"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. . . . And he did evil in the sight of the
LORD . . . "
What is interesting about this evil Manasseh (above), is that he would never have existed at all, if his (good) father Hezekiah had accepted his own mortality more readily. What I mean is this: in 2 Ki. 20:1, God tells Hezekiah to get his house in order, because he is going to die. But Hezekiah doesn't want to go just yet, and God grants him 15 more years (in 2 Ki. 20:6).
In the meantime Manasseh is born, who proves to do more harm to the nation of Judah than all those kings (who were evil) that had come before him. Judah goes into captivity because of Manasseh's wicked-
ness. What's the point?: sometimes it's better to submit to God's "timetable" without quibbling. Still, everything falls under God's good sovereignty, (as even Manasseh is saved in the end--cf. 2 Chron. 33:13).
ness. What's the point?: sometimes it's better to submit to God's "timetable" without quibbling. Still, everything falls under God's good sovereignty, (as even Manasseh is saved in the end--cf. 2 Chron. 33:13).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Be as speedy in your repentance as you would have God speedy in His mercies." --Thomas Watson, in, "The Doctrine of Repentance"]
