Judges 2

“The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works He had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done in Israel.” Judges 2:7-10 (HCSB)

The generation that entered the land of Canaan with Joshua had seen the great works of the Lord! This was especially true for the eldest of that generation. As children, they had experienced God’s redemption from Egypt, His provision in the desert as young adults, and His deliverance into Canaan as old men. They had known the Lord’s great Grace because of His promise to their forefathers and His abundant mercy despite their sin.

One thing that the “deliverance generation” had failed to do was to communicate all their lessons to their children. They had failed to transfer the value of following God to the point where the next generation did not even know the Lord or the works He had done in Israel.

Their attitude towards building up the next generation was in direct disregard for the Lord’s command:

“Listen Israel, and be careful to follow them (the Lord’s commandments), so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey. Listen, Israel: The Lord your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:3-9 (HCSB)

I have experienced both great grace and abundant mercy from the Lord. Allow me to encourage you to continue walking life’s path with me! Indulge me to retell my story in bite-sized daily installments and to impart Scripture lessons so that you will know the Lord and His works. This is so that you will be prepared to be 1) leaders in your generation and 2) impassioned to equip the next.