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The Power Of Example

by Micky Galloway

A father sat in his easy chair reading his Sunday morning newspaper. Suddenly he turned to his little boy and said, “Now, son, put that funny paper down, and get ready for Bible class.” The little fellow said, “Daddy, aren’t you going with me?” “No,” he said, “I’m not going with you, but I want you to hurry up and get ready.” After a few minutes the little fellow said, “Daddy, did you go to Bible classes when you were a little boy like me?” “Certainly I did; I went every Sunday.” “Well,” said the little fellow, “I bet it won’t do me any good either” (Author unknown).

I do not know who originated this story, but it well illustrates the power of the example of a father. Though there is encouragement from godly fathers in the Bible, we are also told of those who were not good fathers and the consequences imposed upon their children who follow them.

Manasseh was a very wicked king, though he was the son of Hezekiah, one of the best kings of Judah. Manasseh reigned for fifty-five years. He built again the idolatrous altars that Hezekiah had broken down. He built altars for Baalim and Asheroth. He built pagan shrines in the temple of Jehovah and altars for all the host of heaven. He “made his children to pass through the fire” (i.e. he offered his own sons as human sacrifices). Manasseh also practiced sorcery (seeking to gain power from evil spirits), divination (seeking to interpret the future by omens), and witchcraft (seeking to control others through communication with evil spirits). He “seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel” (II Chronicles 33:1-9). II Kings 21:16 says that “Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another.” God warned Manasseh and the people of grave consequences that would come upon them because of their sins, but they would not listen (II Chronicles 33:10). God said, “Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle … and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (II Kings 21:12-13). Manasseh was carried away by the Assyrian king bound with chains and fetters. They put a hook in his nose as though he were a wild bull, and took him off to Babylon, at that time Assyria’s southern province. After some time, “when he was in distress,” Manasseh repented and besought Jehovah his God. He was allowed to return to his own land and people (cf. II Chronicles 33:10-13).

When Manasseh repented, he built an outer wall to the city of Jerusalem. He took away the foreign gods and the idol out of the house of Jehovah and cast them out of the city. He should have utterly destroyed them according to the law which required Israel to burn the images with fire (cf. Deuteronomy 7:2). He built an altar to Jehovah and offered sacrifices and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel. By this time however, the people had become used to worshiping at the high places where their idols were, and so they continued to worship there “but only unto Jehovah their God” (cf. II Chronicles 33:14-17).

Manasseh humbled himself before God and could obtain pardon. He could not undo the effects of his evil example and influence. His sins were imitated and continued by his son Amon. How careful we should be of our influence and the example we leave behind us! Many of us who have sinned and repented would give a thousand lifetimes if we could undo the consequences to others caused by our own past sins.

Though Manasseh tried to undo the evil he had committed, his wicked example was imitated by his son Amon during in his brief two-year reign (642 BC - 640 BC). “And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed unto all the graven images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them” (II Chronicles 33:22). It is amazing that, even though he had his father’s example before his eyes, Amon copied his father’s wickedness, but not his repentance. He trespassed more and more (cf. II Chronicles 33:21-25). His servants conspired against him and slew him in his palace.

Manasseh lived to regret his sinful ways, but he could not reverse the effects of his example. Sin brings a bitter harvest, often in this life, but especially in eternity. Often the wreck and ruin of young people can be traced to the wicked example of wayward parents.

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