2 Kings 21:6
6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
God declared Hezekiah to be the most righteous king of Judah. However, his son Manasseh was the most wicked. Manasseh removed the altars on the high places and set up altars to the gods of heaven in the Temple. He even sacrificed his own son. In addition to these abominable acts, he consulted fortune tellers and mediums, a sin that God takes very seriously. Seeking guidance from the evil spiritual realm is not the way of the Lord. If we refuse to seek God, demonic spirits will gladly lead us astray.
Manasseh ruled for 55 years, one of the longest reigns in Israel’s history. It is a harsh reality that our children may not always follow our faith and that the wicked may prosper. Although we may wish otherwise, we must remember that God’s ways are not our ways. He allows each person to choose whether to accept His love.
An evil king’s long reign may reflect the desires of the people. God knows the hearts of men, and His decisions are always just, even if they seem unfair to us. True faith cannot be forced, not even on our own children. Instead of blaming God for suffering, we should recognize that sin is the root cause of pain in the world. The gift of free will comes with consequences.
Reflect on the story of Manasseh and trust that God’s plan is always best, even when it is difficult to understand. Embrace the calling to be the person God has intended you to be.
