A Fragile Heritage

I will continue my thanksgiving list in a little bit, but I have been moved during my scripture reading the last few days and had to take a moment to put it down.  I am reading in Chronicles (2 Chronicles 32-33 today) and was struck by how scripture records the kings of Judah. Just going back a few chapters you have Uzziah in ch. 26; "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord." Until pride settles in and he messes up bad and the Lord gives him leprosy the rest of his life. Then after 52 years as king he dies and Jotham his son takes over and "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done."  It does mention that unlike him Jotham didn't do the pride thing. So for 16 years he reigned and then his son Ahaz became king. And right from the start it says, "unlike his father...he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord." And not just a little, he worshipped other gods and even sacrificed his children in the fire to Baal. And I thought WHOA! how did that happen?  You have over 60 years of mostly positive examples of following God Ahaz, and when you take over you go off the deep end! Didn't you learn anything from your father? But it continues, because after Ahaz ruled for 16 years he dies and his son Hezekiah takes over as king, and thankfully, "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord." He cleaned up his father's mess and there are four chapters covering the 29 years he followed God. There was one brief mention of pride messing him up, but he repented and God forgave him. So I thought, OK we are back on track.  There were 60 years of following God, a 16 year blip of massive failure, but 29 more years of the blessings that come from following God.  When Manasseh died his son Amon takes over and for the two years of his reign it says, "he did evil in the eyes of the Lord."

Seeing this pattern is frightening as a father.  Obviously making right decisions to follow God doesn't just rub off on your kids. I know God has given us all a free will so we can choose for ourselves whether to follow Him or not, and that is a good thing. But how difficult is it to set your kids up to make good decisions in their lives? Especially when I have messed up myself throughout my life?  Is a Godly heritage that fragile?  It drives me to my knees to pray that I will hand off the Faith well to my son.  I praise God that my daughters seem to have it - but I still pray for them realizing that Ahaz and Amon (the "A" names are simply a coincidence, right?) were in their early 20's when they started down the wrong path.  I guess that is the answer, do all you can to live a Godly life as an example and then PRAY LIKE CRAZY, trusting God to make the difference.

Alex just started his day at school.  I gotta go pray now.