Manasseh was a king of Judah, before the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were carried away into exile by the Babylonians.
He was 12 years old when he became King. His father Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of God. But for 55 years Manasseh did what was evil in the eyes of God.
Reading through his life we are introduced to all of the abhorrent things he did. He even offered his own son in sacrifice to a false god. He led the people of Judah down a pathway of rebellion to God, resulting in God’s rejection of the people of Judah….and their ultimate downfall into exile.
There is however, an interesting conclusion to his life. 2 Chronicles 33 records the carrying away of Manasseh to Babylon. Then, in verse 12-13 we find these striking words. “And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”
Upon his return to Jerusalem he began to attempt to undue all of the evil that he had done. He worked to call the people to the repentance that he had found.
Again, 2 Chronicles 33 records that the people largely rejected his words and actions. He had done his “evil” job well.
I find at least two lessons in the life of Manasseh. One, God is a forgiving God. If He finds a sensitive and repentant person, He is willing to forgive and even restore some of what has been lost.
Two, decisions have consequences. Even with forgiveness, some decisions cannot be undone.
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