The Creator Reveals Himself-To Our Benefit - Heading for Destruction

Manasseh was one of the kings of Judah who turned away from true worship.  "He made his own son  pass through the fire, and he practiced magic and looked for omens and made  spirit mediums and large professional foretellers of events .  He did  on a large scale what was bad in Jehovah's eyes, to offend him."  (2 Kings 21:6, 16)  King Manasseh seduced his people "to do worse than the nations that Jehovah had annihilated."  After repeatedly warning Manasseh and his people, the Creator declared:  "I shall simple wipe Jerusalem clean just as one wipes the handleless bowl clean." -2 Chronicles 33:9, 10; 2 Kings 21:10-13.

As a prelude, Jehovah let the Assyrians capture Manasseh and take him captive in copper fetters.  (2 Chronicles 33:11)   In exile Manasseh came to his senses and "kept humbling himself greatly because of the god of his forefathers."  How did Jehovah react?  "[God] heard his request for favor and restored him to Jerusalem to his kingship; and Manasseh came to know that Jehovah is the true God."  King Manasseh and his grandson,King Josiah, both carried out needed reforms. Still, the nation did not permanently turn from wholesale moral and religious degradation. -2 Chronicles 33:1-20; 34:1-35; 2 Kings, chapter 22. 

Significantly, Jehovah sent zealous prophets to declare his view of what was developing.  Jeremiah related Jehovah's words:  "From the day that your forefathers came forth out of the land of Egypt until this day . . . I kept sending you all my servants the prophets, daily getting up early and sending them."  But the people  did not listen to God. They acted worse than their forefathers!  (Jeremiah 7:25, 26)  He warned them repeatedly "because he felt compassion for his people."  They still refused to respond. So he allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and desolate the land in 607 B.C.E.  For 70 years it lay abandoned. -2 Chronicles 36:15, 16; Jeremiah 25:4-11.  

Next time: The Creator Reveals Himself-To Our Benefit - Conclusion of Heading for Destruction

From the book: Is There a Creator That Cares About You?