Today I was reading 2 Kings 17 and this verse stuck out to me:
So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images, also their children and their children’s children have continued doing this. -2 Kings 17:41
If we are to read this in the context and look up to verse 39, it says:
“But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” -2 Kings 17:39
So basically, this is God telling His people not to worship idols, to fear Him and only Him and that He will deliver them from all their enemies. He was reminding them of the covenant between them, reminding them because they needed the reminder. They were worshipping idols, serving other gods.
They were reminded, and yet the still didn’t listen. They continued to do what they were doing, not obeying the Lord and following their former rituals of idolatry. God was trying to call them back to Him.
Then verse 41 tells us they feared the Lord yet served their idols.
Not only were they still disobeying, but their disobedience was passed down to their kids, even though they feared the Lord.
Their idol worship was passed down generation to generation.
This reminder at this time was specific to these people, but is it not still relevant to us today?
Do we not also disobey the Lord?
Do we not also worship idols?
Do we not also pass our disobedience and idolatry to our children and to their children?
This verse served as a call to look at myself, not just for me but for what I am instilling in and passing onto my kids and my future generations.
This was a call to step outside myself and look at me from the point of view that may be the most important besides the way God sees me…. my kids point of view.
How do they see me?
What are they learning from me?
What do I want them to take from me and pass to their kids to pass on to their kids?
Where do I fail to trust and obey the Lord in a way that will turn into generations of disobedience of and distrust to the Lord?
How do I make it right, how do I fix it, how do I end the wrongdoings and make them right?
I want to be wise in raising my children. I want to be wise in life period.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom -Proverbs 9:10
I consider myself a God-fearing woman, but is that what I portray in my walk?
We may not walk around holding carved wooden images, but we walk around holding high-speed internet, unlimited data, never ending source of information that we scroll social media and news outlets nonstop, day in and day out.
We may not worship other “gods”, but we place our careers, our relationship, our interests and our platforms high above any and everything, in a very unhealthy way, before even the Lord God.
We may not consider our addictions serving another god, but rather we should see it as serving ourselves, placing ourselves in the position of a god. I’m talking our shopping addictions, eating addictions, working addictions, drug addictions; addictions that serve our flesh, our lusts and our desires.
You know who sees all of it…. our children!
It doesn’t feel good to see yourself from another’s point of view, but hey, the truth hurts sometimes.
We can continue to fear the Lord and serve these other gods….
OR
We can put an end to it, die to self, serve the Lord God, worshipping only Him, fearing Him and He can and will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.
The enemy is telling you it’s ok to scroll for a few more minutes.
The enemy is telling you work harder for the promotion, it’s for the good of your family, even though they never see you.
The enemy is telling you to lose a few more pounds before your family vacation, so hit the gym.
The enemy is telling you one more hand of poker, you won’t lose this time.
And deeper into the idolatry you go.
Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy. -Proverbs 29:18
Lord, show me the areas in my own life I have not surrendered to You. Reveal to me the forms of idolatry I am trying to hold on to. Reveal what I am passing down to my kids that displeases You, and what pleases You. Help me to live fully surrendered, worshipping only You, the One who is worthy and deserving of all the praise. You are so faithful, and graceful. Please forgive me for putting things before You. I come to You with a humble, contrite heart, Lord.
-L.A. XOXO
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