Do Not Hand Your Children Over to the Enemy
“No!” Pharaoh tell them. “Just the men may go to worship the Lord, since that is what you wanted.” And Pharaoh chased them from his presence. Exodus 10:11 NLT
Dear church, in the account of the Exodus, Moses and Aaron presented themselves before Pharaoh, demanding the liberation of the people of Israel to worship God in the wilderness. Faced with the pressure of the plagues, Pharaoh attempts to negotiate and offers a false concession: he allows the adults to go serve God, but demands that the children and families stay behind in Egypt. This is a clear and prophetic picture of the enemy’s tactics in our time. The spiritual Pharaoh of this world has no problem with parents attending church, serving in ministries, or developing their faith, as long as they leave their children behind, trapped in the culture and enslaved to the values of the world. It is a subtle but destructive trick, because the adversary knows that if he manages to retain the next generation, he will have secured his long-term victory.
- The trap of individualistic faith The enemy tries to convince us that our relationship with God is strictly personal and that our children will decide for themselves when they grow up. However, this passivity is an open door for the world to indoctrinate them while we settle for our own salvation.
- The danger of leaving the family in Egypt Leaving our children in Egypt means allowing them to be shaped by the ideologies, vices, and morality of a society distanced from God. We cannot worship the Lord with true freedom if our offspring remain captive in a system that seeks to destroy their identity and purpose.
- A non-negotiable stance Just as Moses flatly refused to accept Pharaoh’s half-deal, Christian parents must have a firm conviction. Our stance must be clear: we will not negotiate the spiritual destiny of our children, nor will we accept superficial agreements with the world.
- God’s design is generational The Lord is not only the God of the present, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His covenant and His promises are designed to flow from generation to generation. For the divine purpose to be fulfilled in its fullness, we need to walk together as a family into the presence of God.
- Assuming spiritual authority in the home God has given us the authority and the primary responsibility to guide our children. We must rise up as shields of prayer, actively interceding and snatching our families from the hands of the enemy through constant instruction in the Word of Truth.
The battle for the heart of our youth is real and is fought every day in our homes. We cannot afford to be committed believers while our offspring get lost in the distractions and lies of this age. The Lord calls us to be radical and to boldly declare that we and our house will serve God without leaving anyone behind. It is time to break any passive agreement we have made with the current culture and take our children by the hand to guide them toward the freedom that only Christ offers. Let us rise with authority, knowing that the same God who brought Israel out of slavery with a mighty hand will fight for our families and secure the victory for the coming generations.
“No!” Pharaoh tell them. “Just the men may go to worship the Lord, since that is what you wanted.” And Pharaoh chased them from his presence. Exodus 10:11 NLT
Think About It:
In what areas have I been passive and allowed the culture of the world to influence the heart and mind of my children?
What important conversations or firm boundaries must I establish this week to protect the spiritual integrity of my family?
How can I involve my children more in my life of faith to ensure they are not left behind while I seek God?