Day 6: Manasseh

10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 33: 10&11

Manasseh was one of the kings of Israel who engaged in practices that were in conflict with God’s word. Among his many crimes described in 2 Chronicles 33, he sacrificed his own children to unknown gods in fire, shed innocent blood, erected idols in the temple, and encouraged Baal worship. After years of entreating the deaf ears of Manasseh, rival kings took him captive to Babylon, where he suffered the same injustice that he had meted to his own people during his reign. God enabled this captivity with sadness, knowing that his pleas had no effect on the stubborn king.

As shown through all the other character studies in this series, some lessons can only be learnt when things hit the fan. It was in captivity that Manasseh saw the error of his ways, finding remorse for all the innocent people he had slaughtered, the infant children he had lost in the most horrific ways to his own madness. With a sorrowful heart, he besought God. It is almost comical, how often these humans in the Bible did terrible things, ignoring the pleas of God, only to turn back to him when everything goes wrong. But if you can’t turn to God during those times, then who can you turn to? Baal and all the fire-sacrifice gods did not help Manasseh. None of those gods came to his aid. Here is the response of the living God of Israel:

he was intreated of [Manasseh], and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.

(verse 13).

A contrite heart and genuine spirit are all God wants. There is no arduous Forgiveness Course, no monetary indulgences, no prolonged display of suffering needed. It may sound ridiculous, but God forgives like no other. If He can forgive Manasseh, and restore the king’s former wealth and glory, then why wouldn’t He forgive you? Manasseh’s story is a prime example of God’s longsuffering and mercy. Few people would ever forgive such a king, and most would expect God to turn His back on him and allow Manasseh to endure the trials of the Babylonians. But He had mercy on him.

Never for a second think that you have gone too far for God to love and forgive you.