King Manasseh

Title: King Manasseh in the Bible: A Tale of Redemption and Divine Grace

Introduction:
In the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, King Manasseh is a fascinating, albeit controversial figure, who ruled over the kingdom of Judah during the seventh century BC. His reign is highlighted by his initial wickedness, idol worship, and defilement of the temple of Jerusalem. However, the story of Manasseh takes an unexpected turn as he later repents and experiences a remarkable transformation, becoming a righteous and faithful ruler. Through his narrative, we witness the power of divine intervention, highlighting the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and redemption.

Manasseh’s Reign of Evil:
The Book of Kings provides a detailed account of Manasseh’s rule, emphasizing his abandonment of the monotheistic worship of God and his embrace of various pagan gods and practices. The deterioration of his faith is evident in 2 Kings 21:2, where it is written, “He (Manasseh) did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.” Manasseh’s leadership during this period was marked by idolatry, sacrifice of children, and involvement in occult practices.

Divine Intervention:
In an unexpected turn of events, Manasseh is captured by the Assyrian army and imprisoned in Babylon. Here, facing dire circumstances, he experiences a transformative revelation. In 2 Chronicles 33:12, it is recorded, “But while in distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.” Despite his former actions, Manasseh recognizes his mistakes and humbly turns to God for mercy.

Redemption through Repentance:
The story of Manasseh serves as a powerful illustration of the biblical theme of repentance. In response to his sincere plea for forgiveness and genuine repentance, God responds compassionately. In 2 Chronicles 33:13, it is written, “And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so, he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.” This demonstrates that even the gravest of sins can be absolved through repentance and divine grace.

Manasseh’s Rehabilitation:
After his release from captivity, Manasseh embarks on a mission to restore Yahweh’s worship and reform his kingdom’s religious practices. He removes the foreign gods and idols, repairs the desecrated altar, and reinstitutes temple worship. His transformation is profound, as seen in 2 Chronicles 33:15: “He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord.” This serves as a testament to the power of personal transformation and the potential for redemption in the eyes of God.

Legacy and Final Years:
Despite the significant improvement in his reign, Manasseh’s past actions were not forgotten. However, he perseveres in his dedication to upright rule and continues to seek God’s guidance until his death. According to 2 Chronicles 33:20, “Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace. And his son Amon succeeded him as king.” While his early misconduct had lasting consequences, the narrative underscores the importance of genuine repentance and the restoration of divine favor in one’s life.

Conclusion:
The story of King Manasseh in the Bible is a captivating account of a ruler’s journey from depravity to redemption. His narrative showcases the significance of repentance, forgiveness, and divine grace. Despite starting on the wrong path, Manasseh’s ultimate transformation serves as an inspiration to individuals facing personal struggles. This biblical narrative encourages us to understand that genuine repentance and sincere efforts toward change can lead to redemption, regardless of our past actions. The story of Manasseh reminds us that, through faith and the pursuit of righteousness, humanity can find hope and be reconciled with God.

Gideon

Men have got the impression that God got a cowardly man to deliver His people. Is God going to use the most unfit person to deliver Israel from the Midianites, Amalekites and the children of the East? God doesn’t operate like that. God raises up men to do His work and He raises them up with the ability to do as He commands them. A lot of people assume because Gideon was threshing wheat by the winepress at night (Judges 6:11) he was afraid. The Midianites greatly oppressed Israel and had taken all they had (6:4-6). If anyone had any food they would have to use much caution and wisdom.

Judges 6:11 “And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide [it] from the Midianites.”

Gideon is living in a time of strong oppression. The Midianites are taking everything the Israelites have. Gideon got wheat by threshing it at night so he could hide it from them. So, Gideon was cautious and wise.

In Judges 6:12 an angel of the Lord appeared to him calling him a mighty man of valor. That doesn’t sound like he is a coward.

Judges 6:13:13-16 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

It’s difficult to assume that Gideon was a coward from these verses. At first he didn’t question the angel regarding his courage but only about the Lord being with him. He reasoned that if the Lord was with him, he would not be oppressed. Next he said that he was the least in his house and that his family was poor. This doesn’t mean he was a coward, this shows that he was humble. Gideon didn’t see himself fit for such a big task.

People also bring up his reaction when he saw the angel. Who wasn’t afraid when they saw an Angel of the Lord. Balaam fell flat on his face (Numbers 22:31) so did David and the elders of Israel (1 Chronicles 21:16) and so did Sampson’s parent’s (Judges 13:20).

25 That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. 26 Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.” A lot of people come down hard on Gideon because of how he obeyed this command.

27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father’s household and the people of the town. Being brave doesn’t mean your stupid. Gideon had to go in and bring down his father’s altar of Baal, as well as cut the grove beside it then make an altar to God and make a burnt offering for Him. The men in that city, as well as his father,  were idol worshippers. He wasn’t going in there in broad daylight and do all that. He wasn’t afraid of what the men would do to him, rather he feared they would try to hinder him from doing what God wanted. I believe he done it at night so he wouldn’t have to deal with the men of the city.

Judges 7:2-3

2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. Gideon did not go home with the others.

4 But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” 6 Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. It should be clear by now that Gideon was a mighty man of valor.,