You know how sometimes you think you're quoting Scripture perfectly, feeling all-wise and inspired, only to find out you’ve been loud, wrong, and embarrassingly confident? Well, grab your favorite cup of tea, because I’ve got a story for you.
For years, I’ve been running around casually dropping, “And a child shall lead them,” like it was my personal Bible mic drop. I’ve used it to explain everything. A toddler cleaning up toys? “And a child shall lead them!” A teenager volunteering at church? "And a child shall lead them!” My little cousin winning a family Uno game? Oh, you already know: “And a child shall lead them!”
This all changed when I decided to unleash my *wisdom* on my missionary sister. I can hear the conversation now:
Me: You know, like it says in the Bible—‘And a child shall lead them!’”
Her: (cue gentle laughter) "Sis, that’s not what that scripture means."
Wait, what? My go-to verse wasn’t a general catch-all for youth doing amazing things. Surely, she must be mistaken!
But no. Of course, as any good missionary does, she sent me the full passage of Isaiah 11:6. You know, context—that thing we love to skip over when quoting the Bible:
"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together, and a little child shall lead them."
Then she explained: This verse is about the peace and unity of God’s kingdom. It’s not about kids showing us how to live—it’s about a world restored, where natural enemies coexist in harmony, and a child leads them in that context of peace and innocence.
Mind blown. Here I was, tossing this verse out in ways that had absolutely nothing to do with biblical peace or wolves chilling with lambs. And here she was, breaking it down with love and grace.
This moment got me thinking: How often do we quote Scripture without actually knowing what we’re talking about?
We’re quick to throw out verses like “God won’t give you more than you can handle”* (not in the Bible, by the way!) or “Money is the root of all evil” (close, but incomplete—it’s the love of money). We recite half-truths, misconceptions, and things we heard in passing, all with the confidence of someone who studied the Word.
But Scripture deserves better than our casual misquotes. The Bible isn’t just a collection of catchy soundbites for Instagram captions—it’s God’s Word, full of depth, wisdom, and context that requires us to actually dig in.
Here’s the lesson I took from this (besides, you know, the actual meaning of Isaiah 11:6): It’s okay to not know everything. What’s not okay is staying there.
There’s beauty in admitting we got it wrong. God doesn’t call us to be perfect theologians He calls us to seek Him earnestly. That means opening our Bibles, asking questions, and being humble enough to accept correction, even when it comes with laughter and side-eyes from your sister.
So now, I’ve retired my “and a child shall lead them” hot takes, but I’ve gained something much greater: a reminder to approach God’s Word with the reverence and curiosity it deserves.
And hey, if you’ve been quoting Isaiah 11:6 loud and wrong like me, don’t feel bad. At least we’re learning. One misused Scripture at a time.
And as we learn, let’s not shy away from digging deeper, asking questions, and seeking context. Scripture is rich and layered, offering new insights every time we engage with it. Missteps along the way aren’t failures—they’re opportunities to grow, refine our understanding, and to draw closer to God. So, let’s keep going, one verse, one chapter, one revelation at a time.
Join the conversation
Ever had a “whoops” moment with a Bible verse? Me too! Let’s laugh, learn, and grow together as we uncover the depth and context of Scripture. 🌱
📖 Here’s how you can join in:✔️ LIKE this post if you’ve ever quoted something out of context (guilty as charged!). 💬 COMMENT with your favorite Bible verse—or one you’ve learned to understand better over time. 🔄 SHARE this blog with someone who loves discovering God’s Word (or needs a gentle nudge to open their Bible!).
Together, we can encourage one another to dig deeper into God’s Word and grow in faith, one verse at a time. 🙌
"And a Child Shall Lead Them": Loud, Wrong, and Full of Faith
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