When my children were newborns, one of my favorite things to do was place my finger in their palm causing them to wrap their fingers around it. This is a natural reflex that most babies are born with, it is not something they learned. However, almost everything else a child needs to know in life they must learn. We invest billions of dollars in school systems to help our children become functioning adults.

Moses understood the importance of education. He knew the next generation would not remember how God had delivered them from Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, and judged the disobedient (vv. 1–7). Yet the ability of Israel to stay in the Promised Land would require their faithful obedience (v. 13). These children would need to be taught.

Moses entrusted this responsibility primarily to the parents. He instructed Israel: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (vv. 18–19). Talking about what the Lord had done and what He required should be a part of normal life. When sitting at a meal or working on a project around the house or putting them to bed, parents should take every opportunity to point their children to the Lord.

We also are called to make our faith a part of our everyday life. We don’t just think about what Christ has done when we are at church; it should be on our minds throughout the day. It is important to help instill faith in our children and in us. Even if we do not have children, regularly talking about what God has done is an important part of the life of faith (Ps. 1:2).

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