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Teaching Children God's Character Through Engaging Analogies

Children are considered a gift from God, capable of glorifying Him, and should be instructed in His ways [1]. The Bible emphasizes the importance of teaching children about God's character, urging parents to train them up for God and instruct them in His word [6]. This instruction often involves using analogies and comparisons to make abstract theological concepts more accessible and understandable.

The concept of children imitating God is rooted in scripture, as Ephesians 5:1 exhorts believers to "Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children" [4]. This imitation primarily involves expressing love, mirroring God's own character [9]. Just as children naturally follow their parents' examples, believers are called to follow God's example [9]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Ephesians 5:1, notes that "Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them" [8]. This imitation is not about becoming divine, but about reflecting God's attributes in one's life, particularly His love and compassion [8, 9].

One of the most profound analogies used to describe God's character is that of a father. Psalm 103:13 states, "The Lord is like a father to his children" [7]. This analogy forms the foundation for Jesus' teachings about God's fatherhood, appearing in various passages such as Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:36, and John 15:1-8 [7]. This paternal imagery conveys God's compassion, care, and provision for His people, much like a loving earthly father provides for his offspring [6, 7]. Parents are encouraged to pity their children, reflecting God's own pity [6].

The parable, a key teaching method used by Jesus, serves as an excellent example of using analogies to convey profound truths [2]. The Greek word for parable, parabole, signifies "placing beside or together, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another" [2]. Jesus employed surprising and evocative imagery in His parables, often to highlight the contrast between humble beginnings and glorious outcomes, or to encourage patience among His disciples [12]. For instance, the parable of the prodigal son illustrates God's readiness to receive and entertain repentant sinners, showcasing the "riches of gospel grace" [14]. This narrative vividly portrays God as a compassionate father who eagerly welcomes his returning child, despite their past transgressions [14].

Children are also presented as examples of certain spiritual qualities. Jesus often used children to illustrate principles of the Kingdom of God. For example, children are capable of glorifying God [1]. Their obedience to parents is considered well-pleasing to God [3]. The "spirit of" a child is even described as a requisite for submission to God [3]. This suggests that qualities often associated with children, such as trust, humility, and dependence, are desirable in one's relationship with God.

The Bible also uses analogies related to children to describe the blessings and responsibilities associated with them. Children are described as "like arrows" in the hand of a warrior, implying that God uses them to protect His people's reputation [10]. This imagery suggests strength and purpose, highlighting the value God places on children. Parents are tasked with bringing their children to Christ, training them for God, and instructing them in His word, including telling them about God's judgments and miraculous works [6]. This comprehensive instruction ensures that children grow up knowing and fearing God, remembering Him, and attending to parental teaching [1].

While children are to imitate God, and believers are to be known as children of God, John Gill clarifies that one does not become a child of God by imitating Him [11]. Rather, being a child of God is a result of adopting grace, which is then made evident through actions that resemble the heavenly Father [11]. The apostle John emphasizes this distinction, noting that doing righteousness is a sign of God's matchless love and adoption, not the means of salvation itself [13]. This understanding underscores that the analogies used to teach children about God's character are not about earning God's favor, but about understanding and reflecting the nature of a relationship already established by grace.

The importance of diligence is also taught through analogy. Christ Himself is presented as an example of diligence [5]. God requires diligence in seeking Him, obeying Him, hearkening to Him, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding against defilement [5]. These are all characteristics that can be taught to children through relatable examples and stories, demonstrating how God's character is reflected in persistent effort and commitment.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Good — The Lord is with -- 1Sa 3:19. Know the Scriptures -- 2Ti 3:15. Observe the law of God -- Pr 28:7. Their obedience to parents is well pleasing to God -- Col 3:20. Partake of the promises of God -- Ac 2:39. Shall be blessed -- Pr 3:1-4; Eph 6:2,3. Show love to parents -- Ge 46:29. Obey parents -- Ge 28:7; 47:30. Attend to parental teaching -- Pr 13:1. Take care of parents -- Ge 45:9,11; 47:12. Make their parents' hearts glad -- Pr 10:1; 29:17. Honour the aged -- Job 32:6,7. Adduced as a motive for submission to God -- Heb 12:9. Spirit of, a requisite f”
  4. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:1 (BSB) — Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
  7. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:13: 103:13 The Lord is like a father to his children: This analogy forms the basis for Jesus’ teaching about God’s fatherhood (see Matt 5:43-48; 6:1; 10:19-20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29-32; John 8:31-59; 15:1-8; see also 2 Sam 7:14; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Mal 1:6; 2 Cor 6:16-18).”
  8. Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:1: Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;" for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themsel”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:1: 5:1 Imitate God . . . in everything you do: Primarily by expressing love (5:2; cp. Matt 5:44-45, 48). • because you are his dear children: Just as children follow their parents’ example, believers should follow God’s example (1 Cor 4:14-17).”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 127:4: 127:4-5 like arrows: God uses children to protect the reputation of his people against the wicked (cp. 120:4; 7:12-13).”
  11. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:45: That ye may be the children of your father,.... Not that any became the children of God, by doing things in imitation of him: for as in nature no man becomes the son of another by imitating him, or by doing the things he does but either by birth, or by adoption; so in grace no man becomes a child of God by the works he does, as a follower of God, but by adopting grace; and which is discovered in regeneration. Christ's meaning is, that they might appear, and be known to be the children of God, by doing those things in which they resemble their heavenly Father; and whi”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:31: 13:31-33 Jesus used surprising, evocative imagery in these parables, either to emphasize the inevitable growth of the Kingdom through proclamation of the gospel or, more probably, to emphasize the contrast between insignificant beginnings and glorious consummation, and to exhort the disciples to patience (see also 16:24–17:13).”
  13. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3 (introduction): DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL. BROTHERLY LOVE THE ESSENCE OF TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS. (1Jo. 3:1-24) Behold--calling attention, as to some wonderful exhibition, little as the world sees to admire. This verse is connected with the previous Jo1 2:29, thus: All our doing of righteousness is a mere sign that God, of His matchless love, has adopted us as children; it does not save us, but is a proof that we are saved of His grace. what manner of--of what surpassing excellence, how gracious on His part, ho”
  14. Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 15:11: We have here the parable of the prodigal son, the scope of which is the same with those before, to show how pleasing to God the conversion of sinners is, of great sinners, and how ready he is to receive and entertain such, upon their repentance; but the circumstances of the parable do much more largely and fully set forth the riches of gospel grace than those did, and it has been, and will be while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, both to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. Now, I. The parable represents God as a com”
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