Do Not Leave Your Children Behind
Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.” Exodus 10:9 NLT
In the negotiation between Moses and Pharaoh, the enemy tried a recurring tactic: allowing the adults to go and worship, but leaving the children in Egypt. Pharaoh knew that if he managed to hold back the next generation, sooner or later the parents would return or the lineage of faith would be extinguished. Today, the world continues to press with the same strategy, suggesting that faith is an adult matter and that children should choose their own path without spiritual instruction, or that academic and professional success is more urgent than their salvation. However, the call of God is integral; there is no complete liberation if our offspring remain under the world’s system of slavery.
- Faith is a generational inheritance Our relationship with God should not end with us. As parents and leaders, we have the responsibility to transfer Kingdom values to our children from infancy. Leaving children behind means allowing the world to shape their identity, their values, and their destiny, instead of the Word of God guiding them.
- The danger of spiritual comfort in parents Sometimes, due to comfort or a lack of time, we neglect the spiritual life of the little ones, settling for the fact that we attend church ourselves. Moses was firm: there is no festival for the Lord if the family is not complete. True community worship includes the voices of children and young people, recognizing that they also have a covenant with God.
- Protection through instruction Instructing a child in the way of God is not about imposing a religion, but about providing them with armor for life. If we leave them in “Egypt” (the world’s system) without the necessary spiritual tools, we send them defenseless against the currents of ideologies and sins that seek to destroy them. Our presence and guidance are their greatest protection.
- Everything we have belongs to Him Moses included not only the people but also their possessions. This teaches us that nothing God has given us should remain under the enemy’s dominion. Our children, our time, and our resources must come out of slavery to serve the divine purpose. A partial surrender always leaves a door open for the enemy to claim us back.
Victory over the world is not complete until every member of our house walks in freedom. We cannot afford to move forward spiritually while allowing our children to lag behind in the customs or vices of a godless culture. Moses’ firmness before Pharaoh must be our same determination today: “We will all go.” God has a specific purpose for youth and childhood, and our task is to take them by the hand and bring them before the presence of the Lord. Do not negotiate your children’s salvation; fight for them in prayer and guide them by example, because they are the arrows that God will launch into the future to extend His Kingdom.
Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.” Exodus 10:9 NLT
Think About It:
- What aspects of the world’s culture (“Egypt”) are influencing your children today more than the Word of God?
- What spiritual habits can you implement this week in your home to actively involve your children in worship and Bible study?
- Make a prayer of surrender, renouncing any “negotiation” with the world regarding the upbringing of your children, and declaring that your entire house will serve the Lord.