The lucky thumb


Funny story in church yesterday. You may have heard it before. Here’s my re-telling.

This African chief has a great pal, with whom he does everything – they hunt together, fish together, eat together etc.

One day, the chief gets his hands on a rifle. All excited about his new acquisition, he goes out into the jungle to test it with his pal. Unfortunately, the rifle is a bit faulty and the first time he fires it, it blows off his thumb!

The pal tells him “Don’t worry, this is great, everything will work out well!”

To which the irate chief replies “AAARRRGGH are you CRAZY?! I just lost my thumb!” And upon their return to the village, the fuming chief throws his pal into jail (so much for the rule of law).

A year later, the chief’s pal is till in jail, but the chief feels well enough to go hunting again. Wisely, he decides to stick with his trusty spear this time. Unfortunately, he gets captured by a bunch of vicious cannibals! Just as the cannibals are lowering him into the cauldron with the turnips and onions, they notice that his thumb is missing. Being a superstitious lot who won’t eat anything that isn’t whole, they decide to release him and chase him away.

The relieved chief returns home, and then remembers his poor pal who’s still stuck in jail. He gets his pal out of jail and says “You were right, blowing off my thumb worked well for me after all – will you forgive me for putting you in jail?”

To which his pal replies “Oh chief, it was great, everything worked out well.”

The astounded chief says “How can that be? You were stuck in jail for a whole year!”

And his pal says “Well chief, if I hadn’t been in jail, I’d have been with you, and I’d be dinner right now.”

Rather similar to the Sword in the Stone story don’t you think? Except we know that it is not coincidence, but God’s work in our lives. All things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! Rom 8:28

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