Trusting God for the Rest

Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Last week, we talked about the first marriage. Adam and Eve soon had sons they were responsible for raising. Like most of us, they probably wondered what to do with this beautiful little person. Their restored relationship with the Lord gave them a lifeline with the Heavenly Father for answers.

God told Adam he would be a tiller of the ground. The sweat of his brow would provide food for his family. He told Eve she would be the bearer of children that would one day bring the Messiah. So how did Adam and Eve bring up their children? In Genesis 4 we see they learned to farm and raise animals. Cain brought the harvest to God and Abel brought the firstlings of the flock. They were both hard workers to have something to bring as an offering, but God was not pleased with

Cain’s offering.

Apparently Adam and Eve had shown their boys how to worship by bringing an offering. Abel even brought the fat of the offering, which seems to indicate a burnt offering. Both boys were raised up to offer a burnt sacrifice to the Lord, the firstlings of the flock. However, Cain chose not to follow the instruction. He must have felt his hard work tilling the ground should have been a worthy offering. After all, he put his heart and soul into producing a good crop. God would not accept Cain’s offering.

God had shown Adam and Eve by the sacrifice of the first animal that blood was required to cover sin. The consequences of sin is death. Cain wanted his hard work to be acceptable to cover his sin. It didn’t work. Instead of Cain repenting and offering a blood sacrifice, he became angry. He argued with his brother and ended up killing Abel because he was mad at God.

Was all of this Adam and Eve’s fault in the way they raised their children? Certainly not. Both were raised in the same home with the same instruction. God even reminded Cain that if he did the right thing by offering a blood sacrifice, he would be accepted.

Children often take a different path than the training they receive as children. Training children in the way they should go is our responsibility as parents. How they use that training is their choice. Cain was not able to get away from the training. He even had a mark for others to see.

Cain and Abel were not Adam and Eve’s only children. Seth was soon born and he, like Abel followed God. Verse 4 of chapter 5 says Adam begat sons and daughters. We know some of those followed God because Seth and his family needed Godly wives to train up children. Some of those children didn’t follow God and married into Cain’s family. Adam and Eve were surely broken-hearted over some of their children’s choices, but raising them in the Lord and praying for their prodigals was all they could do, trusting God to do the rest.

Praying for our children, teaching them by example  and trusting God to do the rest is still the answer to raising children.

Do you have praises for the things God is doing in the lives of your children and grandchildren?

Do you have prayer requests? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the section below and don’t forget to pray for our children as well.

Father, guide us as we guide our children by example to love and follow You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Prayers,

Gail

Hey Kids:

How do you follow your parents’ examples?

Are you learning to cook or grill?

Are you learning to make things?

Are you learning to worship together?

Be sure to ask questions.

Your parents will love knowing you are interested in learning from them.