How Shall We Order the Child?
Today’s Verse:
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? ~Judges 13:12
This morning, we are considering the question of “how” once again. We want to know how we will arrive at a certain destination. We want to know how to accomplish a task assigned to us. We want to know how something is possible. We are looking for direction and a pathway. Manoah wanted to know, “How shall we order the child?” This morning, let us consider the “how” of raising a child in the right way.
We see the instructional explanation.
“And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.” The Angel of the Lord that appeared to Manoah and his wife was none other than the preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to raise our children in a right way, we must follow the infallible teaching of God’s Word in its entirety. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” Prov. 22:6. Biblical training involves reverence, repetition, restraint, and the rod. The training of a child focuses on the spirit and the will of the child. Every child is born with a strong will. This strong will is unrestrained and seeks to have its own way. A child must learn early in life to submit to and respect all authority in his life. Reverence includes showing proper respect. Repetition is being taught how to do the right thing over and over again. Restraint is learning that there are barriers, curbs, and restrictions so that the appetite does not get its way in everything. The rod of discipline is used for correction from bad behavior. The purpose of the rod is to teach a child that there are consequences with behavior that is not good. The Bible gives us good instruction on child rearing.
We see the indispensable example.
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him,” Gen. 18:19. An integral part of training a child is setting a good example. Children do what they see. Children must see and learn from their parents the importance of doing and living right. Children learn to pray by watching and following their parents. Children learn to be thankful and helpful by watching and following their parents. My heart grieves for children who do not learn to appreciate the service of the Lord because their parents involve them in everything except the Lord’s work. As parents, the lack of a right example is one of many ways we can provoke a child to wrath. As parents, we must have a good example in our speech, our spirit, and our sincerity.
We see the inspirational exhortation.
“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,” 1 Thess. 2:11. As fathers, we are to be the greatest encouragers for our children. As encouragers, we help move and motivate our children to action and achievement. Paul describes to us three ways in which we encourage our children: we exhort, comfort, and charge. Children need to hear praise when they do well and have tried their best. At the same time, they need to be pushed to try harder and not give up easily. They need to be stirred in their spirit to exceed whatever marks they accomplished in the past. They must be motivated to succeed. When they experience a big disappointment, they need us to comfort them with our presence, our words, and a big hug. Children never forget that you were there for them when they needed love and support the most.
Manoah and his wife were given a vision for a son that would be great. They asked the Lord “how” to order the path of the child. Ask God to give you wisdom and the burning desire to raise a child that will impact his generation for the Lord.
Have a teachable God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 51-52