Deeper Reflection
WHY DID GOD COMMAND HIS PEOPLE TO TELL THE NEXT generation about His covenant and redemptive story in their lives? Verses 5 to 8 are instructive regarding God’s purpose. The end goal of the preceding generation telling the next generation about God’s story is “so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (v.7). The next generation should not follow the examples of their forefathers, who were a “stubborn and rebellious generation”, a people “whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God” (v.8). In other words, their hearts were not fully given to God and, consequently, they were repeatedly unfaithful to Him. When we tell the next generation about God, His covenantal requirements and redemptive love, we seek to teach them to put their hope in God who remains faithful to His people even when His people are unfaithful to Him, and to keep coming back to God and His Word. We encourage them toward a deeper trust in Jesus Christ, the Word of life (1 Jn 1:1-3)⁶. Further, we encourage them to remember the faithfulness of God in the lives of the generations past and in their own lives. The tendency for God’s people, under pressure, to forget the many signs, wonders and glorious works of God in their lives, is evident in Israel’s journey⁷. This forgetfulness results in rebellion and disobedience towards God. Remembrance is a key outcome that we desire from telling the next generation about God’s story, so that they may continually trust, obey and be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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⁶ Cf. John 1:1, 14. ⁷ 4 Psalm 78:11, 42.