The Bible speaks of “children’s children” or grandchildren. What do grandparents have to do with their grandchildren’s lives and godly behavior? A great deal. God’s mercy lasts forever and our grandchildren can be righteous. Keeping God’s Word ourselves and then raising our own children so they teach their children in the scriptures is a key to seeing God’s grace and mercy in our families. We want our grandchildren to learn, remember, and do our Father’s commandments. As we taught our son, “Listen, Remember, Obey.”
Psalms 103:17:
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.
To such as keep [first, they must listen] his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do [obey] them.
There are many Biblical examples where the godly lifestyle of a grandparent positively affected their grandson. Even if their father may have been evil, having godly grandparents helped them to walk with God.
Methuselah and Noah
Genesis 5:22,24:
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Some believe that God “taking” Enoch means he was brought up to heaven. The Bible says the only person who permanently was raised and now lives in heaven is Jesus Christ. The next to be raised are those “at his coming” [1 Corinthians 15:23]. Enoch is now dead. The Book of Hebrews clearly tells us that.
Hebrews 11:5,13:
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
These all died in faith.
Enoch and the others listed in this chapter all died. Enoch died in faith. He was a great example of someone who trusted God. That had a big influence on his son, Methuselah since Enoch had 300 years with him. Methuselah lived longer than any other recorded person in the Old Testament.
Genesis 5:25-32:
And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather. He lived a long, full life and was able to encourage his son and grandson. He was 187 years old when Lamech was born. Lamech was 182 years old when Noah was born. Methuselah lived 782 years after fathering Lamech. So Noah had 600 years to spend with his grandfather, Methuselah [twice as many years as Enoch was with Methuselah]. Think of the rich stories Methuselah could tell about his father Enoch. The name Noah means “rest.” During his life, Noah saw evil overtake the world so that “every imagination of the thoughts of his [mankind’s] heart was only evil continually” [Genesis 6:5]. But Noah, grandson of Methuselah was different.
Genesis 6:8:
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Manasseh and Josiah
Josiah was a godly king who reigned in Judah.
2 Kings 22:1,2:
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
Josiah never turned aside from walking with the Lord, just as his ancestor David had faithfully walked. Who was Josiah’s grandfather, and what was he like? Manasseh started out going against the Lord. But he later humbled himself and set a good example for Josiah.
2 Chronicles 33:1-9:
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
Things didn’t look good for Manasseh and Judah. But this evil king got humble and repented of his sins.
2 Chronicles 33:10-20:
And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.
Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
What a great story of deliverance! Manasseh turned his evil life around and humbly prayed to God, his deliverer. Sadly, his son Amon did not turn out so well.
2 Chronicles 33:21-25:
Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
Amon was killed by his own servants in his own house. The people had enough of what this evil king set in motion. They justly killed his murderers, and then chose his eight-year-old son to be their new king. During his 31-year reign, Josiah made major reforms to bring God’s people back to true worship.
2 Chronicles 34:1,2:
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
Even though Josiah’s father was evil, the example of his grandfather helped set him up for success as a believing ruler.
Jotham and Hezekiah
Hezekiah was a good king who followed the Lord for many years.
2 Chronicles 29:1,2:
Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
What was his grandfather, Jotham, like. The Bible gives some clear details about Jotham and his son, Ahaz.
2 Chronicles 27:1-9:
Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
2 Chronicles 28:1-4:
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Ahaz was unlike his father Jotham. He introduced the evils of idolatry back into Judah. Because of this Judah, was defeated.
2 Chronicles 28:5:
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
Foolishly, Ahaz tried to buy his way out of his predicament. He even took away holy things offered to the Lord to bribe an enemy king. But it was all in vain.
2 Chronicles 28:19-21:
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.
Even when he was so overcome and destroyed because of his sin, Ahaz did not turn to the Lord. Rather, he “doubled down” on his idolatrous behavior.
2 Chronicles 28:22-27:
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is thatking Ahaz.
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Hezekiah’s father was an evil man. But his grandfather Jotham had “prepared his ways before the LORD his God.” That set an example that Hezekiah could follow as he believed God to protect Jerusalem from a great siege, to be healed of a deadly disease, and to live enough years to bring forth a son—an ancestor of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ!
Obed and David
Jesus Christ was identified [perhaps more than with any other person] with David, a man after God’s own heart. David wrote in Psalms 2:7 that the Messiah would be God’s Son. This was the fulfillment of a promise that the Lord made to David.
1 Chronicles 22:10:
He [the Lord, David’s God] shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
David praised God for making this everlasting covenant with him. David’s “son” would be the Messiah who reigned forever.
2 Samuel 23:5:
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
Jesus was born of Mary, a descendant of David through Solomon. Jesus Christ was genetically the promised “Son of David” [see Matthew 1:1,7,16 where “Joseph the husband of Mary” is more accurately translated “Joseph the father of Mary”]. Jesus is called the Son of David in the gospels [Matthew 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30,31; 21:9,15; 22:42; Mark 10:47,48; 12:35; Luke 18:38,39].
Who was David’s grandfather. Most people know the heartfelt story of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth was a widow, a foreigner from an idolatrous religion, who came to Bethlehem to help her mother-in-law and to serve the true God. There she met Boaz, who also served the true God. They are married and have a son named Obed, which is Hebrew for “servant of God.”
Ruth 4:13-17:
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
The Bible doesn’t give much detail about Obed. But he must have lived up to his name to train his son, Jesse, to be someone who feared the Lord. God sent the Prophet Samuel to Jesse to find a new king.
1 Samuel 16:1:
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Jesse lived in Bethlehem, which became so important in the life and ministry of David, and “David’s Son,” Jesus Christ.
Joseph [the father of Mary] and Jesus
The Bible doesn’t tell much about Jesus’ grandfather on his mother’s side. His name was Joseph, the same as her husband.
Matthew 1:1,16,18:
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
And Jacob begat Joseph the… [father] of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
God was literally Jesus’ Father. Yet Mary’s husband, Joseph, did have a father.
Luke 3:23:
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.
People in Nazareth supposed that Jesus was Joseph’s physical son. Joseph’s father was named Heli. The Bible tells us nothing about him. Did Jesus ever meet him? Did he positively influence Jesus? What about Mary’s father Joseph? Did Jesus know him. The Bible just doesn’t say.
Lois and Timothy
Paul knew of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. They had genuine faith in Christ, which Paul believed affected Timothy. Paul longed to see Timothy and reminded him of his godly ancestry.
2 Timothy 1:3-5:
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Paul knew that these two women had taught Timothy the scriptures which had brought him to salvation in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:14,15:
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Timothy’s father was Greek, which later helped when he ministered with Paul. Timothy was given a good report from those who knew him. Timothy even submitted to be circumcised so that he could move the gospel with Paul unhindered.
Acts 16:1-3:
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Even though Timothy was young in years, Paul encouraged him to follow his grandmother’s example of unfeigned believing.
1 Timothy 4:12:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity [God’s love]…in faith, in purity.
As grandparents, let’s do our all to set the finest example for our own children so that we can enjoy being with their children. What a joyous life we have to see our grandchildren grow strong in the Lord and the power of His might!
