Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God

Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 32-33

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 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.

The son of Hezekiah, Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah had ever had. He was an idolater and a murderer. He murdered his own children in a religious ceremony worshipping a false god! He practiced witchcraft and sorcery. He set up high places and altars to all the host of heaven. He even put a graven image of a false god in the temple in Jerusalem.

While Hezekiah was alive, the prophet told him that his son would rebel against God and would be taken into the custody of a foreign king.

2 Kings 20:17-18 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Because of his wickedness and rebellion, Manasseh was taken away to Babylon. However, when he was taken by the foreign powers, he began to seek the Lord! The Bible tells us that he humbled himself before God and prayed unto him. When this happened, Manasseh knew that the Lord was God!

Imagine that! The most wicked king that Judah ever had who led the people away from God into the false worship of demons finally repented and believed in the name of the God of his fathers. And God heard his prayer and restored him.

Don't ever give up on someone! God doesn't. If a person like Manasseh can repent, anyone can. Was he too far from God? No, and when he was afflicted, he called upon the name of the Lord. God is never far from any one of us. He is always near!

Romans 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Sometimes it takes affliction and difficult circumstances in our lives to bring us to a place where we can trust in God. It was so for David.

Psalms 119:67 & 71 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

The story of Manasseh is a great encouragement to me. Although his early years are a terrible show of idolatry and rebellion, his later repentance and knowledge of God reminds me that it is never too late. God is merciful and gracious. His grace is amazing and we should never forget that even the person who is farthest away from God can repent and trust in Jesus.

In Christ,
Rody