II Chronicles 33:11 states, “Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”
Spike was a smart little Australian Shepherd with a blue eye and brown eye. We got him as kids when he was just a puppy. He learned to shake hands in just a few minutes. As he got older he did a little roaming around, never forgetting where home was. One day he came prancing up to me with one of the neighbor’s chickens in his mouth. They allowed their chickens to free range, which Spike took advantage of. I knew he was bringing it to me out of loyalty, but I also knew I had to teach him a lesson so he would not do it again. I took the chicken and began beating him with it and severely scolding him. He got the point and would have nothing to do with me for several days—even avoiding eye contact. His feelings were truly hurt. He never looked at another chicken after that.
Manasseh was just 12 years old when he began to reign in Jerusalem (II Chronicles 33:1). His dad, Hezekiah, was one of the great kings who did many good things for the nation of Israel (II Chronicles 32:32). God examined his heart and found pride there, for which Hezekiah did humble himself before God (II Chronicles 32: 25-26).
Manasseh did not see all this (probably heard about it), because it was before he was born. He lived in that last 15-year period when Hezekiah’s life was extended. In this period, Hezekiah was simply pleased to have peace in his days, even though he knew his sons would pay for his sin of showing Berodachbaladan of Babylon all that was in his house (II Kings 20:13-19).
Perhaps it was out of rebellion against his father, maybe poor upbringing, or just an evil heart, that young Manasseh began to destroy all the good that his father, Hezekiah, had done. Perhaps in our day we have a new generation who wants to tear down the church they inherited.
It was almost as if Manasseh was demon possessed! He built again the high places, reared up altars for Baalim, made groves, worshipped the hosts of heaven, built altars for them in the courts of the house of the Lord, caused his children to pass through the fire, observed times, used enchantments, used witchcraft, dealt with familiar spirits and with wizards, doing more wickedness than the heathen whom God destroyed out of the land of Canaan (II Chronicles 33:3-9).
So what did God do about all this? He first spoke to Manasseh who would not listen. Then as our text says, He took him from thorns, bound him and sent him to Babylon. In his affliction, he humbled himself and prayed. God heard him, brought him home, and gave him another chance. Manasseh reversed all the evil he had done and knew that the Lord was truly God. God loved him. Don’t give up on the rebellious. Pray for A HARD LESSON!
