Readings for today: Joshua 3-4, Luke 14:7-35, Psalms 80, Proverbs 12:27-28
“And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:21-24)
When you read through the history of Israel, it feels like you stumble over all kinds of altars. Memorials set up by the people of God to mark special occasions. Miracles. Signs. Wonders. Great victories won in the name of the Lord. These altars served as signposts that pointed to the steadfast faithfulness of God. The hope was that every time they passed by one of these altars, it would remind them to share the story once again. In this way, their faith was passed from generation to generation.
It has been my experience that those living in oral cultures – cultures where communication is primarily done through the spoken word rather than the written word – love to tell stories. They have no problem repeating them over and over again. They experience all the “feels” with each re-telling. It is exciting to listen to them share and keep alive the significant events that have shaped them as a people. The same was true for ancient Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s mighty acts of deliverance are recounted in song, prayer, prophecy, as well as history. In this way, the faith of God’s people was preserved and strengthened in each generation.
It has been pointed out that Christianity is always one generation away from extinction. The most important thing we can do is tell the story of God to our children. Recount for them all the good things God has done for us. We need to remind them of His blessings in seasons of fruitfulness. His comfort in seasons of hardship and pain. His provision when resources are lacking. His joy when we experience great success. God is with us and the most important job of a parent is to make Him known to their children.
So what altars have you set up in your life? What stories do you find yourself returning to over and over again? What testimonies has God given you over the years? Do your children know how you came to faith? If you don’t have children of your own, have you sought out ways to share your stories of God’s faithfulness with the next generation?
Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15, Psalms 81, Proverbs 13:1