Homeschooling During a Plague

(3 Minute Read. 13Jan2021)

Question:
Who is the world’s most famous person to be homeschooled?

Hint #1:
This person is famous but not as an author, general, politician, or celebrity.

Have you guessed the person I mean without looking at the answer below?

Hint #2:
This person was not an academic but rather a day laborer.

Do you know the answer yet?

Hint #3:
As a youngster and as an adult this person impressed and even flummoxed the intellectual leaders of his country.

Have you guessed the answer yet? Here is the last hint before giving the answer.

Hint #4:
This person lived in the first century A.D.

Do you know the answer now? Here it is.

Answer:
Jesus of Nazareth
It is not Biblically explicit that Jesus was homeschooled, but it is highly likely. He and most of His disciples grew up in rural Israel where most children and youths were taught life skills and vocational skills at home by their parents. Jesus no doubt learned to be a carpenter (Mark 6:3) from His adoptive father, Joseph the carpenter (Matthew 13:55).

Pictured here is a wooden plaque from our home. Young Jesus is in His simple home environment, learning from His earthly parents in the ordinary, comfortable process of life. Mary holds a scroll from which she explains something to her young Son. Joseph is at work at his carpenter’s bench. Jesus surely learned many essential lessons of knowledge and character from His parents including learning carpentry skills and about life as a man from His carpenter father Joseph.

Our Great Creator understands how intense parenting is. Our Good Shepherd hears the petitions of each weary and stressed mother and father. His mercies are new every morning, and to him who lacks might he increases strength. (Lamentations 3:22-23; Isaiah 40:29)

Due to the China Plague, many parents have been forced into what is now for so many essentially involuntary homeschooling. While we pray to Him for aid and rely on His presence, it is also apt to savor the solemn calling delegated to parents. What Scripture is relevant to today’s homeschooling necessity?

Moses gave homeschooling instructions to the Israelites in the wilderness when he ordered,
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

The Apostle Paul expressed home education instructions this way:
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)

The assignment described by Moses and Paul is consistent with having your kids around you a great deal. Transmitting the truths of the Great Creator is supposed to happen all along the course of routine daily life. “It is exhausting,” you say. Yes, it does sound like that in the verses which command us to do it. Repeat God’s Words to them; repeat them diligently, wherever you are, all the time.

It cannot be done without humble reliance on the One who made your child, chose your home destination for him, and promised to multiply your simple steps of faith and obedience. Look to Him, and He will make what you offer sufficient and satisfying.

In Psalm 145 King David encouraged the generational transfer of knowledge about God. This is what parents are to do on a daily basis.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the fame of Your abundant goodness and shall shout joyfully of Your righteousness. (Psalms 145:3-7)

My wife has a plaque in our front hall displaying a favorite quotation from William Bradford‘s history, Of Plymouth Plantation:

It was answered, that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages.

If your child’s Creator entrusted you with teaching His identity and His glory, you can embrace more mundane subject matter like language and mathematics. If the Ruler of the universe has asked you to teach your child to pray, you can teach your child practical communication skills for earthly life. If the Merciful Redeemer has directed you to love your children, and to lead them to faith in Jesus, you can embrace confidently facilitating their down-to-earth progress.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)

The parenting/homeschooling task requires all you’ve got to give, but He is right in it with you. You are under His yoke for a task of His calling, and it is high privilege. Ask Him for a new glimpse of its joy and glory.

By God’s grace and mercy, we homeschooled all seven of our children from birth through high school well before the China Plague hit. And we can affirm that that the task is doable with Christ’s daily help. It is intense, but it is a delightful adventure and an effective process. All seven are now competent, tax-paying adults.

Questions to Ponder

1. What is the most important thing to teach a child?
2. What can you do today to support and encourage an overwhelmed parent?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria. Alere Flammam Veritatis.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday January 13, 2021 A.D.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)

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