The Silent Treatment

Judges 2:10 - Eventually that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work he had done for Israel.

Imagine that! Once the generation of Israelites that crossed the Jordan, drove out the inhabitants of the land, conquered Jericho and followed God whole-heartedly died, the next generation didn't know anything of God or the miracles He had done. Wow.

Can you imagine NOT telling your children about what God had done in your life? Well, I don't think it was a conscious decision to keep quiet. Look, they had driven out the people, they had taken over the cities of their enemies, they had reaped the benefits of fields already planted, vineyards already cultivated. They had lots of stuff to do! It wasn't that they didn't want to tell their children, they just got too busy. They didn't make it a priority. They reminisced together but didn't take the time to sit the family down and tell them how God had told Joshua to send the Chest (which represented God's presence among them) with the priests into the Jordan river and just when the priests feet got wet in the water it dried up! Or how God told Joshua to have the priests and the singers and the assembly march around Jericho 7 times and then they watched in Awe as God broke the walls down from the inside out! They didn't stop to tell them that the huge 12 stoned altar on the Western edge of the Jordan river signified the arrival of God's people to the promised land and commemorated the drying up of the Jordan river. It wasn't that they didn't want them to know... they just got busy.

They weren't fighting anymore. Nothing to conquer. No fear. God had given them peace on all sides. So they got busy living. There was no longer any immediate need to seek God, call out to Him in fear or even think much about Him. They had everything they had been promised! Life was great! So they went about their lives with out much thought of God. He'd done His part. He'd fulfilled His part of the covenant. They were home. Safe and sound.

But one generation later God is extinct from their vocabulary. They are worshiping the idols of the native people and are about to suffer the discipline of a Holy God. Because Mom and Dad kept silent.

Want to instill a healthy view of God in your kids? Want to keep them from suffering from disobedience? Want to help them carry their faith to their own children? Make a conscious effort to tell them what God has done in YOUR life. How he brought you and your spouse together. How He showed up in the bottom of the ninth and came through to provide you with just what was needed at just the right time. If you forget, your children could suffer at the hands of an angry God. Take the time to tell them what God is doing in your life... I think I'll start tonight!