Children of God

For my personal study the past while I have been reading the Old Testament. I know most people shudder at the thought of the Old Testament, but I love it. This morning I started Isaiah and was struck with the first thing Isaiah has to say: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider" (Isaiah 1:2-3). As a parent of many, I know the feeling of being unappreciated. I know how it is to teach and train and have children say, "Oh Mom! You are so old fashioned!" And then dismiss me without any recognition of the fact that I have been down the very road they are traveling and know where the pitfalls are and what to look out for. You'd think they'd be grateful for the help, but they usually aren't. So when God says that the ox knows his owner and the ass knows where his food comes from, but Israel doesn't know or consider her master, I have to stop and ask myself if I know. Am I doing the same thing to God that my children have done to me? There's more than one reason why remembering that God is our Father is important.

In the Pearl of Great Price God teaches Moses some amazing things beginning with His own majesty. He explains to Moses that He is mighty and eternal and endless then He says, "Thou art my son" (Moses 1:4). He wanted Moses to know who he was, but he also wanted Moses to understand that was his heritage.

After this great vision, Moses is left alone, weak and weary from the encounter with God. In this state, Satan comes tempting him saying, "Moses, son of man, worship me" (Moses 1:12). Satan knew that if he could make Moses forget who he was—a son of God—he would be able to then tempt him. But Moses remembered. "Who art thou?" Moses asked, "For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?" (Moses 1:13). Satan doesn't give up, but neither does Moses. Satan tempts in every way he can, but Moses, remembering who he is, resists until finally "Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the presence of Moses" (Moses 1:22).

As Isaiah said, it makes our Father in Heaven sad when don't consider Him. And it makes us strong when like Moses when we do. Our spirits are literally the children of God and when we remember that we are stronger and life is simpler.