Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | Raise Up the Next Generation for God’s Glory
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | Rise Up the Next Generation for God’s Glory
When teaching your children about Hanukkah, you are opening doors in the spirit for them to have a deeper understanding of…
- God’s promises
- God’s power
- God’s miracles
- God’s light
- God’s provision
Why Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah is Important
The story of Hanukkah is about a group of faithful Jews who refused to allow the Greek/Hellenistic culture of their day to compromise their worship and faithfulness to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This story teaches your children how to hold on to their heritage, allow God to shape their character, resist a culture that attempts to steal their freedom, and honor God.
- Heritage
The Maccabees, the small group of men who resisted the oppressive forces of Antiochus IV, were led by a priest named Mattathias. Mattathias was from the lineage of Aaron; this was his heritage. As a child of God, we too have a heritage. We are grafted into His family because of the blood of Yeshua. Teaching your children about Hanukkah connects them to their inheritance. They begin to understand that they have a destiny and a purpose for God’s Kingdom, bringing to life verses such as 1 John 4:4…
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
- Character
Teaching your children about Hanukkah informs them of God’s character. It also builds their character. The story reflects God’s faithfulness, always keeping a remnant army that will fight against the oppressive spirits of this word through His power. It helps them see that God uses trials to shape our character, which plants seeds of hope and forms a testimony. It brings to life verses such as Romans 5:3-5…
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
- Culture
Teaching your children about Hanukkah allows them to see the reality of spiritual warfare that is manifested in the physical. It teaches them how the world—or culture—presses in with a plan to oppress. But God’s strength and power have overcome this world. It brings to life verses such as John 16:33 and Romans 12:2…
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
- Honor
Teaching your children about Hanukkah reminds them that the oil of the Holy Spirit never runs out. The Spirit of God is to be honored as He is the one who keeps us full, equipped, and reveals the Son. He speaks to us the words of Heaven. Honoring the Spirit allows us to see the Son—the Light of the World—and honor Him, which in turn honors the Father. Teaching your children about honoring Holy Spirit brings to life verses such as John 14:9 and 16:14…
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”?’”—John 14:9“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”—John 16:14
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | What the Next Generation Needs to Know
In our culture today, we are witnessing a fatherless generation, a generation full of distrust and pain, and a generation that walks in darkness. Many are overcome with rejection and depression. Young people need to know that Heavenly Father is good: good to keep His promises, good to reveal His power, good to perform miracles, good to light their paths, and good to provide.
When we, as born-again Believers, teach our children and grandchildren that an encounter with the love of the Father and the Light of the World is possible, they will be better positioned for the fulfillment of their future Kingdom assignments.
Below are tips and verses for teaching your children about the goodness of the Lord during Hanukkah.
- “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”—Psalm 34:8
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | God’s Promises
Children need to know that God’s promises are irrevocable, that He cannot lie, and that He fights for them. Use these verses to remind your children of God’s promises.
- “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob”—Malachi 3:6
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10
- “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.”—Psalm 103:17-18
- “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.’”—Isaiah 40:28-29
As you read the story of Hanukkah to your children, ask them to tell you what promises of God they notice.
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | God’s Power
Children need to know that God has the power to restore, rebuild, and revive what seems impossible or even dead. Use these verses to teach your children about God’s power.
- “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.”—1 Corinthians 6:14
- “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”—Philippians 4:13
- “…This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”—Zechariah 4:6
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”—2 Timothy 1:7
As you read the story of Hanukkah to your children, ask them to tell you when they notice God’s power being displayed.
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | God’s Miracles
Today’s culture is similar to the Hellenized culture in the Hanukkah story. Human intelligence, power, strength, and accomplishments are valued, and miracles are dismissed or explained away. In Hebraic thought, miracles are released from the Creator Himself, revealing His power and authority throughout the universe. Use these verses to teach your children about God’s miracles.
- “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”—Jeremiah 32:27
- “For with God nothing will be impossible.”—Luke 1:37
- “Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”—John 20:8-9
- “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”—Acts 4:31
As you read the story of Hanukkah to your children, ask them to tell you when they notice a miracle.
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | God’s Light
Yeshua said that He is the light of the world. He places that light within those who put their faith in Him. Our responsibility is to seek His Kingdom first, listen to Holy Spirit, and walk in the path He has set before us. Use these verses to remind your children of God’s light.
- “Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.”—Leviticus 24:2
- “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”—Isaiah 60:1
- “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells in Him.”—Daniel 2:22
- “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”—1 John 1:5-7
As you read the story of Hanukkah to your children, ask them to tell you when they notice God’s light, truth, and love shining through the darkness.
Teaching Your Children About Hanukkah | God’s Provision
Our Heavenly Father is our provider. We can be overwhelmed with anxiety and mindsets of lack. However, our children need to see that God promises to provide for our every need. Furthermore, we can boldly approach His throne because of Yeshua and make a petition in our time of need. This is amazing and good news! Use these verses to remind your children of God’s provision.
- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction… who satisfies your mouth with good things…”—Psalm 103:2-5
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”—Psalm 23:1
- “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord… The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”—Psalm 34:11, 17
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”—Matthew 7:11
The Takeaway
The Hanukkah story is our story. It is a story of good versus evil. It’s the story of a Remnant army that the Lord preserves and delivers for His glory.
The next generation needs to know and experience the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a real and tangible way. They need to know miracles, signs, and wonders are still being done by the Creator and that they can trust Him fully in their time of need.