Success Or Failure?

by Micky Galloway

Israel had been in bondage in Egypt, but after forty years of wandering, they were about to enter into the land which God had promised them, the land of Canaan. Moses would not be allowed to enter in with them, but he gave them instructions they would need to succeed in this new land. It was Moses’ desire that, throughout their successive generations, they would learn to fear God and keep His commandments. Note the attention given to their children. Deuteronomy 6:2, “that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life.” Deuteronomy 6:7, “and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:20-21, “When thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah our God hath commanded you? then thou shalt say unto thy son …”

In the beginning of this chapter, Moses listed some things that were essential if they were to succeed in this great task. As these things were written for our “admonition” (Romans 15:4), let us heed these instructions.

Fear the Lord (verse 2). Though it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31), fearing the Lord does not mean simply to be afraid of God. It means to recognize Him as the Almighty, to acknowledge His sovereign power. The wisdom writer said, “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; (But) the foolish despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Why fear the Lord? Perhaps it is difficult for us to perceive a being with creative powers, but the psalmist said, “Let all the earth fear Jehovah: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:8-9). Contrary to the preconceived notions of the philosophers in Athens, Paul declared to them a God that, “made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth … giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:24-25). There is a time to show our children God, in earth and sky and flower, to teach them to wonder and reverence. As parents we must point the way and teach our children to pray to a living God who cares for us (I Peter 5:6-7).

Obey the Lord (verse 2). Why did God require obedience? Was it to keep us from enjoying the good things of life? No! Rather, “That it may be well with thee” (verse 3). The commandments of God are “for our good always” (Deuteronomy 6:24). God had expressed this to them many times. “Ye shall walk in all the way which Jehovah your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33; cf. 4:1, 40). Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Because Israel had rebelled against God, a whole generation perished (Numbers 14:22-32; cf. Hebrews 3:12-19; 4:1). Only when we see the awful consequences of sin, will we be willing to turn from it in repentance. There is a time to teach our children to obey, to teach them duty and the habit of Bible study.

Love the Lord (verses 4-5). The Bible teaches that the heart is the fountain of all our outward activity. “But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings” (Matthew 15:18-19). “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). When the lawyer asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”, Jesus replied, quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like (unto it) is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40). If the fountain is poisoned, the stream that flows from it will also be poison. The child of God must love God, but this love cannot be expressed without worship and obedience. There is a time to teach the heart of our children to love God, with all their heart, soul, and might.

Know the will of the Lord (verses 6-9). Israel was told how important it was to know the will of God and to teach it to their children. We do not live right by accident! Whoever fears God will endeavor to bring up his children in the way of righteousness, not only in word, but in practice. His desire is that his family may also fear God, through all its successive generations. God’s law was to be written on the posts of the house and on their gates. The home was to be the training ground. God’s law must be taught, morning, noon, and night. It is not enough to bring our children to Bible classes. If parents are to do this as God intends, His law must be of great personal interest. They must delight in it and love it, and make it a matter of study continually. Study (II Timothy 2:15)! Meditate (Psalms 119:15, 27, 48, 78)! “Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalms 119:97-99). Our children know what is important to us. There is a time to answer my child’s questions, all his questions, because there may come a time when he will not want answers.

If Israel was to succeed in this strange new land, they had to focus on more than themselves. They had to teach their children and their children’s children to fear the Lord, to obey His commands, to love the Lord, and to know His will. It is not by chance that Moses told them that there is One God and they were to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might. And then immediately instructed them to teach their children. Perhaps if we do these things there will be a time to see our children and grandchildren upright and honest, loving God, and serving all. Success or failure, what will it be?