2 Chronicles 33 -- Does Our Relationship With Our Fathers Impact Our Relationship With God?

Hezekiah’s son Manasseh became king at age twelve, and for 55 years he ruled Judah.  Manasseh seemed to detest God as much as his father Hezekiah had loved God.  It makes me wonder if sons make their decisions about God based on their relationships with their fathers – if they dislike their fathers, then they dislike their father’s choice of God or gods.

Despite Manasseh’s hatred of God, God pursued him.  When he didn’t respond, God sent him to Babylon as a prisoner of the Assyrians.  Finally Manasseh begged God for help, humbled himself, and prayed to God.  God heard and took pity on him, restoring him to rule in Jerusalem, where Manasseh did everything he could to remove the idol worship he’d promoted for years.

Unfortunately, Manasseh’s son Amon didn’t share his father’s newfound love for God.  He reversed his father’s reforms, taking the nation even deeper into sin.  After ruling for only two years, his own staff killed him, and his son Josiah was made king. 

Father, it seems that so many of us feel that we just have to taste the wild side of life away from You, just so we’ll know that Your commands for living really are better.  I too felt like I had to do that, and I regret those wasted years.  Please lead me as I lead my sons.  Help them to see that I try to be a man after Your own heart.  Lead them to trust in Your faithfulness and Your love.  Let them not feel the need to taste life away from You.  And let me never try it again.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford