Craig T. Owens

Parents want to give their children the best they can give. But that doesn’t come through education, or possessions, or even the loving attention of devoted parents.

King Abijah started out well. When King Jeroboam came from the north to attack him with an army double the size of Abijah’s army, Abijah delivered an impassioned speech to his men. He reminded them that the northern tribes of Israel were in rebellion against God, but that he and the southern tribes of Judah still had God’s favor.

In the middle of his speech, some men of Israel launched a surprise attack from behind, and the men of Judah cried out to God for help. With the Lord’s help, Judah routed the Israelite army. The Bible says, “The men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers” (see 2 Chronicles 13, emphasis added).

But something happened to Abijah. The scriptural account says that he became sinful and wasn’t fully devoted to God “as the heart of David his forefather had been” (1 Kings 15:3).

Did this happen because he thought his speech and his strategy won the day? Maybe his speech was just for show and he didn’t really believe what he was saying. Did his grandmother lead him astray by her idol worship? Perhaps Abijah’s 14 wives were his downfall.

In any case, Abijah sinned and God’s righteous judgment was going to fall on him and his people. Then the Bible says,

Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. (1 Kings 15:4, emphasis added).

Although Abijah sinned, God looked back to his great-grandfather in order to bless Jerusalem. Wow!

I pray that my life can be so devoted to God that His blessing can extend to my descendants. I know they have to choose for themselves that they will follow God, but I want my life to be a help and not a hindrance. So help me God!