2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 29:1-11
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.
In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”
Devotion
Yesterday we saw the biblical concept of generational curses. We also saw that generational curses can be broken when people decide to honor and follow the Lord in their lives. In our Scripture text today, we will see how a generational curse can be broken through the power of positive influence. In 2 Chronicles 28, we read that Ahaz, “did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” He walked in the ways of other wicked kings and promoted idolatry and human sacrifice. Some believe he was the worst of the worst when it came to kings.
Yet, in 2 Chronicles 29, we find something very surprising! Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Hezekiah immediately set out to destroy the altars to Baal and reestablish the corporate worship of God in the temple. He called the people to repent and recommit themselves to God. How did this happen when you consider who his father was?
When you look at his introduction into the narrative, it says, “Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king…his mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.” It is very likely that Hezekiah’s mother and grandfather had great influence in his life. We know very little about Abijah or Zechariah. Most scholars believe Zechariah is one of the priests that God called “faithful witnesses” (see Isaiah 8:1-2). No doubt Abijah and Zechariah had a very strong influence in the life of Hezekiah. This influence impacted Hezekiah’s thoughts and beliefs concerning God and morality. Because of their godly influence, the curse of Ahaz was broken.
So, what does this have to do with the issue of racism in our land? The point is that we have a responsibility to exercise godly influence in our culture and positively impact the next generation by using our influence to break the generational curse of the sin of racism. We can be a positive influence in the lives of our children and grandchildren. It is our responsibility to teach them what is right and wrong. It is our responsibility to make sure the next generation does not repeat past sins. We don’t have to be tied to the past, but we had better learn from it. If we don’t learn from it, we will repeat it, and the consequences will be devastating. Use your influence wisely and you will be a blessing to your children and for the generations to come. Who knows, maybe someday your name will be mentioned as the father or mother of a great leader!
Questions to Ponder:
Who have been some positive influences in your life? How have those relationships shaped your view of God and morality? What generational curses have you stopped by exercising godly influence in your spheres of influence? Who are you influencing spiritually? Who are you pouring into?
Prayer Points
- Worship God as your Father. He Father’s perfectly.
- Pray that God would allow us to be a positive influence on the lives of the people around us. Ask God to help you show the next generation that everyone has value and worth because they were made in the image of God.
- Pray for all Christians to have the revelation of infinite value of each life because they were made in the image of God.
- Ask God to begin to release anti-racism in our hearts and families all across the region.
Suggested Prayer
Lord, I thank You for being the same God from generation to generation! You never change and You always remain the same! I can trust in You and Your character because you are God! I ask that You cancel all generational curses in me and my family. I pray that they submit to You as LORD above every spirit and principality. Those curses have no hold on me nor my family anymore. I praise You God as the deliverer, healer, and powerful One. Lord God teach me to walk in truth and freedom, which is only found in You. For only in You Jesus Christ there is life now and forevermore. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.