Manasseh; The Comeback Story

2 Chronicles 33

We all love a good comeback story.  We also enjoy a glorious restoration story, better known as a testimony story.  Mike Lendell was a crack addict before he found God and developed the “my pillow.”  John Ramirez was a Satan worshiper and high priest in the satanic religion, he found God and now he leads a great ministry.  I can go on and on. God has redeemed many people from all walks of life, from the Satan worshipers to the down and out. 

The story of king Manasseh is a doozy.  He was Hezekiah’s son and his story starts off with him being crowned king at 12 years old.  The Bible says that he did evil in sight of the Lord.  Here is a short list of the things that he did…

1.  Rebuilt the high places for Baal worship

2.  Erected altars to Baal

3.  Made Ashrah poles

4.  Bowed down to starry hosts and worshiped them

5.  Built altars in the temple of the Lord

6.  Sacrificed his children in fire

7.  Practiced divination and witchcraft

8.  Sought omens

9.  Consulted mediums and spiritist

The Bible says that he did more evil in the sight of the Lord than the nations that they drove out of the promised land.  The Lord even sent prophets to warn him but he paid no attention.  Needless to say, he was a poster boy for what not to do.  I am sure the list here is too short as well.  So the Lord’s anger burned against Manasseh and The Lord sent the Assyrian army to capture him.  The Assyrian’s put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. 

Here comes the boomerang.  Verse 12 says that in his distress he sought the favor of the Lord and humbled himself greatly.  He also prayed and the Bible says the Lord was moved by his entreaty (an earnest or humble request). His prayer is recorded in a separate book not included in the Bible.  Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.  After he returned to Judah, he rebuilt the city walls and got rid of all the idols he erected and God blessed him. He ruled for a total of 55 years. Now that is a comeback story.  

The question we have to ask ourselves is how far will we take things before we greatly humble ourselves before the Lord?  For Manasseh, it came in a Babylonian dungeon with a hook in his nose.  Review your everyday decisions and ask God to reveal the areas you need to take down.  Don’t go testimony hunting just to prove a point, God would rather you humble yourself long before you find yourself in the prison of your own decisions.