Moses’ Last Speech
In Deuteronomy 32 we read about Moses’ last words to the children of Israel. After more than 40 years of leading them through the wilderness, the Lord tells Moses what to say in his final instructions before they enter the Promised Land. In his speech, Moses reviews all of the history of their Generations, and of the Lord’s goodness in rescuing them from Egypt. In verse 7 he says:
Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
Moses instructed them to hear the stories of God’s goodness to them and their previous generations.
Questions
- Why would the Lord want Moses to retell the stories of their rescue from Egypt?
- The Israelites were just about to enter the Promised Land, why was the timing of this message important?
- Why did Moses think that it was important for them to ask their fathers and elders about the days of old?
- This verse mentions “many generations”. Did they think more ÒgenerationallyÓ back in those days?
- Why was generational thinking so important to them?
- Should generational thinking still be important to us today?
Passing on the Stories
In Psalm 78 we see a similar exhortation to remember the works of the Lord through the generations. In verses 1 - 7 we read:
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 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 hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Questions
- What do you think were the “sayings of old”?
- Why was it so important to pass these sayings on from generation to generation?
- According to the verse, these stories were to be told to the children. Why?
- What does it mean by testimonies?
- Should we also pass on our testimonies to our children? Why?
- How do testimonies produce hope for future generations?
- When we don’t forget the works of God, what does it do for us?
Prayer
End the devotion with time in prayer. Thank the Lord for specific things He’s done in your family!
