I am reading book of Judges right now. Yesterday I was reading the first few chapters and below verse just struck me. 2nd chapter gives an introduction to the downward spiraling of Israel's spiritual condition. But the highlighted verse stood out for me. The nation served the Lord until Joshua lived and all the elders of his generation lived. So they lived a life that was pleasing to Lord. They followed the commandments sincerely. But the next generation starts to fall.
Now, this is no excuse for the sinful acts of Israel. I am really not trying to find a reason or excuse to justify actions of the new generation. But just wondering if the parents had failed to fulfill their responsibility. How could a generation just come up without knowing the Lord and without even knowing what He had done for Israel? Do you see it as a failure on Joshua's generation to bring up their children in godly ways? We see the same happening in USA. Just in one generation we are seeing "God bless America" become "God less America".
I am not trying to play down the fact that every person denying Jesus Christ is taking full responsibility on him or herself. At the same time, parents are given responsibility. And for that, they would be held accountable. I think it's high time parents realize this truth. They cannot just sit and say things were greener in their days and blame the younger generation for going astray. It is parents who have to put the right seeds in child's heart.
It was a great reminder for me yesterday. To do a cross check on how effective I am being as a spiritual leader of the family! Have you ever wondered about this?
Judges 2:7-9
7 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. 8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heresin the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.
Now, this is no excuse for the sinful acts of Israel. I am really not trying to find a reason or excuse to justify actions of the new generation. But just wondering if the parents had failed to fulfill their responsibility. How could a generation just come up without knowing the Lord and without even knowing what He had done for Israel? Do you see it as a failure on Joshua's generation to bring up their children in godly ways? We see the same happening in USA. Just in one generation we are seeing "God bless America" become "God less America".
I am not trying to play down the fact that every person denying Jesus Christ is taking full responsibility on him or herself. At the same time, parents are given responsibility. And for that, they would be held accountable. I think it's high time parents realize this truth. They cannot just sit and say things were greener in their days and blame the younger generation for going astray. It is parents who have to put the right seeds in child's heart.
It was a great reminder for me yesterday. To do a cross check on how effective I am being as a spiritual leader of the family! Have you ever wondered about this?
Judges 2:7-9
7 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. 8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heresin the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.