What are we teaching our children?

“…that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’“
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.13.12-15.NKJV

Matthew Henry’s commentary on exodus 13:12-15 puts it like this…

“1. Children should be directed and encouraged to ask their parents questions concerning the things of God, a practice which would be perhaps of all others the most profitable way of catechising; and parents must furnish themselves with useful knowledge, that they may be ready always to give an answer to their enquiries. If ever the knowledge of God cover the earth, as the waters do the sea, the fountains of family-instruction must first be broken up.

2. We should all be able to show cause for what we do in religion. As sacraments are sanctified by the word, so they must be explained and understood by it. God’s service is reasonable, and it is then acceptable when we perform it intelligently, knowing what we do and why we do.”

Uh, wow.

Mamas, daddys, we gotta know Jesus.

We gotta have, share and honor His presence in our lives.

One of the first things that God told Moses to tell the people after crossing the Red Sea, was to sanctify the firstborns, for seven days eat unleavened bread, and then to explain it to your sons… why?…

Exodus 13:8- “explain to your son on that day, ‘it is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt’…

Why do we do what we do?

Do our kids know?

What is behind our spiritual rituals and sanctions?

Do we teach our kids why, in a way they understand?

Do we know why?

Do our kids know what God has done for us, personally?

What better way to spread Jesus to the next generation, than by telling them all about what He’s done?

The real rescue.

The heart healed.

The sickness slayed.

They may not fully get it right now, but they will.

And they will learn how to teach their children, and share their testimonies…

And on and on it will go…

All to glorify the Father.

To praise His name.

So they will teach their children, and the salt and the light of His Word will preserve the world, giving everyone a chance, until Jesus returns.