There’s a well-known story in the Bible about two mothers who came to King Solomon for advice. They each had recently delivered a baby boy, just three days apart. One of the mothers rolled over on her baby in her sleep and he died. That mother then quietly put her dead baby in bed with the other mother and took the living baby to her bed. When the sleeping mother woke up to find the dead baby at her side, she became suspicious. The women argued and decided to ask the king to rule as to which mother the living baby belonged to. (1 Kings 3-16)
Solomon hears their story and their request to determine who the rightful mother is. But his proposed solution is strange and frankly dreadful. He orders one of his servants to go fetch a sword and cut the living baby in half. Each mother would then have an equal share of the infant. Whoa!
If you read this story without any other context of who Solomon is, you’d assume that the man is crazy, or brutally cruel, or both. So, let’s back up a bit.
Not long after Solomon was crowned king — at a very young age — he had a dream. God said to him that he could ask for anything he wanted, and it would be granted. As king, Solomon probably assumed he would be rich. But there were many enemies of Jerusalem so it would be understandable if he had asked God to destroy them or make Solomon’s army always victorious in battle. He might have asked God to keep him and his family safe and healthy, to all live to a ripe old age, and then to die peacefully in their sleep.
Personally, if God were to grant me one wish I would have to ruminate on it for a while.
But the Bible gives no indication that Solomon had to think on it. He asks God to give him wisdom and discernment, especially in his role as king, governor, and judge of his people. God was so pleased with Solomon’s humble request that He grants this wish and also bestows on Solomon the riches and honor he didn’t ask for.
So, back to the two women and the king’s very strange solution to their plea. Because Solomon had unprecedented wisdom, and because he trusted God implicitly, Solomon knew that the baby would not actually end up sawn in two. But, the women don’t know that.
One of them immediately speaks up and says to the effect of, “Please do not saw the child in half! Let the other mother take him. I’d rather the child live and go with her than for him to die in such an awful way.”
Solomon, in his wisdom, knew the real mother would never consent to such an awful fate for a child. So, the baby lives and goes home with his real mother.
As a mother who has suffered the loss of a child, I can imagine how distraught the first mother was when she woke up and found her child dead. But I don’t think I could conceive of the awful deception she tried to force on the other mother. Even if such a thought entered my mind in my grief and sorrow, I could not deliberately put another mother through those emotions. I cannot fathom allowing an innocent baby to be murdered in such a horrific way as being sawed in half. But I have the perspective of someone who has been a bereaved mother for nine years and who has spent a lot of time talking to God and other grieving mamas during those years.
What I can understand is being willing to do anything to spare the living child’s life. Even if it meant my child had to be given to another mother. Even if it meant losing my own life.
I don’t have the wisdom of Solomon. Some days I forget to turn off my electric toothbrush before I take it out of my mouth. But I have gained some specific wisdom the hard way. And that’s to open up your heart and mind to God. He will help you with hard choices. And He will restore your life, your soul, and your love.
Maybe not in this world, but in eternity.
Laura
A Light for My Path 
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