5 Year Old Prophet

Ken Krause, serving as the associate pastor of Bethany Church, has always had the reputation of being a Godly father-figure that all BCOM students and interns find themselves looking up to. Mentioning his name always brings smiles to the student body. For the men on campus, it is safe to say that they hope to be like Mr. Krause someday. This is a story of his son, Elijah.

March 1st, 2010
My son Elijah started Kindergarten about 3 weeks ago after having been home schooled for the first 6 months of his kindergarten year.  We fully expected we’d continue schooling him and our other children at home but abruptly the Lord led us to enroll him in a charter school in our area.  We struggled with the decision but made it believing it was the right thing to do and that the Lord was leading us.
We lay hands on him and pray for him each morning on his way out asking that he would be strong in the Lord, a light to his classroom, and a blessing to his teacher.  If you don’t know my son it’s worth stating that he’s an intense kid.  He loves to learn and demands that he understand everything.  Simple answers just don’t cut it with him (he’s 5 btw).  As we’ve taught him about the Lord both my wife and I have regularly been challenged in our ability to articulate the nature and character of God because of his insatiable desire to understand.
At school yesterday the class was learning about Native American history.  At one point they were discussing how they planted corn, and when the rain didn’t come they would pray to their rain god, Kokopelli.  The teacher asked each student to write in their planner, ‘Kokopelli brings rain’.  Well, Elijah at 5 was certain that wasn’t true and made his way up to his teacher to declare the incorrect nature of the statement he was asked to write.  With great conviction he held his ground and instead of obeying instructions he decided to write, ‘Kokopelli isn’t true!’.  That’s the kind of rebellion I’ll always encourage from my children.  He knew and was willing to stand on his conviction that we worship the One True God and Kokopelli is a false idol made by the hands of man that is nothing.
It was an emotional experience for him as the teacher pressured him to conform and I told him on the phone that I’d spend some special time with him when I returned from work so we could talk through all that happened.  Up until I made this offer he wasn’t really interested in talking to me about it but then he asked if we could go to Chuckee Cheese (CC henceforth) for his special time.  Truth be told I hate CC but what’s a Dad to do?  On our way there we talked about all that happened and I encouraged him with the words of Daniel, ‘And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.’  Elijah stood out like a star in the universe in his stand for righteousness at the age of 5 without any parental presence.  I’ve not had such a proud moment in my life that I can recall.  On our way home after winning 68 tickets at CC I reminded him that the Lord named him Elijah and today was a day that a 5 year old was a prophet.  I asked him, ‘have you ever heard of a 5 year old prophet?’  His response was awesome, ‘No, but I’ve heard of an eight year old King!’

Jeremiah 14:22 – Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?  Or can the heavens give showers?  Are you not he, O LORD our God?  We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.