Dear Ezra,
Happy birthday #7 girlie.
I know that you are fond of unicorns. Did you know that unicorns are mentioned in the Bible?
- “God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.” (Numbers 23:22 KJV)
- “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. “(Ps 92:10 KJV)
- “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” (Ps 22:21 KJV)
- “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?” (Job 39:9-10 KJV)
There are nine references in all, so this is just a sample. But you get the point. There are unicorns in the Bible. Sort of!
You will notice that each reference is to the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). You will not find “unicorn” in modern translations like the ESV or the NIV. In those translations you will see “wild ox.” It is thought that the word in the original language (Hebrew) referred to something like a large, wild, powerful animal – perhaps similar to a wild ox, but that is now extinct.
Certainly it was NOT referring to the cute mythological animal so often depicted in children’s literature and coloring books today and that you are so fond of. My guess is that you would not enjoy unicorns so much if you thought it looked like a wild ox – even though oxen are cute in their own kind of way.
But the word unicorn has recently taken on a distinct meaning in our 21st century culture. It has come to mean “something that is unique, very rare, one-of-a kind.” It has been applied to businesses and people and ideas. I want to apply it here in two different ways.
Jesus is a unicorn! Have you ever wondered what the term “only begotten” means? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” That is not a phrase that you hear in everyday conversation. To be “only begotten” means one of a kind, unique, one and only. And that certainly describes Jesus. He was unique in His relationship to God the Father. He was unique in the details of His birth. He was unique in that He never sinned. He was unique in the way that He taught and the miracles He performed. He was unique in the way He provided forgiveness for sin. He was unique in His resurrection and ascension. And He will be unique in His second coming and judgement. He is indeed one of a kind. Jesus is a unicorn!
You are a unicorn! The Lord has created you to be one-of-a-kind. He has created you in His image but unlike any other person that He has ever created. This is true right down to your DNA. This is true right down to your fingerprint. But even more importantly, this is true right down to your personality and the way that God has gifted you. I can already see this in your smile and in the fun way you connect to people and in the way that you react to things that happen.There is no one else like you and He has created you for a unique purpose and to uniquely influence the people you will come across during your lifetime. So I encourage you as you grow up to be on the lookout for just how God wants to use you and who He wants to use you to influence. You are a unicorn!
It is so much fun watching you grow up. May the Lord fuel you with His joy and gladness as He continues to shape you into the one and only Ezra Louise Reyner.
Never forget that you are very loved!
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