There is no question. Generations are important to God.
Scripture makes this abundantly clear. The idea of generations is even found in one of the names God uses for Himself.
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Exodus 3:6a
In addition, there are many passages in the Bible that instruct us regarding generations. Among them are Deuteronomy 6 and Psalm 78. Another is Psalm 145 which beautifully demonstrates God’s love for the generations and His preference for working within its framework.
Each of these Scripture passages, clearly shows us that God’s design calls the generation that is going off to pour into the generation that is coming up. At the same time, His design calls the rising generation to follow the example of the older generation. This pouring and receiving is the way things are to continue, until the end of time as we know it.
It is the perfect design – for the good of all people, and ultimately, for God’s glory.
Yet, we often coast through our days, one after the other, without giving God’s generational design much thought. Rarely, do we find ourselves creating a plan for carrying this God-created design out.
Before we go further, this is a good time for us to be reminded of one very important fact. No matter how great our desire, no matter how hard we try, it is not within our power to bequeath Christ to our children or our grandchildren. Only God can do that. However, we can live a life that shows off God’s love and His power and His mighty deeds so that a relationship with Him becomes the longing of their hearts.
The Need for Intentionality
Through His Word preserved for us, God shares His generational plan and calls us to pour into the rising generation.
Let’s look at two examples from the Bible that show us what could happen if we choose to ignore His plan and instructions to us.
First, we’ll turn to Genesis chapter five. If we were to chart out all the descendants of Adam to the time of Noah, we would notice that many family members of differing generations were alive at the same time. This means several members of multiple generations most likely knew and interacted with one another – doing chores together, eating dinner together, rubbing shoulders day in and day out.
Yet, after ten generations, only eight people entered the ark! Somewhere, somehow the line failed. Were they so busy they got caught up in coasting from day to day? Did they assume that the younger members of their family just knew about God’s love and mighty deeds because they knew? Or might they have assumed someone else was taking care of pouring into these generations? These are questions we would do well to ask ourselves.
Our second example comes from Judges chapter two.
And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years…. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:7-8, 10
A generation lost! Joshua’s rising generation! This was a generation who had personally witnessed miraculous signs and wonders and unbelievable victories. Yet, verse ten of chapter two says, “there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel.”
This, this right here, should grab our attention. The passage doesn’t come right out and tell us how it happened. Perhaps they were so busy serving God that they didn’t make time to teach the younger generation about Him. Maybe they thought their stories about God’s work in their lives would fall on deaf ears. Regardless. We don’t need the details; we simply need to know that it can happen. A generation can be lost.
I don’t know about you, but as a mom, as a grandma, as a member of the older generation, these examples stir something within me. I know I cannot “save” my children or my grandchildren or any of the rising generation in my circle of influence. But the thought of them being “lost” because I did not step up to fulfill my part of God’s generational design breaks my heart. It moves me to intentionality.
Encouragement for the Task
While the examples from Genesis and Judges should spur us to generational intentionality, they do so from a “gone wrong” perspective.
Before we leave this look at God’s design for generational interaction, let’s consider things from a more positive perspective.
Hebrews chapter eleven, often referred to as the Hall of Faith, lists several Old Testament saints who because of their faith receive commendation. Among those on the list are Noah who built an ark even though he had never seen rain, Abraham who left his home not knowing where he was going, and Moses who refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter choosing rather to be identified with the people of God.
Each of these, along with all the others we find in the chapter, receive their commendation because of their demonstrations of active faith.
As I read this chapter, I see people making choices. Each member of the Hall of Faith choosing whether they would succumb to what they saw or trust God for what they could not see.
As I read, I wonder. What effect might each act of faith have had on the generations of that family? Did a child see their parent’s love for God through an act of obedience? Might a grandchild have sensed the mighty power of God in an account retold? Again, we don’t know all the details of each, but the thought provides great encouragement to intentionality in our part of the generational framework God so loves.
