Judges 2:10 is quite possibly one of the most regretful verses of the whole Bible. I’ve chosen the word regretful because it means, “Sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one’s control or power to repair.” There is no way we can go back and rewrite history. The verse is forever settled in the Word of God. As sad as it is, it happened. Why did it happen? It happened because they did not join the story!

Judges 2:10 (KJV)
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Joshua and the elders have served faithfully. They have conquered the land and possessed the Promised Land, and it’s time for them to pass the torch to the next generation. They all die, and the next generation takes the reigns. However, they did not know the Lord, or the work He had done for them.

Didn’t Know the Lord:

This indictment is severe. They didn’t even know the Lord. Imagine serving the God of your parents and grandparents, but not knowing Him for yourself! That’s religion and religion is a cheap imitation of true relationship!

In John 18, we read that Judas knew the place where Jesus prayed. But Judas didn’t know the purpose or the power of that place! It would be in that “place” where Jesus completely surrenders His will to the will of the Father. It was in this place that Jesus often had come to pray. Judas knew the place, but not the presence that filled that place!

Jacob awoke from a dream and said, “Surely God was here, but I didn’t know it.” This is staggering to me. I wonder how many Christians are “day-dreaming” as they pass through life and never really experience the full power of the Holy Ghost.

Saul of Tarsus, even though he was a religious Jew, did not really know the Lord. When God knocked Saul off his high horse (literally and figuratively), Saul said, “Who are You Lord?” Although he was a student of the Torah, Saul did not know the Lord. HOWEVER, after a name, and life, and character change; Paul declared, “But MY GOD shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Trade in your plastic, cheap religion for true relationship. Don’t just sit in a chair or pew without truly knowing Him. You will do yourself a HUGE favor to really get to know Jesus Christ for yourself.

Gretta purchased some books at a lawn sale, but after only a few months the box of books ended up in her attic collecting dust. A few years later she planned her own lawn sale and when going through her attic, she begin to laugh as she thought about having bought the box of books, but never reading them, as she was now selling them in her own lawn sale.

While pausing for coffee before setting up the tables in her driveway, Gretta looked at the newspaper and noticed a particular author would be at the library signing books and speaking about literacy. She recognized his name from a couple of the books in her box and decided not to sale them.

Enlisting the help of her family to take over the lawn sale, Gretta drove to the library to meet the author. Upon meeting him, she realized some of the things they had in common. They were both born in rural towns. They both had three children. They were both about the same age. After thanking the author for his time, she returned home and promptly began reading the books in her box. There was something different about reading them now that she had met the author. Years earlier she only knew the book, but now she had met the author and the book came to life.

Just as Gretta met the author, you too need to meet the Author…and finisher of your faith. Don’t just pick up your Bible (the book). Get to know the Author and the “Book” will come alive to you!

Didn’t Know the Works:

The second indictment was they didn’t know the works the Lord had done for Israel. Who’s to blame for this? I blame the preceding generation!

Psalm 145:4 (KJV)
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

The elder generation neglected to tell the younger generation the old, old story, or how to join it! This is even more tragic when you realize what Joshua had instructed them earlier:

Joshua 4:5-7 (KJV) 
And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: [6] That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? [7] Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

The elders forgot to do their part. Maybe they were spending time rebuking and reproving the new generation when they should have been loving and leading them! I don’t know why they didn’t I just know they didn’t.

I have the deepest respect for the elders that have blazed the trail before me, HOWEVER, I ask each of you precious elders to not let my generation down! Tell us the old, old story! Encourage us to build our own altars. Be the living epistles before us so that we can learn from your experiences with God. We need each other!

Take Personal Responsibility!

Although the elders didn’t do what they were supposed to, it didn’t remove the expectation on the younger generation. They could’ve asked. They could’ve enquired. They saw the stones, but they didn’t ask.

My point is this – don’t play the blame game. Ultimately, you have to make a decision for yourself. The tragedy is that even when the younger generation heard about the Lord and His works through the judges God sent, they rejected Him and committed idolatry!

Join the story and make it personal. That’s what relationship is all about.

If you’re an elder reading this – take time for young people in your church and community. Tell them the “old, old, story.” Show them how you built your altars. Be their accountability partner and invest something in eternity by passing it on!

If you’re a young person reading this – link up with an elder. You cannot make it without their leadership and accountability in your life. A fool despises instruction and wisdom. Be swift to hear, and slow to speak as the elders tell you the “old, old, story.” Then join it for yourself!

Boldly declare, “I have made my decision! I have staked my claim! I have drawn a line in the sand, and I won’t be the same! With the world behind me and the Cross before, I will serve the Lord!”

Join the Story!