God, Israel, and Christian Parenting
Parental help from the revealed character of God in His dealings with Israel.
As one examines the relationship between God and the people of Israel it is obvious that it is a relationship filled with ups and downs. With a cursory reading of the Old Testament one can see the cycles of obedience and disobedience with the Israelites and the cycles of blessing and punishment from the hand of God. It is my intent in this paper to show that by observing and imitating God’s dealings with Israel the Christian parent will have the instruction and model of God-honoring parenting. There is much detail that the parameters of this paper will not allow but hopefully will give some food for thought.
Although God always does right it is evident that Israel, at least up to this point in human history, has not been the ideal “child.” Hence one could question the parenting skills of God with Israel and conclude that His methods aren’t ideal. But, knowing that God is perfect in all his ways and knowing that his relationship with Israel ultimately is not about modeling Christian parenting but about accomplishing the plan of redemption within the human race, we believe that there remains great value in observing God’s relationship with Israel and applying the lessons one can learn to Christian parenting.
In Hebrews 12:5-8 the author directly refers to God in the context of parenting: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” This passage, along with other references to God as “Father” and obedience to him, confirms that it is not out of bounds to consider the value of imitating God’s dealings with his people as a pattern for Christian parenting. To accomplish this we would like to examine the behavior of God as seen in the Old Testament dealings with Israel and extrapolate principles that will assist us in our parenting efforts.
God is the Authority
It may be unnecessary to establish the truth that God is the ultimate authority in the universe because it is so obvious but for the sake of creating a useful principle for parenting we will do so. In Genesis 1:1 is says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Being the creator of the universe, the progenitor of mankind, God holds inherent authority over every aspect of his creation. Everything is His. Nothing that exists is outside of his intrinsic authority. In Matthew 28 Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Who gave that authority to Jesus but God the Father?
Throughout Old Testament history we read of God’s authority over mankind, especially Israel. Exodus 20:2-3 says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”You shall have no other gods before me.” In saying, “who brought you out of the land of Egypt” God was establishing His authority over the people of Israel. He is the one who was responsible for their existence and sustenance so he had the right to rule over them.
In like manner the Christian parent is given authority over their offspring. The parents are the ones, under God’s providence, that are responsible for bringing their children into existence and so by nature have God given authority over their children. This authority is not earned as respect is earned but is intrinsic to being a parent. This authority over their children is presumed by God when instructions to parents are found in scripture. It is with this authority that parents must move forward in their parenting efforts to raise godly children.
God Instructs
All of scripture is essentially God’s instruction to His people. Psalm 119 speaks specifically of all the ways that the word of God is beneficial for instruction. In Psalms 19:7-8, for example, we see this explicit truth that God instructs his people: “the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The purpose of God’s word is to give simple people wisdom and to bring light to spiritually darkened eyes.
God gave specific instruction to the Israelites on many occasions. Starting with instruction to Abram while still living in Ur and continuing throughout the entire Old Testament history of Israel God gave explicit and clear instructions to his people. God’s instructions included everything from living arrangements, to diet, to parenting, to government, to worship, and to relationships. There is no area of life that God did not give instruction to the people of Israel.
This must be the model for Christian parenting. In Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6, not to mention numerous other references, parents are commanded to give clear biblical instruction to their children. The popular notion that some parents embrace to allow their children to grow up in an “unfettered” environment without clear objective instruction so they won’t be biased in any direction is blatantly unbiblical. Our children are gifts from God to be indoctrinated with the truths of God’s word. As God instructed the people of Israel so parents are to instruct their children.
Additionally, parental instruction must be gospel-saturated instruction. To instruct our children in biblical morals is a good thing but to neglect the all important instruction of the gospel is to miss the entire point. We should teach our children to be kind, honest, faithful, and loving, but to miss the point that these qualities flow out of a life regenerated by the Holy Spirit is to instruct in moralism which condemns the soul as much as any other “ism.” In Ephesians 6:4 Paul writes, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. “ “Of the Lord” is the key phrase here. Discipline and instruction in good deeds is good but not saving. Our instruction must be “of the Lord” and of his gospel. In the Old Testament Temple worship the Lord’s instruction to the people of Israel was gospel centered as well when thinking of all the types in temple worship from the brazen altar, to the table of shew bread, to the golden lamp stand, and to the Ark of the Covenant, which included the Mercy Seat.
God is Just
Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” One of the manifest character qualities of God as seen in the Old Testament is his justice. He is never unjust. He may apply mercy to a situation but he is never unjust. He treats people equally just. Job 34:19 “…who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?” R.C. Sproul writes, “God’s justice is never divorced from His righteousness. He never condemns the innocent. He never clears the guilty. He never punishes with undue severity. He never fails to reward righteousness. His justice is perfect justice.”[1]
Perfect justice is something that is impossible for the Christian parent to attain to for the simple reason that we are fallen sinners. But God’s perfect justice is the target and model for every Christian parent. To pursue parental justice is critical for child development and an understanding of the nature of God. In Old Testament history the justice of God prevailed over every circumstance Israel found herself in. When Israel sinned God disciplined unto correction. When Israel was obedient God blessed. God was perfectly just in Israel’s history. There were even times when God extended mercy (which is never deserved!), which parents should also imitate.
As Christian parents it is important to recognize the justice of God towards Israel and apply justice to the lives of the children He has given us. When our children obey we should bless them with some appropriate reward. When they disobey we should discipline them with an appropriate means. God’s discipline of Israel was always in proportion to their disobedience. Their years in Babylonian captivity were directly related to the number of years that they neglected the Sabbath. Christian parents should strive for justice in the means of discipline applied to any given transgression; and on occasion apply mercy to open the door to discussing the mercy of God for his people, as in Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”
God Restores and Reconciles
The verse just quoted from Micah is an example of God’s restoration of the people of Judah.
Even though the people of Judah had rebelled against the Lord and deserved to be sent into Babylonian captivity (which later happened) God, through Micah, speaks of his immutable commitment to his covenant promises and demonstrates his character as one who restores and reconciles his covenant people.
Imitating God on this level is one of the most powerful and instructive means in raising God-centered, gospel-embracing children. The gospel is a story about God who restores and reconciles his people to himself. Romans 5:10 says this clearly, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” In Christian parenting God gives abundant opportunity for parents to demonstrate what restoration and reconciliation mean. There is no lack of illustration of this truth in Old Testament history.
God is Loving
The love of God demonstrated to the people of God in the Old Testament is ubiquitous. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 beautifully describes this truth, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers (emphasis mine).” God simply loves Israel. No strings attached.
What a fantastic model for Christian parenting. To love our children simply because we have chosen to love them and not because they are smart, or good, or better than the neighbor kids is potent and God-like. It is a picture of God’s electing grace in salvation.
Conclusion
The character of God as revealed in his dealings with the people of Israel is helpful for the Christian parent seeking to train their children to love God. This paper has just scratched the surface of what could be discovered. God’s consistency, mercy, and patience could also be explored for great value. It is part of the nature of God that his revealed character is instructive to his people. May God grant us His mercy, as He did to the people of Israel on many occasions, as we endeavor to raise our children for the glory of God.
Pastor John Schubert
