There seems to be a pattern of behavior throughout the Old Testament with God’s people that still continues to this day. Instead of being a continual following of the LORD God in families that serve Him, there will be a generation or parent that is all in for God, and then a child or perhaps grandchild that no longer serves God or knows Him. In fact, the pattern of behavior is more severe than that – we are told that they “did evil in the sight of the LORD.”
What happened? Why the shift? Was the abandonment of God a slow-fading process? Or was it a lack of belief in the next generation from the beginning of their lives?
I have grown up in a home that while not perfect, served God. My parents sought the LORD personally, and at the same time desired that their three children would also grow up knowing, loving, and serving God. My grandparents know and love the LORD. My great-grandparents knew and loved the LORD. It has always been my desire that my children would walk closely with the LORD – seeking His will and direction for their lives – and that they would make Him not only their Savior but the LORD of their lives.
I know that this desire is present for both of my siblings in regard to their children as well. And, I know that this next generation of our children are not all following the LORD. While some have fallen in love with God, and know Him, others have put God to the side and believe that they do not need God – or want Him.
This breaks my heart, as I am sure it breaks the heart of my Father.
But here is something that I know and love about my God: He stands waiting. Ready. His arms are extended and open to any who would return to Him. God will allow people to return to Him. Their sins no longer are what define them. Nor is their rejection. They are made in right standing with God. All it takes is a humble heart. When we confess our sins to God – even the sin of rejecting Him – He is faithful to forgive us from our unrighteousness.
Judah had a king named Manasseh. He was a very evil man in the sight of the LORD. His father, King Hezekiah, had been a God follower, but Manasseh made a decision early on in his kingship that he was not going to follow God, but instead create and worship idols like the lands around him. “The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the LORD sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and humbled himself before the LORD of his ancestors. And when he prayed the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God!” (2 Chronicles 33:10-13)
Manasseh humbled himself – not before a God he had ever served – but before the God of his ancestors and his life as well as the rest of his time as king was forever changed. He became a God-follower himself and led others to do so. His sin would no longer be what would define him. He would no longer be considered evil in the sight of God. Manasseh would be compelled to action that would literally tear down the false gods he had worshiped previously.
Friend, we can do the same. Maybe we haven’t completely turned away from the LORD, but if we are being honest and are willing to do some self-reflection, we know that we are not living in obedience to God in all areas of our life. There are some idols that we have built that we are not really interested in tearing down or removing from our lives. Friend, there is always a cost to our disobedience. God has equipped us with all we need to live a life of obedience – all we need to do is choose it. He will help us with the rest. It is when we choose obedience that the blessings appear.
I love that the LORD is literally a prayer away. All we need to do is speak, and God will listen. He loves us that much.
Blessings!