“Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”
Joshua 24:27
And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath- serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.
Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.
Judges 2:6
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.
Judges 2:10
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.
Deuteronomy 31:12
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.
It should not go unnoticed what leadership can do for a family, city, and nation. Joshua continually kept the word of the Lord before the people. He spoke of all that God had done prior to and during his life. He spoke of God’s power, might, strength, love and the benefits of living for and following Him. He more importantly spoke of the consequences of not following God with their whole heart. When Joshua died the elders of Israel continued to follow and serve God. It was a determined way of life. However there arose a generation that did not know the Lord or the work He had done. How sad is this….. Fathers somewhere along the line became occupied with “life” and no longer spoke of the things of God. Maybe this happened when the leaders too became more occupied with other things. We do not need to look far to see this happening in our culture as well. Fathers have easily forgotten what God has done and no longer speak of His greatness. Fathers have become occupied with “life” and do not speak of what it means to know God and to serve Him. Fathers have lost the ability to hear God’s voice speak to their heart. Fathers have lost sight of being able to see God’s work in everyday settings. Fathers are raising a new generation that does not know God and what it means to serve Him. Life happens and we choose if we are going to be fathers of faith that lead our families in reference and service to God. There are many things that pull us away from God and we seem to blindly follow the path of least resistance. We need father leadership. Fathers who walk close with God. Who listen for His leading. Who choose to serve Him with their whole heart. Who obey His leading. Who openly speak of His love, mercy, grace, power, and strength. Who speak of how God is working in their life. Who understand it is their leadership that will determine if the next generation knows who God is, that He is alive, that He gives rest, hope, faith, joy, happiness. Who teaches the next generation that God alone is their rock. Each father is responsible for the next generation to know God and to bring them up to serve Him. The path you choose will determine blessings or wrath for your family. Start now with a determination to Lead rather than follow the path of least resistance.
