I enjoy the privilege of regularly teaching children God’s word. Often, however, I find myself wondering if it is worth it. What is going on behind their absent stares? Are they listening as their eyes dart from dis-traction to distraction?
The worth of teaching the coming generations is a theme that strikingly permeates the book of Deuteronomy. Repeatedly Moses encourages the older generations to teach the younger. This was not simply to entertain children or offer additional options for corporate worship. Rather, it is because it is worth it.
Experiences
To begin, Moses encourages the Israelites to share their experiences of God with the coming generations. He warns them to be careful ‘lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children’ (Deut. 4:9). Moses reiterates the point immediately (Deut. 4:10).
Despite never laying eyes on God’s form, they had witnessed what he was capable of. The Israelites experienced the Exodus, finding themselves at the foot of Mount Sinai as Moses received the Law. These experiences, among others, were to be taught to the coming generations, serving as a constant reminder of God’s mighty deeds.
Christians are the constant recipients of God’s sovereign grace and his bittersweet providences. Our responsibility is to share these experiences with the coming generations.
Truth
It is not uncommon for our experiences to cause misconceptions of who God is and how He acts. Therefore, Moses offers a reminder to teach children truth about God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 contain the Shema. This is essentially a confession of faith. By reciting the Shema the Israelites declared truth about God: He is one and He is worthy of His people’s love and devotion.
Moses leaves his hearers and readers in no doubt: diligently teach the Shema to children (v.7). There is truth about God that must be known, believed, and acted upon. This needs to be communicated to the coming generations.
Commands
Moses then encourages the Israelites to teach their children the commands of God. After detailing the ethical commands of God, Moses explicitly states: ‘You shall teach them to your children’ (Deut. 11:19).
Moses proceeds to give practical advice on teaching children the commands of God: ‘talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise’ (Deut. 11:19-20). All of life offers opportunity to teach children the commands of God.
This is not a mere exercise in morality. As Christians, we are the beginnings of God’s new creation in a world ravaged by sin and its effects. We are called to the narrow path of putting things right in a world gone wrong. This calling involves learning to live life to its God-glorifying-fullest, then teaching others to do likewise.
There is a telling progression throughout Deuteronomy from our experiences, to truth about God, to the implications of that truth for our lives. This is capped by the most (in)famous and intriguing verse in Deuteronomy: ‘The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law’ (29:29). In context, the ‘things …revealed’ refer to the book of Deuteronomy. Today, the Old and New Testaments constitute God’s revelation. The point is obvious: teach children the things revealed; namely, Scripture.
Finally, Moses reminds the Israelites it is impossible to teach that which they do not understand: ‘Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children’ (Deut. 32:46).
This is a rallying cry to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2 Peter 3:18). We must continue to take to heart all God has communicated in his word. We must care for our own souls if we hope to care for the souls of the coming generations.
Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses compels us to teach children because of the inherent worth of teaching the coming generations.
