Creator, Father, King #97

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

ISRAEL HAD DEFEATED KING Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, two powerful Amorite rulers. Now, God’s people were encamped just east of the Promised Land. Moses addressed them as they prepared to enter their long-awaited home. Battles followed by a sermon? Now there’s a long-lost concept in warfare!

Moses’ lengthy discourse fills nearly the entire book of Deuteronomy. But chapter 6 features some of his most important words:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

What’s It Mean?

This is a critical Old Testament passage—one that most ancient Jewish children would know by heart. Every Israelite was to be wholeheartedly devoted only to God, and parents were to take daily opportunities to teach their children to love and obey him.

Similarly, Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.” God’s most glorious deed, of course, is providing his Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Verses 5-6 describe a process where multiple generations would hear about God’s powerful works of salvation.

The point is clear: God wants the good news of salvation to be passed down primarily through families. Pastors, evangelists, Christian schoolteachers, and Christian organizations are all important to spread the gospel. But for children, God wants the gospel message to start with parents, in the home.

Are your parents faithfully teaching you Scripture? If so, praise God! If not, you can commit to starting that generational trend with your children one day—and thank the Lord that he graciously enlightened you with the truth of the gospel in a different way!

Now What?

Start serving in your church’s children’s ministry or elsewhere to make a gospel impact on the next generation.

Did You Know?

Both the Old and New Testaments attest to God’s heart for strong families rooted in his Word.