2 Kings 21:11 (NLT)11 “King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.
Is there someone who you believe has done so many bad things that they define the future of a people? I would think of Hitler, Stalin, or Mao as the most prevalent in my mind. All three have in their evil actions, defined a period and to some extent a people. In all three countries of these respective dictators, the people collectively and as a government have rejected what they did. Hitler killed 12 million, Stalin killed 20+ million (Holodomor – intentional starvation of Ukrainians by Stalin), and Mao killed 80+ million (Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution). Of course, Hitler is the most recognized, but history tells us the others were actually a great deal worse. Nevertheless, all three countries recognized their leaders’ evil and sought a different direction afterward. However, all of this is nothing compared to King Manasseh of Judea. His father Hezekiah sought to reject all idolatry, but upon his death, his son Manasseh took power at the age of 12 years old. Manasseh lost no time to rebuild all the altars to the false gods and even placed a graven image in the Holy of Holies of the Temple. Manasseh was really, really, REALLY bad, and as a result, his son Amon, followed in his father’s footsteps. However, his grandson, who took power at 8 years old, was even better than his great-grandfather Hezekiah, but ultimately to no avail. All the good that King Josiah did was not enough to overcome the evil actions of Manasseh, and the kingdom of Judea went in the same direction as the Northern Kingdom which was swept away because of King Ahab and Jezebel. But, we remember that there is always a remnant that remains safe. Despite Manasseh’s evil and the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, God ensures that after Judah is taken into captivity by Babylon, a time would come when they would be redeemed and return to their land. We today are in captivity of the world’s sin, but we live according to the knowledge of the Kingdom to come and rejoice in knowing that God has chosen us and remains with us. In that knowledge, we praise and glorify the Risen Lord who will someday bring us home. Peace and Love, Pastor Bob
In the Love of Jesus Christ, Pastor Bob – church
pastorbobtitus@gmail.com, (412) 520-5407
