Israel Asks for a King
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
Samuel appointed his sons to be judges over Israel in his place, but they were corrupt. We do not know why Samuel’s sons did not follow in their father’s path. Be careful not to blame yourself for the sins of your children. Parenthood is a great responsibility. It is very important to mold and shape your children’s lives when they live with you. If your grown children are not following God, you cannot control their choices anymore. You can advise. You can pray for them. You can continue to set a good example. You can keep in communication with them. You can encourage them. Never give up praying for your children.
