And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
(Judges 2:11-15)
I wonder how many parents look to these verses for a sense of guiltlessness when their children rebel? Though it breaks their heart they still search for comfort. We all would. After all, God did say it would come to pass did he not? On the other hand, how often does the parent place him or herself in the position of these children of Israel? Is it not due to the falters of their fathers that these children fell away? Now, so many articles, sermons, and books have been and will continue to be written on all the different areas of child rebellion but this little work will address what is really being told here, of a collective falling away, and not wrest an undue sermon.
(Judges 2:11-15)
I wonder how many parents look to these verses for a sense of guiltlessness when their children rebel? Though it breaks their heart they still search for comfort. We all would. After all, God did say it would come to pass did he not? On the other hand, how often does the parent place him or herself in the position of these children of Israel? Is it not due to the falters of their fathers that these children fell away? Now, so many articles, sermons, and books have been and will continue to be written on all the different areas of child rebellion but this little work will address what is really being told here, of a collective falling away, and not wrest an undue sermon.
First of all this is not a child rebelling against his fathers’ authority or commands outside of religious matters. In fact, these are all grown men and the priests were still present. Secondly this isn’t noted as a quick change or falling away. This rebellion is gradual. The fathers themselves began to fall away, leading their sons along with them. Obviously I’m not talking of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, or Joshua though they had their faults because they were men. Through the generation change the parents that followed these men rebelled and their children further after them. Verse ten says that there arose a generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor the works he had done for Israel. How else could sons be so ignorant else their fathers neglected them the truth?
Now to my concern: Many claim the church is in need, yet again, of reform and indeed it is. Tell me how it is that the church needs reforming if our Christian fathers, elders, and pastors had not neglected to teach sound doctrine. Christians of years past have forsaken God and have looked among themselves for means of a quicker conversion, of a more self pleasing worship, of not holding fast the doctrines of the Bible, and of forming the church into a business rather than a unified body of holy people. We blame individual sin for these collective errors and heresies all day long but the fact is that generations before us have forsaken God and have served the idols of their own imagined god! I am not strictly placing blame upon all the saints before me, yet I am merely identifying a problem that so many overlook. Multitudes of people with good intentions and even a true desire to learn the truth and share the gospel can’t because of their ignorance to the meat of scripture and a misunderstanding of God.
Fret not for there is always light in the Kingdom of God. We don’t rely on the sun or moon to light the spirit but upon God himself. He raised judges to correct his people. He raised King Josiah to reform Israel and say, “Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.” (2 Chronicles 34:21)
And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
(2 Chronicles 34:33)
God has raised valiant men of faith to usher God’s sheep into his Kingdom. Never has God’s light diminished and never will it leave us. Aged and young men alike shout the sound truths to the heights of mountains and in unison to the valleys surrounding. I see the chosen men around me fighting by the power of God. Praise God that his wisdom has not departed and that a generation is arising that will follow him. Though an overwhelming crowd of false professors stand before us our overwhelming God will march his truth for all eternity, whether opening their eyes in love or hardening their hearts in justice.
Examine yourselves next to the whole of scripture and let your hearts be crushed before God. Let us not be a generation of evil who serve ourselves with a false god. Consider your own fruit that ye be of the stock of God. And let our children not depart from following God because of our folly. Let us be the generation that takes away all the abominations and makes all that are present in the bride of Christ to serve the Lord our God.
