It is the story of King Manasseh, who was the son of righteous King Hezekiah of Judah. King Manasseh was only 12 years old when his father died and left him the throne. And just as soon as he took full command of the kingdom of Judah (no doubt influenced by evil advisers), Manasseh turned to the wrong ways of the pagan nations around Judah. It is well understood that King Manasseh was by far the worst of Judah's kings. The account in 2 Kings 21 tells us that he began with idolatry, then progressed into sorcery, witchcraft, spiritualism and even child sacrifice, practices all strictly forbidden by God. We are also told that Manasseh oppressed those who dared to oppose him. Manasseh's influence was extremely damaging to Judah. Deeply concerned, God sent a succession of prophets to warn Manasseh about what would happen if he persisted in his evil ways. One of those prophets was Isaiah, who may himself have belonged to the royal family and been one of Hezekiah's closest advisers. Manasseh finally became so angry at Isaiah's persistent warnings and rebukes that he gave orders for the elderly prophet to be executed. According to Jewish tradition, the nearly 90-year-old Isaiah attempted to hide from Manasseh's men in a hollow log or tree. Manasseh's men found him, however, and acting on the king's orders, they cut Isaiah in two with a saw—lengthwise! God then caused the Assyrian army to desolate Judah like a swarm of killer bees. "I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down" (2 Kings 21:13). They captured Manasseh, put an iron hook through his nose, bound him in heavy bronze chains (which may well have weighed 100 pounds or more) and literally dragged him off to the city of Babylon. According to Jewish tradition, Manasseh was 34 years old at this time, and he spent the next two years in an Assyrian prison cell in the bitterest misery and degradation. At this point, you may wonder why God didn't simply have Manasseh executed and be done with it. God tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that He is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Happily, Manasseh did indeed come to repentance. So much so, in fact, that God not only caused Manasseh to be released, but also had him restored to his throne in Jerusalem! Such is the mercy of our great God! A Return to Piety Manasseh's story doesn't end in 2 Kings 21. We find the rest of the story in 2 Chronicles 33. Recognizing the responsibility that was now his, upon his return Manasseh immediately began the daunting task of correcting his earlier mistakes. Although he was never able to return Judah completely to an obedient nation, he pursued this goal for the rest of his life. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us, "And indeed, when he had changed his former course, he so led his life for the time to come, that from the time of his return to piety towards God, he was deemed a happy man, and a pattern for imitation." (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 3). King Manasseh died at the age of 67, having been on the throne for some 55 years. His life is truly a study in contrasts. In his youth, he brazenly defied God; in his maturity, however, he did everything he possibly could to correct the mistakes of his youth and be as close to God as he could. Manasseh's story should fill us all with hope. After all, if God could bring even King Manasseh to repentance and lead him to accomplish what he did in his final years, what can and will God do with us, if we will only yield to His guidance and direction? Let's remember King Manasseh's story, and strive to follow the noble example of his later years. UN