Can even the worst among us turn their lives around? Will we? Let’s begin in 2 Chronicles 33.
How disgusting was Manasseh? Do we still engage in a form of child sacrifice?
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. (2 Chr 33:1-6 NIV)
Can evil national leaders seduce a nation to follow their corruption?
He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers—only if they are careful to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.” So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. (2 Chr 33:7-9 NKJV)
Do great difficulties sometimes lead people to repent? Is there a better way?
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! (2 Chr 33:10-13 NLT)
Is repentance just empty words or do actual positive changes prove repentance is real?
Now after this, he built an outer wall to David’s city on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. He took away the foreign gods and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. He built up Yahweh’s altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God. (2 Chr 33:14-17 WEB)
While some kings went from good to bad, was Manasseh’s life the exact opposite?
The rest of Manasseh’s deeds, including his prayer to God and what the seers told him in the name of the Lord, Israel’s God, are found in the records of Israel’s kings. Manasseh’s prayer and its answer, all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the locations of the shrines, sacred poles, and idols he set up before he submitted are written in the records of Hozai. Manasseh lay down with his ancestors and was buried in his palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king. (2 Chr 33:18-20 CEB)
Did Amon follow his father Manasseh and repent? What happened to him?
Amon was 22 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 2 years. Amon disobeyed the Lord, just as his father Manasseh had done, and he worshiped and offered sacrifices to the idols his father had made. Manasseh had turned back to the Lord, but Amon refused to do that. Instead, he sinned even more than his father. Some of Amon's officials plotted against him and killed him in his palace. But the people of Judah killed the murderers of Amon and made his son Josiah king. (2 Chr 33:21-25 CEV)
What did John the Baptist and Jesus both say about repentance?
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Mat 3:2; 4:17b ESV)
Can even the worst among us turn their lives around? Will we? You decide!
