“Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.” Judges 13:8
In this particular verse, we find the prayer of Samson’s dad, Manoah, after receiving the news that Samson was to be born. What a fantastic thing for a parent to do at the very onset of being pregnant with a child, asking God how should this child be raised! Now it is essential and very fitting that we learn a truth concerning this Father’s prayer when Manoah asks the Lord to “teach us what we shall do unto the child” in the Hebrew language the statement reads show us how to “aim” the child. The application is that of an archer, and Samson is the arrow. Manoah understood that the Lord had a purpose for the life of Samson and as Samson’s Father, Manoah wanted to do all that he could within his power to point Samson in the direction that the Lord intended for him to go, to be who the Lord intended for him to be, and to fulfill that purpose.
Can I ask you, dear parent, in what direction are you aiming your child? What is the target you are raising them to hit? Who are you grooming them to be, and is that what you know God intends for them?
How many children don’t hit the mark, or even the target that God created them for because we as parents do not pray as Samson’s dad prayed? We do not ask the Lord what the purpose of our child is to be! Samson was born to be a warrior, a soldier. Samson was meant to be a hero that began the deliverance of his people. For what purpose has your child been given to you?
There are a few primary purposes that every parent should be aiming for their child to achieve.
1.) We are to aim our children toward Jesus Christ:
The Lord tells us plainly in the book of Proverbs:
“Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Interesting enough, Jesus says this in the gospel of John:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6
Jesus is the way in that every child needs to be aimed. We must consider the consequences if we fail to do so.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus tells us clearly in this passage that the way to life is strait (surrounded by obstacles) and it is narrow (small path). Sadly Jesus concludes with a substantial reality, “few there be that find it.”
How many of our children will never come to Christ and follow Him because they were never aimed toward Christ as children! We aim them toward education, sports, wealth, but are we pointing them toward Christ!
We aim them toward Christ by pointing our own lives toward Christ. I have never seen an archer hit a target if he were not himself pointing toward that target. We cannot merely tell children what to do. We must model what they should do.
2.) We are to aim our children toward Holy Living:
“And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21
Note what the Lord said after the great flood of Noah’s day, “The imagination of man is evil(wicked & harmful) from his youth.” The Lord makes it understandable that children are to be taught how they are to conduct themselves. Children must be aimed toward holiness. They must be aimed toward talking properly, showing respect, acting with character, being honest, doing good unto others, obeying their parents, and
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Peter 1:13-16
We are to be holy because our Jesus is holy, and it is His desire. Notice the analogy that the Lord uses “as obedient children.” We are to aim our children to be holy. We are to set the example and strive to be spiritual as parents.
3.) We are to aim our children toward Truth:
Our society is being saturated with lies and deceits. Churches, Schools, and government have been infiltrated with corruption, and the result has been that generations are being taught lies as though they are the truth. There is only one truth, and everything else is a lie. We must be sure that we are aiming our kids toward the Word of God as truth, and the final authority for humanity.
Regardless of what society, government, or religion say, if it is contrary to the Word of God, then it is a lie! How many are being taught lies regularly, and the pour children know no better! If we do not teach our children the truth, then we are merely preparing them to be sheep led to slaughter. The moral direction of our country is one that is leading to the defilement and destruction of innocence. Our children and grandchildren will be the ones that suffer the most from the horrid lies that are being spread.
Dear parents, I implore you, pray as Manoah did for his son, Samson, and ask the Lord to teach you how to aim your child for His glory and your child’s well being.