Commentary on "The Second Generation: Admonitions"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, December 12, 2009

 

The title for this week’s lessons indicates that the “second generation” of Israelites, following those who died in the wilderness, was to learn from the mistakes of the previous generation. It is a common idea encountered in this world, where the parents often tell their children of the mistakes they had made with the hopes that the children will not make the same mistakes. This is an honorable desire for our children and descendants.

A very important point needs to be made at the outset of this week’s lessons. There is no such thing as a second-generation Christian. Regardless of the lessons of the parents, the lessons that the next generation is to learn are their own lessons. Of course, history must not be ignored to our detriment, but even history does not provide the solution to the problems faced by each generation.

One lesson the Bible, as well as history, has made plain is that each generation, even each individual, is responsible for how they respond to the leading of God in their lives. I may have provided my children with a childhood a thousand times better than the childhood I had, yet they must make their own choices, not based on what I should have done in my life, but on the leading of God in their lives today.

At the end of today’s lesson, the author asks the following questions:

Was this new generation, having lived with the results of their parents’ bad mistakes, ready to learn from those mistakes and obey the Lord? How ready were they to take up the mantle now given to them? What lessons were they going to have to learn, and what can we learn from them, as well?

Firstly, scripture is for the purpose of revealing the will of God found in his son, Jesus Christ, who has been revealed at the appointed time. It is not in the nature of a human to learn from the mistakes of others. Yes, we often do see the horrible results of the decisions of others in our lives, and we sometimes become committed to never make the same mistake. This is a good thing, yet in so doing we can become blinded to the myriad of other ways we can go astray. When someone makes a mistake, the only thing we can learn from that is to not make the same mistake. This does not safeguard us from making many other mistakes. The history of Israel is full of examples where one generation made different choices than the previous generation, but were no closer to performing God’s will than their ancestors. We know from the Old Testament record the clear answer to this first question: No. The succeeding generations of Israelites did not learn from those mistakes and obey the Lord.

Secondly, the “second generation” of Israelites in the wilderness did not have a “mantle” laid upon them. Israel was God’s chosen people, regardless of, in fact in spite of, the choices they made. The choosing of Israel was a sovereign act of the almighty God. This choice by God was not annulled by the sins of Israel after they left Egypt. The next generation of Israelites was not to be “ready … to take up the mantle now given them.” They were God’s chosen people from the loins of Abraham and would remain so.

The third question above is excellent. We must first ask, “What lessons were they going to have to learn[?]” This is a good point of departure for the modern reader. We can see specifically how God had dealt with previous generation, resulting in their deaths in the wilderness. Apparently this next generation learned that lesson. But was that sufficient? The remainder of the Old Testament indicates that learning that particular lesson was not even minimally sufficient.

Once we understand the historical context of this portion of scripture and what it meant to ancient Israel, we are ready to ask the next part of this third question, “what can we learn from them[?]” As we read the New Testament scripture, which explains this passage for us (see Hebrews chapters 3 and 4) we see that the salvation provided by the Messiah is the lesson God intended Israel to learn by this experience.

One of the texts you are asked to read for this week’s lessons is Romans chapter 5. This is an excellent text and one that will provide great insight for the remainder of the lessons for this week.

 

Summary

1. There is no such thing as a “second generation Christian.” If we refer to ourselves as being the second, third, fourth, etc. generation of faith, we must rethink whether we have recognized our sinfulness and come to Christ or whether we are riding on the coattails of previous generations of believers.
2. We can learn from the mistakes of previous generations. Resting in this, however, may blind us to the myriad of other mistakes we may make in the same or similar situations.
3. As parents we must bring our children up in the fear of the Lord. We must teach them of Christ and give them the responsibility to act in faith, by the Spirit, or make their decisions based on what can be seen with the eyes.
4. Israel was chosen by God in his sovereignty. There was not a “mantle” that went from one generation of Israel to the next. They were chosen by God while in the loins of Abraham.
5. It is always good to ask first what the original hearers of the word of God were to learn from these experiences, and then ask what we are to learn. Modern believers have the New Testament to explain the Old. We can find an important part of what we are to learn from this time in Israel’s history in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4.

If you have not yet done so, read Romans chapter 5 in preparation for the remainder of studies for this week.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

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