Jump Start # 3689

Judges 2:10 “All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.”

I call this ‘The Joshua Guilt.’ That’s not a technical expression, just something I came up with. Moses was dead. Joshua led the nation into the promise land. Mighty victories for Israel. The book of Joshua ends with, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua” (24:31). But, as the transition to the book of Judges takes place, we find a new generation. A different generation. A generation that did not know the Lord. Immediately following our verse, the narrative goes into detail about how Israel followed other gods, built idols and forsook the Lord.

The Joshua to Judges story is also the story of many families. It is also the story of many congregations. One is faithful and dedicated to the Lord. What follows is a train wreck. Abandoning the word of God, the next generation dances off to the music of false teaching and artificial faith. One generation strong, the next generation lost.

For a long time I looked to Joshua’s generation as failing. Had they only taught the next generation, I assumed, this would not have happened. Had they spent more time at home than going off to war, this could have been prevented. And, with this, we build the case for “Joshua Guilt.” Joshua’s generation failed. Joshua’s generation didn’t do what they should have. It seems so logical. It seems reasonable. It sure is easy to point the finger to Joshua and his people.

Yet, how does one reconcile the text telling us that Joshua served the Lord, and the people declaring, “We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice” (Josh 24:24), and then they failed to teach the next generation? Obeying the voice of the Lord would include the famous Deuteronomy six passage about speaking to your child about the Lord. When he rises up, when he goes to bed, when you pass the gatepost, teaching, teaching, teaching. Did that generation do that?

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t Joshua’s generation, but the younger generation is where the problem is. Maybe they didn’t want to hear about God. Maybe they didn’t want to worship the way their parents did. Maybe they wanted to be like other nations. Maybe they liked idols.

One can only teach, if the other will listen. But when ears are closed, minds are made up and eyes are looking elsewhere, the lessons will not be learned. Maybe it wasn’t the fault of Joshua and his generation. Maybe they prayed a thousand prayers and taught and showed only to have a rebellious reception to what they were doing.

Some lessons for us:

First, it’s easy to point fingers. Was it Joshua or was it the next generation? We could debate that all day long. We could write books about that. In the end, we don’t know. It’s easy to look at a family and see some wayward children and conclude that the parents failed, were too busy, didn’t do their job and we could be so far from the truth.

Second, God put the responsibility upon the wayward generation that followed Joshua. They were the ones to go into captivity and be plundered. God didn’t give them a pass because they were not taught. Grown people are responsible for what they believe. Hezekiah had a terrible spiritual example in his father. Yet, he chose to walk with the Lord. His son, Manasseh, the longest ruler in Israel, was wicked until a change at the end of his life. Each person must decide for himself and they must take ownership of their own faith.

Third, we must teach our children to have their own faith. When young, we bring them to services and Bible classes. They see us worship. They see our faith as we live it day by day. But in time, they must decide if they will believe or not. Away from home, surrounded by those who do not believe, the college setting is often the decider of real faith. Many abandon the way they were taught. Some continue onward, now knowing and believing for themselves.

A generation of believers…and a generation of unbelievers. Interesting study historically. Fascinating deep dive into the “why” of such choices. But more important than all that, which generation am I? Am I a believer or have I rejected what the Bible says?

Roger