THE MULE THAT WOULDN’T MOVE (and the Prophet Who Did)01

THE MULE THAT WOULDN'T MOVE (and the Prophet Who Did)1 Samuel 15:23 KJV Eli tries to haul lumber with Silas the mule, whose stubbornness mirrors his own. The whittling grandpas tell the story of Jonah, and the kids imagine Jonah helping Eli learn humility. Eli calms down, apologizes to Silas, and the mule finally moves. Lesson: obedience and humility work better than force.When 14-year-old Eli, the most stubborn kid in town, gets stuck trying to haul lumber with Silas the mule (even more stubborn), the Mule Barn grandpas settle in with their pocketknives and say:"Boy, that mule reminds me of you more'n anything."While they whittle, the kids imagine a visit from Jonah, who tries to talk sense into Eli but ends up arguing with the mule instead. Jonah tells the truth about what really went through his mind in the belly of the great fish, teaching Eli that stubbornness can keep you from God's direction. The climax: Eli must choose whether to stay stuck—or swallow his pride.The 1 Samuel scripture names the sin—stubbornness—and connects it to a spiritual issue (idolatry), teaching Eli that his willfulness is blocking God's direction for his life.