A QUIVER FULL OF ARROWS

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of YAHWEH: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

How is it that children are like arrows in the hand of a mighty man? Why shall they speak with their enemies in the gate? Because a man who has a home of righteous children has the armor and strength to battle against the enemy, a united and strong front that nothing can destroy. A man of righteousness may be strong, but an entire home of righteousness? That's power!

We need arrows that will hit the mark against the enemy. Let's make arrows for Yahweh! I can tell you about one man who had a home like this and it completely turned my world upside down. I was going the wrong way, my children were headed for destruction and I had no vision and I had no realization of what a family could or should be like. I'm still in damage repair, but praise Yahweh, things have never been better, we have never been happier and all things are possible with Yahweh!

I have learned that we aren't raising children, we are raising adults. If you are raising children, you will have children when you are done. If you raise righteous adults, you will have righteous adults when you are done.

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Are we raising foolish children or righteous adults? What kind of heritage are we leaving to our grandchildren?

Building generations of Righteousness

If we have children, we are laying a foundation for the generations to come. How many generations will the foundation we have laid bear fruit to righteousness? In truth, we are the foundation of the next generation. The next generation will grow up on you. What kind of foundation are you laying down? If our children are lost to the world, what kind of foundation is that? We want a foundation of righteousness that will last many generations.

Genesis 18:19 "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, that Yahweh may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

Great blessings were promised to Abraham because Yahweh knew that he could depend on Abraham. Because of Abraham’s commitment to his home, Yahweh became known as the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Will Yahweh depend on us to have our hearts turned to our children in similar manner? Or will Satan be depending on us to have our hearts turned away from our children, and toward other things? Of course, he knows if our hearts are distracted by other things he has the best chance at destroying them along with our grandchildren.

Did you know that if you had 2 children and 6 generations thereafter had 3 children, you would have influenced 1,458 children? Did you know that if you had 5 children and 6 generations thereafter had 5 children, you would have influenced 78,125 children?! Can we begin to see why the Torah repeats itself over and over with commandments that lift up the importance of raising a righteous generation? Can we begin to see why Yahweh will smite the earth with a curse unless somehow, some way the Father's hearts are turned to their children and the children's hearts are turned toward their Fathers (Malachi 4:6)?

Some might say, "Well, the Messiah will be here before 6 generations". To them I say, this was said 6 generations ago and look at the situation we are in today! Is that an excuse to neglect your children? Yahweh forbid! How many children must be thrown in the lake of fire before you will commit yourself? 78, 125? Five? One? Your own precious son or daughter?

But how many are willing to make the sacrifice, pay the price, change the priorities of their life for raising their children? If the generation before us had paid that price, there would be multitudes of good examples for us to look to. There isn't much today, but that can change:

Psalm 112:1 Praise ye Yahweh. Blessed is the man that feareth Yahweh, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

If we want our seed to be mighty upon the earth, we need fathers whose children know that he fears Yahweh, delights in His commandments and loves to pray, read the scriptures, discipline himself, and that he really loves Yahweh behind closed doors. It is true that our children are usually excited about the things we are excited about. If we are excited about Yahweh, our children will be too. If we are totally consumed with raising up righteous children, it can happen. We should want children that will be a mighty influence in this world for Yahweh. If you minister in their presence, the whole house can be a ministry to others. But who is willing to pay the price?

Most people today are too busy to raise up righteous children. Too busy to make arrows that hit the mark, too busy making money, chasing after the wind.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; Elohim is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Assuredly, you get what you pay for! Indeed, you reap what you sow. It may be 30 years, but you will get what you pay for. What you give will be returned to you. Cast your bread upon the waters and it shall return to you after many days. I have never heard a man on his death bed say "I wish I hadn't spent so much time and effort raising righteous children". Let's have a vision where we are on our death bed and all of our children and grandchildren are with us, praying to Yahweh together. If we can raise a generation of righteous children, we'll raise up a generation of people that will surpass all that we could have imagined. Fathers, it is time for repentance, a change of mind that brings about a change of action! It is needful to repent, if knowing that we are going the wrong way. We need to take this knowledge and make the change by turning our hearts to our children:

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy Elohim, I will also forget thy children.

Can you imagine the above words being spoken about your children? Imagine hearing that they would be destroyed because of a lack of knowledge, because of your own failure to teach them the knowledge of Yahweh. I cannot bear the thought! Let's not forget that the law of Yahweh commands us to teach our children the ways of righteousness. Let's remember to teach them diligently and show them the way by our example and concern for their spiritual livelihood. Let's yield our heart and our life to Yahweh. Let's thirst for laying a foundation of righteousness for this next generation:

Isaiah 44:2 Thus saith Yahweh that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

We should be thirsty, we can't be satisfied where we are. Let's desire that Yahweh pours out His Spirit upon our seed, and His blessing upon our offspring. Look at the beautiful promise and illustration:

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

What are these children saying?

5 One shall say, I am Yahweh's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto Yahweh, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Let's hunger and thirst before Yahweh to let this promise come to pass in our lives. We want them to say "I am Yahweh's". If we will only turn from any and all transgression, including the forsaking our children:

Isai 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Yahweh. 21 As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith Yahweh; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith Yahweh, from henceforth and for ever.

Yahweh will bless the seed, but we must turn to Yahweh fully. Isn't this what we want? As a testimony to Yahweh, the Gentiles will acknowledge that our children are the seed that Yahweh has blessed.

Isai 61:8 For I Yahweh love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh hath blessed.

A place of refuge, a walled city

Our Heavenly Father provides a place of refuge for us. What do we provide for our children?

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of Yahweh is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Fathers, our children do need a place of refuge in this wicked world. We must fear Yahweh to receive the blessings of arrows that hit the mark.

Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

We must have rule over our own spirit so that our household is guided under the authority of Yahweh. Too many homes are guided by threats, anger and intimidation.

Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Our homes should be like a walled city and place of refuge. Ancient cities of renown always had walls. Within the walls, one could find peace and protection. There would be at least one elder at the gates. The elders decided who would enter the city and who would not. If there were ever a breach in the wall, it was quickly repaired lest an enemy enter in. I once heard in a scripture study that our homes can also be likened unto a walled city. The father is the elder at the gate, deciding who and what influences will enter the home. Whether it be a person, a book, a magazine or anything that could potentially harm his home spiritually, the Father should be there to keep his wife and children from the subtle influences of sin. I believe that the Television is one of the most destructive things a person can have in their home. It is like a giant breach in the wall. It is almost impossible to guard ahead of time unless it is previewed it in some way. Television thrusts scenes and words upon you and your family, and the damage is often already done by the time you determine how wicked it really was. It is also a thief that robs a man's time when time is so short!

But what if the elder is not even at the gate of his walled city? What if he is out working and playing all hours of the day or night? What if he ships his children off to the world, outside those walls for 8 or more hours a day where they are a companion of fools and taught the ways of the world?

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Surely we wouldn't let a little child play in the street because we know about the risk of their physical death. Why then would we send them into the dangerous playground of this unbelieving generation where there is such a great risk of spiritual destruction? No! We must protect the children within our walled city and train their hands and minds for war until they are ready to do battle. YES, absolutely yes, this means that the children are schooled and taught at home. I do not believe that children of Yahweh should be raised in government schools. It is not the responsibility of the government to teach our children. It is not even the responsibility of the congregation to teach our children. The Torah says it is our own responsibility to teach our children.

If we really want to raise up a righteous generation in the midst of a crooked and perverse one, then we need to be together. I believe the best arrangement is usually that Mom, Dad and the children are normally all together in the same house throughout the course of a day. If we want to fulfill the vision, and heed the call, then men NEED to be with their families as much as possible. This practice of going off to work every day and children going off to school every day is so very often terribly destructive to homes and relationships! Fathers are strongly encouraged to do what it takes to work from home, even if it means having to lower your standard of living. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob didn't send their children out of the home to be with transgressors while they went out and worked for transgressors. I believe this is a good example for us. Because it is such an evil time, we must be very much on guard and watching over our nest.

Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

While the men are out, the spiritual forces of wickedness are often in. And too often, while the men are out, they too get caught up in the world’s lusts and wickedness. The home is left without an elder at the gate because the elder is doing other things. If our wives do an admirable job while we are away and we are overcoming, then maybe the need for this is not as great. But if you are concerned about how the house is running when you are gone and you see the ‘weaker vessel’ struggling, bear the burden and remember that we are the ones that Yahweh will hold accountable for the outcome. Yahweh didn't accept Adam's excuse in the Garden of Eden ("This woman you gave me..") and I don't see Him accepting it in the future. Because we are the ones accountable, I believe the best arrangement is for the Fathers to be working at home. Many who have successful homes agree.

Some might say "What about making a living?" Maybe we need to lower your standard of living if need be. Sell that house, get out of debt, sell that expensive car, do whatever it takes to be there with your children. When I cried out to Him, Yahweh enabled me to do just that. He can do it for anyone. Fathers, He wants to enable us to obey His command to talk of the precepts when we rise up, when we lie down, when we walk by the way or wherever we might be. For which is worse? Losing your career or losing your children to Satan's clutching power? Better to lose your big beautiful house than to lose the soul of your own children!

Matthew 16:26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

I know one believer who lived in a bus with his family and had no running water or electricity. But he was home most of the time, his 6 year old had already read through all the scriptures twice and his 4 year old was half way through! Some might say this is extreme, but it underlines the question: What good will it do if we gain the whole world and meet all the financial wants, but then neglect the spiritual needs and let our children's soul be lost as a result? Maybe we need less than we think we need. We can be sure that Yahweh will provide our physical needs if we put Him first:

Matthew 6:32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of Yahweh and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Fathers, if we love our children the way we should, we need to not only be willing to give up our careers, houses and lands for their sake, but all of the worldly possessions that we have. Isn't this the example that Yahushua gave? Did He fail to withhold even His very life for our sakes?? Greater love has no man than this! We should be a wonderful living example of Yahushua to the world, and especially to our own children! This means dying to self and sacrificing anything that must be sacrificed to instill the ways of Yahweh to our children, and ultimately to our grandchildren.

Fathers, we must be burdened enough about it that we will not stop until we see it. We cannot sit back! As you read this, Satan is actively working to destroy your children. We must fulfill the vision. We must be strong. We must do the work. We must die to ourselves and let the Messiah live in us, doing the work in us. For the time has come and the time is now. Fathers, turn your hearts!!

Psalms 71:18 - Now also when I am old and gray headed, O Elohim, forsake me not; until I have shown your strength unto this generation, and your power to every one that is to come.

Rather than letting our children be strangers to the great gifts and works of Yahweh, let’s take the time every day and have some worship and scripture reading with our families. Let’s guide each conversation toward lessons in Yahweh’s word. Let’s have a spirit of love, joy and peace as we build the house, one lesson at a time, one experience at a time, that Yahweh might fashion in our children a beautiful home for His presence. Then it can be also said of them:

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of Elohim, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua Messiah Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in Yahweh, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim in the Spirit.

Therefore, let’s sanctify ourselves and dedicate ourselves to building a house that will not be destroyed in the whirlwinds of adult life.

Proverbs 10:25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

1Chronicles 28:10 - Take heed now; for YAHWEH hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

May Yahweh bless you as you do HIS work in the family He gives you!

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