The Creation story has a great appeal to little ones. As we help them to discover that God brought all the heavenly bodies, plants and living creatures into being, their curiosity about His world is both sparked and satisfied. They are intrigued by Eve's encounter with the talking serpent, and they begin to develop a sense of God's justice when they hear of the first consequences for disobedience, and the fruit of sin in the story of Cain and Abel.
But once we hit that genealogy in Genesis chapter 5, the realization might set in that those boring lists are just too dry for our kids...and maybe even us, the parents, who would rather not embarrass ourselves, trying to pronounce some of those names! So, we tend to skip right over them and go straight to Noah. We're inclined to stick to the parts of the Bible that flow, like the account of Abraham and Isaac, Joseph's many trials, or the miracles of Jesus. These stories have a plot we can follow, with memorable accomplishments to inspire us, and emotional attachments to draw us in.
Lists of names and places, not so much. But that stuff is in there, and as our children mature, we want them to know more than just who did what. We'd like for them to know when and where, as well. And although none of us may understand all of the how and why until we get to heaven, some of that is worth exploring, too.
So, do we just have to plod through those dry places, like we're wandering through the desert, or are there some hidden treasures to find there, making it oh, so worth our time to read them?
Psalm 119:162 says, "I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure." When reading the Bible is viewed as a treasure hunt, and we go into it expecting to find something precious, Someone precious, it brings those stale lists and facts to life, and helps us to see how even the book of Leviticus relates to us as New Testament believers, in spite of the fact that we are no longer under the Law. When we see how elements in the Old Testament point to events in the New Testament, we will begin to appreciate all the books of the Bible as one tightly woven tapestry portraying Jesus Christ, Yeshua, the Messiah.
Of course, only the Holy Spirit can impart the truth. Studying the Bible is no guarantee of Salvation, or even understanding. "...The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14)
However, studying the Word may provide the opportunity for the Spirit of God to impart faith to our children, for "…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)
It is our prayer that you and your children will enjoy your adventure into the Word, and that you will grow in your faith in our Faithful God, together.
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