GENERATIONAL IMPACT
GENERATIONAL IMPACT
The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 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. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. —Joshua 2:7-11
Disciple-making is teaching others to obey all the Lord has taught us. Apparently, Joshua had an impact on the elders. Not only did the people serve Joshua all his lifetime, but after Joshua died, the people served the Lord until all the elders also died. That whole generation served the Lord until they all died. But then we read these sad words— “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. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.” Because the next generation was not discipled, they “did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.”
Joshua, the elders and that generation knew and served the Lord, but they did not disciple the next generation and they became worldly. It is a warning for any era for those serving the Lord. We need to be discipling the next generation. How are we doing? Dear Father, please help us to be faithful and “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (II Timothy 2:1-2). Yes, Dear Father, may this be so in and by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY