June 1, 2011

FAMILY DEVOTIONS

FATHERS

Part Two

MOSES:

THE FATHER OF THE EXODUS

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Eternal Life

Moses lived one hundred and twenty years (1525-1405 B.C.).  When he died, “his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated” (Deuteronomy 34:7).  Originally, the people of Israel fled famine in Canaan and moved to Egypt, and enjoyed the protection of Joseph, a Jew elevated to a high office in the Egyptian kingdom.  The Jews continued to live in Egypt, but long after Joseph died, a new Pharaoh enslaved and persecuted them.  About 1445 B.C., God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery and back to the promised land.  The people of God needed to learn about how to live in obedience and favor with Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:7

How To Love God.  As God instructed Moses about having a relationship with the living God, He told Moses that all Israel should know that Yahweh is their only God, and all of them must love Him with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).  Yahweh then gave Moses a specific command on how to pass the faith from generation to generation.

Teach Your Children. Yahweh commanded the people of Israel to teach His commands.  Fathers must diligently talk of God’s commands to their sons when they sit in their house and when they walk by the way and when they lie down and when they rise up (Deuteronomy 6:7).

 Teach Them All Day.  The teaching takes place all day, every day, so that the children will be well taught to love Yahweh, known in the New Testament as Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 11:19; Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).  Furthermore, Yahweh always intended for the children to learn from their parents so that one generation would teach the next (Exodus 12:26-27–teaching children about the Passover; Exodus 13:8, page 109–teaching children about the Feast of Unleavened bread; Deuteronomy 31:12–teaching the general assembly, specifically including the children, to hear and obey the Law).

Fathers Must Discipline.  Fathers must discipline their sons (Deuteronomy 8:5) and the rebellious and disobedient, gluttonous and drunkard sons were to be stoned so that the evil would be removed from the midst of Israel and all Israel would fear (Deuteronomy 21:18-21; compare 1 Corinthians 5:9-16–not stoning, but separation; Luke 12:49-53).  God gave specific instructions that fathers should not put up with disobedient sons.

          So we learn more about fathers and their role in daily devotions.

      ●  Being a father in Christ means that you teach your children to follow God.

      ●  Being a father in Christ means that you teach your children when you rise up, lay down, walk in the way, and sit in your house.

      ●  Being a father in Christ means we discipline our children, and if necessary, and they are adults, implement New Testament principles for dealing with so-called believers who bring shame upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application for Today

Moses delivered the law of God to the people of Israel.  God drew special attention to the teaching ministry of fathers.  God commanded fathers to teach their children all the time, every day.  Every father needs the support of the wife and every family member to cooperate with the father in teaching the children.  Are you ready to encourage fathers to teach their children today?  As a father, are you teaching your children today?