And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2: 1, 2.
Dear Father, we pray that You will give us spiritual eyesight to see in our children, “the good” that You put in them when they were created. And then help us to cooperate with You, in developing the best in them. Please teach us how, as we study Your Word. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
For many children, and adults alike, this Bible story is special. Each of us have our favorite character. For some it is Miriam, the wise little girl who found the way for her mother to get paid, for taking care of her own son. For some it is Pharaoh’s daughter, who had compassion on the little Hebrew baby. For still others, it is Moses, the hero, who made the right choice. Today, we are going to look at the role Moses’ parents played in the outcome of his life, because, by God’s grace, they were able to “see the good” in him.
Not many people prevent a fight by killing one of the participants! That is an extreme measure of prevention, if I ever saw one! I get the impression, that perhaps, Moses had a problem with his temper, from a child. That would be hard to overlook, since it is in the very early stage of a child’s life that his, or her, temperament is made manifest. Without nullifying the individual’s personality, temperaments can be guided, in a healthy direction. Sometimes, during the adolescent – adult years, many of the behaviors seen in childhood, can re-emerge; but with help, the individual can adapt well, to many of life’s challenges, and lead a rather normal, and fruitful life.
It is not for me to say how Moses came to the place where he could kill a man. What I really would like to capitalize on, is the fact that his mother was able to recognize in him, “a goodly” child. Perhaps the way she handled his temper problem convinced him, that he did not have to remain a victim of a bad temper. Chances are, he heard more, “Moses is a good little boy,” than, how “naughty” he was! Perhaps, as good Christian parents, the “future, with hope” (Jeremiah 29: 11), that God had for His people, was kept before him. Regardless of what he was today, he knew that he could be better tomorrow, if the possibility of being a “good boy,” was kept before him.
It could be, that many of our children are perishing today, because we, as parents, have failed to see the “good” in them. Nevertheless, here is the “good” news for us as parents: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, [and the life of your child].” May I suggest that you begin it by asking God to anoint your eyes with spiritual eyesalve, that you may be able to discern all the good there is in your child(ren). Then, as faithfully as you give that child his or her daily dose of vitamins and minerals (and I do hope that you are doing this under the direction of a trustworthy physician), give him or her, daily, a healthy view of the plans God has for his or her life! This will mean that you are going to spend some quality time with that child every day (quality, should not reduce quantity)! Nothing is more important than painting a clear picture of his or her future, as God planned it, to that child!
Remember, God’s “thoughts are not [our thoughts,] nor [His] ways [our] ways…” (Isaiah 55: 8, 9); for “higher, than the highest human thought can reach, is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness, godlikeness, is the goal to be reached” Education, pg. 18)! Emphasis provided. You may not immediately see all that God has in store for your child, but if you keep on praying, and you keep on looking, you will see the outcome of God’s perfect plan for his or her life, by the decision your child makes. He or she may be a modern day Moses, or Esther; or, Mary, or Bob, “choosing rather to [take a stand with God’s people even if it means being ridiculed, or persecuted]; than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11: 24, 25).
NOTE: These thoughts have been developed from a purely spiritual, not clinical, perspective.