The annual migration of the Monarch butterfly across North America has been called “one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world”. Monarchs start their migration northward, from Mexico each March. They lay their eggs, die, and the next generation of Monarchs continue the journey. Their annual migration covers over 7,000 kilometers.
One butterfly’s life-cycle is about seven weeks. It takes three generations to complete their migration northward. The fourth generation is different, as it will live seven months while it travels south and hibernates during the winter months. No Monarch butterfly completes the entire round trip. They awaken each February, mate, lay eggs and start the process over again for their family tree.
The younger generations of butterflies are driven to complete a journey begun months before by older generations. The Monarch Butterfly provides a great picture of God’s multigenerational vision. Just as we see the generational purpose through the life-cycle of the Monarch butterfly, so we can see God’s generational purpose for us.
Psalm 78:3-7 tells us that we are to declare “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us”… we are to “tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD,…that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, who should arise and tell them to their children.”
God revealed himself to Moses as a multigenerational God in Exodus 3:6, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” He told him to say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your fathers-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:15)
The Bible declares that God’s steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations, Psalm 100:5.
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 103:17
As we look at multigenerational legacies, we must begin with a clear understanding that God has always had a multigenerational vision. His kingdom is an everlasting one that endures from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3) We are called to influence future generations, not just “our generation”.
Love this about the monarch butterflies. Psalm 78:1-7 is what my great grandfather prayed for his family. Now our children and our children’s children are in missions. We look different because we are also very cross cultural through marriage and adoption. My cousin was also Jim Elliott. My husband Peter, his mother and father were missionaries in China. Thank you for this ministry to the families. It is so important. The enemy is out to destroy “the family”. Everyone needs to feel like they “belong”. We have a huge extended family of many nations now.
Dear Donna, thank you for your response and encouragement! Great to have such a heritage of missionaries.
Larry,
I have just finished writing a book on this subject, “3G: The Art of Living Beyond your Life” about transmitting values from one generation to another. It may interest some readers and people involved in ministry to families. The book is available on amazon in most nations in links like this: https://www.amazon.com/3G-Living-important-through-generations/dp/1539513874
This illustration of the Monarch butterfly may find it’s way into a future edition!
Thanks Curtis, it is definitely an interesting book. Would you mind if we mention it under Resources on this website?
Blessings from the FMI team!
Larry,
This is a great message and comparison.
I know that it is so important to live a life of honesty and integrity. These are the values I will pass on to my children and grandchildren. I want to leave a legacy that honors God and will cause Him to say “job well done”.
Larry. Your butterfly’s remind me the way God works. I’m reading David Jeremiah book agents of Babylon. Page 217 states. Quote “reading this account makes us feel we have entered a time warp. Alexander offered sacrifices to God in the temple and was shown the very passage we are now studying-a prophecy stating that a greek army would would destroy the army of medical-Persia. From Alexander ‘s side of time, that was prophesied event yet to happen,and he saw himself as a fulfillment of it. From our perspective,we see what was still in the future for him-that he actually did fulfill the prophecy. This is from the book of Daniel he had. In Christ Ron