23 Sep 2009

2 Kings 15 and 16
These were some of the evil the kings of Israel and the King of Judah did- not to their enemies but towards their own people.

15:16 At that time Menahem (King of Israel)sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, and he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.

16:3 but he (Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah) walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.

I will never do that, but these are not the evils God refer to, 16:4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

The very disowning of God - the need to fear God and the necessarity to know and acknowledge God.

How can I as parent breed a generation of God-knowing and God fearing children?
If we read in contrast 2 kings chapter 16:1-4 and comapre with 15:1-2, 15:32-33

The mother of the king who did right in the eyes of God was mentioned. 16:1-2 did not mention the mother. That give an answer as how we can bring up children that know God.

15:4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.

The fear of God is therefore not about not doing the commitment of evil actions against humanity. It is about doing the right thing - acknowledging and worship the one and only God. He is everything.

Lord, I pray on stronghold that grips me and my family. Help me and I as father to remove these stronghold against my family. Show me any. Let us worship you and you alone, let not the distance away from you degrade the relationship this generation, the next generations and the generations to come. Teach me dear Lord, to know how to teach my next generation to know you and to worship you. Amen.