God’s Education Through Consistency

If we are keen to learn about training our children, there is no better teacher than the Heavenly Father. He is able to show countless children the right way. We can learn a lot from Him, especially if we have a large family.

What impresses me most is the consistency with which God guides us. His word is law and does not change. When He says something, it will happen.

Biblical background for consistent training

I was particularly struck by God’s consistency as I read the book of Numbers recently. There we learn of the sin of Moses and Aaron that kept them from entering the Promised Land.

When the children of Israel gathered in the wilderness of Zin in the 40th year of their wandering in the desert, they once again had no water. God told Moses how to solve this dilemma.

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. (Numbers 20:8; KJV)

But Moses was apparently so angry with the people that he disobeyed God’s instruction and struck the rock instead of speaking to it.

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (Numbers 20:11, KJV)

Now the rock gave water. Nevertheless, Moses disobeyed, with painful consequences for him.

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (Numbers 20:12; KJV)

By his seemingly minor act of disobedience, Moses forfeited the chance to enter the Promised Land with the children of Israel. This, after 40 years of faithfully leading a rebellious people.

Moses’ wrestling with the Word of God

It is difficult to overlook the fact that Moses struggled with God’s decision. He brought up the subject again and again.

In his speech in the land of Moab, which spans the entire book of Deuteronomy, he mentions it twice and does not omit the part where he pleads with the Almighty to allow him to enter the land.

I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. (Deuteronomy 3:25; KJV)

But God was firm and would not yield. Every discussion Moses initiated was in vain. The word of the Almighty was settled. His training of the Israelites was always consistent.

An example for us

As parents, we can learn much from this story. Firstly, we should realize that our words must also stand. Everything we say to our children should be reliable statements.

Jesus once put it this way:

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matthew 5:37; KJV)

This also means that we should not make the expectations we have for our children the subject of discussion. The important thing is that they obey because, like our Heavenly Father, we see a little further than they do and want only their best.

Of course, we don’t want to raise our children to be will-less followers. Our goal is for them to become godly and thoughtful individuals who can fit into a community’s rules, even if they do not like them.

On the other hand, our consistent implementation of our words is also an orientation for the children. They can trust that the things mom or dad say will happen. That creates security and trust. It also teaches children a certain amount of commitment.

Conclusion

So let’s pay more attention to our words and only say the things we are going to do. Our parenting should be characterized by consistency. In this way, we help our children to learn obedience and give them a certain security in life.

This article was first published in German language on Torah-in-Family.de.

First publication in English was on Medium.com.