Yahweh was just laying on my heart the other night that faithfulness in our children is not something that we accomplish, but rather, something which He creates. In Isaiah 59:21 He promises, “As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith Yahweh: My Spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith Yahweh, from henceforth and forever.” We cannot create in our children a love for Yahweh. We cannot put Yahweh’s Spirit inside of our children. We cannot give our children teachable and earnest hearts. Only Yahweh can do these things.
Yahweh is an Elohim of promises, an Elohim of covenants, an Elohim of “You do your part, and I will bless you by doing My part in return”. This is seen countless times in the Scriptures. It is the theme of “Draw nigh to Elohim, and He will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8) Yahweh is more than willing to be a part of our lives, but He wants to know that we truly desire Him to take up residence in our hearts. He does not force Himself on us. Rather, He presents us with a covenant, and if we embrace the covenant, then He goes with it. He gives us the choice though. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Yahweh has made many covenants with His people, and these covenants involve not only us, but also our offspring, as seen in Deuteronomy 30. By choosing life, we bring blessing to ourselves as well as our seed.
Yahweh has made another promise to us in regards to our children. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) This promise has two parts – our part of training the child, and Yahweh’s part of creating faithfulness in the child. We cannot make our children faithful. Yahweh has to do that work in them. What, then, is the purpose of training them in faithfulness? Is it even needful for us to do that, if Yahweh is the one who is going to work in their hearts anyway? YES! It is a two-part covenant. Yahweh promises that if we do our part by training our children, He will do His part by causing the faithfulness, conviction, and integrity that we cultivate in them to grow!
Who makes a plant grow? We all know that we cannot cause a seed to germinate. Only Yahweh can do the creative work that causes a little tiny seed to turn into a pepper plant or a beanstalk or a sunflower or a maple tree. But, does this mean that we should not do anything at all? What about planting the seed... watering it... fertilizing it... protecting it from frost... weeding it... protecting it from getting stepped on or eaten by rabbits... etc.? We have our part to do. If we fail to do our part – if we just leave the seed lay in its packet, or if we never water it, or if we plant it right before a frost, or if we let the weeds choke it – Yahweh will not do His part of making it grow. It is a covenant thing. Yahweh makes it grow, yes, but we have to do our part.
The same principle is seen in Psalm 108. Who causes victory in a battle? David says in Psalm 108:10-13, “Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not Thou, O Elohim, who hast cast us off? And wilt not Thou, O Elohim, go forth with our hosts? Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. Through Elohim we shall do valiantly, for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Does this mean that David and his warriors did not need to do anything at all? Does this mean that David needed no human help in the battle? Of course not. A battle means that there are men fighting. For there to be a battle, David needed “the help of man”. Why then does he say, “Vain is the help of man”? Because man can never secure the victory unless Yahweh grants it. Just like man cannot make a seed grow, man cannot achieve victory. Still, though, man needs to do his part. Once again, it is a two-way thing. David and his men would need to go out in faith to the battleground and engage the enemy. Yahweh, in His mercy and faithfulness, would then do His part by defeating the enemy.
Yahshua said in the book of John, “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5b) Without Him our plants will not grow and our battles will not be won. In His strength, though, we can expect to see a flourishing crop and to raise a victory cry!
How does all of this relate to our children? We want good qualities to grow and bloom in their lives. We want them to have the victory over sin and the carnal nature. What must we then do? For one thing, we must recognize that we are helpless on our own. Secondarily, we must realize that this a covenant we are in with Yahweh. Third, we need to find out what our part of the covenant is, and faithfully perform that part, believing in Yahweh to keep His promised half of the covenant. We can plant the seeds of truth and holiness in our children’s hearts. We can engage in battles against their flesh and their sinful inclinations. Only Yahweh can make righteousness sprout and grow in their lives. Only Yahweh can give them the victory over sin. But... we must do our part. If we truly believe Him, we will do what He has commissioned us to do. And through His help and His strength and His presence in our homes, we and our children shall do valiantly. Halleluyah!!!!!!!