3. The Children of God's People Join God's People
By Gerry Straker, 25 May 2022
In these five articles we are looking at what the Bible says about the children of God’s people:
- The Status of the Children of God’s People
- Children of God’s People in the Promises of God
- Children of God’s People Join God’s People
- Children of God’s People Live as God’s People
- Conclusion: Children of God's People are God's People
We are building a picture to show that in both the Old Testament and New Testament, children of believers are welcomed in by God as his people.
THE CHILDREN OF GOD’S PEOPLE JOIN GOD’S PEOPLE
In our first article we saw the status of children in God’s people. In the second article we considered the promises that God makes about children. In this third article we consider children joining God’s people.
In the Bible, whole families and households are involved as people join God’s people.
1. Children left Egypt in the Exodus
The children left Egypt with their parents: ‘The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.’ (Exodus 12:37). Children were rescued in God’s great historic salvation.
2. Children shared the Passover meal
When God’s people left Egypt, the Passover was instituted and it was for the whole family to share and for the children to ask and be taught about it: ‘When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, “What does this ceremony mean to you?” then tell them, “It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.”’ (Exodus 12:25-27).
3. Children are included in the covenants
‘All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your God--your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, together with your children and your wives, and the aliens living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.’ (Deuteronomy 29:10-15).
Children included in the covenant, boys at eight days old were circumcised and received the covenant sign: ‘I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you…Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.’ (Genesis 17:7-11).
4. Children are welcomed by Jesus
Jesus famously welcomes children: ‘People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:15-17. See also: Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16).
Jesus wants the children to come to him because the Kingdom belongs to them!
5. Adults are to become like children, not children like adults
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:3-5. See also Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48).
When a football team walks out on to the pitch, the captain holds the hand of the mascot. The mascot is a child in team kit who has their moment of glory as they walk out of the tunnel and on to the pitch with their heroes, for the photos and the shaking of hands - but they have no involvement in the game. But children of God’s people are not mascots in the Kingdom basking in the glory of the adults on the team. Jesus says children are in the kingdom - on his team – they represent him!
And so, when we welcome a child, a little one, we are welcoming Jesus. Because Jesus has welcomed them: they are in his Kingdom, they are his citizens and they represent him.
Children don’t need to get to a certain level or point before we are to trust their profession of faith. What level would that be? What point would be acceptable? Who decides when they have proven themselves? Children don’t need to reach some standard of ours before we accept they are in the Kingdom. Doesn’t Jesus say the opposite? Rather than us requiring children grow up to a certain point and prove themselves, we are to become like children to enter into the Kingdom – humbling ourselves. Instead of children becoming like adults to be welcomed (explaining what they believe clearly and competently), adults need to become more like children.
The clear implication of the Lord Jesus’ words is that these children are in. We should welcome children in, and so welcome the Lord Jesus himself.