Ancestor

 

    An ancestor is a person from whom a person or a group of people descended from.  It can be literal or figuratively.  Ancestor as a noun is av kad'mon (אָב קַדמוֹן) in Hebrew.  In Aramaic it is abāhātā.  In Greek it is Prógonos (Πρόγονος).  We get the English word from the Latin antecessor.  It was introduced in English in the 14th century.  

    God spoke through his prophets to say that King Manasseh of Judah had done many detestable things.  He was even more wicked than the Amorites which were considered very evil.  He led God's people to sin. The consequences are that disaster was to come to Jerusalem and Judah.  It brought horror to all who heard about it.  Jerusalem was going to be judged as if it was not God's city because God was rejecting them for their great evil.  It was the worst it had been since their ancestors had left Egypt.

     Paul thanked God for Timothy.  He served God like his ancestors.  In this case it was a good thing.  He followed Jesus.  Paul reminds us that the people that follow Jesus need prayer.  It is not an easy path and it comes with a lot of obstacles, but it leads to a life of real purpose and eternal glory.  The path may tear you apart from people you care about, but remember that you will see your fellow Christians again in Heaven.  Hold on to your genuine faith.

2 Kings 21:10-15 & 2 Timothy 1:3-4