Saturday, 16 May: 2 Ki. 21:1-18; Pro. 12:15-16; Jn. 15:9-17
A noteworthy postscript to the life of Hezekiah is his son, Manasseh. Because he was only twelve years old when he began to reign, it is possible that this young prince was born during the fifteen years that were God's miraculous gift to Hezekiah. Was he the only heir--were there no other children born to Hezekiah before his illness? If there were older siblings, why was Manasseh particularly chosen? We're told that he was the most wicked king of Judah: that his abominations even exceeded those of the ancient inhabitants of the land. What happened to the good example that his father's life should have been to him? Was he just a willful boy, or did his aging father not have the vitality to engage fully in the process of raising him? Did Hezekiah count on his Godliness 'rubbing off on' his son?
I find here a cautionary tale. As I am now one of the 'older women' charged with the training of the younger, there is the temptation to 'rest on my laurels' a bit. My Pastor calls it coasting... the tendency to disengage, even in small ways, from the source of real power and go along in one's own momentum. As Jesus encouraged us to abide in Him, He knew--and lived out the example--that His Father was His strength. He had to abide in His Father (His 'true Vine') in order to walk unfailingly in His will.
Our children--and others over whom we have influence--often go boldly where we have tread only lightly. They have responsibility to God for their choices, but let it never be said that a heedless or over-confident guide led the way along a path to destruction.
A noteworthy postscript to the life of Hezekiah is his son, Manasseh. Because he was only twelve years old when he began to reign, it is possible that this young prince was born during the fifteen years that were God's miraculous gift to Hezekiah. Was he the only heir--were there no other children born to Hezekiah before his illness? If there were older siblings, why was Manasseh particularly chosen? We're told that he was the most wicked king of Judah: that his abominations even exceeded those of the ancient inhabitants of the land. What happened to the good example that his father's life should have been to him? Was he just a willful boy, or did his aging father not have the vitality to engage fully in the process of raising him? Did Hezekiah count on his Godliness 'rubbing off on' his son?
I find here a cautionary tale. As I am now one of the 'older women' charged with the training of the younger, there is the temptation to 'rest on my laurels' a bit. My Pastor calls it coasting... the tendency to disengage, even in small ways, from the source of real power and go along in one's own momentum. As Jesus encouraged us to abide in Him, He knew--and lived out the example--that His Father was His strength. He had to abide in His Father (His 'true Vine') in order to walk unfailingly in His will.
Our children--and others over whom we have influence--often go boldly where we have tread only lightly. They have responsibility to God for their choices, but let it never be said that a heedless or over-confident guide led the way along a path to destruction.
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