Is there ever a time in the Bible where God wants a child to go against his parent's wishes?
One wonderful feature about God’s Word is that it never contradicts itself. This is proof of its divine origin. When Moses met God on mount Sinai, God gave Him specific commandments concerning children’s behaviour towards their parents: Ex 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” NIV It is interesting to note that this is the only commandment with a promise of prosperity.
All throughout the Bible the same message is conveyed about honoring your father and mother, and the Bible does not record that any of God’s followers ever disrespected their parents. In fact, any time someone in the Bible rebelled against his/her parents, terrible consequences were the result. Absalom is an excellent example of this principle.
Absalom, son of king David, decided to rebel against his dad as he wanted to be on the throne now instead of later. Being handsome and cunning he was able to motivate many to rebel against his dad. King David had to run for his life. In the last battle between King David’s army and Absalom’s, King David gave the following command: 2 Sam 18:5: “The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.”
King David didn’t want any harm to be done on his son, although his own life was at stake. It pained him to see his son rebel against him so that he could access the throne earlier than foreseen. However, circumstances had an interesting twist:
2 Sam 18:9 “Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.”
King David’s general and his men disregarded their king’s wish as they saw the hurt that his son had committed towards his dad. 2 Sam 18:14-15 “Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.”
When news was brought to king David about his son’s death he mourned out loud: 2 Sam 18:33 "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!"
Sons and daughters that rebel and disregard their Christian parents’ counsels bring a lot of grief to their parents. The consequences of these rebellions are always disastrous, to the detriment of the parents, who only wants to see their children prosper.
Jesus Himself is the perfect example of how someone should care for his parents. While dying on the cross, he was concerned for his mother. His dad had passed away. Who would take care of his mom after his death and resurrection? He asked his faithful disciple John to take care of her. John 19:26-27 “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. “
This is true divine love my friend. Before you think of yourself, honor your parents! This was Jesus example for us.
It is true that the Bible forewarns about a rebellious generation where children rebel against their parents: Matt 10:21-22
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
But this never has God’s blessing! Paul gave wonderful advice in his letter to the Colossians. He advised children to: “. . . obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (Col. 3:20)
To fathers he recommended: Col 3:21: “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
The choice is yours, my friend. You can choose to follow Absalom’s example, but believe me, the consequences are not in your favour. Or you can follow Jesus’ example and care for your parents. Which one will you choose? Pray about it and let Jesus’ reign in your heart. Only then will you experience inner peace. Will you let Jesus in your heart now?
Rob Chaffart
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My answer to the question
is that "when young Jesus went with his parent to Jerusalem
at the age of 12. Along on their return amongst the great
crowd of people and suddenly Joseph and Mary notice that
Jesus had disappeared. They went to search for him, but when
they came to the Synagogue they saw him talking to the top
people of the Jews. "When they demand him to come as they
were tired of searching for him, but Jesus denied his parent
because He must spend time in the House of His Heavenly
Father."
Taeka Satupa
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This would not be
possible for a small child since until a child reaches the
age where they understand the difference between good and
evil, they know only what their parents teach them. Children
are commanded to obey their parents.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this
is pleasing in the Lord.
From the question I understand that the case in point would
be where the parents were wicked and the child wanted to
obey God. I am not aware of any instance in the bible where
this is the case. In fact, if parents are wicked, the
children also become wicked in short order, since they learn
everything from their parents.
Mr 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother;
and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Ex 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may
be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Ex 21:15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother,
shall be surely put to death.
Ex 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother,
shall surely be put to death
Being disobedient to parents is not something to do lightly.
However, one should note the following:
Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall
not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the
father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of
the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him.
If a case arose where a child, old enough to know the
difference between good and evil, gave their heart to Jesus,
and as a result became involved in a conflict between a
parent's commands and God's, then it is clear that God's
commandments should be followed. If at all possible however,
this should be done in such a way as to continue to show
respect for the parent. Violent clashes should be avoided
and suffering abuse etc. submitted to out of respect for the
parent and in the hope that the parent may be converted
also.
In like manner we are to obey the laws of our governments.
There will come a time I believe in the near future where a
law will be made by governments under domination of the
churches, that will be contrary to the laws of God. This
law, if obeyed, will result in wearing the 'Mark of the
Beast'. It is at that time that God's people must come out
of their churches and accept the consequences of not being
able to buy or sell.
Just as children must defy parents who command them contrary
to the laws of God, so too will good citizens defy the laws
of the land in order to obey the laws of God. A reward is
promised to all who forsake loved ones and/or lifestyles for
Jesus sake:
Mt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Dear reader, if you do not have the faith to enable you to
do this should the need arise in your lifetime, or if you
are not sure, answer 'The Savior's Call' in this newsletter.
Lance Wearmouth
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Exodus 20:12 says......"Honor your father and mother. Then
you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your
God will give you."
Exodus 21:15 says "Anyone who strikes father or mother must
be put to death."
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 says......"Suppose a man has a
stubborn, rebellious son who will not obey his father or
mother, even though they discipline him. 21:19 In such
cases, the father and mother must take the son before the
leaders of the town. 21:20 They must declare: 'This son of
ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a
worthless drunkard.' 21:21 Then all the men of the town must
stone him to death. In this way, you will cleanse this evil
from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be
afraid.
Colossians 3:20 says........ "Children, obey your parents in
everything, for this pleases the Lord."
There is no place where it advises children to go against
their parents in the Bible, BUT, of course, bad parents
raise bad children!!!!!!!!!!.........It is instructed that
parents rear their children in the word of God. As long as
this is done, there is NO way a child should go against his
parents wishes...........Now, as a child becomes an adult,
that is different. They are then old enough to make their
own decisions regarding their life. Even in adulthood
though, it's still good to try to please ones parents and
not disrespect them. Sometimes though it's impossible if the
parent is not thinking Godly. In this case, it should be the
child that steers the parent back on the right track of
thinking Godly. MAY ALL BE BLESSED,
DEEDEE
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This is my belief: The Lord is our Father and it is He that we must seek to obey. The word says that we must leave, father, mother, sister...for His sake. I believe God would choose that we all would be in agreement with His word so that this question is a mute point, but if we have to choose, CHOOSE the Father.
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All children should "Honor thy mother and father". The Bible goes on to say that" a man should leave his mother and father to become one flesh with his wife". But I have a question: what happens if a man doesn't get married, does he still have to honor his parents 100 percent of the time? That's a very fuzzy area.
Dave
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God have not ever say a
child should disobey his parent. Look at what He said in the
book of Ex.. 20 : 5 He said honor thy father and mother for
your days to be long on earth. Jesus him self when his
parent were looking for him at last when they fund He said
to them that HE is doing the work of His father (God) and
latter to establish the law of honoring of parent He follow
them back home
Tosyn
