We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old. You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted. (Psalm 44:1-2)
There is a very important concept addressed in the opening verses of this psalm; that is, the extreme importance of older generations teaching the younger generations about their family history and national purpose. When we read the account of how Moses led Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness and eventually to the land of Canaan, it is the recounting of a story — a story we believe but one that is hard to identify with in our day and age. But for the generation of people who experienced it and saw with their eyes what we can only see with our imagination, it was not a story — it was their life.
Through the years, thankfully, many of that generation were faithful to pass down to subsequent generations the events and experiences they witnessed firsthand. In fact, many of the miracles and events they witnessed were not just for their benefit; they were to benefit future generations. By that I mean, in the recounting of these things, future generations would be inspired to follow the Lord and His Word, and just as importantly, recognize the mistakes made by the generation who lived through these things. As so it is written, “Take heed … lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
Now we come to the main point: what happens when we fail to remember and retell these important things? What happens when one generation is negligent to teach the next of where they came from and how God miraculously preserved them in hardship and distress? It is clear to me that what one generation ignores, the next generation abhors; when one generation forgets, the next generation goes astray. There are many of this present generation of Americans who view those who fought the Revolution as tyrants, bigots and despicable human beings. Consequently, this younger generation has abandoned the principles and values that made this nation what is has been. Likewise, when we forget to tell our children of the greatness of our God. we risk them seeing Him in a completely different light — one in which He is disdained and not revered.
You and I didn’t see the sea split in two or feel the ground shake when the Lord descended upon Sinai but all of us have a story to tell. All of us have experienced His goodness and, in some form or fashion, the miraculous as He worked in our lives. It is important that we recount what God did for our fathers and it is equally important that we tell them of what He has done for us. As it is written, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (Psalm 78:4).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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