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2 Chronicles 17-21 – A Good Parent’s Bad Influence
A Good Parent’s Bad Influence
Warning! Our children might not be as strong spiritually as we are! Frighteningly and sadly we can be naïve about their spiritual weakness. Therefore we need to watch so that we don’t cause them to stumble over something we can easily step over. Just because we are tough enough does not mean our children are. That’s the sad, but essential, and eternal, lesson I learn from Jehoshaphat. He was a good parent, but innocently a bad influence.
Jehoshaphat was one of the better kings of Judah. He…
- Respected God – (2 Chron.17:3-6)
- Educated his people in God’s ways – (2 Chron.17:9)
- Appointed wise judges (2 Chron.19)
- Provided for his sons – (2 Chron.21:2-3)
- Turned to God during times of national trouble (2 Chron.20)
His fatal flaw was not fatal for him but for his son. His fatal flaw was his relationship with the evil king from Israel – Ahab – the worst of the worse (2 Chron.19:2-3). One of the best was strong enough to handle the very worst.
To be honest with you, I think Jehoshaphat’s fatal flaw was naiveté (1 Kings 22). He was too trusting. Such a trait can be admirable, and dangerous. Trusting, but strong, he didn’t allow his friendship with Ahab to influence his spirituality negatively. But it ruined his son’s. A good man’s influence was influenced by a bad man’s influence.
Jehoshaphat’s son married Ahab’s daughter (2 Chron.21:6). This no doubt influenced him killing his own brothers (2 Chron.21:4). Plus he worshipped the Baal’s (2 Chron.21:6). Things unimaginable for his father, the good king Jehoshaphat.
The father could spiritually handle being around the unspiritual. His son could not. I guess Jehoshaphat didn’t see that. Being naïve about others can be dangerous to us personally but we might be able to survive it. Being naïve about our children and what they can withstand can destroy their souls. Parents, and everyone, let us all heed that warning.
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