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“WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD”
JANUARY 22, 2025
“INTERGENERATIONAL FAITH“
“So, Moses wrote this entire body of instruction in a book, and gave it to the priests, who carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and the elders of Israel. The Moses gave the command: At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release during the feast of the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Do this so your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” Deut. 31:9-12 NLT
We often wonder and worry about what has happened to church attendance, our knowledge of the Word of God and especially why several generations don’t know the Word, let alone what takes place within the Worship Service on a Sunday morning. I dare not point fingers; therefore, I’ll just say we have failed generations of our children by not teaching then what the Word of God has to say. Faith should span multiple generations. The faith of God’s people is not just for one generation, but is meant to be shared and lived out across many. Before Joshua was commissioned as the new leader, Moses recorded the Book of the Law so it could regularly be read to the people. He also wrote down a song to teach the people of Israel and help them learn it so it may serve as a witness for Moses against them (v. 19). He goes on to say that this song will never be forgotten, even as they went through disasters. He taught it to them that very day according to verses 21-23.
In Deuteronomy 31 Moses takes intentional steps to ensure the continuity of God’s Word and the faithfulness of his people through intergenerational practices. The following three practices hold lessons for us today:
First: Faith is preserved through intentional teaching. Faith is nurtured when we intentionally teach it to all generations. God anchors us in our sacred gatherings, which highlights the importance of regular exposure to God’s Word especially in times of uncertainty.
Second: Faith is sustained through collective worship. The public reading of the Law during the Festival of Shelters tied the Word of God to a moment of joyful, communal worship. It wasn’t just about instruction, but about celebrating God’s faithfulness together. Worship is a powerful way to pass on faith. When generations gather to praise God, they witness his power and goodness through each other. When we come before God in worship, his Word reminds us of his promises and our role in his redemptive plan.
Third: Faith is strengthened through testimonies. God’s Word warns and encourages us. Moses ‘ song serves as both a warning and a testimony of God’s unchanging faithfulness because of the people’s tendency to wander. It was a testimony that would endure in the hearts of future generations, even in times of failure and struggle. As we share the testimonies of God’s work in our lives, it will encourage others to trust him. God’s Word is a mirror reflecting our failures, but also pointing us to his Grace.
As we instruct and inform the next generation, equipping them for God’s purpose and plan, let the Word shape us in both conviction and hope. How?
We can become more attuned to his Will by allowing it to speak to the deep places of our heart.
Lord, we thank you for the gift of your Word. May it always be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Lead us I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Andrea (aka Rev. Andie)
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