2 Chronicles 32-33
Original Post:  August 10, 2014


This account parallels and adds a few details to 2 Kings 20-21 from yesterday.  Here in Chronicles we catch a glimpse of what happened after the Assyrian army was defeated by God.   Some of the praise lands on Hezekiah, who accepts it, and begins to believe that he really is something special.    Pride has a way of snatching victory over sin out of our hands even after the battle is thought to be over.    It is the last thrust of the defeated foe which sometimes catches the warrior off guard.    We should be very careful to always give God the credit for what He has done, and is doing.    Praise and money are two very difficult things to manage.   The temptation to abuse both seems to be great.   At least Hezekiah repents, and is better for it.    Sadly his son doesn't follow in his footsteps.   There's no way to predict how our children will turn out.   I have seen children raised in godly homes who didn't grow up to know the Lord, and I have seen children from ungodly homes accept Jesus and become beautiful, fragrant representatives of Christ.   Prayer seems to be the best way that we can be involved in shaping their future.    Modeling godly behavior is another excellent idea.

 How relieved I am to heat that Manasseh repented of his sins and became a more godly leader at the end of his reign!   Sadly the damage had already been done.   The people, once led astray are less likely to return to godly habits.   No wonder God places such a high value on godly, competent leaders.  

It also seems that Manasseh didn't pass along his newfound discovery of God's omnipotence to his son, whose reign is listed as evil as well.    Peeking ahead, we see Josiah, who will do much to put Israel back on the right track.

PR