Articles
Can Children of the Unfaithful be Faithful?
Are children doomed to repeat the errors of their parents? In Joshua 5, we find an interesting story. The children of Israel have entered the Promised Land, and they need to dedicate themselves to the covenant. “And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. ” (Joshua 5:4-7 ESV) The new generation's circumcision demonstrates their dedication to the covenant.
It may surprise us that the children of Israel neglected to circumcise their sons in the wilderness. We tend to assume Israel followed the covenant even though they failed to enter the Promised Land. What caused them to ignore circumcising their male children? Bitterness caused the children of Israel to ignore God's covenant commands. God warned Israel about the danger of bitterness. “Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.” (Deut. 29:18-20 ESV) Israel's lack of faith in the Lord's promises had hardened their hearts. Their bitter rebellion led them to fail their children. Israel no longer cared about God or their children's inheritance.
In Deuteronomy, we learn that Moses and the Levites continued teaching God's covenant. The younger generation learned of and believed in God's promises. When Israel crossed the Jordan, the new generation demonstrated faith in the Lord by being circumcised right next door to their enemies. While they were helpless, they trusted the Lord to protect them and showed their commitment to their covenant relationship with God. The children of the disobedient choose to be faithful to God. We should be thankful God does not hold children accountable for their parent’s sins.
