Change Begins with Children

                                                                                    ——Parenting and Shepherding Through the Lens of Daniel

Introduction:

Blessing a nation begins with its children, and so does changing a family. This is the teaching of the Bible, and history has also proven it. Therefore, if we want to revive the church, rejuvenate the nation, or renew the family, we must start with the education of children. One of the best examples of how children's education impacts society, nations, and families is the story of Daniel.

After the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, the king of Babylon sought to change the Israelite nation by selecting some of the youth from the royal family and nobility. “Select young men without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians” (Daniel 1:3-4).

Everyone accepted Babylonian food and was changed by Babylonian education, except for Daniel and his friends, who remained steadfast in their faith and stayed true to their identity. Why? In today's morally corrupt world, we all hope our children can have the right worldview and a healthy mind. But how can this be achieved? Let's take a look at Daniel's story.

1. Change Begins with Children (Daniel 1:3-4)

Changing a nation, blessing a nation, and preserving a nation all begin with its children. Especially before children have fully formed their values, helping them establish the right values can lead to lasting effects throughout their lives.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon understood this. He knew that to change a nation, he had to start with its children. Consider that Babylon ruled over a vast empire with many different nations and cultures. Managing such a large empire was no easy task. The fact that Nebuchadnezzar was able to build such an empire shows he had vision and strategy. One of his strategies was to unify the various nations, and the best way to do that was to start with the children.

2. Changing Children Begins with Language (Daniel 1:3-4)

To govern a powerful empire, the first step is to unify the language because language influences mutual identity. When language is unified, communication becomes easier, and especially when children learn a unified language, their thoughts and values are easier to shape. This benefits the management of the nation.

Nebuchadnezzar selected these outstanding young men to train them. His goal was to use these young people to influence their nation and make them loyal to Babylon, ultimately to solidify his empire. He knew that changing a nation begins with its youth, and he knew exactly where to start—by teaching them the Babylonian language and literature (Daniel 1:4). Why focus on language? Because “language is the most important tool of human communication, used for conveying and preserving human civilization.” Language is also a key feature of national identity. Moreover, “language serves as a medium for exchanging ideas and inevitably influences politics, economy, society, and even culture itself.” Language affects how people think. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar wanted to teach these young men the Babylonian language so their thinking would change. This would allow them to better communicate with locals, more easily accept Babylonian ideas and culture, and ultimately adopt Babylonian values.

3. God Also Cares About Children

First, God commands the importance of educating children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7):

When Daniel was taken to Babylon, he was still a young man. Yet, despite his youth, he remained loyal to his faith and steadfast in his beliefs. Why was Daniel different from the other children? The fundamental reason is the good education he received at home from a young age: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8).

Without educating children, society can fall into the state described in Judges: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who neither knew the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). Children are more pure and easier to teach than adults. By educating children, allowing them to experience God, and helping them build the right values, they can become soldiers for Christ.

Take Switzerland, for example. Three hundred years ago, it was a very poor country. There was little sunshine, many clouds, mountains, water, and trees (but not fruit trees). They were so poor that many young men had to go abroad as mercenaries. However, the Swiss made a decision: they would not leave poverty to their next generation. They had a long-term vision for 50 or 100 years into the future. Their mindset determined their actions. If they had only focused on the present, they would have cut down trees to sell for money or built factories for immediate production. (Similarly, 50 years ago, China cut down many trees just to survive, but in doing so, they destroyed the environment for future generations.)

But the Swiss looked to the future. They started preserving the environment for the long term, even though it did not generate immediate income. Today, Switzerland's natural environment is one of the most well-preserved in the world, attracting tourists and generating significant revenue. When Switzerland was still poor, the government allocated 7% of its revenue to children's education. Today, the Swiss enjoy the fruits of those efforts, with an average per capita income of over $70,000.

When the Israelites sent twelve spies into Canaan, some of them brought back a negative report: “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size…We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:32-33). These words discouraged the Israelites, and the people became fearful. As a result, those who spread fear died in the wilderness. However, the next generation, the children, entered the Promised Land. Where the adults lacked faith, the children had faith.

God’s mission for Israel (Exodus 19:5-6) was not completed by that generation of adults but by their children. If we teach today’s children the truth, they too can fulfill God’s vision.

In John 6:1-14, the miracle of feeding the five thousand was made possible by a child who provided five loaves and two fish. The passage makes it clear that Jesus was testing His disciples (Philip), but they failed the test—they lacked faith. After all, they were facing a crowd of five thousand men, not including women and children. While the disciples wanted to send the crowd away to go hungry (Matthew 14:15), Jesus wanted to feed them. His vision was fulfilled through a child.

Conclusion:

Even though King Nebuchadnezzar placed great importance on educating Israelite youth and used the most effective methods, he could not sway Daniel and his friends. This underscores the importance of early education for children. Daniel had already received excellent education from his parents before he was taken to Babylon.

How can we ensure that when our children leave home, they are not led astray by the world? The answer lies in teaching them the right faith and values early on. This will benefit them for life.

Winning today's children means winning the world of tomorrow. The future revival of the church depends on today’s children and how we educate them. Don’t wait until it’s too late—start educating your children now!

                          Author: Qin Guangle, Reverend of America Chinese Evangelical Seminary