The Unfathomable Mercies Of God Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. He built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared the 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 forever. He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the houseof 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 ( 2Chr. 33:1-7). The passage above is about the story of the only son God gave Hezekiah during the fifteen years God added to his days. Sometimes ago, I asked myself, wouldnt have been better if Hezekiah had allowed the perfect will of God to be done in his life and died when God said it was time for him to God? Because Hezekiah himself backslide during those fifteen years. If he had died, God will definitely provide another king for His people. But because he wanted his own son to reign after him, he did not accept the will of God. Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord our passage said. He even did more evil than the nations God drove out for the Israelites. What a pity. Our passage tells us that he desecrate the house of God where God had chosen to put His name forever. He sacrificed to idols in the house of God. He sacrificed even his own children in the fire according to all that the heathen nations did. He used enchantments. Dealt with familiar spirits and wizards. He also observed times. But like I always told you, sin will always attract penalty either in the present or later or both. Lets look at the following verses; And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Mannasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon (verse 10-11). That is exactly what sin does. It brings bondage. It enslaves. It brings afflictions. It brings troubles. It brings suffering. But in the midst of all this lets look at what Manasseh did. In verses 12-13, And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto Him: and he was intreated of Him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God Beloved, after reading these two verses, I find it difficult to fathom the mercies of God. Do you mean that despite all this abominations, God still forgave him? Yes! That is exactly what the Bible says. I cant understand the mercies of God. It is beyond my comprehension. Are you in the same condition with Manasseh, all you need to do is to humble yourself. Make supplication to Him and ask for His mercy. Micah said He delights in mercy and pardons iniquity. I dont care what you have done, if God could still forgive Manasseh, if will surely forgive you. Come to Him now!
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 07:09:00 +0000
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