Learning From Moses
In Psalm 90 we read about what was on Moses’ mind as he neared the end of his life. Moses had spent the past 38 or so years of his life with the children of Israel in the desert. Here he had watched nearly every Israelite over the age of 20 die—approximately 87 people died per day while they waited to enter the Promised Land. This time spent in the desert had taught Moses many things and he wanted to pass this wisdom on to others. He had learned that there was a right and a wrong focus in life and he wanted to share with us about the fragility of life and importance of our lives being focused on God.
Life is Short
Moses begins by sharing his observation that life is short. He gives five descriptions of how short life really is. “Yesterday when it passes by” yesterday is gone, never to come back. Like a “watch in the night” which was a four hour time period. “Swept away like a flood” one minute it’s here, the next it’s gone. “They fall asleep” unless you have insomnia you usually wake up and eight hours is gone just like that. “Grass that fades and withers away” desert grass doesn’t last very long before it dies from lack of water.
Just as life on this earth is short, the time with our children is also just a short period of their lives. We have barely one-quarter of their life to impact their decisions, learning and life-view and then they are making their own decisions independent from us.
70 to 80 Years
In verse 10 Moses states that God has blessed us with 70 possibly 80 years of life. This time period is all we have and then our lives are over. Meantime there is “strength, labor and sorrow.” Various versions use toil and troubles, emptiness a and pain, grief. Not a very encouraging list.
Teaching our children to make the most of their learning now and how to continue learning for a lifetime is one of the homeschool mother’s most important tasks. Learning is more than just the few hours a day spent with school books, it’s also Bible study, nature observation, serving others, citizenship, proper use of time, stewardship and worshiping God—just a few of the “other” subjects to be learned.
Six Requests of God
Moses wasn’t trying to depress us and neither am I. What he wanted to share was that because life is short we need to make the most of it and the best way is through a relationship with God. Moses shared six requests he asked of God.
“Teach us to number our days”
Count them so we can use them wisely to present to God a heart of wisdom. As a math exercise count the days in your lives until you are 70 years old. I have 8,500 days until I’m 70 years old. We all start out with 25,550 days. This is a reality check if I’m healthy and take care of myself I could live longer than 70 years, but if an accident or sickness comes I could have even less. What Moses is trying to teach us here is to use our time wisely. How will you use your days, for selfish purposes or to reach others? I’ve decided to use my days building relationships with God and my family and helping others to do the same.
“Mercy and forgiveness early”
Early in our lives, when we are young, teach us so that we don’t have to live miserable, self-centered lives. Share these truths with our children in love. Share the Gospel with others so we can “sing for joy and be glad.”
“See Gods Hand at work”
To be a part of God’s work so what I do and who I reach counts for eternity. And so that others will see how God works in the lives of those who love Him.
“Children see God’s splendor”
God’s splendor is exhibited in all of His creation and also in the lives of His children. It’s a beautiful thing to observe how God works in the lives of those who love and honor Him.
“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be on us”
Seeing God at work in our lives is a special experience. We are reflections of Jesus, examples to others of His grace and mercy. Teach your children to live and reflect Christ in their lives hourly and daily.
“Make our work permanent”
Make what we do last and make it count for God. Teach your children what is really important. Luke 12:34 tells us to “concentrate on what will count eternally-forever.”
What is really Important in Homeschooling?
Our relationship with God and others a long with the impact we make for eternity are the only things that we will leave behind when we die or take with us. 100 years from now or eternally, it doesn’t matter how much money we make, what kind of car we drive or the house we live in. What will matter is our relationship with God and the impact we’ve made on the lives of our children and those we love.
~Judy
©Judy Shewmake 2005