Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Chronicles 31-33.

When Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh took the throne, he turned his back on his father’s faith and embraced all sorts of wickedness.  He set up shrines to false gods and erected idols throughout the land, going so far as to offer sacrifices to false gods in God’s temple.  He even sacrificed his own children to other gods.  The people followed him in his wickedness and evil practices.  God sent prophets to warn the people against their sin, but they refused to listen to them.  Finally, God allowed the Assyrians to take Manasseh captive.  While he was captive they humiliated and tormented him.  Finally, in his darkest hour, Manasseh turned to God and begged for His forgiveness.  God rescued Manasseh from his captivity.  When he returned to Jerusalem, Manasseh got rid of the idols and destroyed the shrines he had built.  He purified the temple and worshiped God there.  He told the people to serve the Lord and only the Lord, but many of them continued in the idol worship Manasseh had introduced.

There are really two lessons for us in the story of Manasseh.  First, no matter how depraved we may have become, God will listen and forgive us if we humble ourselves, turn from our wickedness and seek to serve Him.  Second, those we influenced away from God while we practiced our depravity may not follow us when we turn back to God.  So, our depravity will not be without consequences.  As I typed that I realized there is a third lesson.  One closely related to the second.    We cannot force others to embrace God.  They must choose to turn to Him for themselves.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.