A question for apostolic parents.
 

I was thinking about something today. We all know the Bible teaches children are to obey their parents; honor your mother and father sort of stuff.
Well, I got to thinking about what God does when we make rules for our children. Do you y'all believe that God creates situations to expose our children's disobediance towards us parents?

Let me give you an example. Let's say a parent sets a certain radius of miles his child is allowed drive away from home. Let's say it's because the parent knows there is a larger city close by, and also knows it takes a bit more skill to drive in that town than what his child has. So, Dad tells Jr. he is not allowed to go into City "A."

At first the child obeys his father's wishes and stays out of City "A." Eventually temptation takes over, the child disobeys his dad, and goes into the forbidden city. He gets away with it a few times and going into City "A" becomes a regular habit.

One day the child goes into the city, just like he has done several times before. This time, however, the car breaks down, he has to call Dad, and Dad finds out his son has been disobeying him by going into City "A."

Do you believe that God created the situation of the car breaking down because He honors the Dad's authority over his children and the disobedience needed to be exposed because of His honoring that authority?

Or, do you believe that God had nothing to do with the car breaking down, wasn't honoring the father's authority in any way, and the whole thing happened just because it did?

I am going somewhere with this, but I want to see what the responses from our members are before I reveal why this has all been on my mind. Thank you for offering your opinion.

I think things just happen! Sometimes we try to read waaaaay too much into some events! :)

So, in the example I gave, you don't believe it was God exposing the child's disobediance to his parents? A situation like this hasn't happened in my life because my son does not have his driver's license yet.

Maybe I should switch this to some sort of poll. Can someone explain to me how to do that? I have only done it once and that was a long time ago. I have forgotten how.

I think God will always tell praying parents when something is not kosher with their kids. He has for my wife and I anyway. What is the saying "Be sure your sins will find you out".

I tend to agree with PM - things just happen. The car would have broken down at some point in the area that the son could drive in - - God wouldn't case the car to break down to "catch" the son.

Of course, parents like to use that threat trying to scare kids to behave.

Brother, how can I do a poll?

I think you can edit the initial post and add it. If not, send me the choices and I will add it.

I don't know...I think He can do that...I'm sure that in the past He has or perhaps He just allowed things to happen rather than particularly orchestrating them...

On the other hand, it sounds almost like the same line of logic that says if a church member disobeys the pastor, and then has some sort of ill event occur that it was God showing the pastor what the person did or punishing that person...I'm not sure He works exactly like that or if those conclusions can be drawn.

As for my own children...I certainly think God speaks to parents, and sometimes I think God allows things to happen in a child's life to teach the child a lesson, and not necessarily to apprise the parent of what is going on.

So I guess...I don't know. I think He can, but I don't know that He does or that He will....I also don't think that if He doesn't reveal a child's disobedience that it necessarily translates into God not honouring the authority of the parent.....

I don't know that God punishes children in order to honour the authority of a parent....

The Bible says:

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Proverbs 15:19
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.


..........In other words, according to Numbers:

Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.


......I think we have free will to do as we choose. I'm not sure that what you speak of was predestined. God knows what will happen. Does He intervene? At times. Do we believe prayer works?...If so, we believe that God does intervene but we must ask, seek and knock, then He opens the door.

This might not be making much sense to you right now. I've had a loooong day at work.