Teaching the Depth of Bible Stories to our Children

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“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.” 
Deuteronomy 6:6,7

Many passages in the Bible talk about ‘your children’ and ‘your children’s children’. God is deeply interested in our children and wants us to teach them about Him and His ways.

The Bible stories we teach our children are more than just stories – they show us how God has moved through history. Since God is the same yesterday, today and forever those stories apply to us and to our children today.

I used to skim over the story of David and Goliath because I’d heard it so many times growing up. But one day I read it more carefully and was amazed at the reality of David’s faith and what he shows us about the character of God.

Look at what David says to Saul:

“The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion 
and from the paw of the bear, 
He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 
1 Samuel 17:37

If we apply the principles we learn from just this one verse it can teach us that:

  • God is present – He was there then, and is now
  • God is personal – He was there for David, and will be for us
  • God is faithful – He had delivered David again and again, and will be faithful to do the same for us
  • God is supernatural & powerful – He is able to accomplish things that look impossible to us
  • God is our Saviour – He delivers us
  • David had unshakeable faith – he knew without doubt that these things were true about his God and that God would come through for him

So often when we teach children Bible stories we just tell them the story. But do we apply it? God put those stories in Scripture so we could use them as examples, and as ways of learning who God is.

I taught this story to my kids, and afterwards I said to them, “Why do you think David was so sure that he could kill Goliath?”

That’s a big question – most of us wouldn’t be so sure, would we?! But when they think about it they realise that David had faith in God because He had delivered him before and would again. He knew God was powerful and could deliver him. He knew that God was on his side and would deliver him.

It all comes down to David’s understanding of who God is, and his faith in Him. But is that how we understand God, and do our kids understand and believe that God is like that?

We need to show our kids that this and all the other Bible stories apply to them. God will be the same to them, and they can have faith like David. Can you imagine how much God could use us and our children if we had the kind of faith that David had?!

Linking up with Inspire Me Mondays

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