Teaching the Children

 

Old Testament Admonition

 

What should b e the prayer of every parent?

 

“Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” Judges 13:8. 

 

Note – This is part of the prayer of Manoah, the father of Samson.

 

How should our children be taught?

 

“All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.

Isaiah 54:13.

 

What will happen if a child is not properly instructed?

 

“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.”

Proverbs 29:15.

 

How earnestly should parents teach their children the things of God?

 

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19.

 

Old Testament Examples

 

How did Solomon’s parents regard him as a child?

 

“When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother.”

Proverbs 4:3.

 

What does Solomon say his father did for him as a child?

 

“He taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.” Verse 4.

 

From what time does the psalmist say he was taught?

 

“Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.” Psalm 71:17.

 

How was Moses taught during the days of his early childhood?

 

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the kings’ edict.” Hebrews 11:23.

Exodus 2:1-10.

 

Note – The hiding of Moses was at a time when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had issued a decree that every Hebrew male child should be killed as soon as it was born, to prevent too rapid an increase of the Hebrews. The second chapter of Exodus tells the story of the finding of Moses by the king’s daughter, and his being brought up by his own mother employed as a nurse. She was a woman of faith, and her teaching of Moses was such that after he had been at the Egyptian court till he “was come to years,” he chose to suffer affliction with God’s people rather than to enjoy the honor of succeeding to the throne of Egypt as the adopted heir. He became the leader of God’s people when they escaped from the Egyptian bondage, and after he died, he was raised to life and taken to heaven. (See Hebrews 11:24; Jude 9; Matthew 17: 1-13.)

 

How did his father regard Joseph?

 

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. Genesis 37:3.

 

Note – The record of Joseph’s life, found in Genesis 37-50, shows that he lived intimately with his father till he was seventeen years of age. He must have been carefully taught of God also, for in all his marvelous experience as slave, prisoner, and premier of Egypt, he remained true to his heavenly Father, not a single sin being recorded of him to the day of his death.

 

New Testament Instruction and Example

 

How should all Christian parents bring up their children? 

 

“Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.

 

How early does Paul say Timothy was instructed?

 

“ And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures; which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.  

 

Reward and Blessing

 

What reward in this life is promised the faithful mother?

 

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praise her.”

 Proverbs 31:28.

 

What beautiful picture of homelife is drawn by the psalmist for the father who fears the Lord?

 

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” Psalm 128: 3,4.

 

What motive will inspire all true parents to faithfulness in teaching their children?

 

“Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” Psalm 144:12.

 

Note – We often hear the saying, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” This agrees with the saying of the wise man. “Train up a child in the way he should go: when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. No father or mother knows the future of the little child prattling about the home circle. But God knows, as He did in the case of Moses and Esther and Timothy. Whether it is His purpose for some of our children to rule the world, as did Joseph and Daniel virtually, as prime ministers, or’ for them to “stand before kings,” as did Moses and Esther and Daniel, or for some of them to serve and suffer for the name of Christ, as did Peter and John and Paul, it is our sacred privilege to teach our children faithfully and diligently during their tender years.

 

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