Repentance

I love how stories in the Old Testament have a way of sharing such truth with us. I know the word of God is Truth but it still it amazes me at times. It shows my lack of faith and knowledge. LOL

In 2 Chronicles 33 Manasseh became King of Judah. He was 12 years old when he became King and from the beginning he was doing evil in the sight of God. He resurrected idols for both himself and the Israelites to worship.

This reminds me so much of each one of us. I don't care if you were raised in the church or if you had no understanding of who Jesus was at all. We all from a very young age resurrected idols in our own lives. Whether it is idols of pride, control, or selfishness young children portray these character traits quite naturally at a very young age. At the age of 2 most children think they know what is best. Mom and Dad will say go to bed, or sit down, or clean up your toys and these children will give a resounding "NO". Yes they are rebelling against their parents but they are also rebelling against God. God's word says, that "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right". This is sin, this is your 2 year old beginning the process of setting up idols in their young hearts. Its about of our human nature. This is why even young children need to repent and are required to be disciplined from their parents. This exalting of foreign gods only gets more frequent and at times more dangerous with age. This is what you and I do just like King Manasseh. This is why we need this story in the Bible.


Later on in the story King Manasseh decides he isn't going to heed the advice of wise counsel and repent and turn back to the Lord. So God allows the King of Assyria to take him captive, put a ring in his nose and led him away to Babylon.

Doesn't this happen to us when we don't heed the word of the Lord, humble ourselves, and repent. God will allow things, people, and situations of this world take us captive. God may even allow us to really be put into captivity: Jail. To get our attention and show us our real need for Him.

While in captivity King Manasseh prayed, and acknowledged he was wrong and repented. So God freed him and restored him as King. Manasseh went and tore down all of the Idols and had all the people do the same. He chose to serve the Lord God of Israel only. God blessed him for his obedience because he humbled himself, repented, and tore down the idols in the country.

We the same way must follow this example. We must humble ourselves and repent for the decisions to follow foreign gods. But if we do that God will bless us. But it is more than just words of repentance or just being sorry for getting caught. It has to be true repentance that results in a change of action. The action of tearing down the idols in our lives. The choosing to live differently and acknowledge that there is only one true living God. Are we ready and willing to do that and receive the blessing that God has for us?