It is important to remember, to keep in one’s mind the lessons learned and memories of things gone by. Precedence is set and examples are given for us to guide us in a better way and better practices. In that same way, the writer of Psalm seventy-eight would have us remember and teach future generations. “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God” (Psa. 78:2-8). It is in this Psalm that the intent of the Shema is outlined in further detail. “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged” (Deut. 6:1-2).
Both passages place an emphasis on teaching future generations so that they do not repeat the same wrongs. We have been given that same information to pass down to future generations that they too would learn to fear God and keep His commandments. It is imperative that we teach those things. I would ask you this question though. How much of your faith does your child know? Have you told your children of the time you prayed to God earnestly for something and He answered your prayer? Have you told them of the time where a Biblical principle was applied in your life and you saw the outcome? Have you told them of the changes you made in your life because of God and His mercy? I challenge you to make faith real for your children by sharing yours with them. It is one thing to read about people that lived thousands of years ago. It’s quite another for them to see your faith now.
Moses warned the people to do the commands in the land where they were going “so that” future generations would fear and obey the commandments of God. If we aren’t obedient to God’s word, we cannot expect future generations to be.