Who Are You Telling?

In ancient times, there was a common practice among the peoples of a nation called story-telling. The oral declaration of history past, so the future generations would know where their roots came from and remember their heritage.

Stories of battles fought, lessons learned, years of peace and plenty and seasons of drought and destruction. Each family recounting the origins of their lineage and the brave men and women who came before them. Masterfully weaving a tapestry of verbal pictures, until the portrait was complete within the listener’s mind.

This was necessary, of course, because written language was rare. There was no such thing as books as we know them today. As a matter of fact, the printing press (which made it possible to produce large quantities of manuscripts accurately and quickly) was not invented until 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg. But even prior to the printing press, when written documentation in the form of scrolls became increasingly normal, few were educated enough to read and understand them.

History relied on word of mouth to move from the stagnant past, into the momentum of the future. This was vital then, but do not believe for a moment it is passé for our modern day.

You may have heard this quote before, or something similar in concept. I have also heard it said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” (Mark Twain) This is all fine and dandy when the similar patterns from generation to generation bring peace, prosperity and purpose; but what happens when we cycle around to death, destruction and disarray?

This is what we see over and over again in the book of Judges and it had me thinking- What are we passing down to those coming up behind us? These Old Testament writings, give us a perfect example (and warning) of what happens when we forget the dark periods of our past, turn our backs on the goodness of God and neglect to inform the younger generations of what could possibly lie in wait for them.

The time of the judges of Israel occurred prior to the rule of the kings. They were appointed by God to help lead and shepherd the children of Israel. As you begin to read this book; however, a pattern quickly emerges within the pages.

“And the land had rest forty years. Then Othnie, son of Kenaz died. And the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (Judges 3:11-12a)

“So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel, and the land had peace and rest for eighty years. After Ehud was Shamgar son of Anath, who slew 600 Philistine men with an oxgoad. He also delivered Israel. But after Ehud died the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (Judges 3:30-4:1)

“So let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it rises in its might. And the land had peace and rest for forty years. But the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.” (Judges 5:31-6:1 *Israel had peace under Deborah until she passed)

“Thus was Midian subdued before the Israelites, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had peace and rest for forty years in the days of Gideon. As soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned again and played the harlot after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. And the Israelites did not remember the Lord their God, Who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.” (Judges 8:28, 33-34)

I could go on, but I think you get my point. Whenever there was a strong leader in the nation, guiding and reminding the people to keep their eyes fixed on the Lord God and to trust in Him alone, the land saw peace and rest.

Transversely, when that leader died, and no one took up the mantel to remind their descendants about God’s delivery from hardship, the people quickly forgot their history and plunged back into perilous darkness. They were not telling, reminding, encouraging, admonishing, pushing, correcting and directing them toward their Savior. Left to their own way, they forgot about hard times in the past, and were doomed to repeat it.

When I study these passages, I am spurred on to communicate all I can with those around me and the littles behind me. To remind them of the resurrection power that only comes from a life lived in Christ Jesus. I want to testify that peace and security are found only in the Prince of Peace; nothing of this world can mimic or fulfill it.

I am urged to warn my brothers and sisters of the wages of sin. To encourage and challenge them to crucify their flesh. Plead with them to stay alert and awaken from their slumber, for the devil is roaming, hungry and ready to pounce.

I long to pass on my beliefs to my children and one day my children’s, children; teaching them the precepts that will give them abundant life, making sure the flame of the torch does not diminish, but grows ever brighter and hotter.

And let us not be prideful or ignorant in our thinking, dear friends. “Well, that would not happen to my family, or city or nation”. Humm… have you turned on the TV lately?

We can find this pattern not only all throughout scripture, but history itself. When we forget where we came from and let go of the hand of the One Who lead us here, trouble is stirred up quickly. This is why discipleship is vital.

The church MUST educate, train and equip the saints. Parents MUST educate, train and equip their children. Grandparents MUST educate, train and equip their grandchildren. We are forgetful, selfish, prideful, stiff-necked, stubborn people hell-bent most days in going our own way. We require reminding. Our nature is programed for self-destruction and we must fight against it daily. As a faith family, we should be helping each other wage violent war against our fleshly desires.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you- with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive tress that you did not plant- and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-12)

This is how I know during the time of the judges, when life was good and they had peace and rest, those men and women leading the nation were telling the people daily about God’s faithfulness, reminding them from whence they came. And how I further know, when those leaders died, no one else was talking about the past, pointing them to God Almighty and so they forgot and was plunged into spiritual darkness. Just like Moses warned would happen.

We are but flesh. (Psalm 78:39) Weak and easily distracted. This is why Moses sternly commanded the children of Israel to constantly discuss the Lord among themselves, teach their children, study daily, mediate, ingest and regurgitate the Word, from the time they woke up, to the time they laid their heads down.

Why?

Because just like them, we will forget where the goodness comes from, and then we get spiritually lazy, and then pride creeps in convincing us “we” are the ones who achieved all the great accomplishments within our lives and we begin to believe we don’t need God after all. This same pattern has taken down men and women since the dawn of time.

But it doesn’t have to repeat- not on your watch.

Let the pattern die with you! Tell your children, family members, friends, coworkers, strangers. Be bold in proclaiming the name of Jesus and constantly mediate on His gift of salvation. Remind others of the evils that await when we begin to drift from God.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! (Revelation 12:11) Become a great story-teller. Gather your family around at dinner tonight and share a moment of how God impacted your life. Let your kids see the fruits of living in obedience under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty. Warn them of the perils that are lurking, should they decide to step away from the shelter of His strong tower. Share this same message with all who are in your circle of influence.

Create such a vision of glory for those listening, they will feel like they can reach out and actually touch it. And foster forty years (and beyond) of peace and rest for your generation.