How could the second generation of Israelites forget when their parents had seen and experienced so much of God's blessings?

They were not ignorant of the Exodus or the conquest. What they had not seen with their eyes, they had heard with their ears from their parents. They knew about the Lord and His deeds. But still they did not know or acknowledge Him for who He was (Judges 2:10). They became complacent and forgot how to walk in fellowship with God (v. 12). This was not merely a personal failure, but a communal one.

We need to examine the cause of this second-generation syndrome, so that we can guard against it in our lives. Three factors stand out:

One, they were satisfied with the status quo. The first generation conquered parts of Canaan, but pockets of the enemy remained. Then the second generation came along. God had given them a command to move out and take the land completely, but they refused to trust and obey. They were content and comfortable.

There is great temptation to believe that the experience of the first generation is the standard or that their ideals are beyond us, and we should settle for something less. This is wrong. The experiences of previous generations are not to be a diving board from which we can only go down, but a platform from which we climb to a higher level.

Two, they took God's blessings for granted and did not acknowledge His grace. Our attitude toward our blessings and possessions is one of the most determinative factors in our spiritual health. To be ungrateful is not only foolish but dangerous. Israel looked at the land they possessed and said, ″Look at what we have accomplished!″ They became self-centred, sowing the seeds of self-destruction.

That is why the Word of God commands us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is essential to cultivate and nourish a spirit of praise and thanksgiving in our personal lives, families, and community of believers. Apathy withers where praise flourishes.

Three, they neglected the statutes of God. There is almost no reference to the study of God's Word in Judges-the Israelites possessed God's Word but chose to ignore it. Ritually, they did many of the things the Law required, but their obedience was based on tradition, not on personal conviction.

There is an enormous difference between a direct and an indirect relationship to Scripture. One person peddles second-hand wisdom, things he has heard from parents, preachers, or friends. The other speaks with personal conviction, because she has been in the Word, studied and prayed about it, and heard the Shepherd's voice. Don't neglect the Word of God!