2 Chronicles 33 – 36
Verses 33:6 & 7 show some evil with the new king, Manasseh:
6 In the valley of Ben-hinnom, Manasseh offered his children as burnt offerings to those false gods and used every form of magic: witchcraft, divination, sorcery, and necromancy. Manasseh’s evil actions infuriated the Eternal, but the worst of his actions was 7 his installation of an image of a statue in the True God’s temple. Many years before when His glory entered the temple for the first time, God had spoken.
Manasseh was an interesting king to look at since he went off the deep end of evil, yet recovered back to the father. I believe this is a story of encouragement for those who were followers of God in their youth and drifted in young adulthood, like myself. As you dig into these verses you see “every form of magic” described and we tend to dismiss this. In reality this stuff is real and we get lulled into a state of disbelief since we have never personally experienced it. Also, the “propaganda” states it’s all fake anyway so we fall into a state of ignorance.
No evil is real and present in this world! It’s time to wake up and start understanding the spirit realm is active and that is where demons wreak havoc.
Verse 33:12 shows the end result of God’s punishment:
From this position of complete powerlessness, Manasseh finally humbled himself and begged the forgiveness of the Eternal God of his fathers.
The lesson we learn is God forgives even the most egregious acts from true repentance. They key is in the next verse where “from that day forward, Manasseh never doubted that the Eternal was the True God.” If you followed Jesus and drifted, you may return like the prodigal son to His loving arms!! JUST REPENT!!
Verse 34:19 was when young king Josiah found the book of the Law:
When the king heard those words, he realized how far his nation had drifted from God’s path, and he tore his clothes in mourning.
How can I put this lightly but this is happening today. We may be “church goers” and even may lead small groups following God, but we look at that dusty Bible gather more dust. Many of us have the same thing Manasseh found in our homes with clean pages and unbroken bindings. We need to read the Bible with the same zeal Manasseh did when he found the Law!!
Josiah was one of those kings that did not enter leadership with a bias since he was 8. He went before God as a child, because he was one. We need to do the same! And remember how many questions your children asked at 8, do the same with God, he will answer!!
So today we looked at faith, repentance and reading our Bibles!! Some big lessons in something I initially though was dry:-)