Don’t Forsake The Lord

Judges 2:10-12

“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. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt…’”

Our passage today is best understood after reading the broader surrounding text of Judges 2:6-23. I recommend you take a few minutes to read it.

After the promised land was conquered and possessed by all the Israelite tribes, Joshua died. Yesterday’s devotional disclosed some of the background for his last message to them. Today we learn what happened in the years which followed, and the repeated disturbing patterns of disobedience, rebellion and apostasy.

The key to the repetitive cycles of national sin was that the Israelites “forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors”. The generation who witnessed the Lord’s miraculous deliverance, and who served the Lord, died off without training up the next generation in the ways and character of God.

Much of our worst societal ills today are the result of generations of children who are not being trained to honor, serve and worship God. In America, we have removed God and prayer from our schools, courthouses, public events, and sadly, even some “churches”.

I assume you’ve been born again; and, if you are studying these devotionals daily you must already be serious about going deeper in God. Be careful to continue pressing in to God daily, and make it your lifelong goal to inspire the next generation to do the same.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Talk to the Father about your commitment to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to train you to inspire the generation behind you.

Dive Deeper: Study Judges 2.