There are many lessons we can learn from it. The most important lesson we learn is taking aim at the target. In archery we must aim at a target, like the one shown here, in order to get the desired goal, a bullseye.

Let’s look at a little history about archery. Archery dates back to the beginning of time. Archery is referenced in the Bible in the books of Genesis and Revelation. It is used for gathering food and for protection. Some cultures in the world today still use archery for both food gathering and protection. Archery is first referenced in the Bible in Genesis 21:20 , "And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became and archer."

This dates archery to over 6000 years ago. Archery was the chief means of hunting and protection until the development of gunpowder. Archery was improved upon in first in Asia and again in England. Archers played a great part in the fall of the Roman Empire shortly after when Jesus was here on earth.

The English made archery famous in war and legend in the 1300 & 1400’s. Much of what we think about archery today is due to the English. The English longbow, was capable of shooting an arrow 300 yards and at closer range could put an arrow through a solid wood door.

The American Indians adopted the bow and arrow after the Spanish and English brought them here in the 1500’s. Today we have many different kinds of bows and arrows, thanks to new technology and materials, but the use of the bow and arrow still remains the same.

Archery is talked about throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It is talked about for hunting in Genesis 27:3, "Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison." Archery is talked about in sport in I Samuel 20:36, "And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot."

The Bible also talks about great armies of archers in I Chronicles 5:18, "The sons of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Menasseh, were valiant men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow and skillful in war, were four and fourty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went to war." It would be a pretty awesome and scary sight to see an army of 44,760 men shooting arrows at you !

The bow can also be deadly. II Kings 9:24 says, "And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.