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“And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel.”  Judges 2:10 (ESV)

My great aunt Lilly was the best cook ever.  I remember standing on tiptoes watching her add this ingredient and then a smidgen of that ingredient.  Bustling around in the kitchen with her worn apron hiding her round waist; she could make any meal delish.  Her peach cobbler oozing with butter and crusted edges was one of my fave.  And then there was her signature potato salad – I can almost taste it. Without a cookbook in hand, she mastered cooking and took great delight in knowing those she loved enjoyed their meal.

How I wish I had Aunt Lilly’s recipes, but I’m not sure they were ever written down.  If they were, we simply didn’t realize the significance of keeping them in the moment.  Sad reality is they were not passed down so the next generation could enjoy her delicacies.

Ever thought about what we are passing down to the next generation? 

Love the reminder found in Deuteronomy 6:7 when God challenged the Israelites to pass on the secret recipe for success to the next generation.  If they obeyed God’s commands, they would reap His abundant blessings in their lives.  Their days would be prolonged and they would multiply greatly. 

Sounds like a win – win; however, the Israelites were known to easily forget God’s commandments.

Deliverance from the mighty Pharaoh demonstrated His miraculous wonders, yet they were prone to wonder and forget.

God left nothing for guesswork – He spelled it out clearly.  “Teach my commands diligently to your children. Talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The secret was out – success was theirs for the taking.  Yet we flip through the pages of scripture and find a missing link.  The Israelites cross through the Jordan with Joshua and claim their promised land.  The bounty of all they could have dreamed or imagined is set before them.  Forgetfulness reigns and disobedience follows in the land of good. Perhaps these were the moments when passing God’s commandments to the next generation faded.  Regardless, we watch them waver and rebel throughout the book of Judges.  Sad reality unveils a generation who did not know the Lord.

There’s a lot of incredible things we get to do in this life; great opportunities to seize and enjoy.  But the most important thing is passing onto the next generation the importance of knowing, obeying and loving God.  Aunt Lilly’s recipe was optional; God’s truths are not.  Whether we have birthed children or mentored spiritual children, no one is exempt – let’s determine to share God’s truths with others.

“Father, help us to obey Your commands and never forget the importance of investing in the next generation.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin

TRBC Women’s Life