March 27, 2012 (Judges 1-3; 1 Corinthians 12)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10 NLT
Observation: The children of Israel that crossed over the Jordan River and entered the promised land of Canaan have died and left their children to continue their lineage. But because they failed to teach their children the importance of following all of God’s commands, all was in jeopardy. God told them to drive out all the people from the land He had promised and destroy them. Instead, they decided to allow some of them to live in their towns with them and be their slaves. When the next generation grew up they did not acknowledge the Lord of remember the mighty things He had done for Israel in the past. This generation knew nothing about being a slave, so they felt no remorse when they enslaved others!
Application: As I meditate on this I can’t help but feel we are walking in the same paths. If I look back two generations so much in America has changed and so much has been forgotten. Those who were once enslaved have birthed a generation that failed to teach their children of the consequences of slavery. Now we have a generation that knows nothing of slavery and yet has no remorse when they try to enslave others. Those who once walked in the ways of the Lord and obeyed His commands have birthed a generation that failed to teach their children of the importance of obeying God and keeping His decrees. Now we have a generation that feels no remorse when they completely disobey and do the opposite of what God’s word says. Think about it! We are the children of Israel.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your word that shouts truth to my soul. God forgive us for not seeking and heeding the lessons learned by our ancestors. Forgive us for repeating the same destructive cycles over and over again. Teach me Your ways Lord and reveal to me Your plans. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that provide and protect me daily. Guide my feet by Your Spirit and the lamp of Your word. Open the eyes of my heart and let me see You, in Jesus name, Amen!
Just wanted you to know that I found your website, and will keep reading your posts. This one I agree with 100%. A lot of my friends are upset with our current leadership in this country, but fail to consider our role in the matter. In Nehemiah and lots of other places in the Bible we are taught that disobedience brings slavery, yet even now people are still stiff-necked and rebellious.
Thanks Steve! It means a lot to me that you sought out the website. Most people will never give the effort to truly seek God and learn about Him. They are like birds in a nest and they want God to drop the worm in their mouth. But you have proven to be a bird that has left the safety and security of the nest in an effort to seek God and find the spiritual food He has for you. Always seek Him, always remain faithful to Him, always obey Him, one day it will be worth it all!