Isaac is a junior Bible quizzer. That in and of itself isn’t surprising. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of junior Bible quizzers. But Isaac is unique. He faces difficult challenges every day. Walking onto a platform in front of many people frightens him. It took him one full year of Bible quizzing to get comfortable looking at the quizmaster. Sitting with his head up for an entire quiz is a challenge. It is his natural tendency to rest his head on the table. And sometimes he does. But not in the finals or nationals. In those quizzes, he sits tall with his head up for the whole quiz.
Isaac will likely never hit the buzzer at a tournament and answer a question, even though he knows a few verses. Yet he is essential because his one quiz partner couldn’t quiz without him. Together they form a team. Besides that, Isaac loves Bible quizzing. Although it takes him far beyond his comfort zone, he does it because he wants to and never misses a tournament.
Despite not answering a question, Isaac placed fifth on the all-tournament team in a recent quiz meet. His quizmaster petitioned the quiz coordinator to allow Isaac to receive a “spirit” award rather than a “point” award and be on the all-tournament team. For Isaac, lining up with quizzers he didn’t know and letting someone put a medal around his neck and hand him a certificate was an unknown. But he did it, and no one was prouder of being on the team than Isaac!
Unseen to the audience, someone was celebrating with him. I believe Jesus was there, maybe accompanied by an angelic host. Perhaps they were clapping the loudest.
Although Isaac may never answer a question at a tournament, in the depths of his spirit, a special love for Bible quizzing pushes him beyond his comfort zone. We may never know what part of the powerful, living Word is reaching his understanding, but God knows.
Bible quizzing isn’t just a game. Memorizing the Word is a spiritual and powerful connection between God and man, between God and quizzers—including a little boy who cannot verbalize like his peers.
That is why a quizmaster may bend the rules, a coach will be flexible regarding her team, and a parent will sacrifice to make it happen. In the big, wide world of eight billion people, a little boy has a certificate and a medal that he will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you, quizmaster, coach, and mom. You are doing it as unto the Lord Himself. We applaud you and the almighty God who stated, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).
