Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
God has rescued the people from Egypt and guided them through the wilderness to the Promised Land, but there's a problem: the Israelites' descendants wouldn't have direct experience of God's saving work (verse 2). They would just have to trust the stories (verse 19).
So Moses tells them, firstly, to remember what God has done for them and be grateful for it. But secondly, they're to pass on their knowledge to their children, so their children will walk in his ways as well.
Believers are called to pass their faith on to their children. We can't be sure, of course, that they will grow up to become Christian disciples; that's a choice they must make for themselves, and wise Christian parents will respect and honour them whichever path they choose. The groundwork of faith, though, is very often laid in a loving home.
But there's a wider lesson here, too. After his resurrection Jesus appears to Thomas, who has doubted. When he sees him, he says, 'My Lord and my God!' However, Jesus answers: 'Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!' (John 20.28–29). Those words are addressed to us: we too have not seen the risen Christ, just as the children of the Israelites hadn't seen the crossing of the Red Sea, but we're blessed because we believe.
Each generation has the task of telling the stories again, in ways that make them real and meaningful.
God, help me never to forget your mercies to me. Help me to tell your story to others, so that they too will understand your goodness and your grace.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society’s Editor
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