And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD. Exodus 10:9
During my first visit to the Assembly in Unionville, Ontario, my heart was touched by the sight of so many elderly saints in wheelchairs. Staff from the adjacent nursing home had brought them in so they could participate in the Lord’s Supper. It was wonderful to see how they were an integral part of that Assembly’s worship, regardless of their age or infirmity. In our text, Moses has the aged included with the youth as he speaks of the Israelites making their trek into the wilderness to worship God. We must never exclude any age group from that which our God would include them.
We know that the elderly have a wealth of experience to offer any company, and that is especially true when it comes to the things of God. They have seen things, learned things, and suffered things that lend an invaluable depth of character and wisdom. Excluding them would impoverish the Assembly. So would excluding the young folks, with their boundless energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm. The young saints give us hope for the future as we see them growing in their spiritual lives.
Note that Moses spoke of the sons and daughters who would accompany their parents on their pilgrimage for the Lord. While it is sadly true that many children of Christian parents fail to follow their parents’ convictions and dedication, it is also wonderfully true that many children do follow their parents’ lead in spiritual matters. That’s why our prayers for those children are so critical.
God would never leave any of His people’s people behind during the Exodus. And we should never leave any of them behind today. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/p4Vur2SjKqA