“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” (Judges 2:10).

It is a sobering thought to realize that when one generation does not diligently teach the next generation the reality of the Christian faith, then all can be lost very quickly. It happened to Israel.

“And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that He did for Israel” (Judges 2:7). The first generation that had entered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership faithfully served the Lord until their death. Then, when they were gone, the second generation “did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim” (Judges 2:11; also found in 3:7; 3:12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6, 13:1). “They forsook the LORD God of their fathers . . . and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger” (Judges 2:12).

Whose fault was it that the second generation failed so miserably? Certainly part of the blame should rest squarely on the shoulders of the parents. There must have been a complete breakdown of godly teaching by word and example. Thus they turned quickly out of the way, received God’s judgment, and became “greatly distressed” (Judges 2:15).

Can it happen today? Yes! All can be lost in just one generation if the next generation is not taught the verities of the Christian faith. Rather, “these words . . . shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7). NPS