Let’s talk about mothers who feel ill-equipped to home educate (pause while everyone including myself raises her hand!). It is important to acknowledge the very human reactions to a way of doing education that probably has no precedent in our lives. Home educating mothers-to-be can be tempted to consider the task and conclude they are not up to it. Here is a list of skills and resources that mothers might think they need to have: intelligence, organisation, money, ability, patience, creativity! Perhaps you could think of a few more.
It is not unusual for the child of God to feel out of his or her depth. Consider Moses. God called to Moses out of a burning bush (what could be a clearer sign that that!!) and said, ‘Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people; the children of Israel out of Egypt.’ (Ex 3:10). Moses proceeded to make excuse after excuse:
‘Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ (Ex 3:11)
‘…they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’ (Ex 4:1)
‘Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ (Ex 4:10)
Then finally we arrive at the crux of the matter: Moses does not want to do it. ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’ (Ex 4:13). I honestly wonder whether this might just strike a chord with a few of us?
1. ‘For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.’ (Psalm 103:14)
Moses makes excuse after excuse before finally telling the Lord that he does not want the job. Does the Lord smite him? No, he sends Moses’ brother Aaron for help and companionship (Ex 4:14). He understands Moses’ weakness and rather than despising Moses for his frailty, God is gracious to him. The reality is that as events unfolded, Moses did not need his brother to be his mouth, but perhaps the promise of a companion gave him courage. Several chapters later, we see Moses supported again when his father-in-law Jethro draws alongside and gently shows an overworked Moses how to reduce his own burden (Ex 18).
Who the Lord has put in our lives to encourage us?
I don’t think I have ever met a Christian home educator who is truly walking the path alone. There was a number of years when I struggled with loneliness, but the reality is that I did have an extremely supportive husband. When I meet mothers who are single or perhaps whose husband is not completely on board in terms of support, they very often have a supportive church or network of friends.
The Lord knows that what we need and sometimes the presence of another person is the means by which he gives us courage to keep walking.
2. ‘…he who had set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace…’ (Gal 1:11)
Moses was God’s chosen man to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and it is clear from the biblical and the extrabiblical record that he was particularly preserved and trained for the job.
Decreed by Pharoah to die in the Nile as a baby, Moses’ life was saved in the Nile by a basket. He was discovered by Pharoah’s daughter and raised in a palace to learn ‘all the wisdom of the Egyptians’ (Acts 7:22), as well as the promises of God through the care of his mother (Ex 2:9), who was chosen to nurse him in the palace. Josephus writes that Moses’ understanding was superior to his age. When the Ethiopians attacked Egypt, Moses was made commander of the army and lead the Egyptians to success, preparing him for future leadership.
How has God prepared and equipped us to raise our children in Christ? Well, first of all, if he has saved us then who is better placed to teach the gospel to a child than a parent? He equipped his beloved in different ways. Do we have a particular bent towards one subject? Are we bilingual? Are we creative? Could we learn a little income on the side to pay for tutors? Do we have friends or family members who might help us out? Have we been blessed by some sermons to which we can return to in times of need? Do we have a home, a garden, a home ed community we could join? God equips his children in different ways, and perhaps we need to ask him to open our eyes to how he has equipped us.
3. ‘Great is our Lord, and abundant in power…’ (Psalm 147:5)
Of course, Moses could not foresee camping by the Red Sea, with an angry Egyptian army on his heels. There was really nothing that he could do humanely speaking and yet the Lord performed a miracle. I guess I do not see miracles on this level in my daily life, however I can see the Lord answer very specific prayers when I feel I am at a dead end.
One example of this would be as it became apparent that we have a child with a mild learning difficulty. This was really something unknown to me as I have never personally had to deal with these struggles. I did not know what to do nor how to make progress but I prayed for help and the Lord brought a lady into my life who has taken the time to give me very specific and practical advice to help me support my child.
It never ceases to amaze me how dead ends become the opportunity for the Lord to work.
Conclusion
I imagine most of us consider educating our children with some notes of fear and trepidation. We look at school buildings with their equipment and plethora of teachers who have been trained to teach a whole range of subjects and ask how God could use us in our weakness. Yet the Lord has a track record of encouraging, preparing and working wonders for his servants. If he has called us, we know that he has already been working behind the scenes. Let’s pray for eyes to behold his work and remember that all the glory is the Lord’s.
