Point
“And you shall point them out to your sons, and you shall speak of them as you sit in your house, and as you walk in the way, and as you are lying down, and as you are rising up.” Deut. 6:7
Point – Did you know that God invented the cattle prod? Of course, long before the instrument was charged with electricity, it took a little different shape. But the purpose was the same: to correct the direction of the herd. The actual word (shanan) means, “to sharpen”, like sharpening a sword. But in the use here, it means to instruct with pointed intensity. It is the equivalent of jabbing someone with a pointed stick – a commandment prod.
Why would God use this word to talk about teaching children? Because God wants us to see that this is serious, important and usually uncomfortable. We are not to act as though children will “figure it out on their own”. We are never to assume that someone else will take care of the lesson. We are not to think they will learn by just observing. God wants us to use sharp words to get the message across.
Did you notice the context? Deliberate, sharp, intense lessons when you sit, walk, lie down and get up. That just about covers the full range of human movement. Is that how you’re training your children. Or are you sending them to someone else to take care of the job for you? Or putting them in front of a machine? Or letting their friends handle it?
God is pretty clear about this responsibility. It’s mine. It’s yours. It belongs to parents. Not teachers, pastors, relatives, friends or other professionals. It belongs at home, in the ordinary course of life. It’s up to you and me.
When I read this passage, I need to get on my knees and beg forgiveness. I left most of this work to others. I was too busy with my life, “providing”, to take care of what God put in my hands. Today, and every day, I pray that God will redeem my failure. I am a parent who desperately wants a “do-over”. Don’t let that happen to you. God suggests a sharp stick. I feel it. Do you?
