Musing – Principles of Parenting from Our Loving Father God

Hebraic Musing – Principles of Parenting from Our Loving Father God

Here is a piece of wisdom from Jodi, mother of 13 children:   “Another aspect of parenthood is that good parents don't make rules that are arbitrary or meaningless.  They make them for the good of the child, out of love for the child.  If we reject God's laws, we are rejecting His wisdom, and questioning His motives--doubting His love and purposes.  What an insult! Of course, if we then say, ‘That was for the Jews,’ we open that same can of worms.  Did he give the Jews laws that were arbitrary, meaningless, too hard, or unjust?  Was he unloving and unreasonable toward them but more merciful toward us? No, God does not change, and God IS love.  It is only our perspective that needs some adjusting.”   -- Jodi     That about says it all.

As I’ve often said “Everything a good parent tells their child is for the child’s own good.”

Concern – Christians often categorically refer to the laws, decrees, commands, mitzvot, etc. in the OT as "That was for the Jews" and therefore does not apply to us.  That issue was addressed in a 2014 Hebraic Musing –  Why Did God Bless Our Father Abraham?   The answer is in Gen 26:5  “…because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws”  Why did God use four different words?  What can we learn about parenting by defining those four words using Hebrew think?

Requirements: Trmvm Mishmaret—watch, sentry, post; preservation, safe; observance, duty …”

Commands: Moishe told the people: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.”
Dt.6:6   However, the KJV, NKJV and the CJB use the word words instead of commandments.  In Hebrew it is <yrbd h HaDav’rim, which we recognize as the Hebrew title for the book we call Deuteronomy and the direct translation is “the words.”  So when we read that “commandments are to be on our hearts,” that is saying that our loving Father God wants all His Word(s) to be on the hearts of His children.  “Do what Daddy says…”

Decrees (Statutes, Judgments) — are verdicts (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree, human or divine law, … including a participant's right or privilege…   The NIV translates <yxpvm  (mish-pawtim)  in Exodus 21:1 as “law” instead of “judgments”; ESV translates it as “rules”; NASB as “ordinances.”  All three versions miss the real meaning – Decrees, Statutes, Judgments.

Laws: ytrwt  Towrotaay — a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue (Ten Words) and Pentateuch (Torah). The Root word for Torah is “yarah” to flow as water; to lay or throw (i.e. to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if aiming the finger), to teach. (Strong’s Concordance excerpts)

Jews did have an advantage reading the OT Scripture with full understanding of the Hebrew language.

Having raised six children, I can safely say I have specified requirements, spoke a lot of wordy commands, laid down judgements (followed by consequences), and spent a lot of time guiding, teaching and pointing them in the right direction for life. 

Points to ponder

Do our children always know why we ask them to do something?

How do you feel when they disobey and then they get hurt as a result?

Is God’s Word everlasting?   “For the word of God is living and active…” Heb. 4:12 

 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  …  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”  Deut. 6:6-9  NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                               October 30, 2018  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note - Excerpted from Johanna Hocker’s– “More on the topic of Holiness and Justice or Legalism” Sept.11, 2018