While we spend ample time talking about language arts, math, science, and history in our home, one of our main focuses is teaching our children how to discern situations in life. The wrong decision at the wrong moment can change the entire course of their lives and their legacy.
When the Ten Tribes split from Judah, Jeroboam became their king. Depending on what translation one uses, he was described as “very able and industrious” (ESV), and “a mighty man of valor.” (KJV) The wisest of all kings, King Solomon, put him in a position of authority until it was prophesied that he would be king over Israel, at which time Solomon sought to put him to death.
According to the word of the prophets, he became king and received the promise that God would make him a sure house—just like David—if he demonstrated continual obedience. Sadly, out of fear that his people’s hearts would be turned back to Judah when they went to make yearly sacrifices at Jerusalem, he decided to make two calves. As bad as that decision was for his generation, over a dozen kings after him continued worshipping the golden calves, dooming Israel to a future judgment.
The thing that stands out about this story is the calves were purely a social construct, a human invention of King Jeroboam. They had absolutely no inherent value in and of themselves and, obviously, no transcendent meaning. Still, the Israelites served these two metal beasts for over 250 years without even questioning why they were doing it. One person, motivated purely by fear, committed an action that directly influenced millions of people. Sadder yet, the calves were not even real, making them the equivalent of a young child’s imagination.
In making decisions, our children must look past the inventions of man and look to God’s Word for His principles, patterns, and precepts lest they build on the sinking sands of man’s folly. Like Jeroboam’s calves, so many people buy into cultural lies that are shallow and temporary. They have no inherent worth of themselves but only that which culture heaps on them through a lot of social media hocus pocus. Unfortunately, the line of gullibility—in this the information age—stretches around the corner to the next generation.
It is imperative that we teach our children to look past the social constructs of their day, the ones promoted by all the cultural powerbrokers and advertised 24/7. In a short amount of time, they will be leaving the experience and guidance of their parents. When they can see through the world’s lies, they will see the truth of God’s Word standing as a bulwark, leading them in the way they should go.
-300x147.jpg)
