Abraham
left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave
gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to
the land of the east.
We
pride ourselves in preparing our children for the adult world. We gradually
expose them to more complex moral decisions as they grow older. It seems like a
good plan. We don’t want them to be so naive that they fall for any
snare the world mounts against them.
This is
far different from allowing stumbling blocks to litter their pathway. We allow
our children to have computers in their own rooms…unsupervised. We allow them
to watch movies that we, ourselves, should be embarrassed to watch. We allow
them to dress in provocative attire so they are not ridiculed at school. We
allow them to “talk back” to us because they need to learn to express
themselves.
And, of
course, we wring our hands when things don’t go well…
As an
alternative approach…Abraham removed everything from Isaac’s life that could
threaten him, or might contend for Isaac’s rightful birthright. Abraham put
Isaac in a position of uncontested privilege.
I
know…we like to say the battles do our kids good. They grow up. I suggest there
is a huge difference between the challenges God brings to our children for
their benefit…and the challenges Satan brings for their destruction.
Are we,
as parents, willing to take the time and energy to discern the difference?
Live
boldly out there today…
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