That's right, I'm back! So I'll skip the ceremoniousness and get to it :)
I started reading Judges today. I came across a thought provoking passage:
"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. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baals..." (Jdg 2)
All the people that had come out of Egypt by the hand of the LORD were dead. All the people that had gone through the wilderness, seen God's mighty works, and been brought into the promise land were dead. And it says that the next generation did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done....
I found that amazing in a very sad way. How could they possibly not know?! There is only one answer: People weren't talking about it. Not only that, it must also mean that they had stopped doing some of the rituals and ceremonies God had commanded them. How do I know that? Because in the book of Joshua it says several times: "do this and that, so that when your children ask about such and such, they may know that I [God] worked in such and such a way..."
It dawn on me, the children of Israel grew apathetic to the wonders of God, His deliverance, His care for them. I wondered how could this come about. Then I remember the verses before it, it is God talking to the generation that went through the wilderness and into the Promise Land: "But you have not obeyed My voice..." (vs 2) They had become disobedient. When God confronts them, it says that they lifted up their voices and wept, but it speaks nothing of repentance, it mentions nothing of turning back and doing what they were supposed to. Their weeping did not go beyond the sting of being reprimanded. Disobedience will do that to you. It will make your heart grow cold and distant from God.
Is there compromise in our lives today? Are we doing things that do not please the LORD? Have we forgotten the marvelous works and great mercy that He has shown towards us? Then make it a point to remember. Talk about it! Call to mind the sweetness of your Savior. If there is something to repent about, repent.
Do it for yourself, to drink from the living water; do it for the next generation, that they may know the living God and walk in His ways. In a world that is growing darker by the second don't let your light be dimmed out by compromise but sing forth His praise.
Until next time ;)
Yours truly
