Bible Reading Blog
“Passing Along God's Covenant”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 31
“And Moses commanded them, “… Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”” (Deuteronomy 31.10-13)
This generation had heard the covenant but would need to rehearse it regularly. But notice this command looked beyond just the present. There would come a time when some children and sojourners did not know the covenant of God. So Moses commanded them to gather together and teach it plainly in the presence of all the people. Sadly, this was not observed in the conquest years and there arose a generation that did not know God (Judges 1.10). How tragic that 200 years removed from Egypt, God’s people had forgotten the One that made them a nation to begin with. It’s not as though YHWH was absent from their history; but this generation had no idea what it meant to hear and fear him. I imagine many from the conquest generation had displayed conviction, but they had failed to equip the next generation with sufficient reason to continue. Perhaps they faltered in their own belief; perhaps they got lazy; perhaps they didn’t make the daily efforts to let their children hear the words of God’s covenant. Whatever the case, there arose a generation that did not know God and it was devastating for the future of God’s people.
We face a similar challenge in our time. Many of us have conviction about the gospel and its impact on our lives; but it is our responsibility to pass it on. We must not take for granted what the next generation knows. Faith does not come unless they hear the word of God (Romans 10.17). In every sphere of influence we must intentionally bring God’s ways into our conversations and activities. Especially as parents and grandparents, bringing your kids to church is critical to their spiritual development. But it is not enough to simply be among God’s people. They must hear the words of God and learn to fear him. To do this, the older must teach the younger (Titus 2.2-ff), the parents must nurture, train and discipline their children in godliness (Ephesians 6.1-4) and God’s commands must be well-known in the church of God. It must be our commitment to make God known as our legacy to future generations. Frankly speaking, we will all be gone and forgotten within a few generations. But our influence in passing along God’s covenant to others will endure and sustain the message of the gospel for all of time. It is a sacred trust we have been given as the people of God. Our legacy of faith may not produce long-term recognition, but God will know and remember us for eternity. So, we must ensure that we have been faithful, not just in our personal devotion but in preparing those who will come after us.
“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith…” (Philippians 1.21, 23-25)
