24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. – Exodus 12:24 – 28
God created the family to teach us about his nature and the relational nature of God and how he relates to his children. In God’s good design parents are given the closest proximity and greatest influence over their children. They have the incredible privilege of helping their children discover the world and teaching them to know, love, obey and trust the One who made them. God calls parents to recount the past faithfulness of God, declare his works and teach his commands. (Family Discipleship, 3-4)
I was working in a Moshav in Israel in 1999 for the most part of the year and had the pleasure of celebrating the Passover with the families that worked there. The members of the Moshav were Messianic Jews, so they believed in Jesus, Yeshua Hamashiah and would teach how it related to Jesus as well. It struck me as I saw the families instruct their little ones that they were the direct descendants and thousands of years later still obeying the instructions as a lasting ordinance.
What an important calling, to reflect the gospel, the very nature of God and instruct and disciple our children to know, love and obey God. The earthly pressures of providing opportunities for our children be it hobbies, tutoring, good education or leaving them a big inheritance all pale in comparison to this high calling.
With advent and Christmas coming, think of new, intentional ways you can teach your children, grandchildren, or children in your wider church family about the coming of Christ into this world.
Petrina Rangiawha – Creek Road
