Taught by the Lord 

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18: 1-16

When a baby is born, everyone quickly tries to see who the baby resembles: the father or the mother. As the child grows, we try to identify even traits and trace them to the parents or grandparents! We want our children to inherit our good qualities, not bad ones. I read a joke sometime back. It seems a teenager asked her mother what she had done as a teenager, and the mother could not answer that question! 

It is sad to see Isaac repeating the mistake of Abraham by calling Rebekah, his wife, his sister (Genesis 20:2; 26:7). We do not want our children to repeat the mistakes we have made in our lives!  

King Hezekiah was a good king. But his father, Ahaz, was one of the worst kings of Judah. King Ahaz did not do what was right in God's eyes. He walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel, in idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. He made molten images of the Baals and burned incense to them. He even burned his sons as human sacrifices to the pagan gods. 

Instead of repenting when God brought him under judgment, Ahaz continued and intensified his sin. Ahaz turned towards the pagan gods, seeking their help rather than God's. Thus, he brought even worse judgment upon himself and his people. 

But Hezekiah, his son, trusted in the God of Israel. He did not depart from following the God of Israel. He obeyed the commandments of the Lord.  Such a remarkable transformation is possible only when children are born from above, born of God. 

That is why we see children from abusive homes being good fathers and mothers and children of parents who had lived a bad life living Godly lives! They are spiritually born from above. And there lies our hope!

John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." That is the only way they would be taught of the Lord and live a life glorifying God, bearing much fruit!

My friend, the Bible says in Isaiah 54:13, "All your children shall be taught by the LORD …." Let us firmly hold onto this promise and claim it today for our children and grandchildren. This promise assures us that they will grow up and be like Jesus, a wild vine grafted to the True Vine. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may my children and grandchildren always be taught by You. Amen.

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