Giving Our Children Spiritual Inheritance
Scripture Passage: Joshua 4:19-5:1 (NASB)
19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal, on the eastern edge of Jericho. 20 As for those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set them up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
1 Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.
SUMMARY
The people of Israel has successfully crossed over just as God promised Joshua. Twelve stones taken from the Jordan are set up in Gilgal, on the eastern side of Jericho as a memorial. Joshua reminds the people of Israel to inform their children, in times to come, when they are asked what these stones represent. They shall declare how the Lord dried up the ground of the Jordan River just as He did the Red Sea, that all may know, God is mighty and is to be feared forever.
REFLECTION
Had it not been for the flooding of the Jordan River, the people of Israel would not have seen the awesome work of God’s deliverance and miracle first hand. They actually got front row seats to witness His faithfulness and providence. If the Jordan River was at low tide, as it does in other times of the year, their faith and trust in God may not have had the growth and stretch it did that day.
My faith journey is just not mine alone, it is one that can be passed on to the next generation, and so should be continually.
Joshua is a great example of a leader who shows his faith in action by obeying God’s commands and trusting He will always keep His promises. He also conveys his leadership by ensuring that the next generation has his past experiences plus their own encounters with God’s power to have unshakable faith. If we can patiently share this as verses 22 and 23 noted, there are multiple references to teach our children that it is the Lord, “your” God who is mighty.
APPLICATION
We may often feel the daily pressures of “keeping up with the Joneses”. We try incessantly to engage our children in the best sports, music and academic opportunities. Ultimately, we want what we think is best for our children, but I’m learning from the text today and am reminded that our children’s personal relationship with God is of utmost importance. If I am not successful in allowing “my God” and to teach my children, that He is now, “your God”, I have not fulfilled my greatest duty as a parent...it’s a sobering thought.
How much time, energy, resources and patience am I willing to invest to nurture and verify my children’s spiritual well-being? I repent for being worldly minded and losing sight of what really matters eternally. My encounters with God through His words, His testings, miracles, and even failures can all be teachable moments for my children. To think that they can learn and grow from my faith journey (as I share what God has done in my life) as well as now, their own faith journey...they can have exponential growth in Christ. That means I need to have more intentional time spent with my children (or even others I’m mentoring). I will connect with them through a phone call or a message sharing what God is showing me through His words and tell of His faithfulness in my life. I will also write down people’s names God has placed under my domain to pray for them at least couple of times a week.
PRAYER
Father, thank You for revealing Your truth to me through the living words today. I have been twisted in my priorities. Forgive me Lord for being attentive to what is superficial and material. I want to turn my heart back to You so that my children and the next generation will do the same. I want to leave the best heirloom that any person can ever give- the heritage of faith in Jesus Christ. Help them to know the joy, peace and love that can only be found in their personal relationship with You. As You have been so good and faithful in my life, reveal Yourself ever so more to our next generation. May they worship, love, obey You and love one another all the more as we see the Day approaching.
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