The Challenge of Parenting - 2 Kings 21-25

2 Kings 21:1-3 (ESV)

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

2 Kings 21:19-20 (ESV)

Amon Reigns in Judah

Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.

2 Kings 22:1-2 (ESV)

Josiah Reigns in Judah

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Hezekiah reigned and did what was right!

Manasseh reigned and did what was wrong!

Amon reigned and did what was wrong!

Josiah reigned and did what was right!

One father did right (Hezekiah) and his son did wrong (Manasseh).  That father did wrong and his son did wrong (Amon).  That father then did wrong, but his son did right (Josiah).   What an amazing cycle.   Solomon told us the following:

 Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

We have no idea how all the above unfolded but we do know that Hezekiah tried to set the example for Manasseh, yet Manasseh did not do right.   We do know that Amon did not do what was right in front of Josiah but nevertheless, Josiah did what was right.   This makes parenting a scary thing.   We can do all the right things and still see our children go off into a wrong direction.   There are no guaranteed results in child rearing.   A child has to come to their own walk with God.    We can force our faith on to them.   Each person will stand before God and answer for how he/she responded to the Gospel and to God’s commands.   The entire book of 2 Kings is all about these parent to child examples.  There seems to be little consistency with them.  The one thing to learn is that WE are to live for God and pray that God, in His divine grace will keep our child walking in His ways.