THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD LEGACY

2 Kings 21:1-4,6

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.

He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.

He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the lord had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”

Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.

For two days we learnt from the life of Manasseh who was king of Judah. We saw how faithful he was to God and that there was no king like him.

However, we noted something. He seemed to be somewhat selfish and was more bothered about his now not minding what would happen when he was gone:

2 Kings 20:16-19

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the lord:

The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the lord.

Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

This begs the question, how good was Hezekiah at the home front?

How well did he take care of his family. Did he raise his children right?

We do not know the answers to these questions. For we do not have enough record. Recall that for Eli, it was clear that his children were way-ward and the Lord brought it to his attention, but for Hezekiah, we have no record.

Let us look at what we know. Manasseh became king at the age of twelve that means most likely he was still very attached to his mother, so we have questions to ask his mother. Now this does not exempt the Father, for he definitely needed to be the priest of the house raising his prince in the way of the Lord.

Listen to what God said about Abraham:

Genesis 18:18-19

“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

God is interested in how well we raise our children, He expects us to raise all our children in the ways of the Lord, if we do not do this, we have failed!

Hezekiah seems to have failed in this and the result is devastating, for it was not just Manasseh, but his son Amnon, who followed the same route. So two generations lost in sin. We really need to be careful in raising our children.

This error caused all the good things Hezekiah did to be reversed and abominations replaced them. We really need to be careful.

So, how are you raising your children?

Are you bringing them up in the ways of the Lord or are you just letting them have their way? That is not love but actually hurting them.

Proverbs 22:6

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Are you showing them good examples and not sparring the rod when they do wrong but correcting and chastising them when needed?

Money, properties and other earthly wealth are just a little part of a good legacy. Can we begin to get it right now.

Yes, let us start it now.

We will have a good legacy.

Help us Good Lord.

PRAYER

Help me Good Lord, let all my children grow up in Your ways and maintain them into generations and generations to come. We are Yours Lord, may all we do continually glorify You. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher