How much more?

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" – Luke 11.11-13

This passage continues talking about prayer. It focuses on a father and his son communicating about the son’s needs. I love the picture of God as our Father and how Jesus uses the illustration of father and son to illustrate prayer and talking to Him.

I have to acknowledge that not every family is perfect. Sadly the illustration doesn’t fit every family. The curse of sin produces some terrible situations and cruel brutal fathers are a part of that curse. This illustration is of a loving and caring father. For those who tragically don’t have that it pictures God as the Father who can fill that void.

A good father is not going to give his child a stone when he asks for a piece of bread. If a son asks for fish fingers we are hardly going to give him a snake. If he asks for a boiled egg we are not going to serve him a scorpion.

That just makes sense.

Why then would anyone that God refuse the Holy Spirit to those who ask? The Holy Spirit is the gift above all gifts. This was before the Holy Spirit took on His current ministry. Jesus was preparing His followers for the wonderful truth that one day God would pour out His Holy Spirit on all who ask for Him.

We as sinners know how to give our children what is best. How much more does our heavenly Father know how to give the Holy Spirit, that which is best of all.