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What I am struck by in this 14th chapter of 2 Kings is just how much of an impact a single generation can have on all the generations that follow. Take these verses, for instance…
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin.
2 Kings 14:23-24 NASB
In this verse, we read of Jeroboam II who is crowned king. In a reflection all the way back to the original Jeroboam, we remember how this train became derailed in the first place. It would be the sins of Solomon and eventually Jeroboam that led the entire nation down this path of rebellion.
Did they know at the time that their choices would drastically affect so many generations to come? Not only are the sins of Jeroboam mentioned here in chapter 14, they are also referenced in chapter 13 and several others. When a king failed to lead, Scripture makes it very clear that the following generations continued down that same path that originated. In this case, it dates all the way back to when Israel and Judah split!
What does this mean for us today?
Do we realize that the way that we lead our families and the influence we have on others will affect many generations to come? Do we really think about that with each decision we make? What would Scripture say about us as followers of Jesus Christ? They are interesting questions to ponder.