A new/old word

2 Chron 28:1 "Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD." The remainder of chapter 28 goes on to tell you of all the evil that King Ahaz walks out in his life. The last verse of chapter 28 tells us "Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king." Chapter 29:1 "Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done." You know the phrase, "like father, like son." We expect chapter 29 to show us that Hezekiah carried on the traditions of his father. But, we quickly discover that, instead, Hezekiah reinstates the traditions of his Father.

I sat and listened to this message yesterday at church. Tears were streaming down my face. Our children are not destined to do what their parents do. They do not automatically pick up where our dysfunction leaves off. They are destined to follow God and what He would have them do.

To all the mothers out there: Hezekiah's mother is named in this account. This is very rare for a king's lineage. I believe this to mean that she taught Hezekiah the Lord's ways. Clearly he wasn't learning it from his father who had stolen from the church and boarded up the doors. Moms, our influence is great in our children's lives. So is the world's. But, God's influence is biggest. If our children are looking to the Lord, the dysfunction can be broken, regardless of the "sins of the father".