![\"Six](\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/six-different-kinds-of-obedience.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMy wife and I are launching on a new Bible study. We\u2019ve often tried to read through the Bible from beginning to end in a year (sometimes we make it, sometimes we don’t), but this time we\u2019re reading through the Bible looking for insights relevant to parenting. I\u2019m already excited about what we are finding. You notice new things when you\u2019re reading with a different perspective!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s early history as recorded in Exodus and Numbers contains many examples of disobedience and its consequences. These can be instructive to us as we seek to obey God in our own lives and as we train our children in obedience.<\/p>\n
Here are six different kinds of disobedience we identified:<\/p>\n
1. Proudly refusing to obey<\/b> \u2013 Pharaoh at first scorned the word of God given through Moses, and as Israel was leaving, still demonstrated his hard-hearted will to keep the Israelites as his slaves against God\u2019s command.<\/p>\n
2. Partial obedience<\/b> \u2013 After enduring four plagues, Pharaoh began telling Moses they could go \u2013 but without leaving Egypt, without taking their families, or without taking their livestock. Only after ten plagues destroyed most of Egypt did Pharaoh finally do what God asked.<\/p>\n
3. Complaining instead of obeying<\/b> \u2013 When Israel finally reached the border of the Promised Land, ten faithless spies brought back a bad report and caused them to hesitate. God was ready to lead them in, and yet the Israelites became afraid of the giants, armies, and fortified cities. This fear led to complaining and a failure to obey God\u2019s directions. The consequence was 40 years of desert wandering and an entire generation missing out on the blessings God had offered them.<\/p>\n
4. Delayed obedience<\/b> \u2013 Once the Israelites realized the consequences of their failure, they admitted their sin and hurried to fight the Amalekites and Canaanites even though God said He would no longer help them. (Much like a misbehaving toddler saying \u201cI obey now!\u201d and rushing to mend his ways when he sees Dad ominously getting up from his chair.) As Moses warned, many of them died and the battle ended in defeat.<\/p>\n
5. Obeying with an angry spirit<\/b> \u2013 In a moment of anger, Moses and Aaron spoke harshly to the Israelites and struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. God still brought forth water for them to drink, but for this sin, the two leaders were not permitted to enter the Promised Land.<\/p>\n
6. Questioning clear commands<\/b> \u2013 Tempted by the promise of fame and riches, Balaam asked God a second time if he should go with the king\u2019s messengers after God had already given him clear instructions. God was angry and sent an angel to kill him, though he was mercifully spared, thanks to his donkey.<\/p>\n
In each of these stories, the disobeyers lacked faith in God<\/b>. Instead of trusting God to know what was best for them and submitting to His will, these men acted impulsively out of fear, anger, or greed. (And we consistently see the destructive results: disappointment, death, and loss of the very things they desired.)<\/p>\n
When dealing with a disobedient child, it may help to look for the root cause. Is the child afraid of something? Is he just being selfish or willful? Or is trust missing from our relationship?<\/p>\n
We can help our children learn to obey by proving ourselves worthy of their trust<\/b>, just as God repeatedly proved Himself faithful to Israel. Of course we are imperfect people and make mistakes, unlike our Heavenly Father. But by His grace, we can become more trustworthy in the eyes of our children.<\/p>\n
Here are some things we can do to build trust with our children:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n