Day 18

But they did not listen. Manasseh misled them into doing even greater evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed at the coming of the Israelites. 2 Kings 21:9

King Hezekiah was a great king, but his son, King Manasseh, was not. He was a bad king — the type of ruler that makes you wonder if everything is actually going to be okay. He was so bad that he actually sacrificed his sons to a false god! He worshiped idols of all kinds and invited evil into his life — he turned his back on God at every turn. Scripture also says that because he was a terrible example, he led many around him into sin. It was a real mess, and God was not happy. 

King Manasseh was eventually arrested and brought as a prisoner to Babylon. When this happened, he was really scared. With no one to turn to and nowhere to go, Manasseh spoke to the only person who still loved him and would listen — God. Manasseh finally took a bite of humble pie and reflected on all the terrible things he had done. God poured his mercy and love over Manasseh, and with nowhere to hide, Manasseh could do nothing but sit and be loved by our Lord. From here on, he changed his life and turned back to God. When he left prison, King Manasseh worked hard to stop the evil he had sowed throughout the land. He fortified the city of Judah with protection, removed altars to false idols, and restored worship and sacrificial offerings to the God of Israel. 

Manasseh’s story is a powerful reminder that no one can move beyond God’s grace. God desires all of us to turn back to Him, no matter how far we have strayed or how badly we have sinned. Sometimes, we will experience people in our lives who are very unkind, mocking God and denying the dignity of the human person by hurting others. While this hurts our hearts very much, it hurts God’s heart more. When we experience people who remind us of King Manasseh's evil deeds, let us also remember King Manasseh’s unlikely conversion! Pray for those who hurt you and others. God hears every prayer!