10After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.
This chapter tells a very sad story. It shows just how quickly a godly people can turn away from the LORD. Every generation must have their own encounter with the Lord or they will follow the pattern in the chapter. Unfortunately, I can see this happening with many people around me. They have a veneer of belief, but just below the surface is the same old self. This chapter shows what happens when people turn from the Lord. The Lord loves us enough to use adversity to get our attention. But with each successive generation, the evil becomes greater and the turning way becomes more rapid. I am thankful that the survival of the Church does not depend on the church in America. If it did, we would need some very severe discipline to get us back on track. Fortunately, the Lord is working in other areas of the world in miraculous ways. Many of us have been lulled into complacency. We need our eyes opened to the lostness of lost, so that we will repent and begin again to worship.
The Arnold Journey 