Have you ever thought about the many things we teach our children during the time they are with us? We teach them life basics like how to eat, how to walk and how to talk. We help them get dressed. As they get older, we teach them how to cook and how to clean.
But the most important thing we teach our children is our faith.
Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children.
Deuteronomy 4:9
This will probably sound odd to some, but the book of Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Much of Deuteronomy is a review and summary of the law, but nestled in between this review are valuable words of wisdom from Moses. Today’s verse is one we should pause and consider.
Moses is speaking to the Israelites. They are on the edge of the Promised Land. Moses is old and will die soon. As he considers his life and experiences, he gives us this verse.
He warns us to be careful and keep our soul lest we forget the things we saw. What specifically did the Israelites see and experience from God?
When they were leaving Egypt, God sent 10 plagues. Then, when it seemed they would have no escape, God parted the Red Sea and he wiped out the Egyptian army.
God led them through the wilderness with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. God’s very presence was with them every day.
God provided food and water throughout the 40 year journey.
God would fight for them over and over again.
And yet, they would forget all of God’s goodness and provision for them. It’s human nature. When times are good, we are happy and when times are hard we grumble and complain. Through it all, we forget. We especially forget God’s work in our lives.
Moses says to remember all the works of God in our lives and pass our faith to our children and our children’s children. Tell them about miracles, tell them about how God works in our lives, tell them about how God has worked through all history and is still working.
If we don’t tell of God’s works, we will forget them and our children will not know them.
God is faithful to us, let’s be faithful teaching our children of his works.
