Godly Heritage Doesn’t Mean Godly Inheritance

2 Kings 16:1-14

Friday, 20 March 2026

“…he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David had done.” –  2 Kings 16:2 ​​​

“God does not have grandchildren”—a quote by Billy Graham, is reflected in our Scripture text today. One does not naturally become a follower of the Living God if one is born into a family that believes and practices the commands of God. Rather God expects every individual to make a conscious decision on an independent level, whom they will choose to follow, either God or the devil; there is no grey area here. This will in turn determine our life’s choices.

Ahaz the King of Judah came from the lineage of godly kings like Uzziah his grandfather and Jotham his father who as recorded, walked in the ways of God just like their forefather David. But this heritage did not influence Ahaz in his life’s decisions. His actions went from bad to worse. 

What is God teaching us from the life of Ahaz?

When one turns his back from God and His proclaimed truths, then we will build our life based on the principles of this world when facing a crisis. This is very much seen through the life of Ahaz. The first step of turning his heart away from God was the basic reason to let the fear of war lead him to do abominable and detestable things contrary to the laws of God.

Ahaz’s first horrific act is written in V.4—he practiced child sacrifice just as the Canaanites(whom God had driven out from the land)—he sacrificed his own son thereby continuing to practice their sins. He did this detestable act to gain favour and protection from a pagan god.Are things any different today? Statistics tell us that 36 to 53 million children are killed before they are born. We fail to understand that each of us are image bearers of God and no one is insignificant and even a baby has intrinsic value to his/her Creator.

When we replace the true God with idols, we are engulfed with cruelty. False gods require our sacrifices unlike the Living God who sacrificed His own Son to save us from our sinful life. 

In V.7, the next act he did was to sell himself and his entire nation as salves to the Assyrian King when he faced the attack of the Kings of Isarael and Aram. Instead of looking to God for help and deliverance, he turned to the King of Assyria for help. This resulted in the Kingdom of Judah being controlled and enslaved by this foreign king. Isn’t this what the devil does when one sells his soul to him?- you become a slave to his dictates.

When one finds himself / herself in such a depraved state there is only one name given to man under heaven who can save—Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) Salvation is found in no one else.

Ahaz’s first step away from God set a journey of spiritual ruin that resulted in heresy and apostasy. In Vs.10-14 we read how when captivated by the pagan style of worship, he replaced the very altar in the temple of God (which had been made and placed within the temple according to God’s instructions), by making a new one in the pattern of a pagan nation. He brought idolatry right into the House of God. (cf. Deut.12:30)

Today, God calls us His Temple. He expects us conduct our lives based on the Word of God that He has given us; or we are imitating the world? Ahaz must have thought that God would be pleased with his sacrifice on this magnificent altar; but he was wrong. God is looking for our obedience more than our sacrifice. God hasn’t changed—He still requires the same from each of us. 

Let’s take time to check our lives if we are on a spiritual decline. If so, now is the time to return and align ourselves to God and His Word, that we may leave a legacy of faith and faithfulness for the next generation to follow. 

A Clarion Call: “Beware of Slowly Drifting From Your First Love of Jesus.”

Listen: 'Slow Fade'