What Teaching Practice Was Commanded?
The book of Exodus repeatedly emphasizes that God’s mighty acts in delivering Israel from Egypt were not only historical events but teachings meant to be passed down to every generation. Among the instructions given, one clear teaching practice was commanded—the intentional, repeated, verbal instruction of children concerning God’s saving works.
1. Teaching as a Divine Command
In Exodus 13, directly after the Passover and the Exodus, God commands the Israelites to explain the meaning of these events to their children. This was not optional or cultural—it was a divine requirement. The purpose was to ensure that God’s acts of salvation would never be forgotten.
Teaching children about God’s deeds was woven into Israel’s identity. The nation was to remember, rehearse, and retell the story of God’s deliverance so future generations could live in covenant faithfulness.
2. The Content of the Teaching
The teaching practice included several elements:
a. Explaining the Meaning of Rituals
Children were expected to ask questions such as, “What does this mean?” (Exodus 13:8, 14). In response, parents were commanded to explain:
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How the LORD brought them out of Egypt.
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Why the firstborn were set apart.
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Why unleavened bread was eaten during the departure.
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How God acted with a mighty hand to redeem His people.
Rituals such as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread became teaching tools—living reminders of divine intervention.
b. Connecting Memory With Identity
Parents were to connect the historical events to Israel’s identity as God’s redeemed people. It was not merely storytelling; it was identity-shaping instruction.
The message was:
“We practice this because of what the LORD did for us.”
c. Using Teaching to Preserve Covenant Faithfulness
Teaching was also meant to guard Israel from forgetting God after entering the Promised Land. Forgetfulness leads to unfaithfulness; remembrance fosters obedience.
Therefore, teaching children kept the covenant alive across generations.
3. The Method of Teaching
The practice commanded was not formal schooling but parent-led, question-driven, story-centered teaching.
a. Verbal Explanation
Parents were to say to their children the meaning behind every command and ritual. Teaching was a conversation, not a lecture.
b. Using Signs and Symbols
Ritual actions were visual aids:
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The unleavened bread
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The consecration of the firstborn
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The Passover lamb
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Daily reminders worn as “a sign on the hand and frontlets between the eyes” (symbolic of constant remembrance)
These acted like teaching illustrations that made the lessons memorable.
c. Continuous, Not Occasional
Teaching was integrated into daily life. It occurred during festivals, at home, on journeys, and during normal routines.
4. The Purpose of the Commanded Teaching Practice
God commanded this practice for several purposes:
a. To preserve the knowledge of God’s salvation
Each generation had to know why they lived as God’s people.
b. To cultivate gratitude
Remembering God’s deliverance trained the heart to respond with worship.
c. To ensure obedience
Knowledge of God’s mighty works was meant to strengthen covenant faithfulness.
d. To establish a living tradition
Faith was handed down through storytelling, remembrance, and participation in God-ordained rituals.
5. A Legacy of Instruction
The teaching practice commanded in Exodus laid the foundation for later instructions in Deuteronomy, Psalms, and the Prophets. It shaped a culture where God’s law and God’s deeds were central to family life and national identity.
Conclusion
The teaching practice that God commanded was deliberate, verbal, generational instruction centered on explaining God’s saving acts in the Exodus. Parents were required to teach their children the meaning of God’s commands and rituals so that the memory of His redemption would remain alive forever.
This method ensured that every generation would know:
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Who God is
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What God has done
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Why Israel must live in covenant faithfulness
The command to teach was therefore both a spiritual duty and a means of preserving the identity of God’s people throughout history.