in the knowledge and understanding of the holy Scriptures. Grant us the wisdom to make every part of Your Word useful for training in righteousness and truth. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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About the author:

Lori Ciccanti <dlalsina@mchsi.com>
Ocean View, Delaware, USA
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