There is a strong connection with the book of Deuteronomy and the modern home schooling movement. I know for my father who played a key role in the early days of the modern home education movement, the book of Deuteronomy was very important.

One of the key texts from Deuteronomy is chapter 6 and verses 6-8.

Deut. 6:6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

There is a clear connection between these verses and our duty to provide our children a Christ-centered education.

Can you imagine Moses telling Israel, it is no problem for your children to be educated by the Moabites or Ammonites as long as they go to youth group and go to services on the Sabbath?

I think not!

But here we must be careful. I believe there is a danger for families who provide a Christian education to be prideful about doing so or comparing their children with others.

If your reason to home school your children is so that they will do better than the national average, you are missing God’s plan.

Yes, we want our children to do well academically. We want them to be challenged and prepared for the future.

But consider what Deut. 6 says immediately before the instruction of verses 6-9.

Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Our ultimate goal is that our children will love the Lord with everything that God has created them to be.

And how can this ever be accomplished?

Only when we are in complete and humble reliance on our God. Yes, we must teach our children. But if there is any success, we must be quick to say that it is all of grace. Let us make sure we keep our focus and give all the glory to God.