God loves it when KIDS ask questions.
A few years ago, sickness forced me to join the ranks of the “shut-in saints” for several months. To be honest, what I missed most was my Sunday School class—a class of twelve exceedingly bright, beautiful, energetic, and (mostly) well-behaved preteens. They knew their Bible. Most of them could rattle off the books of the Bible in perfect order—and I couldn’t beat them in a sword drill. It was always hard for me to find a Bible question that at least one of them could not answer correctly, and I was often happily shocked that they knew the most obscure Bible story before I could teach it. I was delighted that these kids had such a love for the Bible, and I knew that it was because of faithful parents teaching the Word of God at HOME.
And that thought brings me to this: we see clearly in Scripture that God’s passion is keen for children, to know and to grow in the understanding of His Word and His ways. He welcomes all their questions—and has answers ready for them. Again and again, God emphasizes faithful diligence in allowing the littles access to His Word:
“Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 GNT)
“Take to heart all the words of warning which I am speaking to you today; and you shall command your children to observe them carefully … For it is not an empty or trivial matter for you; indeed it is your [very] life.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47 AMP)
“Jesus said, Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14 ESV)
No less than THREE times in Scripture, God instructed Israel with OBJECT LESSONS specifically for the children, to pique their curiosity and to answer their questions:
- “Why this SERVICE?” The LORD commanded Moses to say: “You shall observe (Passover) for an ordinance forever … and when you come into the land which the LORD will give you … when your CHILDREN shall say ‘What does this SERVICE mean?’ you shall say ‘It’s the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, who passed over the children of Israel in Egypt … and delivered us.’” (Exodus 12:24-27)
- “Why these STATUTES?” Again, the LORD commanded Moses to teach Israel: “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes … and do what is right … And when your SON asks, ‘What mean these STATUTES …?’ you shall say ‘We were slaves in Egypt … and He brought us out … and commanded us to do them … for our good always.” (Deuteronomy 6:17-25)
- “Why these STONES?” The LORD commanded Joshua: “Take you twelve stones … that this may be a sign, that when your CHILDREN ask, ‘What mean these STONES?’ then you shall answer them … ‘The waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD (here!) … and these stones shall be for a memorial.’” (Joshua 4:1-7)
Why did the LORD specifically include tangible things like SERVICES, and STATUTES, and STONES in Israel’s redemption plan? Perhaps just to use them as talking points in order to prompt the children’s questions and to give them answers. When kids get answers to their GOD-questions while they’re young, they grow up able and equipped to give answers for their faith as adults.
Another evidence that God is concerned for the young to have firsthand access, knowledge, and understanding of the Word of God is the Book of Deuteronomy. In that last book of Torah, Moses’ main message is: “REMEMBER!” Moses clearly reiterated and summarized the terms and conditions of God’s covenant for the benefit of this “new generation” of Israel. As if to say: “Let me say it again one last time” for those who were born in the wilderness—after Sinai and after their fathers were turned back at Kadesh-Barnea for unbelief. This “second law” was given not to be redundant, but as a gift to the Wilderness Kids who hadn’t heard it the first time … and with a few additional gems thrown in, like the crown jewel: the SHEMA. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” (Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV)
God’s instructions for the faith training of our children is crystal clear:
- TEACH them (Deuteronomy 6:7)
- TRAIN them (Proverbs 22:6)
- CORRECT them (Proverbs 29:17)
- DON’T PROVOKE them to anger (Colossians 3:21)
- PROVIDE for them (1 Timothy 5:8)
- LET them come to JESUS (let them ask and get answers to their questions) “for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mark 10:14)
“What is required of us is, that we should implant a love of the Word; that the most delightful moments of the child’s day should be those in which his mother reads for him, with sweet sympathy and holy gladness in voice and eyes, the beautiful stories of the Bible.” —Charlotte Mason
If we don’t teach our children how to read a map, how will they find their way when technology fails? If we don’t give our kids a compass, how will they know which direction to go? If we don’t instruct them in God’s Word—if we don’t inspire them to ask questions, if we don’t provide the tools to find answers—and if we never have the courage to say, “This is the way. Walk in it!”—then who will teach the ways of the LORD to the next generations?
“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11 NIV)
