Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king after his father died. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he only reigned one year in Jerusalem.

Chapter 21 tells us that his father, Jehoram was a bad king of Judah who did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel. The bible tells us that Ahaziah mother, Athaliah, too, was a wicked woman. Athaliah was the daughter of King of Israel, Ahab, and his wife, Jezreel, and both did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Verses 3 and 4 tells us that King Ahaziah also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord during his time of reign because he listened to his mother whose counsel was wicked.

It is clear in this passage how the sins of one generation can affect the next generation. Whether we like it or not, we are often a product of the upbringing at home. The most influential teachers are the ones at home because as children, they see their parents most often and learn formal and informal values and traits from them. Parents are the most formative teachers of their own children, and each parent must take up the role of raising their children with the ways of God. Proverbs 22:6 urge us to train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Right from the time of Moses, parents are entrusted with the role of teaching their own children. That is why Moses reminded the Israelites that we must put first God’s commandment in our heart and then shall teach them diligently to our children. How do we teach our children?

To tell them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. -Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Do you know that the first Sunday school was only started in the 1780s in England? Prior to the concept of Sunday schools, the teaching of God’s Word had always been the responsibilities of the parents at home. This might sound offensive to some people, but we have gotten it wrong if we think that the teaching the Word of God to children is left solely to the Sunday school. The church has an important role to play, and Sunday school teachers must be well equipped to help children consolidate and synthesise their learning on Sunday. The classroom learning environment can potentially evoke multi-dimensional learning, both from teachers and peers. However, that is but two hours of their lives every week. What is taught to the children daily at home formally through family devotional time, informally on the dining table, what they are allowed to watch on their screens, and bedtime stories that are read to them, impacts them far more than what the Sunday school programme can achieve.

We will not know and cannot determine how our children will ultimately walk in the ways of God, but we can decide to do everything to pass on the Word of God, the ways of God and ultimately the goodness of God to them. This is not just for the parents, but for all of us in Church who cares for our next generation. John Wesley observed and said this, “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” When we compromise on the teaching of His Word to our children, they will embrace the evil that the world teaches them.

However, there is hope for us even when we sinful man do not know how to raise our own children. We are not alone! God ultimately keeps and protects our children, even in our failures. God preserved the lineage of King David through the rising up of a God fearing woman, Jehoshabeath, who took Joash, the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death. Joash was raised to become the next king who grew up fearing the Lord. Fear not for God provides grace in every generation, even in our inadequacies!

Prayer: Dear God, help us to be faithful to train up our children in the way they should go, so that even when they are old they will not depart from it. Even for us who did not had the privilege of having that kind of equipping from the past, would you give us capacity, strength and know how to better raise our own children. Help us, dear Lord! In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.