THE BEST TEACHER

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth"
(3 John 4).

Do you think you are incapable of teaching your children? Dear mother, you are the best teacher in the world. God ordained you to teach and He gave you this ability. You begin teaching your children from the moment they are born. You do it naturally. In their first few years you teach them everything about life—how to talk, walk, etiquette, to understand God's world, and all the basic foundations of life. And you are still the best teacher for the rest of their lives.

God uses different words to describe the mother's teaching.

Torah

God reminds children, "Do not forsake your mother's teaching" (Proverbs 1:8 NASB). Whose teaching? The school teacher's? The Sunday school teacher's? No, the Bible says it's the mother's teaching. This is the teaching God does not want your children to forsake.

Again, in Proverbs 6:20-22 NASB children are commanded, "Do not forsake the teaching of our mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you." This is the most powerful and influential teaching I have read about.

The word "teaching" is torah and means "instruction, doctrine, direction, a precept. The first five books of the Bible eventually became known as the Torah. It was God's instructions of how He wanted His people to live. God wants mothers to teach and show their children "the way of life," the way He wants them to live (Proverbs 6:23). Every day you show your children God's way or your own way, but you are teaching, and your influence will imprint upon your children for life.

Ezekiel 16:44 says, "As is the mother, so is her daughter" for good or for bad!

Yada

When God commands His people to teach their children and their children's children in Deuteronomy 4:9, the word "teach" is yada. The same word is used for sexual intercourse. It's not a casual teaching, but teaching that enables them to know and understand God's ways. It's not something that is only in their head, but what they experience. That's the kind of teaching mothers do--experiential life teaching! And that's the teaching that works.

Shanan

The Hebrew word in Deuteronomy 6:7 where we are commanded to diligently teach our children is shanan which means to "whet as in sharpening a knife or sword, to pierce or prick." It is something that goes right into them and influences them for life. It speaks to their conscience. It keeps them from being dulled and dumbed down. Our teaching should make them sharp to hear God's voice. We don't do this in set lessons, but all throughout the day. It is the way of homeschooling. Fathers and mothers are commanded to teach their children when they lie down, rise up, and when they sit in their house. And who is predominately at home with the children? You are, mother.

Lamad

Deuteronomy 11:19 NASB says, "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up." This Scripture seems exactly the same as Deuteronomy 6:7, but God uses a different word for "teach" this time. It is lamad and means "to cause to learn, train, educate." It's not only receiving facts, but learning with understanding, which is skilful teaching. A big difference.

The word lamad is also translated "expert" and "skilful."

This Hebrew word is also used with learning to fear of the Lord, the most important teaching you can give your children. They will rarely get this from anybody else but you! Read the importance God puts on learning to fear Him.

Deuteronomy 4:10, "I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth."

Deuteronomy 14:23, "That thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always."

Deuteronomy 31:12-13, "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children (the little ones), and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God."

Zahar

This teaching word from Exodus 18:20 means "to shine, to enlighten, and also to give warning." It is translated "shine" in Daniel 12:3, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." True teaching will make the faces of our children shine. What an amazing career we have.

Yarah

This is an interesting one. Not only does it mean to teach, but to shoot an arrow. It is translated "archers" five times and "shoot" 20 times. Mother, as you daily instruct your children, you are sharpening your arrows and getting them ready to shoot from the bow. Isn't that exciting?

You can do it, mother. You are the best teacher! There is no one as good as you. You have been ordained for the task!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Thank you, Father, that as a mother you have also ordained me to teach the children you have given to me. I thank you for the opportunity of teaching them how to live your kingdom life in all the situations we face each day. Thank you for the privilege of teaching them to walk in the fear of the Lord. Please strengthen me each new day with your vision, your ideas, and your creativity. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I love teaching my children and I am the best teacher they could ever have.

FURTHER STUDY:

Check out these Scriptures which use the Hebrew word, lamad.

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5, 14; 5:1, 31; 6:1; 17:19; 18:19; 20:18; 31:19, 22; Judges 3:2; 2 Samuel 1:18; 22:35; 1 Chronicles 5:18; 25:7; 2 Chronicles 17;7; Ezra 7:10; Psalm 18:34; 25:4;4-5, 9; 34:11; 51:13; 71:17; 94:10, 12; 106:5; 119:7, 12, 26, 64, 66, 68, 71, 73, 99, 108, 124, 135, 171; 132:12; 143:10; 144:1; Song of Solomon 3:8; 8:2; Ecclesiastes 12:9; Isaiah 1:17; 2:4; 26:9-10; 29:13, 24; 40:14; 48:17; Jeremiah 9:20; 10:2; 23:33; 31:34 and Micah 4:3.