Whoa to those who would muzzle God’s people as they grow older. Silencing, ridiculing, disrespecting God’s people is an anathema to God. In our culture, we are not raised to revere and respect our elders and because of that we miss out on the richness, knowledge, wisdom and wellspring of their contributions.
Even more devastating is that, as a culture, we don’t see that the dismissal of our mature citizens is a relic of cultural obsoletism. That is– until it happens to us or to someone we love, it is not relevant in our lives.
As Christians, we must see scripture as our blueprint for all times. all circumstances and all people. Many times, God used his older saints to bring about change in the Bible. (Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, David, and a few others were the exceptions.) We don’t get to pick and choose what parts of the Bible are relevant. The whole of scripture is Godbreathed.
I believe God intentionally used his older, more seasoned servants in the Bible because of their wisdom. A case in point, is the story of Moses in Exodus. After being raised as a prince in the Egyptian court, Moses visited his people one day and beheld an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew man. He killed the taskmaster and hid his body in the sand. Now there is no doubt that God called Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery; however, in his immaturity, he slew the Egyptian and had to flee Egypt.
Moses ended up in Midian where he remained for forty years. It is there that Moses matured in his relationship with God. It is there, under the tutelage of God, that he gained the wisdom and leadership skills to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to freedom.
There were many more biblical narratives where God used the obedience and maturity of his elders to bring victories and deliverances. Abraham, at seventy-five years, by faith, obeyed God, turned away from idolatry and set out to form a new nation in the promised land of Canaan. It is by that same faith that Abraham offered up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, believing that God would return him from the dead. Abraham became the father of the Jewish religion and Christianity.
Noah and his family were saved from destruction of the wicked because of his righteousness and faithfulness toward God. Because of the evil on the earth, God’s instructed Noah to build an ark that would save him and his family from the flood that killed everyone and everything outside of the ark. He was 600 years old when he built the ark.
Joshua became leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. He, along with Caleb, had been the only ones of twelve spies who brought back a good report from the land of Canaan.
Upon Moses’ death, Joshua led the Israelites in numerous victories, conquering much of the promised land, Canaan. It is believed that Joshua was in his eighties when he led the Israelites into Canaan.
The New Testament also saw significant leaders who lived to a mature age being used in the church. Paul not begin his missionary ministry until he was forty-four. The apostle John is believed to have written the book of Revelation when he was in his eighties.
So, do not discount the aged among you, my friends. Their wisdom and experience are much needed in these volatile times.
And for those of you who are seasoned believers, don’t dismiss your value in the kingdom of God. Retirement is not an option! You are still here, right! So, knowing and completing your kingdom purpose should be your number one life agenda! Ask the Lord what else he has for you to do.
Be blessed.
Scriptural References:
Job 12:12 “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
Job 32:7 “Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.”
Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”
Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Leviticus 19:32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
32:7 “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.”
Proverbs 23:22 “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
Deuteronomy 34:7 “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyes were undimmed, and his vigor unabated.”
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Psalm 92:14 “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, . . .”
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