Dear Readers,
This post was primarily authored on September 11th, 2019 from approximately 30,000 feet in the air. My thoughts from the beginning of today have been consumed by the tragedies that occurred on 9/11/2001. Those of us who witnessed these events unfolding will never forget this day that changed our lives forever.
For the first time in my recollection on the hundreds of flights I’ve taken, the captain (instead of a flight attendant) of the plane made the verbal welcoming announcement in person from the main cabin (outside of the cockpit). He didn’t mention 9/11/2001, but his tone was passionate and warm, and his face was serious as he made eye contact with many of the passengers. He welcomed us aboard in subtle remembrance and it was moving.
The tragic events of what is now known as “Patriot Day” brought collaborative evil terrorist schemes to light which included mass murder, complete devastation, horror, shock, loss, fear, pain and deep mourning.
Further, the leaders behind these events used this as a way to encourage additional terrorism in the future. This reminds me of Manasseh in our reading today which is 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.
Manasseh was a wicked king committing idolatry, sorcery and like the aforementioned terrorists, leading his people astray to do evil. He even went so far as to do the unimaginable: He burned his sons as an offering.
How does God respond to our disobedience?
One way is that he tries to communicate with us.
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, (2 Chronicles 33:10a)
This chapter doesn’t say how or what The Lord said to Manasseh and his people so let’s consider ways he tries to communicate to us today. Through his Holy Spirit whispering into our souls, through his marvelous works such as providing daily sustenance (oxygen, food, water), showing us the glory of a new sunrise and sunset, wildlife, mountains, forests, and the oceans along with the billions of inhabitants living there as part of the circle of life. Through performing countless miracles that we either notice or take for granted. Through his living word in The Bible conveying the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We should pay attention and be grateful for the many clues and ways he seeks relationship with us.
but they paid no attention. (2 Chronicles 33:10b)
Manasseh provokes God’s anger.
Eventually God got Manasseh’s attention in a most undesirable way.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. (2 Chronicles 33:11)
Manasseh repents.
And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. (2 Chronicles 33:12)
Manasseh lived such a life of defiance, it is interesting that he actually repents. A true atheist wouldn’t beg for God’s forgiveness right? This tells me that somewhere in Manasseh’s heart, he knew God all along.
He knew who his creator was. He knew the God of his ancestors was true. He had a compass, he knew right from wrong. Being made king at age twelve, much had been given to him, yet his selfishness and hatred drove his life up to this point.
God listens and responds.
The shocking yet beautiful result is that God was moved by Manasseh’s humility and forgives him, just like he forgives us when we truly repent and turn from our sins. This guy was the worst, but God forgave him! Note that this repentance was pure; not one of those fake repentances where one begs for help, gets rescued, then goes back to the same ways.
Like Manasseh, no matter how great our sins, we can be forgiven. It doesn’t make earthly sense but it is God’s perfect eternal equation. Sin = death. Repentance + Jesus = life.
Similar to remembrance of the events of 9/11/2001, holding this history close to our hearts, we must never forget God’s love for us. How Jesus surrendered his life for us. How our prior sins must not define us, but who we are in Christ, a new creation, washed clean.
May we repent and live new lives like Manasseh, being known for the change that can only point to a life defined as living for our God: creator, friend, and deliverer.