2Chron:10
Rehoboam was asked by Israel nation to lighten up the burden that his father Solomon had put on them. He asked for opinions from two sets of people
One, to the older generation who asked him to agree with their demand.
Second, to the younger generation advisers, who told him to be more harsh. He ofcourse listened to the advise of those whom he grew up with him, rather than the wisdom of the older generation.
Very often obeying what the previous generation says, like your parents or grandparents, is considered old fashioned and far away from the present sytem and culture. The newer generation considers it as obsolete and foolish to follow. This happens out of fear that if you do it that way, you would be cornered and left by your peers.
Job12:12 Wisdom belongs to the aged
And understanding to the old.
Definitely wisdom and understanding comes out of experiences and the life that they have seen and gone through. But more importantly it is God's wisdom that they have acquired through their lives. A godly grandfather or a godly grandmother is a rich source of wisdom - to live, to handle any situations, to face a crisis or discouragement.
Haven't we over time, grown into maturity over the years? Because of our relation with God? Do we not consider sille, many things which we were so "wisely" doing in the past? How much more they might have learnt?
Honouring the older generation is honouring their God. Respecting and obeying their views, is glorifying their God. It is obedience to your God.
We call it generation gap. Thinking we are at a much higher level than them. But the truth is we have never reached their level of wisdom because of their routine, daily, disciplined walk with God.
Moses listened to his father in law Jethro
The children who made fun of Elisha were punished
Elihu waited till seniors spoke to Job
Jesus was submissive to His parents till it was time.
May the Lord help us all to honour an elderly man as your father and older women as your mother.
They too have their issues of loneliness and isolation and inadequacies because of the so called generation gap. Honouring them, valuing them, respecting them also gives them an identity in the society. That they would live a happy and joyous life.
🙏
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