Like Children

Author: Joseph

Date: November 12, 2023

Yeshua had many children brought to Him that they might encounter Him personally, be held, and blessed by Him. But the disciples of Yeshua began rebuking them. Perhaps they thought of children as unimportant to Yeshua’s ministry. Maybe they thought the children would simply occupy otherwise well-spent time of Yeshua, Who was often preaching and teaching to crowds of people. Whatever their motivation for hindering the children from coming to Yeshua, Yeshua was not pleased with their hindrance and rebutted His disciples’ actions, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). It was not the will of God that children would be hindered from coming to Yeshua, no matter what their age or their ability to understand His words. Yeshua wanted the children to come to Him to be in His presence and be blessed: “And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:16). When children are brought to God, in their innocence, they become attached to God in a manner of trust that only a child could have. Without fully understanding everything they hope to and without fully being capable to comprehend the things of God in its fullness, they simply trust. At the young age of 17 years old, Joseph clung to the teachings of God instilled by his father, Jacob, as he was tested in Egypt with slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment (Genesis 37-41). Without understanding why he was suffering through many trials, he trusted God and in the end understood its purpose long after it was over (Genesis 45:5-8). He simply trusted God, like the child he was.

Samuel was very young, having just been weaned when he was brought to the priest Eli to serve the LORD(1 Samuel 1:24). Still a young boy, Samuel, upon hearing the voice of God was told by the priest Eli to simply reply to God, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). He didn’t recognize the voice of God as it was, but instead of being hindered, He was led to God and then trusted in God’s voice without any reservation (1 Samuel 3:7, 17-19). Without even knowing God, Samuel trusted the voice of God fully and by opening Himself to His voice grew in relationship with Him and understanding over time.

King Josiah, a descendant from King David, was only eight years old when he became king of Judah (2 Chronicles 34:1). When he turned to the age of 16 years old, it is written that “he began to seek the God of his father David” and then began purging Judah of all the wickedness that was formerly set up by prior kings (2 Chronicles 34:3). He sought God, believed Him without hesitation, and live his life according to God’s guidance. He was not hesitant to seek God with all his heart and desired to bring praise to God, even repairing the temple that had been previously neglected. This Josiah did all these things before even hearing any of the words written in the book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses which was found, preserved, in the temple treasury. Josiah’s desire was fully towards God’s will even before hearing the Scriptures of the time. When the Law of the Lord was read to Josiah, he mourned and then urgently repented and told others to as well for what they had not previously known, but was then revealed to them through God’s words. God’s words were always, without hesitation, trusted and obeyed.

These are a few examples of children coming to God and then being transformed by their faith in Him, but there is also more to what Yeshua told His disciples that requires more meditation. Yeshua not only told His disciples not to hinder the children and that the kingdom of God belongs to such people, but also said “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Mark 10:15). No trust like a child? No entrance into God’s kingdom.

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all”

The child receives without hesitation and fully embraces. There are no second thoughts, no complex back-up plans, no half-hearted beliefs, no heeding of other voices opposed to God. Simply, faith. The child fully entrusts themselves to sit along with Yeshua as He blesses them. To be in His presence, even without fully understanding everything of Who He is. Rather, they embrace the mystery of their own limitations and instead of trying to understand what is beyond their capability, they simply listen to Yeshua and that is enough to satisfy them. Children allow Yeshua to embrace them in His arms, they are unopposed to Him and do not attempt to pull away, neither playfully nor rebelliously, but are simply held. For in the embrace of Yeshua there is security and also blessing.

When Yeshua is embraced fully, the kingdom of God can be received by that person. That is, the reign of God can happen in their lives both now by entrusting themselves to God and in the sense of salvation, that person can enter the kingdom of God that He has prepared for those who seek Him.

In what manner have you received the kingdom of God? Have you rejected God’s embrace in one manner or another? What is hindering you from receiving God’s kingdom as a child? Has someone told you not to do so (as Yeshua’s disciples mistakenly did to the children)? Is there a fear of being perceived as “foolish” or “crazy”? These fears will keep you from God’s kingdom. Is it really worth it? We know that this world eventually comes to a complete and irreversible end, but God’s kingdom is forever. To which one do you want to belong?

Matthew 19:13-15 (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17).

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org