Friday, October 2, 2009

My Ge-ge-ge--generation

Judges 2:10
When all the 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.

Israel had marched out of Egypt after the night of passover when the first born of Egypt was slain. They had marched out draped in gold necklaces and earrings.They marched out with the spoils of Egypt in their possession. But because their hearts were not turned to God, as the Bible states, they wound up going from "marching" to "wandering". Quite a difference in these two words.
Marching gives the connotation of having purpose and order. A governmental hierarchy to aid in the trip. Leaders and elders to help govern the people. Everyone on the same page. A beginning and a destination.
Wandering seems to point to a journey with no purpose. We pack up and move because that is what we do. We are moving but with no destination in mind. By the time we get to the verse I've written above (Judges 2:10).....the first generation to come from Egypt has all died. What we have are 2nd generation children who are preparing to enter into the promised land.

In these verses we see the bleak and dreary picture of a people who found no value in God or His promises. The parents who came out of slavery in Egypt did nothing to pass on to their children stories and teachings about this wonderful God who used nature to defeat the gods of Egypt. The did not share any of the deeds of God that they personally saw during the 40 year wandering in the wilderness. The children were woefully taught and knew nothing of this God who had brought deliverance to the people.

In fact, the very last verse in the book of Judges spells out the moral and spiritual condition of the people.
Judges 21:25 -- In those days there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
I see this as the perfect example of what is going on in our nation today.
Because there isn't any moral standard or absolute truth, whatever each man decides as being right, so be it. It will be considered to be right.
This will follow Israel all the way through the Old Testament as they repeatedly fall away from God to chase after the pagan idols and religions of the Canaanite's. God would warn them to stop and to return to Him to no avail. Finally Israel forced God's hand and He brought judgment on the people and the land. This would bring a period of revival and a return to Him, but eventually would lead to another falling away by the people.
Oh that we, as a nation, would learn from what we read.
That our eyes would be opened to the folly of our ways.
Repent and return to the Lord.
God on you today............
mb

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