May the mumbling commence!
Make no mistake.
Our actions affect the succeeding generations. Do you doubt it? Read from the end of Second Kings chapter
eight:
Ahaziah son of Jehoram began to rule over Judah in the
twelfth year of King Joram's reign in Israel. King
Joram was the son of Ahab. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he
became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a
granddaughter of King Omri of Israel. Ahaziah followed the evil example of King Ahab's family,
doing what was evil in the Lord's
sight, because he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab.
Ahaziah joined King Joram of Israel in his war against
King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-Gilead. When King Joram was wounded in the
battle, he returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds. While Joram was
there, King Ahaziah of Judah went to visit him. (Verses 25-29)
Like father, like son!
Just like the old saying! Joram
was son of Ahab. Joram followed in the
footsteps of his father.
That’s often expected, but the influence went much
further. Athaliah, who was a granddaughter
of King Omri, was the mother of Ahaziah, king of Judah. [Athaliah was either a
daughter or niece of Ahab – Omri was Ahab’s father (1 Kings 16:29).] And Ahaziah followed the council of his
mother. Israel and Judah forged an
unholy alliance.
Ahab was dead, but his influence was still alive and
kicking. It was an evil that needed to
be confronted – much like the evils of corrupt leadership. Read some of the story of Paul’s interaction
with Felix and Drusilla from Acts chapter twenty-four:
A few days later Felix came with his wife,
Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told
them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned
with them about righteousness and self-control and the judgment
to come, Felix was terrified.
"Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again." He also hoped that
Paul would bribe him, so
he sent for him quite often and talked with him. (Verses 24-26)
People who are apt to abuse power have a difficult time
grasping the concepts of righteousness and self-control. When might equals right, then righteousness
is decided by the strong and wealthy.
And self-control is rarely – if at all – thought about. Then to think there is a coming judgment!
When we become uncomfortable with what God is asking of
us, do we send away the Lord’s messengers?
Do we wait for a more convenient time (that we know will never come)? And do we expect the same corrupt behaviors
that we know and love to be practiced by everyone else?
These are important questions to be asking ourselves
because what we do will affect the next generations.
Let us we faithful to the Lord Jesus!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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