“He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them. He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.”
2 Kings 21:2-6 NLT
Manasseh was only twelve when he had taken over for his father. This is a significant fact because Hezekiah’s reign was prolonged by fifteen years. If Hezekiah had given up his life at the prescribed time, it should be noted that Manasseh would not have been born. Yet, he was born, and this under an odd curse upon Israel to go into Babylon captivity. We do not know much about the last 15 years of Hezekiah’s rule, but we do know that it was a time of enough pride that it led to a grave tactical error. Manasseh was a product of it. This cannot be overstated in considering how he returned Israel, not just to idolatry but to detestable practices greater than the ancient Canaanites. It can be easily said that Manasseh sought to surpass the nations surrounding him. Considering his father’s late sin, this doesn’t seem too far fetched. It is likely that Manasseh’s campaign for an ungodly Israel was, in his mind, a campaign for an Israel greater than the surrounding nations. His father’s final fifteen were obviously used this way. We must take note. Our spiritual reform must always be in check. It must stay humble and connect to what God wants. He may answer our prayers to extend our lives, but it might greatly alter our legacy. When told that God would extend his life, Hezekiah was laissez faire in his response because the result of that (Babylonian Captivity) would not directly affect him. His relationship with God and Israel proved to be transactional in the end, and this was the fertile breeding ground for the wicked king Manasseh. We must be careful with our wishes, the heart they come from and their unintended consequences. We should always care what happens next.
JOSH McGARY. COM 