GENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND MORAL DECLINE IN ISRAEL - LESSONS FROM JUDGES 2:7-23.
By Ezekiel Kimosop
INTRODUCTION
During our previous devotional study, we examined Judges 2:1-6 where we were introduced to the first cycle of Israel's disobedience. God sent an angel to rebuke them. The people demonstrated evidence of brokenness and remorse. They wept before God at Bochim, a place at which they assembled in solemnity. God saw their remorse and forgave them. It is instructive to note that Joshua was still at the helm of leadership at this point.
In our passage of study today we shall examine a key historical scene which concerns the passing on of the Joshua generation and the impact of this transition on the lives of the people.
THE GENERATIONAL TRANSITION AND MORAL DECLINE IN ISRAEL
In Judges 2:7-10, the writer records that the people of Israel served the LORD in all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua. This is a tribute to godly leadership that demonstrates moral consistency.
The Joshua generation was privileged to witness the great works that God had done for Israel through the forty-year wilderness journey and their grand entry into the promised land.
God destroyed the enemies of Israel, including two stubborn kings that stood in the way of God's people in the wilderness. The tribute to God's faithfulness is recorded in Psalm 136 where the psalmist reports the demise of Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan (Psalm 136:19-20).
God protected the people and provided for them the manna that they ate and water to drink through their journey. He made a covenant with them and demanded their covenant commitment, a pledge the people repeatedly failed to observe. Some of the people perished in their rebellion and some, including prominent people among them, could not cross the Jordan because of their disobedience (see Deuteronomy 34).
By God's grace, the children of Israel miraculously crossed the Jordan after God stopped the waters and created a dry path for them (Joshua 3). This marked the conclusion of their wilderness journey.
There is a notable correlation between godly leadership and moral advancement of people in a given society. A godly community is cultivated by godly leaders who are focused on God and who tremble at His word (cf. Isaiah 66:5).
With the passing on of the Joshua generation, the Bible records that "another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). The fact that they did not know the LORD is evidence of a morally fallen society. What led this generation into moral decadence? How is it that a godly generation with an inspiring leadership could be succeeded by an evil or fallen generation of people "who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel"? Where did the rain start beating them? Where did the disconnect arise between the two generations?
Some Bible scholars say that the Joshua generation was too busy with the conquest of Canaan that they failed to focus on raising godly leaders in their time. The first part of the statement of Judges 2:10 speaks of spiritual ignorance. This is perhaps evidence of poor religious instruction on the post Joshua generation that perhaps commenced in the closing period of the Joshua generation. Their spiritual heritage slipped out of their hands and was lost to the succeeding generation.
The second part of the same text reveals a society that appears to be historically and culturally disconnected from the works of God. This further resulted in a broken trail of oral and religious heritage. Is it possible that the people suffered the syndrome of the Haggai generation that settled down into the comforts of life upon their return to Judah and neglected the things of God? The Haggai group worshipped on the ruins of a destroyed temple for eighteen years without sensing the urgency of reconstruction. God finally rebuked them and they obeyed the voice of God (see Haggai 1).
Our contemporary society today is wallowing in the innovations and convenience of modern living with little thought on God and His ways. The story is told of a Scandinavian tourist who was once approached with the gospel message by a group of Christian evangelists during his visit to an African country. The man retorted that life in his home country of Sweden was so blissful with modern amenities of life that he did not need the heaven proclaimed under the gospel! The man was possibly an atheist.
Judges 2:11-23 is a concluding summary of the cyclic events that describe Israel's moral apostasy and decline, God's punishment, rescue and stability under a judge and their subsequent decline. This cycle continued right through to Samuel who was Israel's last judge before the institution of the kingship (see 1 Samuel 7-8).
Now back to our text...
Judges 2:10 says "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel."
How do we explain the transitional mishaps identified with the post Joshua generation?
I wish to suggest two ways by which to interpret the statement of Judges 2:10 in the context of the passage of Judges 2:7-23.
First, we can deduce from the lament by the writer that the succeeding generation was perhaps not adequately instructed in the things of God. They possibly lacked strong spiritual leaders that could shape and inculcate godly prudence in their generation. This raises legitimate questions: What became of the established priesthood in Israel? Did they neglect their spiritual duties? Where did the voice of prophecy go at this point in time? Did the dispersal of the people into their tribal regions affect their corporate religious life that was identified with the wilderness experience?
Secondly, it is equally possible that the Joshua generation leadership did their best to direct the people in the ways of God but the influence of the heathen Canaanite culture and idolatry took a toll on the people as they settled in the promised land. This appears to be affirmed in Judges 2:1-4. Choices indeed have consequences. The covenant commitment and devotion to God ultimately slipped out of their hearts.
It is also possible that a combination of the two negative factors came into play in that the Joshua generation may have failed in some respects in incubating godly leadership and direction for God's people and the impact of the Canaanite culture and religion drove the last nail on their moral disobedience.
This is equally true of our fallen society today. The comforts of modern living and the rise in atheism and religious skepticism have witnessed a sharp decline in religious conviction even in regions that had a strong Christian heritage.
According to the Pew Report (2010) on global distribution of Christians, Europe accounted for 66.3% of global Christianity in 1910. It was the cradle and bastion of the Christian faith and missionary enterprises. 100 years later, and despite the economic and political advancement of Europe, only 26% of global Christians are found there and this number has been rapidly declining. Many church cathedrals have been been turned into business malls! Meanwhile, Asia and Pacific, Sub Saharan Africa and the Americas account for 13%, 24% and 37% of global Christianity, respectively. The latter two regions jointly account for the largest presence and fastest growth of global Christianity today. Given the rise in Muslim migration and their high birth rates, scholars project that Islam will be the dominant religion in Europe in 50 years time even as European Christianity declines further.
MORAL LESSONS FROM THE PASSAGE
What moral lessons can we draw from our study of the passage of Judges 2:7-23?
1. Godly leadership should inspire the succeeding generation to maintain the virtues and values of their spiritual heritage. Samuel faithfully fulfilled this task in his generation (see 2 Chronicles 35:18 on the tribute to Samuel the prophet). We ought to instill religious values in our generation and leave a lasting godly legacy to the next generation.
2. Spiritual mentorship is a deliberate task that should be consciously undertaken and progressively measured. It requires time and patience to achieve. God is counting on us to take up this mandate at every level of influence in our time. What are you doing in response to this godly duty?
3. There is no perfect leadership under the sun. God qualifies those He calls. We should learn to depend on God for moral direction if we shall ever succeed in our journey of faith (See Proverbs 3:5-6).
The greatest leaders in Biblical history had their share of weaknesses or flaws but they nevertheless rose from their failures and served God. David was a great warrior who by God's grace ascended to the throne of Israel but he too had his lowest moments recorded in Scripture (2 Samuel 12-13; Psalm 51). He arose from failure and served God and a tribute to his faithful legacy is inscribed in Acts 13:22.
4. Leadership is for an appointed time (Psalm 75:6-7). We should make the best of our time in positively influencing God's people towards dedicated Christian obedience and service.
5. We should never forget the things that God has done for us and the far that He has brought us in life. This should draw gratitude and godly prudence in our lives and keep us along the narrow path (see Ecclesiastes 12; Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:22-24).
6. Spiritual decline is a progressive experience informed by neglect of our covenant commitment and procrastination. Never overlook the word of God or the things of God at the altar of expediency. Never be too busy to study the word of God or to receive spiritual instruction and edification in a Christian congregation. We should not fail to congregate with God's people in fellowship and worship (Psalm 1, Hebrews 10:25).
Beware of the little foxes that spoil the vines (Songs of Solomon 2:15). They will ultimately destroy the vineyard if left unchecked...
Keep it Christ.
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2022
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