Manasseh’s Reign… the rest of the story

Chapter 32 is a review of what we already knew of Hezekiah’s reign- how God rescued them from Assyria, how he was healed from a deadly sickness, how he became proud and then repented of that pride.

This text also describes how Hezekiah enclosed the Gihon Spring, which had been outside the city walls, and redirected its water inside the city through an underground tunnel.

The tunnel – amazingly – seems to have been dug by 2 teams that somehow met in the middle! To this day, no one knows exactly how this was accomplished.

Modern historians question king Hezekiah’s involvement in the creation of the tunnel. But we know from 2Chron. 32:30 that he was at least the one who started the project; even if others developed it further after his death.

“Hezekiah’s Tunnel” is still in Jerusalem to this day and tour groups routinely brave the chilly spring water to wade through the tunnel from the headwaters of Gihon to the Pool of Siloam.

After all that about Hezekiah, there’s this interesting little nugget:

“However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If it feels like God has “withdrawn” Himself from you, perhaps you are also being tested.

I haven’t had a tv in my home for most of my life so I don’t know if they ever do this anymore, but when I was a kid, you’d be watching Bob Barker on the Price Is Right 💲 and the next thing you know…

The tone would stop and then a man’s voice would calmly say, “This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test.” Then you’d get a few more seconds of irritating sound waves and then a voice would say, “If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news, or instructions. This has been a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.” Then, The Price Is Right would come back on and life would return to normal.

😲 Wow. That was a thing? Sounds more irritating than a YouTube ad.

Yeah. Kids today have NO idea. You couldn’t block ads or skip commercials. And there were only 3 or 4 channels. And the tv 📺 weighed like 200 pounds so you weren’t watching anything on the go or while waiting in line.

😐 Wow. I’m glad I didn’t live back in the Stone Age 🗿 like that.

Hey. Watch it, Sparky. I typed you into this world and I can delete you out.

Anyway…

The LORD does not employ an attention signal, but when He withdraws, perhaps it would help if you had this image handy (feel free to save it to your device):

MANASSEH…

We saw yesterday how evil Manasseh was and how he led Israel past the point of no return. The record in 2 Kings does not contain this incredible plot twist:

“So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭33‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

😲 Say WHAAAAAAAT?!? Did NOT see that coming! I figured he was a goner for sure.

I know, right?! Don’t ever bet against the grace of God.

Manasseh got hauled off ALLLL the way to Babylon in chains. And that got his attention. Maybe that was God’s version of taking him to the woodshed.

I think it’s such a shame that so many people are this hard-headed. I think it’s why I never had to be “taken to the woodshed” as a child. Somehow I knew that you couldn’t win. It was pointless to back-talk or disobey. You would get punished and you’d have to obey anyway so why go through all the drama of breaking the rules and getting punished? It was a complete waste of everyone’s time. It was a matter of sheer efficiency to me. Disobedience is the long route. Obedience is much more simple and efficient.

😐 You were an odd child, weren’t you?

Yes. Yes I was. Ask my mom some time.

Manasseh like Ebenezer Scrooge at the end of A Christmas Carol. He was truly a changed man. He tore down the pagan shrines and altars he had built. He pulled out the idols he had set up in the temple and restored proper worship. He even tried to get the citizens of Judah and Jerusalem to leave their idolatry and worship Yahweh alone. To no avail.

He led them into sin but he couldn’t lead them back out.

That is a grave cautionary tale. And it should make us think twice about the influence our behavior has on others.

When Manasseh died, his son Amon became king and continued in his father’s previous idolatry. He only reigned for 2 years when he was assassinated by his own officials.

“But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah the next king.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭33‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The boy-king Josiah, grandson of Judah’s wickedest king, is about to lead the last great revival in Israel’s pre-exile history.