We learned last week about God’s purpose behind signs, wonders, and miracles.  He does these things to turn lives back to Him; to lead people to repentance.  This morning, we’re taking a step back.  First of all in time from the life of Jesus to Moses.  Secondly, stepping back in the scope of life to see a bit of the bigger picture.

God is unchanging.  The miracles that Jesus performed, God was performing by His Spirit from the beginning.  His call to repentance isn’t just for the sake of our own lives both mortal and eternal, but also for the sake of the generations that follow us.

Deuteronomy 34:7-12

7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Although some of the greatest signs and wonders were experienced through Moses, his entire generation still refused to repent.  They grumbled and complained and they all lived their lives and died on the threshold of the promises of God.  They were unable to enter in because of their attitudes.

The following generation, the Joshua generation, was not like this one.  They were eager to enter into the promises of God.  They had faith that nothing was too hard for their God.  They were convinced that God was greater than any enemy that they could face and that He would honor His word.  Joshua and Caleb bridged these two generations and they alone received the promise.

When entering into it, Caleb said to Joshua:

Joshua 14:6b-11

6 … “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

There are so many awesome things to admire about the Joshua generation.  However, there was one point where they failed horribly and tragically.

One of the most significant things that we can do in our lifetime is to help to build a legacy for the generations to follow us.  After all, the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

Proverbs 13:22

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

We often think of finances and property and material resources when we think of an inheritance.  However, the principles and values and attitudes and behaviors that we pass along as an inheritance is just as important, if not more important, than these material things.  All of the material possessions of the world will become a curse and a person’s downfall if they are not left with the right values.

The Joshua generation crossed the Jordan river and spen