When The Time Comes
Joshua 4:5,
6, 21, 22
- Joshua 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask
their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these
stones?
- Joshua 4:21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your
children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean
these stones?
Intro: This
passage of scripture speaks of:
1. The Accomplishment
of their Goal – vs. 1-11 finally reached the Promised Land
2. The Acknowledgment
of their God – vs. 23, 24 they admitted God’s role in this day
3. The Admonishment
of their Generation – vs. 21, 22
This is what I want to look at.
These father’s were given a command to admonish their children “in time
to come” about what God had done. There
are at least 3 things that were required of fathers “in time to come”.
Another way of saying it would be, “One of these days, your kids are
going to come to you…”
Fathers, When
the Time Comes…
I. You Should
be Available – vs. 21 – “…children
shall ask their fathers in time to come…”
STATISTICS:
·
Children in father-absent homes are almost four
times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple
families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in
mother-only families. Children living in female headed families with no spouse
present had a poverty rate of 47.6 percent, over 4 times the rate in
married-couple families.
·
Children of single-parent homes are more than twice
as likely to commit suicide.
·
71% of high school dropouts are fatherless;
fatherless children have more trouble academically, scoring poorly on tests of
reading, mathematics, and thinking skills; children from father-absent homes
are more likely to be truant from school, more likely to be excluded from
school, more likely to leave school at age 16, and less likely to attain
academic and professional qualifications in adulthood.
·
60 percent of America
·
72 percent of adolescent murderers grew up without
a father.
·
70 percent of long-term prison inmates are
fatherless.
·
41% of all births in the USA
A man that
makes a baby ought to maintain it!
A man that
produces a child ought to provide for that child!
God
intended for the Daddy to be available!
·
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
These kids were approaching dad as they were older; not babies.
Daddy was in their life; a pillar; an anchor.
·
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of
children are their fathers.
~ Definition of ‘glory” –
means to glory or boasting of rank or position
This means that the dads had cultivated a LIFELONG relationship with
their children.
Many parents can’t wait until their kids are out of
the house.
When your kids are married and have kids of their
own, they still need parents!
A dad should be available to his kids so they can
glean his wisdom and knowledge.
Children should be able to glory in their father; this means that Daddy
is not…
·
Not some washed-out has-been for God that’s
backslid as a goat and out of God’s will.
·
Not some sorry loser that walked out on his wife
and his kids to have his own life.
·
Not some man that spends more time in a deer stand
than he does with his kids.
·
Not some man that is more interested in making
money than he is in making memories.
·
Not some man that cheats on his wife and flirts
with other men’s wives.
·
Not some man that spends all his money on his own
hobbies and desires.
These kids had a daddy that was available when they got old enough to
realize how bad they needed a daddy!!!
II. You Shall
be Asked – vs. 21 –
“When your children shall ask their fathers…”
A. Means there was a
Choice
Most kids today ask their peers when they have a question. Or Dear Abby.
Or some teacher at school, or maybe their pastor. I’ve dealt with many young people that chose
NOT to talk to their father or could not talk to them. They come to me because they have no one
else to talk to.
Your children should know that they can talk to you anytime about
anything and you’ll listen.
As Opie used to say, “You can’t win in a man-to-man talk if you’re a
kid!”
If your children approach you with questions, listen to them. They are very enlightening.
B. Means there was a
Curiosity
A father that has cultivated a hunger and desire for truth is a
blessing.
These young people wanted to know what this altar stood for.
They were interested in the spiritual past of their parents.
They knew those rocks must mean something to their parents, so they
wanted in on it.
Daddy – are your kids the least bit interested in what you’ve got? Or
are they turned off by it?
C. Means there was a
Confidence
Two tribes didn’t cross over Jordan
Their kids never saw the stones; never got to ask.
The stone altar was set up on CANAAN side of Jordan
Never saw their father’s go all the way with God.
NOTE: In Joshua 4:4, it says every tribe carried a stone
across. That means that 2 of those
tribes crossed Jordan
Ever wonder how those men that entered into Canaan
on dry ground (3:17) got back into the wilderness? It’s harder to get back into Canaan once you ever leave it. Forget your kids going!
But to the 10 tribes in Canaan that carried those stones carried them 5
miles to Gilgal.
Speaks of stamina, strength, stickability. Their kids knew they had gone all the way
with God.
III. You Should
have Answers – vs. 22 “…Then
ye shall let your children know, saying,…”
A. Their Answer
reflected the Facts – “then shall ye
let your children know”
God wanted them to be able to give their children the TRUTH about Him
and His working.
Not fairy tales; not hearsay, not rumors, not personal opinions, but
FACTS.
KNOW YOUR
BIBLE! Be ready to give an answer to
your children when they ask.
Don’t muddy the water with your philosophy or your past beliefs – give
them BIBLE!
God didn’t command us to pump our kids full of our ideas and opinions
and interpretations;
He wants us to tell them what He said, and what He did and what He
wants.
- …then shall ye let your children know…
We don’t need to let our children wonder, or guess, or speculate, or
imagine – but KNOW!
B. Their Answer
reflected their Focus – “that the hand of God is mighty”; not theirs
Let’s make sure we instruct our children about how wonderful God is – rather
than us.
We will let our kids down, but God never will.
We are not perfect, and we are not invincible.
Your kids do not expect you to be superhuman – they just want you to be
real.
Admit it when you’re wrong. Let
them see how great God is, even when you’re not.
C. Their Answer
reflected their Fear – “that ye might
fear the Lord your God for ever.”
Teach them to fear God – not you.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Teach them to live by principles – not personalities.
Your legacy and your name and your reputation is not what is important;
it is raising children that fear God and follow God and honor God.
Conclusion: Daddy’s,
one of these days your children will need you.
The kind of Daddy you are today will pave the way for that day.
