Children's Bible Ministry of Connecticut, USA

Sugarcane

Sugarcane was brought to Europe from India in the 4^th century B.C. Until the discovery of America, most people thought of sugar only as a medicine. They used honey for sweetening.

By the 16^th century this had changed. Explorers took sugarcane to the New World, and it was grown in the Caribbean Islands. It soon spread to Latin America and to the southern part of what was to become the United States.

Before it reaches our tables, sugar has to be processed. First the cane goes through a machine to get out the sweet juice. Then the juice is boiled until it turns into a syrup. The syrup goes through several steps until it forms crystals.

Sugar can also be made from a root, the sugar beet. This was first discovered in Germany in 1741, but it was soon forgotten. In the 19^th century, however, when France was at war with England, the French emperor Napoleon did not allow English ships into European ports. Napoleon needed new sources of sugar, so he introduced the use of sugar beets.

Sugar is sweet, but there is something sweeter --- God's Word. The Psalmist wrote, "How sweet are Your words to my taste. Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103). Jeremiah said, "Your words were found and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16). John the apostle said, "I ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey" (Revelation 10:10). David said that it is "more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10). Job said, "I have esteemed the word of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). Moses said, "Man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:3). God's Word is sweet to the believer's soul.

Have you found God's Word to be sweet and wonderful? Do you read God's Word regularly? Do you read from it every day? If you do not have a Bible, why not read or even download part of the Gospel of John (pdf).

If I can be of help to you in knowing the Lord
or if you would like to write me a note write to:

"Mister Steve"