Hezekiah’s Son Manasseh

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which wasevil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. And he 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 before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed 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 made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. II Chronicles 33:1-10

Steps 4, 5

Manasseh is one of the clearest testimonies of a person who has gone crazy with evil. He did everything he possibly could to show contempt for God and to do harm to God’s people. The list of sins that Manasseh willingly participated in is amazing. He killed his children, when he caused them to pass through fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and he killed so many others that the Bible says in II Chronicles 33:16 it says “Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another…” All of this evil came from a man whose father was blessed by God. Thus is testified to the power of evil.

Prayer for Today: God help us to see that evil can happen to any of us, and for those of us in recovery has happened to us. Help us to learn from the sins of others and to recognize that without Your help we are likely to go back to our old ways. Help us to be willing to surrender unto You and to walk in Your paths. Thank You for Your love toward us.