Freewill Not Inherited!

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done... Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord... So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.  Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.  And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. (II Chronicles 28-29; II King 18:1-16)

Hezekiah, son of Ahaz was raised as the son of a king, and he witnessed his father, Ahaz do many deplorable and evil things against God.  Ahaz had freewill to rule however he chose, and he chose to be the worst king Judah had had up to that point.  However, when he died and his son, Hezekiah become king, he became one of the best and most God fearing kings Judah had, inspite of how he saw his father rule.  His mother was Abijah, she was the daughter of the prophet Zechariah, so maybe she taught him about God, and that helped him to understand better than his father how to make better choices.  But just as his father had freewill, Hezekiah also had freewill to rule however he chose, and he chose to rule in a way that brought glory to God.

Each of us has to make our own choices.  Who our parents are and how they behave, the circumstances we're born into and live in, the family we're a part of, none of that can determine our future.  We may start life in a bad situation and then choose to do good, or vice versa, but we each have to make the choice for ourselves. God gave Ahaz a chance to choose to change the bad course he was on, by sending the prophet Isaiah to him: Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,  “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he [Isaiah] said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?  (Isaiah 7:10-13)

Instead of Ahaz asking God for the help he needed, he refused and we later read in Isaiah that he turned to men who did not believe in God to ask for help, which eventually lead to Judah's problems and his death.  But inspite of whether we use our freewill to choose good or bad, God's Will will be done:  Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.  For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.  (Isaiah 7:10-16)

Ahaz refused to be the kind of king he could have been.  His son Hezekiah chose to be one of the best kings Judah ever had.  But as the Lord spoke, the day was going to come when there would be no more kings in Judah or Isreal, and then He would send the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus the Christ! But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:29-33) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelations 19:11-16)