Do you ever feel like you are beyond hope or that your past is so terrible that God cannot use you for His kingdom? Many of us are haunted by past sins, even though we know in our mind that we have repented and been forgiven, we still remember former days when we did things we are so ashamed of we would never tell anyone. Sometimes it is difficult to believe in our hearts that we are truly forgiven.
The Wicked Reign of King Manasseh
There is a figure in the Bible that did such terrible things that it almost seems impossible that God could forgive him, but because God's mercy is more than we can imagine, he was forgiven. The story is about King Manasseh of Judah. At this time Israel was split into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. King Manasseh was the longest reigning king of Judah. For 55 years he ruled, becoming king at the age of 12. He was the son of King Hezekiah who was one of the most righteous kings of Judah, second only to King David.
Manasseh’s Idol Worship and False Gods
King Manasseh is famous for two reasons. One reason is that he is considered one of the worst kings in the history of Judah. Unlike his father, who did what was right before God, King Manasseh was extremely evil. Instead of worshipping God and leading His people to worship God, he seemed to worship everything but God. His name means 'to forget' and it seemed that he had forgotten all that his father stood for.
The King's Evil Practices
2 Kings 21 describes how he:
rebuilt the 'high places'. These were elevated places where idol worship was performed. 2 Chronicles 3:1 tells us that only one high place was allowed where sacrifice to God could be performed, and that was the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1).
built altars to Baal. Baal was a Canaanite and Phoenician god associated with fertility, influencing both agriculture and childbirth. His image was a bull. Ritual prostitution was part of his worship. Worst of all, human sacrifice was also performed (Jeremiah 19:5).
made an Asherah pole. These were trees or poles that honored the goddess Asherah, also known as Astarte (Exodus 34:13). She was a fertility goddess and associated with Baal. Manasseh went so far as to erect an Asherah Pole in the holy temple of God (2 Kings 2:3,7)
sacrificed his own son to the false god Molech.
sought omens, practiced divination and consulted mediums. Divination meant to uncover hidden knowledge by supernatural methods so that the future could be understood. Mediums were people who communicated with the dead. When people sought omens they were looking for warnings or signs of important events. All of these practices were forbidden in scripture.
killed many innocent people.
Worship of the Stars and Astrology
2 Kings 21:3, tells us that King Manasseh worshipped the "starry host". Deuteronomy 4:19 warns people not to worship the sun, moon and stars. Jeremiah 19:13 repeats this warning. Romans 1:25 reminds us not to worship created things, but only the Creator. Psalm 19:1-6 tells us that the "heavens declare the glory of God", they are not there to be worshipped. In today's world, we see the same behavior when people follow astrology and believe in horoscopes.
Consequences of Manasseh’s Actions
King Manasseh was so evil, Jeremiah 15:4 tells us, that he was the direct cause of the Jews being exiled to Babylon and the destruction of the temple. This happened about 50 years after his death. Because of Manasseh's idolatry, God sent the Assyrians to capture the King and take him into captivity with a nose hook and chains (2 Chronicles 33:11). This was the event that forever changed King Manasseh's life.
Manasseh’s Captivity and Transformation
Having reached 'rock bottom,' as we would say today, and in affliction, he saw the consequences of a life lived in total rebellion to God. Many of us have been in similar places in our lives. It is then that we see how very wrong we have been. A life lived only for self, a life lived in opposition to God, only leads to disaster. In this moment, he came before God with humility and begged to be forgiven. God mercifully freed him from captivity and restored him to his throne in Judah. It was at this time that the Bible says Manasseh "knew that the Lord was God" (2 Chronicles 33:13).
The Redemption of King Manasseh: No Past Too Great
This man, whose sins were so many, who had led thousands of people astray and was held responsible for the exile of the Jews to Babylon, was forgiven by God. If this man can receive forgiveness, who among us would God not forgive? God's compassion never fails. The redemption of King Manasseh shows us that no past is too great for God. Manasseh's life was transformed. It is this life changing experience that Manasseh is also famous for. The author of Chronicles tells us:
"He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem; and he cast them out of the city. He also repaired the altar of the Lord, sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel."
2 Chronicles 33:15-16
Lingering Effects of Manasseh’s Sins
Sadly, even though King Manasseh returned to God, the damage he had done in Judah remained. The people continued to worship at the high places, even though it was to God. But God had declared there was only one high place where sacrifices could be made—the temple. These other high places should have been destroyed, and eventually would be under King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23).
Manasseh’s Lineage and Christ’s Genealogy
When King Manasseh died and his son became King, his son returned to all the old ways, worshipping false gods. There were still consequences to King Manasseh's many sins even though he had been forgiven by God. Eventually, however, something wonderful comes from the line of King Manasseh, our Savior. In the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1, we read his name listed among many other forgiven sinners, like King David and Rahab the harlot. This serves as a reminder that no one is beyond redemption.
No Past Too Great for God's Forgiveness
In Matthew Henry's commentary on King Manasseh he says this: "Deny not to thyself that which God hath not denied to thee; it is not thy sin, but thy impenitence, that bars heaven against thee." In other words, the only thing that holds us back from God is not our sin, even the greatest of sins, but our lack of shame, regret and repentance for our sin. All of us have sinned. We can always call on Jesus for forgiveness. Never think your past is too great for God to pardon. That is Satan's lie!
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
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