Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Tuesday January 6 2026
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Matthew 18:6 (TPT)-But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves!
Again:
Matthew 18:6 (Amplified)-But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.
Years ago, when the United States went to war with Afghanistan following the terrible events of 9-11, I remember watching an episode on Fox News that focused on Islam and how some Muslims (not all) terribly indoctrinate children to hate and murder. It showcased a child-perhaps nine years old-who was being celebrated by his countrymen and kinsmen for the slaying of his first infidel-a grown man with children of his own. I still remember the horror of the thought that children-who are the most innocent since they are born without sin (Ezekiel 18:20; 28:15; Romans 7:9)-could be so abused and conditioned by wicked people that they would be capable of such brutality. Sadly, however, sometimes the fallen world in which we live can transform those precious souls into killers at an early age.
One author describes the ways that children in the Middle East are often so heartlessly utilized:
“The Child Soldiers Thus the Philistines undoubtedly trained their young children in the way of war. They inculcated their boys, from their earliest ages, into the practices and tactics of violence, battle, and bloodshed. They imparted into their children a mindset—a mentality of warfare and a brazen nature that could, without hesitation, initiate slaughter and destruction. It was this that made the Philistine warriors especially dangerous and deadly. And all the training had as its specific aim one target among all others—the Israelite. If the ancient Philistines inducted their little ones into violence and war, we would expect the resurrected Philistines to do likewise. And that is exactly what they did. While in most cultures parents seek to shield their children from the ways of war, in Palestinian culture, as it was in the culture of the ancient Philistines, the children were dedicated by their parents and mentors into the purposes of war and destruction. As Goliath was a “man of war” from his childhood, a child soldier, so of the modern Filastin children it is written: Palestinian children know they are expected to be child soldiers. 2 Swimming, Arts and Crafts, and Killing Jews For most children summer camp evokes images of play, sports, arts and crafts, boating, campfires, and new friendships. For the children of the Filastin, summer camp evoked different images—rifles, automatic firearms, military training, the loading of ammunition, and instruction given for the committing of murder. 3 As for the staff and organizations running their summer camps, they were represented by such names as Hamas, Fatah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Mujahideen Brigades. The Filastin children were indoctrinated and radicalized. 4 War was holy, and bloodshed was glorious. As the ancient Philistine children were trained toward committing violence against a specific people, Israel, so it was with the training of their modern counterparts. They were trained to commit bloodshed against the Jewish people of Israel. So too they were taught to venerate terrorists as their role models in the hope that they would grow up to likewise commit acts of terrorism. 5 So the ancient thirst for vengeance spoken of in Ezekiel was transmitted to the children of the modern Philistines. And it was no accident that several of the camps had in their name the Arabic word for revenge. The Darkened Kindergartens The indoctrination came to the Filastin children not only through their summer camps but through their society and culture. It came through their television sets, through children’s entertainment, cartoons, and storybooks. It even came through the curriculum taught in their public schools. Palestinian kindergartens were used to indoctrinate four-and five-year-olds into bloodshed. With toy guns in hand, they were trained to perform military operations and carry out mock executions of Israeli soldiers. One Palestinian schoolbook taught physics by showing the dynamics and forces involved in striking Israelis. 6 Others taught the Filastin children that Jews were evil, a danger, and a threat…Thus the dehumanization and demonization of the Jews began at the youngest of ages. And so it was no accident that Israeli survivors of Palestinian massacres would describe their killers as being totally devoid of any trace of humanity or mercy as they performed their atrocities. It was as basic to the invaders as was the alphabet that had been taught to them as little children, along with jihad and the waging of war against the Israelis. Children on the Altars The modern Filastin culture of death went beyond the celebration of their enemies’ destruction. It celebrated, as well, the death of its own. The Filastin children were taught to long for their own deaths. They were taught that to be killed while seeking to shed Jewish blood was an act of glory. And so the Filastin children now dreamed of being killed. So too the Filastin mothers were taught to rejoice in the deaths of their children, while their little ones were led to perform mock funerals in which one of them would have the honor of playing the part of a corpse, having been killed while shedding Jewish blood. 7 Among the gods worshipped by the ancient Philistines were Baal and Ashtoreth. Both were linked to child sacrifice. 8 And so as the Palestinians were progressively conformed to the image of the ancient Philistines, they would end up, as well, sacrificing their children to death. For the Dragon willed, above all things, for destruction. And so the Palestinians were, as well, the Dragon’s victims. They were deceived by him, misled, used, abused, and consigned to destruction. For the Enemy is the enemy of all and wills for the destruction even of those he uses and who unwittingly serve as his instruments. So after over two and a half thousand years the children of the Filastin people were again being baptized into the ancient hatred of Israel, and again, indoctrinated and trained into the ways of bloodshed on the soil of the Gaza Strip, on which they had received their training in ancient times. It was as if the spirit of the ancient Philistines had returned to their ancient shores to exact vengeance on their ancient enemies.” (Jonathan Cahn, The Dragon’s Prophecy: Israel, the Dark Resurrection, and the End of Days, 57-59 (Kindle Edition): Lake Mary, FL: FrontLine)
While Cahn focuses especially on antisemitism, other cultures throughout time have utilized children for carrying out horrific acts. Historically, children have often been terribly abused and brainwashed by cultures bent on violence, revenge, and conquest. Another researcher notes:
“In today’s educated parts of the world we recoil at the idea of child soldiers, yet in conflicts such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo tens of thousands of children have been conscripted by militias—up to 10,000 children, some as young as seven, served under Laurent‑Désiré Kabila. 25 In Mozambique, an ISIS‑linked group has turned hundreds of children, some as young as twelve, into soldiers and forced them to fight. 26 In Gaza, Hamas doesn’t just “use” children as soldiers—it systematically poisons their little minds with religious hatred. 27 From the youngest ages, Gazan boys are sent to military‑style camps where they are drilled in combat tactics and saturated with Islamic propaganda that glorifies martyrdom and killing Jews—often in schools operated by the UN’s UNRWA. 28 This is not “education” but child abuse on an industrial scale, grooming an entire generation to hate, murder, and die in the name of Islamic jihad. For them, it isn’t about self-defense; it’s an act of worship to Allah. Many ancient societies, including those in biblical times, likewise involved children in violent, ideological, and morally troubling practices. For example, in the 7th century BC—around the same time you read about Israel’s kings and prophets in the Bible—Spartan boys entered the Agoge at age seven, a brutal military training system. 29 In the end, we are forced to wrestle with a truth we’d rather ignore: in a world where even women and children can be indoctrinated into violence, God’s judgments fall on entire societies, not just individuals. That does not mean His image is erased in them—it never is—but it does mean that unchecked evil spreads like wildfire across generations. Only by facing this tension honestly can we also see the hope: that God’s ultimate desire is not destruction, but to bring forth a redeemed humanity where swords are beaten into plowshares and children are raised not for war, but for peace.” (Eitan Bar, Heavenly Genocide: Exploring God’s Command for Biblical Israel to Wipe Out Entire Nations, 68 (Kindle Edition): One Friday Films Inc.)
Several years ago, someone I know and love told me how he had been stationed in another country while serving in the Armed Forced. He spoke of how a small boy had come to his barracks one morning with a bomb attached to his chest. The young child had been intent on killing as many United States soldiers as possible, and the soldiers had tragically had no choice but to kill him.
The horrors of a world where children kill.
What to take from all of this?
First, remember the tragic effects of sin in the world of mankind. Rejection of God’s Word leads to terrible and horrendous consequences for humanity. God warned us of this in the beginning (Genesis 2:15-17), but sadly mankind chose to reject Him. Sin not only affects us personally, but also those around us. Sometimes, the effects of sin cannot be foreseen by us. What a tragic lesson we learn in the horrific nature of sin when we consider the terrible reality of child killers.
Second, let this be a reminder to us also of how other cultures have at times exploited children for ideological ends. Indoctrinating children to kill others is another reason why we as Christians must stand up against the abuse and mistreatment of children. This is part of our calling as God’s people: to stand up against injustice in whatever form it may take, and to do whatever is in our power to shelter the innocent and vulnerable from the vicious unmerciful cowards and bullies who would prey upon them.
Third, let me encourage Christian parents: keep doing everything that you can to raise your children in the Lord. They need that background and that upbringing. Children don’t understand what is best for themselves: that is why they need the wisdom and guidance of parents with knowledge and experience.
Proverbs 22:15 (Good News Bible)-Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7-And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
What are some things that we can do to encourage and help children?
What are some things that we can do to better encourage and help parents and other custodians of children?
Lord, help our fallen world. Please help the children especially. Amen.
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