Four Generations

A few Sundays ago, Kenny and I attended church with my family in Abilene. As the service began, I looked down the pew at four generations of my family gathered to worship God together. I’m not ashamed to admit that tears came to my eyes as I thanked God for this amazing blessing, and the words of David came to mind, “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samuel 7:18)

My family is, indeed, blessed beyond measure, but I also recognize that this did not happen by chance. Each generation has been mindful to teach the next what it means to follow Jesus. In my family, I see being lived out one of my favorite passages in Scripture:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

I read that this passage is one of the central themes of the book of Deuteronomy because it sets a pattern that helps us relate the Word of God to our daily lives. We are to love God, mediate on his commandments, and teach them to our children. We cannot depend on other people to do the job for us; it’s our responsibility.

We know the Jews took these commandments literally and wore portions of Scripture in little containers call phylacteries on their forehead and left arm (Matthew 23:5). They also attached a small container of Scripture called a mezuzah to doors in their house. The family would touch the mezuzah reverently each time they passed through a door and recall the passage from Deuteronomy. It was a visual sign that their house was a place where God’s Word was loved, obeyed, and taught.

You can’t help but admire such respect for the Bible, but we also know that the Pharisees of Jesus’ day got the message just a little tangled up. They were more concerned with the outward appearance instead of the condition of their heart, and Jesus called them on the carpet on more than one occasion:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)

It seems to me that the wrong message had been passed down to that generation, and we see this in Scripture. My son, Colin, has pointed out that sadly there are more examples of bad parents than good in the Bible. Adam and Eve, the first set of parents, had a son who committed murder (Genesis 4), and things didn’t improve much from there. Did you know that Moses’ grandson Jonathan sold his services as a priest to the highest bidder? His story is told in Judges 17-18, and it illustrates the ease with which even those from esteemed lineages can fall into error when they depart from the truth.

Another example of sons going astray is found in 1 Samuel. In my Bible, the section is title “Eli’s Wicked Sons” and that is exactly what they were. We are told, “Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.” (1 Samuel 2:12) A strange statement to make about the sons of the high priest, but when you read on, you discover that Eli was an old man failing in vision (1 Samuel 4:15). He had left the work of the tabernacle to his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and unfortunately, they took advantage of the situation and did exactly as they please.

The Law stated precisely what portions of the sacrifices belonged to the priests (Leviticus 3:1-5; Deuteronomy 18:1-5), but the two brothers took the meat that they wanted and also took the fat parts that belonged to the Lord: “This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.” (1 Samuel 2:17)

Eli even heard what his sons were doing and spoke with them about their conduct. However, it did no good. Hophni and Phinehas had no respect for the Lord or for their father, and they disregarded his warnings.

It’s tragic when a father – and a spiritual leader at that – loses his influence over his own family; however, there was another son living under Eli’s roof. He was a son of a different set of parents, though. You see, Hannah and Elkanah had left Samuel with Eli in fulfillment to the vow Hannah had made to the Lord, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)

Samuel had parents who knew the Lord, and they passed their knowledge of God on to him: “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.” (1 Samuel 2:26) God protected him from the wickedness of Eli and his sons and prepared him to guide the nation of Israel.  

In the New Testament, we find the story of another son who was brought up to know the Lord. In Paul’s second letter to his beloved spiritual son, Timothy, he wrote, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

Eunice and Lois prepared Timothy’s heart from infancy to know Christ by teaching him scripture (2 Timothy 3:15), and they set an example for us as well. We, too, must instill in our children a love for God’s Word, which makes me think of Solomon’s advice to parents: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Teaching children the truths of scripture will equip them to do good works (2 Timothy 3:17), as well as prepare them to have an answer when asked the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). It will also help them to stand firm so that they will be, “‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:15-16)

But I know what you are thinking. You did all those things. You took your child to church. You prayed with them. You talked to them about Jesus. Yet, they have gone their own way and your heart is broken.

If that is your story, do not give up hope. Trust God with the seeds of faith that you planted and pray for the harvest to come. Friends, Jesus can do all things, and there is no one he cannot redeem. You did your part, and if you remember my testimony from last week, prodigals really do come home.

The question then is who do you need to pour into?  Who can you help to train up to know the Word of the Lord? Our generation cannot drop the ball, so even if you do not have children of your own, there are kids out there who need mentors. Children who will never hear the Good News unless someone like you or me tells them. The words of Jesus are echoing to us even today, “Go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) It’s not an option; it’s our calling.

Yes, my family has been blessed, and my prayer is that when my great nieces and nephews are my age, they too will look down the pew at church and see four more generations gathered to worship God.

Amen, and so be it!  Lisa

Discussion Questions

How can believers today effectively pass on their faith to their children or younger generations?

What steps can you take to prevent falling into complacency and sin like Eli's sons and Moses’ grandson?

Who is someone that you can begin to disciple?