One Generation Away

DAY 17
Joshua 15:1 - Judges 3:27

The Lost Generation
The G.I. Generation
The Silent Generation
The Greatest Generation
The Baby Boomers
The Baby Busters
Generation X
Generation Y

The names used to describe the American Generations of the 20th Century give an indication of the events that ocurred and affected the people that lived during those times. "In my day", "Back in the good ole days", and "Your generation just doesn't understand my generation." Familiar Words. There are differences between generations.

The largest change from one generation to another can be seen in Joshua 24 and Judges 2.
We have the familiar passage in Joshua 24:15 where he states "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" ...."But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Then the Israelites make a choice.
"We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God." (18)
"We will serve the Lord" (21)
"We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him" (24)

Now flip a page over and look at Judges 2:10-11 and see what happens after Joshua's death. "After the whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals."

In one generation, the Israelites went from serving God to serving Baal. Now, I am sure you could blame both generations. How did the younger generation grow up not knowing what the Lord had done for their people?

Did the older generation not tell them?
Did the younger generation not listen?
What about the offerings and the feasts?
What about the stones from the river?
What about the Shema?
"Impress them upon children"
"Talk about them when you sit at home"
"Talk about them when you walk along the road"
"Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up"
"Tie them as symbols on your hands"
"Bind them on your foreheads"
"Write them on your doorframes and on your gates"

And when that generation forsook God, the consequences were that God gave them over to their evil ways and they were subjected to other nations.

Judges 3 continues the story of God's compassion that started at the garden of Eden. He raises up judges to deliver His people from their bondage.

The truth is that every generation turns away from the Lord because each generation fails to meditate day and night on the Word of God, to trust Him, and to walk in His ways. Every generation requires a deliverer.

John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

Jesus is our deliverer! Amen!

External Link: The Allotment of Land to Israel, The Levite Cities, and the Cities of Refuge
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/040.htm