All it takes is one generation

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TODAY’S SPECIAL: Judges 1-3; Psalm 70

TO CHEW ON: “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD, nor the work which He had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10


In our reading through the Bible, we’ve just finished the book of Joshua. The Israelites have finally arrived in the Promised Land. They have divided it into sections for the twelve tribes and begun routing the Canaanites living there. But they have not utterly destroyed them, as told to, for very soon we see them adopting Canaanite ways, especially religious ways (Judges 2:11-13).

Thirty-two years have elapsed between when Joshua took over from Moses and Joshua's death. During those years and a few beyond that, the old timers who had experienced God’s miracles firsthand—the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the manna and water from the rock, the path through the Jordan and the crumbling Jericho walls—have kept alive the memories of Yahweh at work in Israel.

But of the generation following we read that they DIDN’T KNOW GOD.

God had warned that this could and would happen, had given the people feasts and holidays to commemorate their experiences with Him, their escape from Egypt (Passover) and His care during their years of wilderness wandering (Feast of Booths). Moses had lectured them in specifics of keeping God and His laws uppermost in their homes  and families (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). They had pledged with Joshua to cultivate familiarity with God’s words (Joshua 1:8,16). But still they forsook Him in the very next generation.

This is a huge warning to me—to us. Because for us too, all it takes is one generation.  

So let’s keep telling and writing the stories of our personal history with God, planting God’s word in our children from infancy on, establishing family altars of Bible reading, prayer, and story telling so that it can never be said of us: “... Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work he had done…” Judges 2:10 MSG.

PRAYER: Dear Father, please help me to be faithful to You and the next generation by continuing to tell my children and grandchildren about You and instilling in them a deep love and respect for the Bible. Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 70

The Bible Project VIDEO:  Judges (Read Scripture series)



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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.


Thanks for reading! This year we are using The Bible Project "Timeless Reading Plan" to read through the Bible in 2018. If you'd like to read along in your own Bible, you can download a pdf of the reading plan HERE.

A Divine Lawyer

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 21:1-19

TO CHEW ON: “‘Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.’” Luke 21:14,15

Here Jesus gives advice to the disciples on how to prepare themselves for being arrested and interrogated for their faith in Him. This bit snags my attention: “'… settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer.’”

Jesus’ advice goes against every instinct I have. If I was arrested and anticipating being questioned about my faith, my tendency would be to review my doctrine and apologetics textbooks, have my Romans Road scriptures at my fingertips, refresh my mind on how to make a logical and convincing argument, etc.

But the compelling defence Jesus describes (“‘… all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist…’”) comes a different way than through memory, intellect, or reasoning power. Our reading in Luke doesn’t name the source of this wisdom but in another place Jesus refers to it (Him) specifically.

“‘Now when they bring you to the synagogue and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what to say.’” Luke 12:11,12.

Jesus speaks more about this divine ‘Lawyer’ in John 14-16.

“‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all things that I said to you’” - John 14:26.

“‘If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you’” - John 15:7.

“‘… And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment’” - John 16:8.

Two further thoughts:

1. Maybe a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit is also a wiser, more effective way of sharing the gospel with friends and family than some of the rote methods we’ve been taught.

2. Waiting for the Holy Spirit to supply our words, takes work too—the work of refusing to worry and substituting worry with dependence on and obedience to the Holy Spirit at all times and in all situations.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for Holy Spirit, Your wisdom and words, that are appropriate and come with convicting power, available to me. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.