Can faith be transferred? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 2:10,

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers,
another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had
done for Israel."

We are told the result of this new generation forsaking the Lord
provoked his anger. As a result the Lord "handed them over to raiders
who plundered them." Verse 14. In verse 7 we read that the previous
generation served the Lord. This one did not and as a result they
experienced God's judgment.

I am reminded that the faith of one generation does not transfer its
benefit to another. We are all accountable to the Lord as individuals.
While the account here discusses Israel's relationship with the Lord
as a people, it is nevertheless the individuals in the nation that
make their choices and determine the outcome for the nation as a whole
as well as the fortunes of individuals and families within the nation.

Parents cannot bestow their faith upon their children. While there may
be great benefit in growing up in a family with godly parents, the
outcomes of the children will ultimately rest upon the choices they
themselves make. I am quite certain many parents have wished they
could make choices for their children relative to the Lord, but all
must ultimately acknowledge an individual's blessings from God rest
with the choices that individual makes for himself.

While we might wish it were another way, something to not overlook is
the reverse is also true. Just because parents may not be people of
faith, it does not preclude their children from turning to the Lord
and providing themselves a place in God's family. Many great saints in
the historical record of the church came from families of unbelievers.

I am reminded that when the Lord introduced the new covenant through
Ezekiel, he did so with this comment, "In those days people will no
longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's
teeth are set on edge.' Instead, everyone will die for his own sin;
whoever eats sour grapes—his own teeth will be set on edge." Ezekiel
31:29-30.

As Paul tells us, "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is
written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow
before me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will
give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:11-12.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com