The Little Children
Laura Blair
“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Yeshua saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of Yahweh. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of Yahweh as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid hands on them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16
Why children? Why is the promise “to you and to your children”? (Acts 2:39) Why are we commanded to “teach them diligently to your children”?
I had a dream the other night. In the dream, the children had something that an enemy wanted. Two of my children were taken because they carried this “something”. It wasn’t just the “something” that the enemy wanted; the enemy had to stop the children. Of course, I was sad that I had lost two of my children, the youngest two by the way, but I was determined to do all that I could to stop this enemy. I went to everyone telling them, “the children know what has to be done; listen to them and give them anything that they need.” Some parents would not listen; in fact, they helped the enemy.
Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy…” At what age do we expect this to happen? Are we looking for our older children to prophesy? Yeshua took up the little children, the ones who could still sit on His lap. Do you know that there are charismatic churches across the country that have children on their prayer teams? There are articles on the internet about these children and the power they have in prayer. Many of them even prophesy.
But I still don’t know WHY? What do children possess that Yeshua encourages us to be like them? Let’s list some attributes of little children: trusting, no agendas, no pride, no guile or malice, joyful, teachable, and accepting. (generally, of course )
The covenant that Yahweh established with Abraham contained circumcision of the baby boys. The smallest of children were included into the family of Israel. They needn’t pass a test or say a prayer even. They were Israel because their parents raised them within the covenant. They were not supposed to be like the nations around them.
Why do our children know so much about “the nations” (the world) surrounding us? We don’t want to raise “insulated”, “uneducated” children… However, are we teaching His ways to our children as we sit, as we go, as we rest, and as we arise? Or are we leaving the training to others? Does our side even get equal time? Will our children have what they need to stand against an enemy? And how are we presenting Him? Are we diligent in our instruction, or lazy?
Let’s look closer at Deut. 6:4-9. This is lovingly titled “The Shema” by our Jewish brethren. “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh is our Elohim, Yahweh is One! And you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” So, our first responsibility is to hear. Are we listening? I know that my husband has been teaching our assembly about the Oneness of our Elohim. Yahweh is everywhere and in everything, especially in everyone. He is our Elohim, and yet He is in our children. He is in us, in our neighbors, in the strangers. Are we teaching our children to love Him in others? To respect Him in others? Are we telling them this, or showing them how it is done? “And…” denotes something follows. Loving Him with every part of us; our heart (which I would call mind), our soul (which I would call our emotions and personality), and our strength (which I refer to as resources: time, energy, and money). Do we love Him with all of those? Or is it just in our head? Lots of knowledge and words. Or are we very emotional about Him, but lack substance and wisdom? Are we serving Him with our time, energy, and money so much that we have nothing left for our children? Because first and foremost our love for Him shows up in our homes.
What is “diligently”? Diligent = marked by persevering, painstaking effort. In the Latin root is the idea of esteem and love, also to choose. Wow, that really encompasses the true meaning of training up our children in His ways, doesn’t it?! It isn’t easy. But we choose to because we are part of Israel. Hasn’t He given us every good gift in order to perform His will? (Eph. 4) His will for us is to teach our children His word while we are at home, while we are out and about, while we are sleeping, and when we get up. I think that about covers the whole day, 24/7/365. Teaching involves communication. In the Hebraic view, this includes lots of hands-on training, not just classroom jargon. Yahweh even gives us tools to do this, by His commands to have His word in our hands and in our minds. It’s to be written on the doorposts and gates of our homes. In other words, it is visible to everyone in the family as we come and go. His word is the first thing we see as we come into the house. It’s the last thing we see as we leave the house.
I Timothy 5:14&15, “I resolve therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, and guide the house, giving no occasion to the adversary to speak disdainfully. For some women have already turned aside after the enemy.” I like this version. The other versions say “manage the house” or “guard the house”. Are women really to be guarding the house, the shelter we live in? No. But we are the driving force IN the house, managing the lifestyle of the family, guarding little minds from evil, and guiding them down the way of Yahweh. What is the alternative? The adversary wins. The enemy gets our children.
Why does the writer of Ephesians say, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of Yahweh.”? A child who feels frustrated by angry parents is usually a perfect mark for the enemy. There are many people in the world, and in the child’s life, who will gladly reinforce the sense of injustice in them. Some people are miserable. They do not want to see a happy family living a righteous lifestyle. Righteousness convicts, and that makes the unrighteous uncomfortable. They want everyone else to be as miserable as they are. (Misery loves company, remember? ) Many actually rejoice when they see a family suffer with a rebellious child. Why is this exhortation to the fathers? I believe it is because the earthly father is the representation of the heavenly Father, especially to the young children. Our Father is not up there angry and upset, hurling insults at us for spilling the milk or breaking a vase. Nor is He too busy to listen to us; thank You, Father! Imagine that! Yahweh is never too busy to hear our prayers, to listen to us crying out our hearts. Daddies, please, take time to be a holy father to your children. Their lives depend on it.
So, mothers and fathers are very important in training up the children. The mothers are guiding, guarding, and managing the household. We usually know what mood everyone is in because we are the one to set the mood of the house. I’ve heard this before, “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” Proverbs 14:1, “The wise woman builds her house…” and Proverbs 31:26&27, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the teaching (law) of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” And what is her reward? The next verse (28), “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” The daddy is kind also, not quick tempered with his family. His reward will be a wife who respects him, and children who remain within the covenant of Israel.
Recently, we read an article about infant baptism. It was very interesting. The emphasis that the Christian Reformed church places on families being in covenant is enviable. I have always known that if I raise my children in the faith, there is no reason why they should have to have some remarkable salvation story. They do not have to go astray in order to know His grace and love. They will be raised as children of Israel, and Israel is who they ARE. I almost wrote “who they will become”, but that would have been wrong. Deut. 6:2, “that you may fear Yahweh your Elohim, to keep all His statues and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.” Who is He talking to? The next verse says, “Therefore, hear, O Israel…” Israel. The covenant can even continue to our grandchildren IF we are diligent to keep all His statues and commandments. A lot hinges on that “if”.
We’ve come full circle. Back to the question: Why children? Well, the obvious reason is because children become adults. What kind of adults do we want in this world? Selfish ones, those that turn aside after the enemy? Or righteous people out there being Light in the darkness? Our children will grow up and have children, the circle continues until He returns. But let’s not underestimate our children while they are yet children. They have many questions. They honestly seek for truth, not for an agenda or for prideful knowledge. They truly want to honor their El and King.
Just a short example of what I’m trying to say: The other day I took Ethan and Celora shopping for snow boots. Ethan just turned five, and Celora is seven. Christmas is about two weeks away… A nice lady ahead of us in line starting talking about baking Christmas cookies; we smiled. She then asked the children if they had seen Santa yet because she has seen him twice already! J We continued to just smile. Thankfully, she wasn’t really wanting an answer, she was just chatting on and on. We got out to the van and I made a comment about hating this time of year, and how inconsiderate that woman was. Celora said, “Mom, she was just being nice. She doesn’t know.” Then she and her brother started singing “we hate christmas…” in a sweet little chorus. They were able to keep their beliefs while being kind. Children are amazing. We can learn from them. Let the children come.