“For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.” - 2 Kings 21:3 (context: 2 Kings 21)

My biggest fear has always been that my children would stray away from what I tried to teach them and choose a path that does not lead to righteousness. Seriously, I remember as far back as high school thinking how devastated I would be if my kids treated me like some of my friends treated their parents. I was by no means the perfect child, but as I slowly began to realize how wise and right my parents were, the thought of my children’s choices began to change how I behaved.

And reading stories like that of Hezekiah and his son and grandson in 2 Kings does not help ease my fears. Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, was the polar opposite of his father. In fact, he even went so far as to rebuild the idols his father had destroyed and moved some into the temple of Jerusalem. That would about like an Islamic leader today taking over Israel and deciding to give it all back to the Muslims by erecting monuments to Mohammad and turning synagogues into mosques. He rebelled against his father’s ways and I can’t help but wonder what Hezekiah did wrong and what else I can do to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to me.

I understand a king has way more responsibilities than I do and the cultural and generational differences have to be recognized. But if you strip down to the raw basics of father and son, what did Hezekiah miss that four generations before him got right? Even three generations later when Manasseh’s grandson, Josiah, ruled Judah and worked diligently to restore God’s favor, it was too late to turn back the anger God had built up against all his father’s had done.

So how do I do it? How do I raise my children in the way they should go so they do not stray from the straight and narrow? I believe it all comes back to how I worship. That outward expression in response to what God is doing and has done in my life must be authentic, consistent, and obvious. My children should see a difference in me as much as I hope and pray every stranger I come in contact with can tell I am filled with a passionate love for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If they can’t see that, what are they seeing and how can I expect them to follow anything but my example?