Generational Dads

“(Ahaz) did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David had done.”  

2 Kings 16:4 

Studying the kings of Israel and Judah are powerful sources of generational insight – you can really see the impact parents can have on their kids. In 2 Kings 16:4, we learn that King Ahaz did not follow his father’s, King David’s, example. For clarity, David is not Ahaz’s biological dad. David is the patriarch of Ahaz’s lineage, something like Ahaz’s great-great-great-great-and-on grandfather. Ahaz’s biological father was a man named Jotham.  

In 2 Kings 16:5, we learn that King Ahaz actually followed the example of the idolatrous kings of the Northern kingdom of Israel. By this time united Israel had divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah. While Israel fell quickly away from the LORD, Judah fell much later. King Ahaz was king of the Southern kingdom for sixteen years. 

What is particularly troublesome about Ahaz’s choice is that Ahaz had a great dad! In fact, Ahaz had an excellent great grandfather, grandfather, and father. Watch the generational impact that dads can have: 

• 2 Kings 14:3, “(Amaziah) did right in the sight of the LORD.” 

• 2 Kings 15:3, “(Uzziah) did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.” 
• 2 Kings 15:34, “(Jotham) did what was right in the sight of the LORD; he did according to all his father Uzziah had done.” 

Three generations of dads modeling to their sons what being a faithful king looked like. Uzziah and Jotham chose to follow their dads’ examples. And then Ahaz – son of Jotham, grandson of Uzziah, and great grandson of Amaziah – chose not to. 2 Chronicles 28:27 records, “So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel.” Ugh. Withheld from being buried in the tombs of the kings because his reign was so bad.  

Through Ahaz’s genealogy we can see the powerful impact that being a great dad can have on children. Amaziah, Uzziah, and Jotham modeled faithful living to their children. Their children received the lessons and watched their dads. Each generation had the opportunity to follow the success of the one before. For those that chose yes, their reigns as kings of Judah were successes. The Judean people benefited from their generational faithfulness.  

Then came Ahaz. Same generational line. Same model. Same opportunity. Different outcome.  

God our Father’s design is for dads to model rich, abundant, faithful living to their children. Children are to be raised in homes with fathers who love the LORD, walk in the Spirit, and honor Christ. Children are to see the wonder and awe of the life God our Father has for their fathers and then choose to follow.  

Dads are given that much opportunity and responsibility when our Father entrusts us with children. What a privilege! The power of a great dad is enormous! Conversely, the destructive power of a bad dad or negligent dad is equally enormous.  

Let me make some applications: 

1. How to be great dad. Great dads are created by the Holy Spirit as men surrender themselves and embrace becoming a son of our Heavenly Father. Making men into great dads is absolutely, 100% the will of our Father for dads. Becoming a great dad is not the responsibility of a man. Man’s responsibility is to rest in the faithful work of our Father and trust that He will make man a greater father than he ever could be on his own.  

2. Following bad dads. King Ahaz’s son was Hezekiah. He was not raised by a great dad. 2 Chronicles 29:2 says, “He (Hezekiah) did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.” Hezekiah chose to model his life after another man, not his dad. While Hezekiah chose to model his life after David, we can choose to model our lives after Jesus. While your dad may have fallen short, Jesus has not. Jesus shows us true manhood. He shows us true success. True happiness. True significance. True perseverance. True strength. True war. True victory. Not having a great dad is detrimental, but it is not determinative. Just because your dad was bad does not mean you have to be and does not mean you cannot choose a better path. 

3. Rebellious sons. How would Amaziah have felt about Ahaz’s life? What could Amaziah have done differently? Scripture does not hold him accountable for Ahaz’s life. Amaziah did what his dad and his granddad did. Ahaz chose differently. As parents we must be careful not to take on too much responsibility for our children’s decisions. They are independent people making independent decisions. We weep and pray but we do not accept accusations of parental failure just because our children rebel. 

God our Father has entrusted dads with great responsibility and privilege. The role is not to be taken lightly. For those who had bad dads you have the opportunity to look elsewhere for inspiration and understanding. For those who had great dads you have reason to celebrate! For all of us who want to be great dads, the Holy Spirit works to make us into far better dads than we ever could be on our own. 

Wherever you are in your generational landscape, may you be faithful for, in Christ, LIFE is available!