Joel M Bradshaw

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 3For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 

4And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.–2 Kings 21

And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)

1. I have a son who is 13.
2. I like to think that his mother and I have taught him to honor God with his choices.
3. Evil Manasseh illustrates that even taking the throne at age 12, he didn’t prioritize honoring God like his father Hezekiah did.
4. Manasseh is generally described as the worst king in Judah’s history in terms of obeying God.
5. Hezekiah was a good king, but he raised a bad king. Parents, let that sink in.
6. 2 Chronicles 33 does describe that Manasseh did repent and honored God. There is hope in God even for the most evil king. Villains still have time to repent.
7. To ponder Manasseh is to consider Hezekiah. What kind of legacy are you leaving? What influence are you maximizing? How would you describe your own repentance?–JMB